INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT, made and entered into this ___
day of , 1997 ("Agreement"), by and between Tekgraf, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Corporation"), and ("Indemnitee").
WHEREAS, in recent years, highly competent persons have become
more reluctant to serve both privately and publicly-held corporations as
directors, officers, or in other capacities, unless they are provided with
better protection from the risk of claims and actions against them arising out
of their service to and activities on behalf of such corporations; and
WHEREAS, the current impracticability of obtaining adequate
insurance and the uncertainties related to indemnification have increased the
difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the
"Board") has determined that the ability to attract and retain such persons is
in the best interests of the Corporation's shareholders and that such persons
should be assured that they will have better protection in the future; and
WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the
Corporation to obligate itself contractually to indemnify such persons to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, so that such persons will serve or
continue to serve the Corporation free from undue concern that they will not be
adequately indemnified; and
WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance
of any rights granted under the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation
or the By-Laws of the Corporation and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto
shall not be deemed to be a substitute therefor nor to diminish or abrogate any
rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and
WHEREAS, Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and
to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Corporation on the
condition that he be indemnified according to the terms of this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the
covenants contained herein, the Corporation and Indemnitee do hereby covenant
and agree as follows:
Section 1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) "Change in Control" means a change in control of the
Corporation of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to
Item 6(e) of Schedule l4A of Regulation l4A (or in response to any similar item
on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the
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Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act"), whether or not the Corporation is
then subject to such reporting requirement; provided, however, that, without
limitation, such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any
"person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Act) is or
becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule l3d-3 under the Act),
directly or indirectly, of securities of the Corporation representing 20% or
more of the combined voting power of the Corporation's then outstanding
securities without the prior approval of at least two-thirds of the members of
the Board in office immediately prior to such person attaining such percentage
interest; (ii) the Corporation is a party to a merger, consolidation, sale of
assets or other reorganization, or a proxy contest, as a consequence of which
members of the Board in office immediately prior to such transaction or event
constitute less than a majority of the Board thereafter; or (iii) during any
period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period
constituted the Board (including for this purpose any new director whose
election or nomination for election by the Corporation's shareholders was
approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office
who were directors at the beginning of such period) cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of the Board.
(b) "Corporate Status" means the status of a person who is or
was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Corporation or of
any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan
or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the
Corporation.
(c) "Disinterested Director" means a director of the
Corporation who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which
indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.
(d) "Expenses" means 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, or being or preparing to be a witness in
a Proceeding.
(e) "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 Corporation or Indemnitee in any other matter material to either such party,
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 Corporation or Indemnitee in an action to determine
Indemnitee's rights under this Agreement.
(f) "Proceeding" means any action, suit, arbitration,
alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, administrative hearing or
any other proceeding, whether civil,
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criminal, administrative or investigative, except one initiated by an Indemnitee
pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement to enforce his rights under this
Agreement.
Section 2. Services by Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees to serve
as a [director][officer] of the Corporation, and, at its request, as a director,
officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of certain other corporations and
entities. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from any such
position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed
by operation of law).
Section 3. Indemnification - General. The Corporation shall
indemnify, and advance Expenses to, Indemnitee as provided in this Agreement to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law in effect on the date hereof and
to such greater extent as applicable law may thereafter from time to time
permit. The rights of Indemnitee provided under the preceding sentence shall
include, but shall not be limited to, the rights set forth in the other Sections
of this Agreement.
Section 4. Proceedings Other Than Proceedings by or in the
Right of the Corporation. Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of
indemnification provided in this Section if, by reason of his Corporate Status,
he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending, or
completed Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the
Corporation. Pursuant to this Section, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against
Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually
and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with any such
Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if he acted in good faith and
in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests
of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
Section 5. Proceedings by or in the Right of the Corporation.
Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this
Section if, by reason of his Corporate Status, he is, or is threatened to be
made, a party to any threatened, pending, or completed Proceeding brought by or
in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to
this Section, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against Expenses, judgments,
penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred
by him or on his behalf in connection with any such Proceeding if he acted in
good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
best interests of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
indemnification against such Expenses shall be made in respect of any claim,
issue or matter in any such Proceeding as to which Indemnitee shall have been
adjudged to be liable to the Corporation if applicable law prohibits such
indemnification.
Section 6. Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is
Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status,
a party to and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, he
shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by
him or
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on his behalf in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in
such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more
but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Corporation
shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred
by him or on his behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim,
issue or matter. For the purposes of this Section and without limiting the
foregoing, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in any such Proceeding
by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful
result as to such claim, issue or matter.
Section 7. Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that
Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding,
he shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by
him or on his behalf in connection therewith.
Section 8. Advancement of Expenses. The Corporation shall
advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with
any Proceeding within twenty days after the receipt by the Corporation 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 an undertaking by
or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay any Expenses advanced if it shall ultimately
be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such
Expenses.
Section 9. Procedure for Determination of Entitlement to
Indemnification.
(a) To obtain indemnification under this Agreement in
connection with any Proceeding, and for the duration thereof, Indemnitee shall
submit to the Corporation 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 Corporation shall, promptly
upon receipt of any such request for indemnification, advise the Board in
writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.
(b) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification
pursuant to Section 9(a) hereof, a determination, if required by applicable law,
with respect to Indemnitee's entitlement thereto shall be made in such case: (i)
if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel (unless
Indemnitee shall request that such determination be made by the Board or the
shareholders, in which case in the manner provided for in clauses (ii) or (iii)
of this Section 9(b)) in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall
be delivered to Indemnitee; (ii) if a Change of Control shall not have occurred,
(A) by the Board by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Disinterested
Directors, or (B) if a quorum of the Board consisting of Disinterested Directors
is not obtainable, or even if such quorum is obtainable, if such quorum of
Disinterested Directors so directs, either (x) by Independent Counsel in a
written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee,
or (y) by the shareholders of the Corporation, as determined
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by such quorum of Disinterested Directors, or a quorum of the Board, as the case
may be; or (iii) as provided in Section 10(b) of this Agreement. If it is so
determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee
shall be made within ten (10) 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. 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 Corporation
(irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee's entitlement to
indemnification) and the Corporation hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold
Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
(c) If required, Independent Counsel shall be selected as
follows: (i) if a Change of Control shall not have occurred, Independent Counsel
shall be selected by the Board, and the Corporation shall give written notice to
Indemnitee advising him of the identity of Independent Counsel so selected; or
(ii) if a Change of Control shall have occurred, Independent Counsel shall be
selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be
made by the Board, in which event (i) shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give
written notice to the Corporation advising it of the identity of Independent
Counsel so selected. In either event, Indemnitee or the Corporation, as the case
may be, may within 7 days after such written notice of selection shall have been
given, deliver to the Corporation or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a
written objection to such selection. Such objection may be asserted only on the
grounds that Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of
"Independent Counsel" as defined in Section 1 of this Agreement, and the
objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such
assertion. If such written objection is made, Independent Counsel so selected
may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until 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 9(a)
hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to,
either the Corporation or Indemnitee may petition a court of competent
jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the
Corporation or Indemnitee to the other's selection of Independent Counsel and/or
for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by such court or
by such other person as such court shall designate, and the person with respect
to whom an objection is so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as
Independent Counsel under Section 9(b) hereof. The Corporation shall pay any and
all reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by such
Independent Counsel in connection with its actions pursuant to this Agreement,
and the Corporation shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the
procedures of this Section 9(c), regardless of the manner in which such
Independent Counsel was selected or appointed. Upon the due commencement date of
any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) of this
Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further
responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of
professional conduct then prevailing).
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Section 10. Presumption and Effects of Certain Proceedings.
(a) If a Change of Control shall have occurred, in making a
determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the
person or persons or entity making such determination shall presume that
Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has
submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 9(a) of this
Agreement, and the Corporation shall have the burden of proof to overcome that
presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of
any determination contrary to that presumption.
(b) If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected
under Section 9 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification shall not have made a determination within 60 days after receipt
by the Corporation 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) 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 30 days, if the person, persons or
entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification
in good faith require(s) such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of
documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that
the foregoing provisions of this Section 10(b) shall not apply (i) if the
determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the
shareholders pursuant to Section 9(b) of this Agreement and if (A) within 15
days after receipt by the Corporation of the request for such determination the
Board has resolved to submit such determination to the shareholders for their
consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within 75 days after such
receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of
shareholders is called within 15 days after such receipt for the purpose of
making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within 60 days
after having been so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if
the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent
Counsel pursuant to Section 9(b) of this Agreement.
(c) 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 he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the Corporation or, with respect to any criminal
Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was
unlawful.
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Section 11. Remedies of Indemnitee.
(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to
Section 9 of this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made
pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement, (iii) the determination of entitlement
to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 9(b)
of this Agreement and such determination shall not have been made and delivered
in a written opinion within 90 days after receipt by the Corporation of the
request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made
pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by
the Corporation 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 9 or 10 of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall
be entitled to an adjudication in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware,
or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, of his entitlement to such
indemnification or advancement of Expenses. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his
option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator
in Delaware. Indemnitee shall commence such 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 11(a). The Corporation shall not oppose Indemnitee's right to seek any
such adjudication or award in arbitration.
(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made
pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to
this Section shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial or
arbitration on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of
that adverse determination. If a Change of Control shall have occurred in any
judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section, the
Corporation shall have the burden of proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.
(c) If a determination shall have been made or deemed to have
been made pursuant to Section 9 or 10 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is
entitled to indemnification, the Corporation shall be bound by such
determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to
this Section, 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) prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.
(d) The Corporation shall be precluded from asserting in any
judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 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 Corporation is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.
(e) In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section,
seeks a judicial adjudication of, or an award in arbitration to enforce, his
rights under, or to recover damages for
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breach of, this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover from the
Corporation, and shall be indemnified by the Corporation against, any and all
expenses (of the kinds described in the definition of Expenses) actually and
reasonably incurred by him in such judicial adjudication or arbitration, but
only if he prevails therein. 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 advancement of expenses sought, the expenses
incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such judicial adjudication or
arbitration shall be appropriately prorated.
Section 12. Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance;
Subrogation.
(a) The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement
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 Certificate of Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation, any
agreement, a vote of shareholders for a resolution of directors, or otherwise.
No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or any provision hereof
shall be effective as to any Indemnitee with respect to any action taken or
omitted by such Indemnitee in his Corporate Status prior to such amendment,
alteration or repeal.
(b) To the extent that the Corporation maintains an insurance
policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers,
employees, agents or fiduciaries of the Corporation or of any other corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise
which such person serves at the request of the Corporation, Indemnitee shall be
covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the
maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer,
employee, agent or fiduciary under such policy or policies.
(c) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the
Corporation 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 Corporation to bring suit to enforce
such rights.
(d) The Corporation 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.
Section 13. Duration of Agreement. This Agreement shall
continue until and terminate upon the later of: (a) 10 years after the date that
Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director, officer, employee, agent or
fiduciary of the Corporation or of any other corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which Indemnitee
served at the request of the Corporation; or (b) the final termination of all
pending Proceedings in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of
indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder
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and of any proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 11 of this
Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Corporation and its
successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and his
heirs, executors and administrators.
Section 14. 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 and enforceability of the
remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each
portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to
be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or
unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (b) to
the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including,
without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any
such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself
invalid, illegal or unenforceable shall be construed so as to give effect to the
intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
Section 15. Exception to Right of Indemnification or
Advancement of Expenses. Except as provided in Section 11(e), Indemnitee shall
not be entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this
Agreement with respect to any Proceeding, or any claim therein, brought or made
by him against the Corporation.
Section 16. Identical Counterparts. This Agreement may be
executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be
deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the
same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom
enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this
Agreement.
Section 17. 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 18. 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 19. Notice by Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees promptly
to notify the Corporation in writing upon being served with any summons,
citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document
relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or
advancement of Expenses covered hereunder.
Section 20. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given if (i)
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delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom such notice or other
communication shall have been directed, or (ii) mailed by certified or
registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date
on which it is so mailed:
(a) If to Indemnitee, to:
(b) If to the Corporation, to:
Tekgraf, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
or to such other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the
Corporation or to the Corporation by Indemnitee, as the case may be.
Section 21. Governing Law. The parties agree that this
Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with,
the laws of the State of Delaware.
Section 22. Miscellaneous. Use of the masculine pronoun shall
be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Agreement on the day and year first above written.
CORPORATION
TEKGRAF, INC.
By:
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Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Chairman
INDEMNITEE
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