Form of Indemnification Agreement
Exhibit 10.6
Form of Indemnification Agreement
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT, dated as of [ ], 2007, between RSC Holdings Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”), and [ ] (“Indemnitee”).
WHEREAS, qualified persons are reluctant to serve corporations as directors or otherwise
unless they are provided with broad indemnification and insurance against claims arising out of
their service to and activities on behalf of the corporations; and
WHEREAS, the Company has determined that attracting and retaining such persons is in the best
interests of the Company’s stockholders and that it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the
Company to indemnify such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to provide
reasonable assurance regarding insurance;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and Indemnitee hereby agree as follows:
1. Defined Terms; Construction.
(a) Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any other Person directly
or indirectly Controlling, Controlled by or under common Control with, such Person (ii) any
Person directly or indirectly owning or Controlling 10% or more of any class of outstanding voting
securities of such Person or (iii) any officer, director, general partner or trustee of any
such Person described in clause (i) or (ii). “Control” of any Person shall consist of the
power to direct the management and policies of such Person (whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract, as trustee or executor, or otherwise).
“Change in Control” means, and shall be deemed to have occurred if, on or after the
date of this Agreement, (i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), other than (A) a trustee or other
fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries acting in such capacity, or (B) the Investors, is or becomes the “beneficial
owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under said Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the
Company representing more than 50% of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then
outstanding Voting Securities, (ii) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals
who at the beginning of such period constitute the board of directors of the Company and any new
director whose election by the board of directors of the Company or nomination for
election by the
Company’s stockholders was
approved by a vote of at least two thirds (2/3) 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 majority thereof, (iii)
the consummation of any merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation other
than a merger or consolidation that would result in the Voting Securities of the Company
outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or
by being converted into Voting Securities of the surviving entity) at least 50% of the total voting
power represented by the Voting Securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation, (iv) the complete liquidation of the
Company or the sale or disposition by the Company of (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) all or substantially all of its assets, or (v) the Company shall file or have
filed against it, and such filing shall not be dismissed, any bankruptcy, insolvency or dissolution
proceedings, or a trustee, administrator or creditors committee shall be appointed to manage or
supervise the affairs of the Company.
“Corporate Status” means the status of a person who is or was a director (or a member
of any committee of a board of directors), officer, employee or agent (including without limitation
a manager of a limited liability company) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or of any
predecessor thereof, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director (or a member
of any committee of a board of directors), officer, employee or agent (including without limitation
a manager of a limited liability company) of another corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or of any predecessor thereof, including
service with respect to an employee benefit plan.
“Determination” means a determination that either (x) there is a reasonable
basis for the conclusion that indemnification of Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because
Indemnitee met a particular standard of conduct (a “Favorable Determination”) or
(y) there is no reasonable basis for the conclusion that indemnification of Indemnitee is
proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee met a particular standard of conduct (an
“Adverse Determination”). An Adverse Determination shall include the decision that a
Determination was required in connection with indemnification and the decision as to the applicable
standard of conduct.
“DGCL” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from
time to time.
“Expenses” means all attorneys’ fees and expenses, retainers, court, arbitration and
mediation costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, bonds, witness fees, costs of collecting and
producing documents, 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, being or preparing to
be a witness in, appealing or otherwise participating in a Proceeding.
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“Independent Legal Counsel” means an attorney or firm of attorneys competent to render
an opinion under the applicable law, selected in accordance with the provisions of Section 5(e),
who has not otherwise performed any services for the Company or any of its subsidiaries or for
Indemnitee within the last three years (other than with respect to matters concerning the rights of
Indemnitee under this Agreement or of other Indemnitees under indemnity agreements similar to this
Agreement).
“Investors” means, collectively, (i) RSC Acquisition LLC, RSC Acquisition II
LLC, OHCP II RSC, LLC, OHCMP II RSC, LLC and OHCP II RSC COI, LLC, (ii) any Affiliate of
any of the foregoing, including any investment fund or vehicle managed, sponsored or advised by any
of the foregoing and (iii) any successor in interest to any of the foregoing.
“Person” means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, limited or
general partnership, trust or other entity, including a governmental or political subdivision or an
agency or instrumentality thereof.
“Proceeding” means a threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including without limitation a claim,
demand, discovery request, formal or informal investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing,
arbitration or other form of alternative dispute resolution, including an appeal from any of the
foregoing.
“Voting Securities” means any securities of the Company that vote generally in the
election of directors.
(b) Construction. For purposes of this Agreement,
(i) References to the Company and any of its “subsidiaries” shall include any
corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity
or enterprise that before or after the date of this Agreement is party to a merger or
consolidation with the Company or any such subsidiary or that is a successor to the Company
as contemplated by Section 8(d) (whether or not such successor has executed and delivered
the written agreement contemplated by Section 8(d)).
(ii) References to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on Indemnitee with
respect to an employee benefit plan.
(iii) References to a “witness” in connection with a Proceeding shall include any
interviewee or person called upon to produce documents in connection with such Proceeding.
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2. Agreement to Serve.
Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director of the Company or one or more of its subsidiaries and
in such other capacities as Indemnitee may serve at the request of the Company from time to time,
and by its execution of this Agreement the Company confirms its request that Indemnitee serve as a
director and in such other capacities. Indemnitee shall be entitled to resign or otherwise
terminate such service with immediate effect at any time, and neither such resignation or
termination nor the length of such service shall affect Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.
This Agreement shall not constitute an employment agreement, supersede any employment agreement to
which Indemnitee is a party or create any right of Indemnitee to continued employment or
appointment.
3. Indemnification.
(a) General Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee, to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law in effect on the date hereof or as amended to increase the scope
of permitted indemnification, against Expenses, losses, liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties
and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges in connection
therewith) incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding in
any way connected with, resulting from or relating to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status.
(b) Additional Indemnification Regarding Expenses. Without limiting the foregoing, in
the event any Proceeding is initiated by Indemnitee or the Company or any of its subsidiaries to
enforce or interpret this Agreement or any rights of Indemnitee to indemnification or advancement
of Expenses (or related obligations of Indemnitee) under the Company’s or any such subsidiary’s
certificate of incorporation or bylaws, any other agreement to which Indemnitee and the Company or
any of its subsidiaries are party, any vote of stockholders or directors of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, the DGCL, any other applicable law or any liability insurance policy, the Company
shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in
connection with such Proceeding, whether or not Indemnitee is successful in such Proceeding, except
to the extent that the court presiding over such Proceeding determines that material assertions
made by Indemnitee in such Proceeding were in bad faith or were frivolous.
(c) Partial Indemnification. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this
Agreement to indemnification by the Company for a portion of any Expenses, losses, liabilities,
judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement
incurred by Indemnitee, but not for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless
indemnify Indemnitee for such portion.
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(d) Nonexclusivity. The indemnification provided by this Agreement shall not be
deemed exclusive of any rights to which Indemnitee may be entitled under the Company’s certificate
of incorporation or bylaws, any agreement, any vote of stockholders or directors, the DGCL, any
other applicable law or any liability insurance policy.
(e) Exceptions. Any other provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall not be obligated under the Agreement to indemnify Indemnitee:
(i) For Expenses incurred in connection with Proceedings initiated or brought
voluntarily by the Indemnitee and not by way of defense, counterclaim or crossclaim, except
(x) as contemplated by Section 3(b), (y) in specific cases if the board of
directors of the Company has approved the initiation or bringing of such Proceeding, and
(z) as may be required by law.
(ii) For any profits arising from the purchase and sale by the Indemnitee of
securities within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or any similar successor statute that the Company is entitled thereunder to
recover from Indemnitee.
(f) Subrogation. In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be
subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee, who
shall execute such documents and do such acts as the Company may reasonably request to secure such
rights and to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.
4. Advancement of Expenses.
The Company shall pay all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding in
any way connected with, resulting from or relating to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, other than a
Proceeding initiated by Indemnitee for which the Company would not be obligated to indemnify
Indemnitee pursuant to Section 3(e)(i), in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding and
without regard to whether Indemnitee will ultimately be entitled to be indemnified for such
Expenses and without regard to whether an Adverse Determination has been made, except as
contemplated by the last sentence of Section 5(f). Indemnitee shall repay such amounts advanced if
and to the extent that it shall ultimately be determined in a decision by a court of competent
jurisdiction from which no appeal can be taken that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by
the Company for such Expenses. Such repayment obligation shall be unsecured and shall not bear
interest.
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5. Indemnification Procedure.
(a) Notice of Proceeding; Cooperation. Indemnitee shall give the Company notice in
writing as soon as practicable of any Proceeding for which indemnification will or could be sought
under this Agreement, provided that any failure or delay in giving such notice shall not
relieve the Company of its obligations under this Agreement unless and to the extent that
(i) none of the Company and its subsidiaries are party to or aware of such Proceeding and
(ii) the Company is materially prejudiced by such failure.
(b) Settlement. The Company will not, without the prior written consent of
Indemnitee, which may be provided or withheld in Indemnitee’s sole discretion, effect any
settlement of any Proceeding against Indemnitee or which could have been brought against Indemnitee
unless such settlement solely involves the payment of money by persons other than Indemnitee and
includes an unconditional release of Indemnitee from all liability on any matters that are the
subject of such Proceeding and an acknowledgment that Indemnitee denies all wrongdoing in
connection with such matters. The Company shall not be obligated to indemnify Indemnitee against
amounts paid in settlement of a Proceeding against Indemnitee if such settlement is effected by
Indemnitee without the Company’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(c) Request for Payment; Timing of Payment. To obtain indemnification payments or
advances under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request therefor,
together with such invoices or other supporting information as may be reasonably requested by the
Company and reasonably available to Indemnitee. The Company shall make indemnification payments to
Indemnitee no later than 30 days, and advances to Indemnitee no later than five business days,
after receipt of the written request of Indemnitee.
(d) Determination. The Company intends that Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the
fullest extent permitted by law as provided in Section 3 and that no Determination shall be
required in connection with such indemnification. In no event shall a Determination be required in
connection with advancement of Expenses pursuant to Section 4 or in connection with indemnification
for Expenses incurred as a witness or incurred in connection with any Proceeding or portion thereof
with respect to which Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise. Any decision that
a Determination is required by law in connection with any other indemnification of Indemnitee, and
any such Determination, shall be made within 30 days after receipt of Indemnitee’s written request
for indemnification, as follows:
(i) If no Change in Control has occurred, (w) by a majority vote of the
directors of the Company who are not parties to such Proceeding, even though less than a
quorum, with the advice of Independent Legal Counsel, or (x)
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by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even
though less than a quorum, with the advice of Independent Legal Counsel, or (y) if
there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by Independent Legal Counsel
in a written opinion to the Company and Indemnitee, or (z) by the stockholders of
the Company.
(ii) If a Change in Control has occurred, by Independent Legal Counsel in a written
opinion to the Company and Indemnitee.
The Company shall pay all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with a Determination.
(e) Independent Legal Counsel. If there has not been a Change in Control, Independent
Legal Counsel shall be selected by the board of directors of the Company and approved by Indemnitee
(which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If there has been a Change in
Control, Independent Legal Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company
(which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). The Company shall pay the fees and
expenses of Independent Legal Counsel and indemnify Independent Legal Counsel against any and all
expenses (including attorneys’ fees), claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to
its engagement.
(f) Consequences of Determination; Remedies of Indemnitee. The Company shall be bound
by and shall have no right to challenge a Favorable Determination. If an Adverse Determination is
made, or if for any other reason the Company does not make timely indemnification payments or
advances of Expenses, Indemnitee shall have the right to commence a Proceeding before a court of
competent jurisdiction to challenge such Adverse Determination and/or to require the Company to
make such payments or advances. Indemnitee shall be entitled to be indemnified for all Expenses
incurred in connection with such a Proceeding in accordance with Section 3(b) and to have such
Expenses advanced by the Company in accordance with Section 4. If Indemnitee fails to challenge an
Adverse Determination, or if Indemnitee challenges an Adverse Determination and such Adverse
Determination has been upheld (including, if applicable, by reason of such challenge having been
untimely) by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction from which no appeal can be
taken, then, to the extent and only to the extent required by such Adverse Determination or final
judgment, the Company shall not be obligated to indemnify or advance Expenses to Indemnitee under
this Agreement.
(g) Presumptions; Burden and Standard of Proof. In connection with any Determination,
or any review of any Determination, by any person, including a court:
(i) It shall be a presumption that a Determination is not required.
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(ii) It shall be a presumption that Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of
conduct and that indemnification of Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances.
(iii) The burden of proof shall be on the Company to overcome the presumptions set
forth in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii), and each such presumption shall be overcome
only if the Company establishes that there is no reasonable basis to support it.
(iv) The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, finding, settlement
(whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere,
or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption that indemnification is not proper or
that Indemnitee did not meet the applicable standard of conduct or that a court has
determined that indemnification is not permitted by this Agreement or otherwise.
(v) Neither the failure of any person or persons to have made a Determination nor an
Adverse Determination by any person or persons shall be a defense to Indemnitee’s claim or
create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet the applicable standard of conduct, and
any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 5(f) shall be de novo with
respect to all determinations of fact and law.
6. Directors and Officers Liability Insurance.
(a) Maintenance of Insurance. For the duration of Indemnitee’s service as a director
and/or officer of the Company, and thereafter for so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any
pending or possible Proceeding indemnifiable hereunder, the Company shall use commercially
reasonable efforts (taking into account the scope and amount of coverage available relative to the
cost thereof) to cause to be maintained in effect policies of directors’ and officers’ liability
insurance providing coverage for Indemnitee of the Company that is at least substantially
comparable in scope and amount to that provided by the Company’s current policies of directors’ and
officers’ liability insurance. Upon request, the Company shall provide Indemnitee with a copy of
all directors’ and officers’ liability insurance applications, binders, policies, declarations,
endorsements and other related materials, and will notify Indemnitee of any material changes that
have been made to such documents. In all policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance
obtained by the Company, Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide
Indemnitee the same rights and benefits, subject to the same limitations, as are accorded to the
directors and officers of the Company most favorably insured by such policy.
(b) Notice to Insurers. Upon receipt of notice of a Proceeding pursuant to Section
5(a), the Company shall give or cause to be given prompt notice of
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such Proceeding to all insurers providing liability insurance in accordance with the
procedures set forth in all applicable or potentially applicable policies. The Company shall
thereafter take all necessary action to cause such insurers to pay all amounts payable in
accordance with the terms of such policies.
7. Exculpation, etc.
(a) Limitation of Liability. Indemnitee shall not be personally liable to the Company
or any of its subsidiaries or to the stockholders of the Company or any such subsidiary for
monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director of the Company or any such subsidiary;
provided, however, that the foregoing shall not eliminate or limit the liability of
the Indemnitee (i) for any breach of the Indemnitee’s duty of loyalty to the Company or
such subsidiary or the stockholders thereof; (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith
or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law; (iii) under
Section 174 of the DGCL or any similar provision of other applicable corporations law; or
(iv) for any transaction from which the Indemnitee derived an improper personal benefit.
If the DGCL or such other applicable law shall be amended to permit further elimination or
limitation of the personal liability of directors or officers, then the liability of the Indemnitee
shall, automatically, without any further action, be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent
permitted by the DGCL or such other applicable law as so amended.
(b) Period of Limitations. No legal action shall be brought and no cause of action
shall be asserted by or in the right of the Company or any of its subsidiaries against Indemnitee
or Indemnitee’s estate, spouses, heirs, executors, personal or legal representatives,
administrators or assigns after the expiration of two years from the date of accrual of such cause
of action, and any claim or cause of action of the Company shall be extinguished and deemed
released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action within such two-year period,
provided that if any shorter period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such
cause of action, such shorter period shall govern.
8. Miscellaneous.
(a) Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to
be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (i) 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 shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by
law; (ii) 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
(iii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without
limitation, each
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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 thereby.
(b) Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (i) on the date of delivery if
delivered personally, or by facsimile or electronic mail, upon confirmation of receipt,
(ii) on the first business day following the date of dispatch if delivered by a recognized
next-day courier service or (iii) on the third business day following the date of mailing
if delivered by domestic registered or certified mail, properly addressed, or on the fifth business
day following the date of mailing if sent by airmail from a country outside of North America, to
Indemnitee as shown on the signature page of this Agreement, to the Company at the address shown on
the signature page of this Agreement, or in either case as subsequently modified by written notice.
(c) Amendment and Termination. No amendment, modification, termination or
cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing signed by all 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.
(d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its
respective successors and assigns, including without limitation any acquiror of all or
substantially all of the Company’s assets or business and any survivor of any merger or
consolidation to which the Company is party, and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee and
the Indemnitee’s estate, spouses, heirs, executors, personal or legal representatives,
administrators and assigns. The Company shall require and cause any such successor, by written
agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to
perform this Agreement as if it were named as the Company herein, and the Company shall not permit
any such purchase of assets or business, acquisition of securities or merger or consolidation to
occur until such written agreement has been executed and delivered. No such assumption and
agreement shall relieve the Company of any of its obligations hereunder, and this Agreement shall
not otherwise be assignable by the Company.
(e) Choice of Law; Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by and
its provisions construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, as applied to
contracts between Delaware residents entered into and to be performed entirely within Delaware,
without regard to the conflict of law principles thereof. The Company and Indemnitee each hereby
irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware for all purposes in
connection with any Proceeding which arises out of or relates to this Agreement and agree that any
action instituted under this Agreement shall be brought only in the state courts of the State of
Delaware.
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(f) Integration and Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire
understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes and merges all previous written and oral
negotiations, commitments, understandings and agreements relating to the subject matter hereof
between the parties hereto, provided that the provisions hereof shall not supersede the provisions
of the Company’s respective certificates of incorporation or bylaws, any agreement, any vote of
stockholders or directors, the DGCL or other applicable law, to the extent any such provisions
shall be more favorable to Indemnitee than the provisions hereof.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall constitute an original.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above
written.
RSC HOLDINGS INC. |
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By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
Address:
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0000 X. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000 |
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED: INDEMNITEE: |
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By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
Address: |
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