INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered into as of
___________, 1999 between Net Perceptions, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("the
Company"), and _____________________ ("Indemnitee").
WITNESSETH THAT:
WHEREAS, Indemnitee performs a valuable service for the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has adopted Bylaws
(the "Bylaws") providing for the indemnification of the officers and
directors of the Company to the maximum extent authorized by Section 145 of
the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended ("Law"); and
WHEREAS, the Bylaws and the Law, by their nonexclusive nature,
permit contracts between the Company and the officers or directors of the
Company with respect to indemnification of such officers or directors; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with the authorization as provided by the
Law, the Company may purchase and maintain a policy or policies of directors'
and officers' liability insurance ("D & O Insurance"), covering certain
liabilities which may be incurred by its officers or directors in the
performance of their obligations to the Company; and
WHEREAS, in order to induce Indemnitee to continue to serve as an
officer or director of the Company, the Company has determined and agreed to
enter into this contract with Indemnitee;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of Indemnitee's service as an
officer or director 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 full extent authorized or permitted
by the provisions of the Law, as such may be amended from time to time, and
Article VI of the Bylaws, as such may be amended. 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 Corporate Status (as
hereinafter defined), he 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 him or on his behalf in connection with 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 Company and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his 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 Corporate Status, he 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
him or on his behalf in connection with 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 Company; provided, however, that, 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 Corporate Status, a party to
and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, he shall be
indemnified to the maximum extent permitted by law against all Expenses
actually and reasonably incurred by him or 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 Company 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 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, 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 him or on his behalf if, by reason of his
Corporate Status, he 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 under Delaware law.
3. CONTRIBUTION IN THE EVENT OF JOINT LIABILITY.
(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
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in which Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in
such action, suit or proceeding), 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
Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have
against Indemnitee. Company shall not enter into any settlement of any
action, suit or proceeding in which 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 Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be
if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), Company shall contribute to
the amount of expenses (including attorneys' fees), 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 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 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) 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.
4. 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 to which
Indemnitee is not a party, he shall be indemnified against all Expenses
actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his 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 ten (10) days
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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 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. Any advances and undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section 5
shall be unsecured and interest free. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
obligation of the Company to advance Expenses pursuant to this Section 5
shall be subject to the condition that, if, when and to the extent that the
Company determines that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified
under applicable law, the Company shall be entitled to be reimbursed, within
thirty (30) days of such determination, by Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to
reimburse the Company) for all such amounts theretofore paid; provided,
however, that if Indemnitee has commenced or thereafter commences legal
proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to secure a determination
that Indemnitee should be indemnified under applicable law, any determination
made by the Company that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified
under applicable law shall not be binding and Indemnitee shall not be
required to reimburse the Company for any advance of Expenses until a final
judicial determination is made with respect thereto (as to which all rights
of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed).
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 law 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 (including, but not limited to,
the advancement of Expenses and contribution by the Company) 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.
(b) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification
pursuant to the first sentence of Section 6(a) hereof, a determination, if
required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee's entitlement thereto
shall be made in the specific case by one of the following three methods,
which shall be at the election of Indemnitee: (1) by a majority vote of the
disinterested directors, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by
independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (3) by the stockholders.
(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
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Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by
the Board of Directors). Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may,
within 10 days after such written notice of selection shall have been given,
deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, 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 Company or
Indemnitee to the other'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 if Indemnitee has submitted a request for
indemnification in accordance with Section 6(a) of this Agreement. Anyone
seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the
burden of persuasion, by clear and convincing evidence.
(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, 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 he 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 thirty (30) 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 30
day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional
fifteen (15) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination
with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such
additional time for the obtaining or evaluating documentation and/or
information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing
provisions of this Section 6(g) 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
under the Agreement of the Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification. 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.
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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 shall have been 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 his 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 that 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 a
prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.
(d) In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 7,
seeks a judicial adjudication of his 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 his 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 him 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.
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8. NON-EXCLUSIVITY; SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS; INSURANCE; 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 certificate
of incorporation of the Company, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of
stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. 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 Corporate Status prior to
such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in the
Law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification
than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws 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 which 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 such
director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies.
(c) 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.
(d) 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.
9. EXCEPTION TO RIGHT OF INDEMNIFICATION. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to
indemnification under this Agreement with respect to any Proceeding brought
by Indemnitee, or any claim therein, unless (a) the bringing of such
Proceeding or making of such claim shall have been approved by the Board of
Directors of the Company or (b) such Proceeding is being brought by the
Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce his rights under this Agreement.
10. DURATION OF AGREEMENT. All agreements and obligations of the
Company contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee is an
officer or director of the
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Company (or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise) and shall continue thereafter so long as
Indemnitee shall be subject to any Proceeding (or any proceeding commenced
under Section 7 hereof) by reason of his Corporate Status, whether or not he
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. 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. This Agreement shall continue in effect regardless of
whether Indemnitee continues to serve as an officer or director of the
Company or any other Enterprise at the Company's request.
11. SECURITY. To the extent requested by the 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 the 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 the
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 assumed 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) "Corporate Status" describes the status of a person who
is or was a director, officer, employee or agent or fiduciary of the Company
or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee
benefit plan or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the
express written request of the Company.
(b) "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.
(c) "Enterprise" shall mean the Company and any other
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or
other enterprise of which Indemnitee is
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or was serving at the express written request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee, agent or fiduciary.
(d) "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.
(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 Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party
(other than with respect to matters concerning the 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.
(f) "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 a director of the
Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any inaction on his part
while acting as an officer or director of the Company, or by reason of the
fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other Enterprise; in each case whether or not he 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; and excluding
one initiated by an Indemnitee pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement to
enforce his rights under this Agreement.
14. SEVERABILITY. If any provision or provisions of this
Agreement shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
void, illegal or otherwise 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 shall remain enforceable
to the fullest extent permitted by law; and (b) to the fullest extent
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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 thereby.
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 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 the 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, requests, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given if (i) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom
said notice or other communication shall have been directed, or (ii) mailed
by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business
day after the date on which it is so mailed:
(a) If to Indemnitee, to the address set forth below
Indemnitee signature hereto.
(b) If to the Company, to:
Net Perceptions, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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. 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.
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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.
20. 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 without application of the conflict of laws principles
thereof.
21. GENDER. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to
include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.
22. TERMINATION OF PRIOR INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENTS. Upon the
effectiveness of this Agreement, any prior Indemnification Agreements between
the parties hereto shall terminate and be of no further force and effect, and
shall be superseded and replaced in its entirety by this Agreement.
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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.
NET PERCEPTIONS, INC.
By:____________________________________
Name:_______________________________
Title:______________________________
Address: 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000
_______________________________________
Name: ________________________________
Address:
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
