Exhibit 99.1
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INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
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AGREEMENT, effective as of February 16, 2005, between ZiLOG,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx (the
"Indemnitee").
WHEREAS, it is essential to the Company to retain and
attract as directors and officers the most capable persons available;
WHEREAS, Indemnitee is a director or officer of the Company;
WHEREAS, both the Company and Indemnitee recognize the
increased risk of litigation and other claims being asserted against directors
and officers of public companies in today's environment;
WHEREAS, basic protection against undue risk of personal
liability of directors and officers heretofore has been provided through
insurance coverage providing reasonable protection at reasonable cost, and
Indemnitee has relied on the availability of such coverage; but as a result of
substantial changes in the marketplace for such insurance it has become
increasingly more difficult to obtain such insurance on terms providing
reasonable protection at reasonable cost;
WHEREAS, Article VIII of the By-laws of the Company require
the Company to indemnify and advance expenses to its directors and officers
under certain circumstances;
WHEREAS, in recognition of Indemnitee's need for substantial
protection against personal liability in order to enhance Indemnitee's
continued service to the Company in an effective manner, the increasing
difficulty in obtaining satisfactory director and officer liability insurance
coverage, and Indemnitee's reliance on the aforesaid By-laws, and in part to
provide Indemnitee with specific contractual assurance that the protection
promised by such By-laws will be available to Indemnitee (regardless of, among
other things, any amendment to or revocation of such By-laws or any change in
the composition of the Company's Board of Directors or acquisition transaction
relating to the Company), the Company wishes to provide in this Agreement for
the indemnification of and the advancing of expenses to Indemnitee to the
fullest extent (whether partial or complete) permitted by law and as set forth
in this Agreement, and, to the extent insurance is maintained, for the
continued coverage of Indemnitee under the Company's directors' and officers'
liability insurance policies;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of
Indemnitee continuing to serve the Company directly or, at its request,
another enterprise, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties
hereto agree as follows:
1. Certain Definitions:
(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
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), other than a trustee or other
fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or
a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company
in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the
Company, is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under
said Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing
50% or more of the total voting power represented by the Company's then
outstanding Voting Securities, or (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 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, or (iii) the stockholders of the
Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other
corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which 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,
or the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of
the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of (in
one transaction or a series of transactions) all or substantially all the
Company's assets.
(b) Claim: any threatened, pending or completed action, suit
or proceeding, or any inquiry or investigation, whether instituted by the
Company or any other party, that Indemnitee in good faith believes might lead
to the institution of any such action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative, investigative or other.
(c) Expenses: include attorneys' fees and all other costs,
expenses and obligations paid or incurred in connection with investigating,
defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or
preparing to defend, be a witness in or participate in, any Claim relating to
any Indemnifiable Event.
(d) Indemnifiable Event: any event or occurrence related to
the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or
fiduciary of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company
as a director, officer, employee, trustee, agent or fiduciary of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or other
enterprise, or by reason of anything done or not done by Indemnitee in any
such capacity.
(e) Independent Legal Counsel: an attorney or firm of
attorneys, selected in accordance with the provisions of Section 3, who shall
not have otherwise performed services for the Company or Indemnitee within the
last five years (other than with respect to matters concerning the rights of
Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar
indemnity agreements).
(f) Reviewing Party: any appropriate person or body
consisting of a member or members of the Company's Board of Directors or any
other person or body appointed by the Board who is not a party to the
particular Claim for which Indemnitee is seeking indemnification, or
Independent Legal Counsel.
(g) Voting Securities: any securities of the Company which vote generally in
the election of directors.
2. Basic Indemnification Arrangement.
(a) In the event Indemnitee was, is or becomes a party to or
witness or other participant in, or is threatened to be made a party to or
witness or other participant in, a Claim by reason of (or arising in part out
of) an Indemnifiable Event, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the
fullest extent permitted by law as soon as practicable but in any event no
later than thirty days after written demand is presented to the Company,
against any and all Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in
settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or
payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines,
penalties or amounts paid in settlement) of such Claim. If so requested by
Indemnitee, the Company shall advance (within two business days of such
request) any and all Expenses to Indemnitee (an "Expense Advance").
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the obligations of
the Company under Section 2(a) shall be subject to the condition that the
Reviewing Party shall not have determined (in a written opinion, in any case
in which the Independent Legal Counsel referred to in Section 3 hereof is
involved) that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under
applicable law, and (ii) the obligation of the Company to make an Expense
Advance pursuant to Section 2(a) shall be subject to the condition that, if,
when and to the extent that the Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee
would not be permitted to be so indemnified under applicable law, the Company
shall be entitled to be reimbursed 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 Reviewing Party 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 Expense Advance until a final
judicial determination is made with respect thereto (as to which all rights of
appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed). If there has not been a
Change in Control, the Reviewing Party shall be selected by the Board of
Directors, and if there has been such a Change in Control (other than a Change
in Control which has been approved by a majority of the Company's Board of
Directors who were directors immediately prior to such Change in Control), the
Reviewing Party shall be the Independent Legal Counsel referred to in Section
3 hereof. If there has been no determination by the Reviewing Party or if the
Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee substantively would not be
permitted to be indemnified in whole or in part under applicable law,
Indemnitee shall have the right to commence litigation in any court in the
States of California or Delaware having subject matter jurisdiction thereof
and in which venue is proper seeking an initial determination by the court or
challenging any such determination by the Reviewing Party or any aspect
thereof, including the legal or factual bases therefor, and the Company hereby
consents to service of process and to appear in any such proceeding. Any
determination by the Reviewing Party otherwise shall be conclusive and binding
on the Company and Indemnitee.
3. Change in Control. The Company agrees that if there is a Change in
Control of the Company (other than a Change in Control which has been approved
by a majority of the Company's Board of Directors who were directors
immediately prior to such Change in Control) then with respect to all matters
thereafter arising concerning the rights of Indemnitee to indemnity payments
and Expense Advances under this Agreement or any other agreement or Company
By-law now or hereafter in effect relating to Claims for Indemnifiable Events,
the Company shall seek legal advice only from Independent Legal Counsel
selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company (which approval shall not
be unreasonably withheld). Such counsel, among other things, shall render its
written opinion to the Company and Indemnitee as to whether and to what extent
the Indemnitee would be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law. The
Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Legal Counsel
referred to above and to indemnify fully such counsel against any and all
expenses (including attorneys' fees), claims, liabilities and damages arising
out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.
4. Indemnification for Additional Expenses. The Company shall
indemnify Indemnitee against any and all expenses (including attorneys' fees)
and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within two business days of such
request) advance such expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee
in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for (i) indemnification or
advance payment of Expenses by the Company under this Agreement or any other
agreement or Company By-law now or hereafter in effect relating to Claims for
Indemnifiable Events and/or (ii) recovery under any directors' and officers'
liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether
Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification,
advance expense payment or insurance recovery, as the case may be.
5. Partial Indemnity, Etc. If Indemnitee is entitled under any
provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a
portion of the Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in
settlement of a Claim but not, however, for all of the total amount thereof,
the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to
which Indemnitee is entitled. Moreover, notwithstanding any other provision of
this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee has been successful on the
merits or otherwise in defense of any or all Claims relating in whole or in
part to an Indemnifiable Event or in defense of any issue or matter therein,
including dismissal without prejudice, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against
all Expenses incurred in connection therewith.
6. Burden of Proof. In connection with any determination by the
Reviewing Party or otherwise as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to be
indemnified hereunder the burden of proof shall be on the Company to establish
that Indemnitee is not so entitled.
7. No Presumptions. For purposes of this Agreement, the termination
of any claim, action, suit or proceeding, by judgment, order, 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 Indemnitee
did not meet any particular standard of conduct or have any particular belief
or that a court has determined that indemnification is not permitted by
applicable law. In addition, neither the failure of the Reviewing Party to
have made a determination as to whether Indemnitee has met any particular
standard of conduct or had any particular belief, nor an actual determination
by the Reviewing Party that Indemnitee has not met such standard of conduct or
did not have such belief, prior to the commencement of legal proceedings by
Indemnitee to secure a judicial determination that Indemnitee should be
indemnified under applicable law shall be a defense to Indemnitee's claim or
create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met any particular standard of
conduct or did not have any particular belief.
8. Nonexclusivity, Etc. The rights of the Indemnitee hereunder shall
be in addition to any other rights Indemnitee may have under the Company's
By-laws or the Delaware General Corporation Law or otherwise. To the extent
that a change in the Delaware General Corporation Law (whether by statute or
judicial decision) permits greater indemnification by agreement than would be
afforded currently under the Company's By-laws and this Agreement, it is the
intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the
greater benefits so afforded by such change.
9. Liability Insurance. To the extent the Company maintains an
insurance policy or policies providing directors' and officers' liability
insurance, 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 Company director or officer.
10. 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 against
Indemnitee, Indemnitee's spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal
representatives 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, however, that if any
shorter period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of
action such shorter period shall govern.
11. Amendments, Etc. 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.
12. 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 Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and shall do
everything that may be necessary to secure such rights, including the
execution of such documents necessary to enable the Company effectively to
bring suit to enforce such rights.
13. No Duplication of Payments. The Company shall not be liable under
this Agreement to make any payment in connection with any Claim made against
Indemnitee to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment
(under any insurance policy, By-law or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise
indemnifiable hereunder.
14. Binding Effect, Etc. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their
respective successors, assigns, including any direct or indirect successor by
purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of
the business and/or assets of the Company, 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 of any other enterprise at the Company's request.
15. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable
in the event that any of the provisions hereof (including any provision within
a single section, paragraph or sentence) are held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable in any respect,
and the validity and enforceability of any such provision in every other
respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way
impaired and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
16. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable
to contracts made and to be performed in such state without giving effect to
the principles of conflicts of laws.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Agreement this 16th day of February, 2005.
ZiLOG, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Chief Operations Officer
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx
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Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx