INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.18
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of
___________, __ 20__ between Fortegra Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”), and [ ] (“Indemnitee”). Capitalized terms not defined elsewhere in
this Agreement are used as defined in Section 13.
WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve corporations as
directors or officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection
through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions
against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that, in
order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an
ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and
its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a
customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business
enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance
may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same
time, directors, officers, and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are
being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other
things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business
enterprise itself. The certificate of incorporation of the Company (as amended, the
“Charter”) requires indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company.
Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware (“DGCL”). The Charter and the DGCL expressly provide that the
indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that
contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the board of directors, officers
and other persons with respect to indemnification;
WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification have increased
the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;
WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining
such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company’s stockholders and that the
Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection
in the future;
WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate
itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from
undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;
WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Charter of the Company
and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to
diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and
WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Company’s Charter and
insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve as a director
without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity.
Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on
behalf of the Company on the condition that he be so indemnified; and
WHEREAS, Indemnitee has certain rights to indemnification and/or insurance provided by Summit
Partners (“Summit”) which Indemnitee and Summit intends to be secondary to the primary
obligation of the Company to indemnify Indemnitee as provided herein, with the Company’s
acknowledgement and agreement to the foregoing being a material condition to Indemnitee’s
willingness to serve on the Board.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of Indemnitee’s agreement to serve as a director from and
after the date hereof, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Indemnity of Indemnitee. The Company hereby agrees to hold harmless and indemnify
Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law, as such may be amended from time to time. 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, Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or
participant in any Proceeding 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, 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 Indemnitee
acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
best interests of the Company, and with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause
to believe Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.
(b) Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Indemnitee shall be entitled to
the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 1(b) if, by reason of his Corporate
Status, Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding
brought by or in the right of the Company. Pursuant to this Section 1(b), Indemnitee shall
be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee, or on
Indemnitee’s behalf, in connection with such Proceeding if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a
manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company;
provided, however, if applicable law so provides, no indemnification against such Expenses shall be
made in respect of any claim, issue or matter in such Proceeding as to which Indemnitee shall have
been adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and to the extent that the Court of Chancery of
the State of Delaware shall determine that such indemnification may be made.
(c) Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason
of his Corporate Status, a party to and is successful, on the merits or
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otherwise, in any Proceeding, he shall be indemnified to the maximum extent permitted by law,
as such may be amended from time to time, against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by
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 1(c) and
without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by
dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim,
issue or matter.
2. Additional Indemnity. In addition to, and without regard to any limitations on,
the indemnification provided for in Section 1 of this Agreement, the Company shall and
hereby does indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against all Expenses, judgments, penalties,
fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by 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.
3. Contribution.
(a) Whether or not the indemnification provided in Sections 1 and 2 hereof is
available, in respect of any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding in which
the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or
proceeding), the Company shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount of any judgment or
settlement of such action, suit or proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such
payment and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have
against Indemnitee. The Company shall not, without the Indemnitee’s prior written consent, enter
into any such settlement of any action, suit or proceeding (in whole or in part) unless such
settlement (i) provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee and
(ii) does not impose any Expense, judgment, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee.
(b) Without diminishing or impairing the obligations of the Company set forth in the preceding
subparagraph, if, for any reason, Indemnitee shall elect or be required to pay all or any portion
of any judgment or settlement in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding in
which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or
proceeding), the Company shall contribute to the amount of Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts
paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred and paid or payable by Indemnitee in proportion
to the relative benefits received by the Company and all officers, directors or employees of the
Company, other than Indemnitee, who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in
such action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, from the
transaction from which such action, suit or proceeding arose; provided, however, that the proportion determined on the basis of relative
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benefit may, to the extent necessary to conform to law, be further adjusted by reference to the
relative fault of the Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company other than
Indemnitee who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or
proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, in connection with the events that
resulted in such expenses, judgments, fines or settlement amounts, as well as any other equitable
considerations which the Law may require to be considered. The relative fault of the Company and
all officers, directors or employees of the Company, other than Indemnitee, who are jointly liable
with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and
Indemnitee, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, the degree
to which their actions were motivated by intent to gain personal profit or advantage, the degree to
which their liability is primary or secondary and the degree to which their conduct is active or
passive.
(c) The Company hereby agrees to fully indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless from any claims
of contribution which may be brought by officers, directors or employees of the Company, other than
Indemnitee, who may be jointly liable with Indemnitee.
(d) To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided
for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu
of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for
judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for
Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in
such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such
Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as
a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the
relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in
connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).
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, or
is made (or asked to) respond to discovery requests, 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 thirty (30) days after the receipt
by the Company of a statement or statements from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances
from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement
or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall include or be
preceded or accompanied by a written undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay any
Expenses advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be
indemnified against such Expenses. Any advances and undertakings to repay pursuant to this
Section 5 shall be unsecured and interest free.
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6. Procedures and Presumptions for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification.
It is the intent of this Agreement to secure for Indemnitee rights of indemnity that are as
favorable as may be permitted under the DGCL and public policy of the State of Delaware.
Accordingly, the parties agree that the following procedures and presumptions shall apply in the
event of any question as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement:
(a) To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a
written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably
available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent
Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon
receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board of Directors in writing that
Indemnitee has requested indemnification. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any failure of Indemnitee
to provide such a request to the Company, or to provide such a request in a timely fashion, shall
not relieve the Company of any liability that it may have to Indemnitee unless, and to the extent
that, such failure actually and materially prejudices the interests of the Company.
(b) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of
Section 6(a) hereof, a determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall
be made in the specific case by one of the following four methods, which shall be at the election
of the board: (1) by a majority vote of the disinterested directors, even though less than a
quorum, (2) by a committee of disinterested directors designated by a majority vote of the
disinterested directors, even though less than a quorum, (3) if there are no disinterested
directors, or if the disinterested directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion
to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (4) if so directed
by the Board of Directors, by the stockholders of the Company; provided, however, that if a Change
in Control has occurred, the determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to
indemnification shall be made by Independent Counsel. For purposes hereof, disinterested directors
are those members of the board of directors of the Company who are not parties to the action, suit
or proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.
(c) In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by
Independent Counsel, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section
6(c). If a Change in Control has not occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the
Board of Directors (including a vote of a majority of the Disinterested Directors if obtainable),
and the Company shall give written notice to the Indemnitee advising him of the identity of the
Independent Counsel so selected. Indemnitee may, within 10 days after such written notice of
selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company a written objection to such selection;
provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent
Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in
Section 13 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the
factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected
shall act as Independent Counsel. If a written objection is made and substantiated, the
Independent Counsel selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection
is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If a Change in
Control
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has occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Indemnitee (unless the
Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board of Directors, in which event the
preceding sentence shall apply), and approved by the Board of Directors (which approval shall not
be unreasonably withheld). If (i) an Independent Counsel is to make the determination of
entitlement pursuant to this Section 6, and (ii) 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 Indemnitee to the
Company’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a
person selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall designate, and the person
with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as
Independent Counsel under Section 6(b) hereof. The Company shall pay any and all
reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in
connection with acting pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof, and the Company shall pay all
reasonable fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 6(c), regardless of
the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed.
(d) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the
person or persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification under this Agreement. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the
burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence. Neither the failure
of the Company (including by its directors or independent legal counsel) to have made a
determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that
indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard
of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or independent
legal counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense
to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of
conduct.
(e) Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on
the records or books of account of the Enterprise, 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.
(f) If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under this Section 6 to
determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination
within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the
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requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall be deemed to have been made
and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of
a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not
materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of
such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be
extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person,
persons or entity making such determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good
faith requires such additional time to obtain or evaluate documentation and/or information relating
thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(f) shall
not apply if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders
pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement and if (A) within fifteen (15) days after
receipt by the Company of the request for such determination, the Board of Directors or the
Disinterested Directors, if appropriate, resolve to submit such determination to the stockholders
for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within seventy-five (75) days after
such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is
called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination,
such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such
determination is made thereat.
(g) Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination
with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person,
persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not
privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee
and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Independent Counsel, member of the Board of
Directors or stockholder of the Company shall act reasonably and in good faith in making a
determination regarding Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement. Any
costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so
cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the
Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and
the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
(h) The Company acknowledges that a settlement or other disposition short of final judgment
may be successful if it permits a party to avoid expense, delay, distraction, disruption and
uncertainty. In the event that any action, claim or proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party is
resolved in any manner other than by adverse judgment against Indemnitee (including, without
limitation, settlement of such action, claim or proceeding with or without payment of money or
other consideration) it shall be presumed that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or
otherwise in such action, suit or proceeding. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall
have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence.
(i) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment,
order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not
(except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of
Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and
in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not
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opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that
Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
7. Remedies of Indemnitee.
(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 6 of this
Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement
of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 5 of this Agreement, (iii) no
determination of entitlement to indemnification is made pursuant to Section 6(b) of this
Agreement within 90 days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv)
payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to this Agreement within ten (10) days after
receipt by the Company of a written request therefor or (v) payment of indemnification is not made
within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification or such determination is deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 6 of
this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate court of the
State of Delaware, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, of Indemnitee’s entitlement to
such indemnification, contribution or advancement of Expenses. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his
option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the
Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Except as set forth herein,
the provisions of Delaware law (without regard to its conflict of law rules) shall apply to any
such arbitration. The Company 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 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,
or arbitration, on the merits, and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of the adverse
determination under Section 6(b). In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced
pursuant to this Section 7, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification
under this Agreement and the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be, and the Company may not refer to or
introduce into evidence any determination pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement
adverse to Indemnitee for any purpose. If Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or
arbitration pursuant to this Section 7, Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the
Company for any advances pursuant to Section 5 until a final determination is made with
respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification (as to which all rights of appeal have been
exhausted or lapsed).
(c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement
that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in
any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 7, absent (i) a misstatement by
Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s
misstatement not materially misleading in connection with the application for indemnification, or
(ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.
(d) In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 7, seeks a judicial
adjudication of his rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, or
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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. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all
Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company
of a written request therefore) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such expenses to
Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee
for indemnification or advance of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any
directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of
whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of
Expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to
entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final
disposition of the Proceeding.
8. Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Primacy of Indemnification;
Subrogation.
(a) The rights of indemnification 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 Charter, the By-laws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders, a
resolution of directors or otherwise, of the Company. 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 DGCL, whether by
statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification than would be afforded currently
under the Charter, By-laws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that
Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right
or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every
other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given
hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or
employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent
assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.
(b) The Company shall obtain and maintain in effect during the entire period for which the
Company is obligated to indemnify Indemnitee under this Agreement, one or more policies of
insurance with reputable insurance companies to provide the directors of the
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Company with coverage for losses from wrongful acts and omissions and to ensure the Company’s
performance of its indemnification obligations under this Agreement. 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 officer or director under such policy or policies. In all such
insurance policies, Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide
Indemnitee with the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the
Company’s directors and officers. At the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to
the terms hereof, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such proceeding to
the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company
shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of
Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in accordance with the terms of such
policies.
(c) The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee has certain rights to indemnification,
advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by Summit and certain affiliates that, directly
or indirectly, (i) are controlled by, (ii) control or (iii) are under common control with, Summit
(collectively, the “Fund Indemnitors”). The Company hereby agrees (i) that it is the
indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to Indemnitee are primary and any obligation of
the Fund Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or
liabilities incurred by Indemnitee are secondary), (ii) that it shall be required to advance the
full amount of expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall be liable for the full amount of all
Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement to the extent legally
permitted and as required by the terms of this Agreement and the Charter or Bylaws of the Company
(or any other agreement between the Company and Indemnitee), without regard to any rights
Indemnitee may have against the Fund Indemnitors, and, (iii) that it irrevocably waives,
relinquishes and releases the Fund Indemnitors from any and all claims against the Fund Indemnitors
for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. The Company
further agrees that no advancement or payment by the Fund Indemnitors on behalf of Indemnitee with
respect to any claim for which Indemnitee has sought indemnification from the Company shall affect
the foregoing and the Fund Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution and/or be subrogated to
the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee against
the Company. The Company and Indemnitee agree that the Fund Indemnitors are express third party
beneficiaries of the terms of this Section 8(c).
(d) Except as provided in Section 8(c) above, 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 (other than against the Fund Indemnitors), 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.
(e) Except as provided in Section 8(c) above, 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.
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(f) Except as provided in Section 8(c) above, the Company’s obligation to indemnify or
advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a
director, officer, employee or agent of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust,
employee benefit plan or other Enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually
received as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise.
9. Exception to Right of Indemnification. Notwithstanding any provision in this
Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnity in
connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:
(a) for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance
policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under
any insurance policy or other indemnity provision; provided, that the foregoing shall not
affect the rights of Indemnitee or the Fund Indemnitors set forth in Section 8(c) above; or
(b) for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by
Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or
similar provisions of state statutory law or common law; or
(c) for reimbursement to the Company of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based
compensation or of any profits realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company in
each case as required under the Exchange Act; or
(d) in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee,
including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the
Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Company has
joined in or the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any
Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole
discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law, or (iii) the
Proceeding is one to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.
10. Non-Disclosure of Payments. Except as expressly required by the securities laws of
the United States of America, neither party shall disclose any payments under this Agreement unless
prior approval of the other party is obtained. If any payment information must be disclosed, the
Company shall afford the Indemnitee an opportunity to review all such disclosures and, if
requested, to explain in such statement any mitigating circumstances regarding the events to be
reported.
11. Duration of Agreement. All agreements and obligations of the Company contained
herein shall continue upon the later of (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall
have ceased to serve as a director of the Company or a director, officer, trustee, partner,
managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other Enterprise which Indemnitee served at the
request
11
of the Company; or (b) one (1) year after the final termination of any Proceeding
(including any rights of appeal thereto) in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of
indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee
pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement relating thereto (including any rights of appeal of
any Section 7 Proceeding. 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.
12. Security. To the extent requested by Indemnitee and approved by the Board of
Directors of the Company, the Company may at any time and from time to time provide security to
Indemnitee for the Company’s obligations hereunder through an irrevocable bank line of credit,
funded trust or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to Indemnitee, may not be
revoked or released without the prior written consent of Indemnitee.
13. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the
date of this Agreement of any of the following events:
(i) Acquisition of Stock by Third Party. Any Person, other
than Summit and its affiliates and 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, directly or indirectly, of securities of the
Company representing fifty (50%) or more of the combined voting
power of the Company’s then outstanding securities;
(ii) Change in Board of Directors. During any period of two
(2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the
execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of
such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a
director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement
with the Company to effect a transaction described in Section
13(a)(i), 13(a)(iii) or 13(a)(iv)) whose
election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s
stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the
directors then still in office who either were directors at the
beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election
was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a
least a majority of the members of the Board;
(iii) Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a
merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity,
12
other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting
securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such
merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining
outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the
surviving entity) more than 51% of the combined voting power of the
voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately
after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at
least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body
of such surviving entity; and
(iv) Liquidation. The approval by the stockholders of the
Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement or
series of agreements for the sale or disposition by the Company of
all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, or, if such
approval is not required, the decision by the Board to proceed with
such a liquidation, sale, or disposition in one transaction or a
series of related transactions.
(b) “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under
the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner shall exclude any Person otherwise
becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the
Company with another entity.
(c) “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director,
officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company, any direct or indirect subsidiary of the
Company, or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or
other enterprise that such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.
(d) “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.
(e) “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that Indemnitee is or was serving at the
request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary.
(f) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(g) “Expenses” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs,
transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and
binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees and all other disbursements or
expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to
prosecute or defend, investigating, participating, or being or preparing to be a witness in a Proceeding, or responding to, or objecting to, a request to provide
discovery in any Proceeding. Expenses also shall include Expenses incurred in connection with any
appeal resulting from any Proceeding and any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on
13
Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement,
including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond,
supersede as bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent. Expenses, however, shall not include
amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.
(h) “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is
experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has
been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such
party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other
indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding
giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term
“Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of
professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the
Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. The
Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully
indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of
or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.
(i) “Person” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the
Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person shall exclude (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or
other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any
corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the
same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.
(j) “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 a 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, agent or fiduciary
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, but 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 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, paragraph or sentence 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; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed
14
to the fullest extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the
intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this
Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence 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. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Agreement is intended
to confer upon Indemnitee indemnification rights to the fullest extent permitted by applicable
laws.
15. Enforcement and Binding Effect.
(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 a director
of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in
serving as a director of the Company.
(b) Without limiting any of the rights of Indemnitee under the Charter or Bylaws of the
Company as they may be amended from time to time, 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.
(c) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to this
Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns (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),
shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of
the Company or of any other Enterprise at the Company’s request, and shall inure to the benefit of
Indemnitee and his or her spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other
legal representatives.
(d) The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase,
merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the
business and/or assets of the Company to expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in
the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such
succession had taken place.
(e) The Company and Indemnitee agree herein that a monetary remedy for breach of this
Agreement, at some later date, may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult of proof, and further
agree that such breach may cause Indemnitee irreparable harm. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree
that Indemnitee may enforce this Agreement by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance
hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable harm and that by seeking
injunctive relief and/or specific performance, Indemnitee shall not he precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which he may
be entitled. The Company and Indemnitee further agree that Indemnitee shall be entitled to such
specific performance and injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary
injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bonds or other
15
undertaking in connection therewith. The Company acknowledges that in the absence of a waiver, a bond or
undertaking may be required of Indemnitee by the Court, and the Company hereby waives any such
requirement of such a bond or undertaking.
16. 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.
17. Notice By Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing
upon being served with or otherwise receiving any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint,
indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject
to indemnification covered hereunder. The failure to so notify the Company shall not relieve the
Company of any obligation which it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.
18. Notices. All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon personal delivery to
the party to be notified, (b) when sent by confirmed electronic mail or facsimile if sent during
normal business hours of the recipient, and if not so confirmed, then on the next business day, (c)
five (5) days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested,
postage prepaid, or (d) one (1) day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier,
specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be
sent:
(a) To Indemnitee at the address set forth below Indemnitee signature hereto.
(b) To the Company at:
Fortegra Financial Corporation
000 Xxxx Xxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
Fortegra Financial Corporation
000 Xxxx Xxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
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.
19. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
Agreement. This Agreement may also be executed and delivered by facsimile signature and in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all
of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
16
20. 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.
21. Usage of Pronouns. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage
of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.
22. Governing Law and Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement and the legal relations
among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of
the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. The Company and Indemnitee
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in
connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware
(the “Delaware Court”), and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of
America or any court in any other country, (ii) generally and unconditionally consent to submit to
the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising
out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of
any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to
make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought
in an improper or inconvenient forum. The foregoing consent to jurisdiction shall not constitute
general consent to service of process in the state for any purpose except as provided above, and
shall not be deemed to confer rights on any person other than the parties to this Agreement.
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on and as of the day and
year first above written.
| COMPANY |
||||
| By: | ||||
| Name: | ||||
| Title: | ||||
| INDEMNITEE |
||||
| Name: | ||||
| Address: | ||||
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