INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is entered into, effective as of August 1, 2001 by and
between TEXXON, INC., an Oklahoma corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxx X.
Xxxxxxx ("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 and/or officer of the Company;
WHEREAS, both the Company and Indemnitee recognize the increased risk of
litigation and other claims currently being asserted against directors and
officers of corporations; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of Indemnitee's need for substantial protection
against personal liability in order to enhance Indemnitee's continued and
effective service to the Company, and in order to induce Indemnitee to provide
services to the Company as a director and/or officer, 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 Oklahoma law and as set forth in this Agreement, and, to the extent
insurance is maintained, for the coverage of Indemnitee under the Company's
directors' and officers' liability insurance policies.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above premises and of Indemnitee's
continuing to serve the Company directly or, at its request, with another
enterprise, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as
follows:
1. Certain Definitions:
(a) Board: the Board of Directors of the Company.
(b) 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 (the "Act"), 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 shareholders 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 the Act), directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 30% 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 and any new director whose
election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders
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 of whose
election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any
reason to constitute a majority of the Board, or, or (iii) the shareholders of
the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other
corporation, other than a merger or consolidation that would result in the
Voting Securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto
continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted
into Voting Securities of the surviving entity) at least 80% 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 (iv) the
shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the
Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company (in one
transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the
Company's assets.
(c) Expenses: any expense, liability, or loss, including attorneys' fees,
judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, amounts paid or to be paid
in settlement, any interest, assessments, or other charges
imposed thereon, and any federal, state, local, or foreign taxes imposed as a
result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement,
paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness
in, or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing for any of the
foregoing in, any Proceeding relating to any Indemnifiable Event.
(d) Indemnifiable Event: any event or occurrence that takes place either
prior to or after the execution of this Agreement, related to the fact that
Indemnitee is or was a director or an officer of the Company, or while a
director or officer is or was serving at the request of the Company as a
director, officer, employee, trustee, agent, or fiduciary of another foreign or
domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust,
or other enterprise, or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of a foreign
or domestic corporation that was a predecessor corporation of the Company or of
another enterprise at the request of such predecessor corporation, or related to
anything done or not done by Indemnitee in any such capacity, whether or not the
basis of the Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director,
officer, employee, or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a
director, officer, employee, or agent of the Company, as described above.
(e) Independent Counsel: the person or body appointed in connection with
Section 3.
(f) Potential Change in Control: shall be deemed to have occurred if (I)
the Company enters into an agreement or arrangement, the consummation of which
would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control; (ii) any person
(including the Company) publicly announces an intention to take or to consider
taking actions that, if consummated, would constitute a Change in Control; (iii)
any person (other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an
employee benefit plan of the Company acting in such capacity or a corporation
owned, substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the
Company), who is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of
securities of the Company representing 10% or more of the combined voting power
of the Company's then outstanding Voting Securities, increase his beneficial
ownership of such securities by 5% or more over the percentage so owned by such
person on the date hereof, or (iv) the board adopts a resolution to the effect
that, for purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control has
occurred.
(g) Proceeding: (I) any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or
proceeding, or whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative, or other;
(ii) any inquiry, hearing, or investigation, whether conducted 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.
(h) Reviewing Party: the person or body appointed in accordance with
Section 3.
(I) Voting Securities: any securities of the Company that vote generally in
the election of officers.
2. Agreement to Indemnify.
(a) General Agreement. 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 Proceeding by reason of (or arising in part
out of) an Indemnifiable Event, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee from and
against any and all Expenses to the fullest extent permitted by law, as the same
exists or may hereafter be amended or interpreted (but in the case of any such
amendment or interpretation, only to the extent that such amendment or
interpretation permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights
than were permitted prior thereto). The parties hereto intend that this
Agreement shall provide for indemnification in excess of that expressly
permitted by statute, including, without limitation, any indemnification
provided by the Company's Articles of Incorporation, its bylaws, vote of its
shareholders or disinterested directors, or applicable law.
(b) Initiation of Proceeding. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification pursuant to
this Agreement in connection with any Proceeding initiated by Indemnitee against
the Company or any director or officer of the Company unless (i) the Company has
joined in or the Board has consented to the initiation of such Proceeding; (ii)
the Proceeding is one to enforce indemnification rights under Section 5; or
(iii) the Proceeding is instituted after a Change in Control and Independent
Counsel has approved its initiation.
(c) Expense Advances. If so requested by Indemnitee, the Company shall
advance (within ten business days of such request) any and all Expenses to
Indemnitee (an "Expense Advance"); proved that, if 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. If Indemnitee has commenced legal proceedings in a court of
competent jurisdiction to secure a determination that Indemnitee should be
indemnified under applicable law, as provided in Section 4, 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 there from have been exhausted or have lapsed). Indemnitee's obligation
to reimburse the Company for Expense Advances shall be unsecured and no interest
shall be charged thereon.
(d) Mandatory Indemnification. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement (other than Section 2(f) below), to the extent that Indemnitee has
been successful on the merits in defense or any Proceeding relating in whole or
in part to an Indemnifiable Event or in defense of any issue or matter therein,
Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses incurred in connection
therewith.
(e) Partial Indemnification. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision
of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of
Expense, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company shall
nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is
entitled.
(f) Prohibited Indemnification. No indemnification pursuant to this
Agreement shall be paid by the Company on account of any Proceeding in which
judgment is rendered against Indemnitee for an accounting of profits made from
the purchase or sale by Indemnitee of securities of the Company pursuant to the
provisions of Section 16(b) of the Act or similar provisions of any federal,
state or local laws.
3. Reviewing Party.
Prior to any Change in Control, the Reviewing Party shall be any
appropriate person or body consisting of a member or members of the Board or any
other person or body appointed by the board who is not a party to the particular
Proceeding with respect to which Indemnitee is seeking indemnification; after a
Change in Control, the Reviewing Party shall be the Independent Counsel referred
to below. With respect to all matters arising after a Change in Control (other
than a Change in Control approved by a majority of the directors on the Board
who were directors immediately prior to such Change in Control) concerning the
rights of Indemnitee to indemnity payments and Expense Advances under this
Agreement or any other agreement or under applicable law or the Company's
Articles of Incorporation of bylaws now or hereafter in effect relating to
indemnification for Indemnifiable Events, the Company shall seek legal advice
only from Independent Counsel selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company
(which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), and who has not otherwise
performed services for the Company or the Indemnitee (other than in connection
with indemnification matters ) within the last five years. The 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. Such counsel, among other things,
shall render its written opinion
to the Company and Indemnitee as to whether and to what extent the Indemnitee
should be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law. the Company agrees
to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Counsel and to indemnify fully
such counsel against any and all expenses (including attorney's fees), claims,
liabilities, loss, and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or
the engagement of Independent Counsel pursuant hereto.
4. Indemnification Process and Appeal.
(a) Indemnification Payment. Indemnitee shall be entitled to
indemnification of Expenses, and shall receive payment thereof, from the Company
in accordance with this Agreement as soon as practicable after Indemnitee has
made written demand on the Company for indemnification, unless the Reviewing
Party has given a written opinion to the Company that Indemnitee is not entitled
to indemnification under applicable law.
(b) Suit to Enforce Rights. Regardless of any action by the Reviewing
Party, if Indemnitee has not received full indemnification within thirty days
after making a demand in accordance with Section 4(a), Indemnitee shall have the
right to enforce its indemnification rights under this Agreement by commencing
litigation in any court in the State of Oklahoma having subject matter
jurisdiction thereof and in which venue is proper seeking an initial
determination by the court or challenging any determination by the Reviewing
Party or any aspect thereof. The Company hereby consents to service of process
and to appear in any such proceeding. any determination by the Reviewing Party
not challenged by the Indemnitee shall be binding on the Company and Indemnitee.
The remedy provided for in this Section 4 shall be in addition to any other
remedies available to Indemnitee in law or equity.
(c) Defense to Indemnification, Burden of Proof, and Presumptions. It shall
be a defense to any action brought by Indemnitee against the Company to enforce
this Agreement (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for Expenses
incurred in defending a Proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the
required undertaking has been tendered to the Company) that it is not
permissible under applicable law for the Company to indemnify Indemnitee for the
amount claimed. In connection with any such action or any determination by the
Reviewing Party or otherwise as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to be
indemnified hereunder, the burden of proving such a defense or determination
shall be on the Company. Neither the failure of the Reviewing Party or the
Company (including its board, independent legal counsel, or its shareholders) to
have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action by Indemnitee
that indemnification of the claimant is proper under the circumstances because
Indemnitee has met the standard of conduct set forth in applicable law, nor an
actual determination by the Reviewing Party of Company (including it Board,
independent counsel, or its shareholders) that the Indemnitee had not met such
applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a
presumption that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
For purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any claim, action, suit, or
proceeding, by judgment, order settlement (whether with or without court
approval), 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.
5. Indemnification for Expenses Incurred in Enforcing Rights.
The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if
requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten business days of such request),
advance such Expenses to Indemnitee, that are incurred by Indemnitee in
connection with any claim asserted against or action brought by Indemnitee for
(i) Indemnification of Expenses or Expense Advances by the Company under
this Agreement or any other agreement or under applicable law or the Company's
Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws now or hereafter in effect relating to
indemnification for Indemnifiable Events, and/or
(ii) recovery under directors' and officers' liability insurance policies
maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is
determined to be entitled to such indemnification, Expense Advances, or
insurance recovery, as the case may be.
6. Notification and Defense of Proceeding.
(a) Notice. Promptly after receipt by Indemnitee of notice of the
commencement of any Proceeding, Indemnitee shall, if a claim in respect thereof
is to be made against the Company under this Agreement, notify the Company of
the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the Company will not
relieve the Company from any liability that it may have to Indemnitee, except as
provided in Section 6(c).
(b) Defense. With respect to any Proceeding as to which Indemnitee notifies
the Company of the commencement thereof, the Company shall be entitled to
participate in the Proceeding at its own expense and except as otherwise
provided below, to the extent the Company so wishes, it may assume the defense
thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee. After notice from
the Company to Indemnitee of its election to assume the defense of any
Proceeding, the Company shall not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement
or otherwise for any Expenses subsequently incurred by Indemnitee in connection
with the defense of such Proceeding other than reasonable costs of investigation
or as otherwise provided below. Indemnitee shall have the right to employ his or
her own legal counsel in such Proceeding, but all Expenses related thereto
incurred after notice from the Company of its assumption of the defense shall be
at Indemnitee's expense unless: (I) the employment of legal counsel by
Indemnitee has been authorized by the Company, (ii) Indemnitee has reasonably
determined that there may be a conflict of interest between Indemnitee and the
Company in the defense of the Proceeding, (iii) after a Change in Control, the
employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been approved by the Independent
Counsel, or (iv) the Company shall not in fact have employed counsel to assume
the defense of such Proceeding, in each of which case all Expenses of the
Proceeding shall be borne by the Company. The Company shall not be entitled to
assume the defense of any Proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Company or
as to which Indemnitee shall have made the determination provided for in (ii)
above.
(c) Settlement of Claims. The Company shall not be liable to indemnify
Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise for any amounts paid in settlement
of any Proceeding effected without the Company's written consent, provided,
however, that if a Change in Control has occurred, the Company shall be liable
for indemnification of Indemnitee for amounts paid in settlement if the
Independent counsel has approved the settlement. The Company shall not settle
any Proceeding in any manner that would impose any penalty or limitation on
Indemnitee without Indemnitee's written consent. Neither the Company nor the
Indemnitee will unreasonably withhold their consent to any proposed settlement.
The Company shall not be liable to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement
with regard to any judicial award if the Company was not given a reasonable and
timely opportunity, at its expense, to participate in the defense of such
action; the Company's liability hereunder shall not be excused if participation
in the Proceeding by the Company was barred by this Agreement.
8. Establishment of Trust.
In the event of a Change in Control or a Potential Change in Control, the
Company shall, upon written request by Indemnitee, create a Trust for the
benefit of the Indemnitee and from time to time upon written request of
Indemnitee shall fund the Trust in an amount sufficient to satisfy any and all
Expense reasonably anticipated at the time of each such request to be incurred
in connection with investigating, preparing for, participating in, and/or
defending any Proceeding relating to an Indemnifiable Event. The amount or
amounts to be deposited in the Trust pursuant to the foregoing funding
obligation shall be determined by the Reviewing Party. The terms of the Trust
shall provide that upon a Change in Control, (I) the Trust shall not be revoked
or the principal thereof invaded, without the written consent of the Indemnitee,
(ii) the Trustee shall advance, within ten business days of a request by the
Indemnitee, any and all Expenses to the
Indemnitee (and the Indemnitee hereby agrees to reimburse the Trust under the
same circumstances for which the Indemnitee would be required to reimburse the
Company under Section 2(c) of this Agreement), (iii) the Trust shall continue to
be funded by the Company in accordance with the funding obligation set forth
above, (iv) the Trustee shall promptly pay to the Indemnitee all amounts for
which the Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this
Agreement or otherwise, and (v) all unexpended funds in the Trust shall revert
to the Company upon a final determination by the Reviewing Party or a court of
competent jurisdiction, as the case may be, that the Indemnitee has been fully
indemnified under the terms of this Agreement. The Trustee shall be chosen by
the Indemnitee. Nothing in this Section 7 shall relieve the Company of any of
its obligations under this Agreement. All income earned on the assets held in
the Trust shall be reported as income by the Company for federal, state, local,
and foreign tax purposes. The Company shall pay all costs of establishing and
maintaining the Trust and shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all
expenses (including attorneys' fees), claims, liabilities, loss, and damages
arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the establishment and
maintenance of the Trust.
19. Non-Exclusivity.
The rights of Indemnitee hereunder shall be in addition to any other rights
Indemnitee may have under the Company's Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws,
applicable law, or otherwise. To the extent that a change in applicable law
(whether by statute or judicial decision) permits greater indemnification by
agreement than would be afforded currently under the Company's Articles of
Incorporation, Bylaws, applicable law, or this Agreement, it is the intent of
the parties that Indemnitee enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so
afforded by such change.
20. 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.
21. Period of Limitations.
No legal action shall be brought and no cause of action shall be asserted
by or on behalf of the Company or any affiliate 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, or such longer period as may be required by state law
under the circumstances. Any claim or cause of action of the Company or its
affiliate shall be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the
timely filing of a legal action within such period; provided, however that if
any shorter period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of
action the shorter period shall govern.
22. Amendment of this Agreement.
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 operate as a waiver of any other
provisions hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a
continuing waiver. Except as specifically provided herein, no failure to
exercise or any delay in exercising any right or remedy hereunder shall
constitute a waiver thereof.
23. Subrogation.
In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be
subjugated 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 suite to
enforce such rights.
24. 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 received payment (under any insurance policy, Bylaw, or otherwise) of
the amounts otherwise Indemnifiable hereunder.
25. Binding Effect.
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 and/or assets of the Company), assigns,
spouses, heirs, and personal and legal representatives. 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, by written agreement in form and
substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, 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. The
indemnification provided under this Agreement shall continue as to Indemnitee
for any action taken or not taken while serving in an indemnified capacity
pertaining to an Indemnifiable Event even though he or she may have ceased to
serve in such capacity at the time of any Proceeding.
26. Severability.
If any provision (or portion thereof) of this Agreement shall be held by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void, or otherwise unenforceable,
the remaining provision shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted
by law. Furthermore, to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this
Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of this Agreement
containing any provision held to be invalid, void, or otherwise unenforceable,
that is not itself invalid, void, or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to
give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, void, or
unenforceable.
27. Governing Law.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in
accordance with the laws of the State of Oklahoma applicable to contracts made
and to be performed in such State without giving effect to the principles of
conflicts of laws.
28. Notices.
All notices, demands, and other communications required or permitted
hereunder shall be made in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given
if delivered by hand, against receipt, or mailed, postage prepaid, certified or
registered mail, return receipt requested, and addressed to the Company at:
TEXXON, INC.
0000 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: President
and to Indemnitee at:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
000 Xxxxx Xxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Notice of change of address shall be effective only when given in accordance
with this Section. All notices complying with this Section shall be deemed to
have been received on the date of delivery or on the third business day after
mailing.
29. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and
the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed and delivered
this Agreement as of the day specified above.
TEXXON, INC.
By: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, III
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx III
------------------------
Title: President and CEO
INDEMNITEE:
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
-------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, an Individual
