INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.1
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of ___________, 2009 between Grande Communications Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
and __________ (“Indemnitee”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, 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 corporation or business enterprise itself;
WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve corporations as directors or officers 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 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, the Board does not regard the protection available under the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Charter”) or the Bylaws of the Company, as amended (the “Bylaws”),
and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances;
WHEREAS, although the Charter and Bylaws require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company, and Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”), the Charter,
the Bylaws 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, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification; and,
WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Charter and Bylaws and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder or under applicable law, including the DGCL;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of Indemnitee’s agreement to serve as an officer or director from and after the date hereof, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:.
(a) “Change in Control” means and shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any Person, 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, becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 30% of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding Voting Securities, (ii) during any
period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board and any new director whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof, (iii) the 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 two-thirds (2/3) 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 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 of the Company’s assets. For purposes of this paragraph, “Voting Securities” shall mean any securities of the Company that vote generally in the election of directors.
(b) “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person at the time of the action or inaction that is complained of in, or the subject of, the Proceeding as (i) a director or officer
of the Company, any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries or any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise that such person is or was serving at the express written request of the Company or (ii) a fiduciary for an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries.
(c) “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.
(d) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(e) “Expenses” means all expenses incurred in connection with any Proceeding, including 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, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas 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.
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(f) “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.
(g) “Proceeding” means and 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, (i) by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was an officer or director of the Company or any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries at the time of the action or inaction complained of therein, (ii) by reason of any action taken by Indemnitee or of any inaction
on Indemnitee’s part while acting as an officer or director of the Company or any of its then wholly-owned subsidiaries, or (iii) by reason of the fact that Indemnitee 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, including serving in a fiduciary capacity on behalf of an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries; in each case whether or
not Indemnitee 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 and including any pending on or before the date of this Agreement.
(h) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
2. Indemnity of Indemnitee. The Company hereby agrees to hold harmless and indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as such may be
amended from time to time, for the matters set forth below in this Section 2.
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(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
2(a) if, by reason of Indemnitee’s 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 2(a), the Company shall hold harmless and indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement (if such settlement is approved in advance by the Board,
which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee, or on Indemnitee’s 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
2(b) if, by reason of Indemnitee’s 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 2(b), the Company shall hold harmless and indemnify Indemnitee 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 by court order or judgment 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 Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a party to and is successful on the merits, in any Proceeding, the Company shall hold harmless and indemnify Indemnitee to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, as such may be amended from time to time, against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s 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 Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.
3. Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee, by reason of Indemnitee’s
Corporate Status, is a witness, or is made (or asked) to respond to discovery requests, in any Proceeding, the Company shall hold harmless and indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.
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4. 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 and representing that Indemnitee has met the standards for indemnification under Section 2(a) or Section
2(b). 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 by a court of competent jurisdiction that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses. Any advances and undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section
4 shall be unsecured and interest free.
5. Procedures and Presumptions for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification. It is the intent of this Agreement and the parties hereto to secure for Indemnitee
rights of indemnity hereunder that are as favorable as may be permitted under the DGCL and public policy of the State of Delaware for the matters specified in Section 2 and Section 3. 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 in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.
(b) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of Section 5(a) hereof, a determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto
shall be made in the specific case by one of the following five 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 of such counsel to the Board,
a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, (4) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company, or (5) 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 Board who were directors immediately prior to such Change in Control), by Independent Counsel.
(c) If the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in
this Section 5(c). The Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board, and the Board shall provide Indemnitee with written notice of the selection. 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 1(f) of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If a written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected
may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within 20 days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 5(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 5(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 5(b) hereof, and the Company shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 5(c), regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed.
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(d) Indemnitee shall reasonably 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 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.
(e) 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 Proceeding to which
Indemnitee is a party is resolved in any manner other than by adverse judgment against Indemnitee (including, without limitation, by settlement of such Proceeding with or without payment of money or other consideration, or by termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice), it shall not be presumed that Indemnitee has not been successful on the merits or otherwise in such Proceeding.
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6. Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Primacy of Indemnification; Subrogation.
(a) The rights of indemnification as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Charter, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders of
the Company, a resolution of the Board or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to the effective date of such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in the DGCL, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification for the
matters specified in Section 2 and Section 3 than would be afforded currently under the Charter, By-laws or 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. To the extent that a change in the DGCL, whether by statute or judicial decision, narrows or restricts the indemnification
available hereunder, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall continue to enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded hereunder and such change shall have no affect on this Agreement or the parties rights and obligations hereunder, to the maximum extent permissible by applicable law. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and
remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.
(b) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents or fiduciaries of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee
benefit plan or other enterprise that such person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary under such policy or policies. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, 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) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights,
including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.
(d) The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries, contract of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or agreement or other obligation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
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(e) 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, fiduciary, 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.
(f) The existence of any other rights to indemnification of the Indemnitee shall not diminish or eliminate the obligations of the Company, or the rights of the Indemnitee, hereunder, and the Company’s obligations shall be the same as they
would if such other indemnification rights of the Indemnitee did not exist.
7. 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) to the extent payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or other indemnity provision or obligation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except with respect
to any excess beyond the amount paid under any such insurance policy or such other indemnity provision or obligation, provided, that the foregoing shall not affect the rights of Indemnitee set forth in Section 6(b); 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) 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 Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.
8. Duration of Agreement. All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue until
six (6) years after the end of any period Indemnitee is an officer or director of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (or is or was serving at the request of the Company or any of its subsidiaries as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including an employee benefit plan) but shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any Proceeding by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, whether or
not Indemnitee 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, notwithstanding such six (6) year period. 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.
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9. Security. To the extent requested by Indemnitee and approved by the Board, 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.
10. Enforcement.
(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumes the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as an officer or director of the Company and the Company acknowledges that
Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as an officer or director of the Company.
(b) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the
subject matter hereof.
11. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof, as determined by any court of competent jurisdiction, shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability
of any other provision. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Agreement is intended to confer upon Indemnitee indemnification rights to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. In the event any provision hereof conflicts with any applicable law, such provision shall be deemed modified, consistent with the aforementioned intent, to the extent necessary to resolve such conflict.
12. 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.
13. 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 unless and only to the extent that such failure or delay actually and materially prejudices the Company and in any event such failure shall not relieve the Company of any other obligation it otherwise may have to Indemnitee.
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14. 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:
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(a) |
To Indemnitee at the address set forth below Indemnitee signature hereto. |
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(b) |
To the Company at: |
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: CEO and Legal Department
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.
15. 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 or electronically transmitted 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. 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.
17. Disposition of Subsidiary or Other Entity. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Company sells or otherwise disposes of any interest in any subsidiary or
other entity of which Indemnitee was an officer or director (or additional equity in such subsidiary is issued such that the subsidiary ceases to be a wholly-owned subsidiary), the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status resulting from such service shall terminate on the date of sale, issuance or other disposition and the Indemnitee shall have no rights under this Agreement for any action or inaction that occurs after the date of the sale, issuance or other disposition of such interest in such subsidiary or other
entity, provided, however that such termination of rights will not apply to the extent that and for so long as the Indemnitee qualifies for Corporate Status as a result of the Company expressly requesting such Indemnitee to serve as a director of such subsidiary or other entity at any time after the consummation of the sale, issuance or disposition of such interest in such subsidiary or other entity.
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18. 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) 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) appoint, to the extent such party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, irrevocably The Corporation Trust Company, 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx of Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, 00000 as its agent in the State of Delaware for acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action or proceeding against such
party with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware, (iv) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (v) 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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on and as of the day and year first above written.
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By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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INDEMNITEE: | ||
Name: |
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Address: | ||
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