INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.1
Exhibit 10.1
This Indemnification Agreement (this “Agreement”) dated the [•] day of [•], 20[•], by and between MDU Resources Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [•], an individual (the “Indemnitee”).
[WHEREAS, the Company and the Indemnitee are parties to an Indemnification Agreement dated [•] (the “Prior Agreement”), and the Company and the Indemnitee have agreed that this Agreement shall supersede and replace the Prior Agreement; and] [Insert this clause if the Indemnitee has prior indemnification agreement with the Company only]
[WHEREAS, the Company and/or its Affiliates and the Indemnitee are parties to various Indemnification Agreements as shown on the attached schedule (collectively, the “Prior Agreement”), and the Company and the Indemnitee have agreed that this Agreement shall supersede and replace the Prior Agreement; and] [Insert this clause if the Indemnitee has prior indemnification agreements with the Company and its Affiliates and attach schedule]
WHEREAS, the Company is authorized by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) to indemnify its officers, directors, employees and agents by agreement and to indemnify persons who serve, at the request of the Company, as the directors, officers, employees or agents of other corporations or enterprises, and DGCL Section 145 expressly provides that the indemnification provided, or granted pursuant to, that section is not exclusive; and
defined below) and (iii) an inducement to provide services to the Company or any of its Affiliates as a director and/or officer, the Company wishes to provide in this Agreement for the indemnification of, and the advancement of expenses to, the Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law and as set forth in this Agreement, and, to the extent directors’ and officers’ liability insurance is maintained by the Company, for the continued coverage of the Indemnitee under such insurance policies.
ARTICLE 1
Capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the meanings set forth below:
“Affiliate” means any Enterprise directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company. For purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Enterprise means the power to direct the management and policies of such Enterprise, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“Board” has the meaning ascribed to that term in the Recitals.
“Bylaws” has the meaning ascribed to that term in the Recitals.
“Certificate” has the meaning ascribed to that term in the Recitals.
“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:
(a) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (a), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (i) any acquisition directly from the Company, (ii) any acquisition by the Company, (iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (iv) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (c) of this definition or
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(b) individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or the actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board or
(c) consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (i) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (ii) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination or
(d) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
For the avoidance of doubt, unless otherwise determined by the Board, the sale of a subsidiary, operating entity or business unit of the Company shall not constitute a Change in Control for purposes of this Agreement.
“Corporate Status” means the status of a person who is or was a director or officer or employee or agent of the Company or a director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, trustee, fiduciary or agent of an Enterprise at which such person is or was serving at the request
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of the Company. The Indemnitee will be deemed, for purposes of this Agreement, to be serving or to have served “at the request of the Company” as a director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, trustee, fiduciary or agent of an Enterprise if the Indemnitee is or was serving as a director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, trustee, fiduciary or agent of such Enterprise and (a) such Enterprise is or at the time of such service was an Affiliate, (b) such Enterprise is or at the time of such service was an employee benefit plan or related trust sponsored or maintained by the Company or an Affiliate or (c) the Company or an Affiliate directly or indirectly caused the Indemnitee to be nominated, elected, appointed, designated, employed, engaged or selected to serve in such capacity. References to “serving at the request of the Company” include any service as a director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, trustee, fiduciary or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, trustee, fiduciary or agent with respect to any employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan will be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to under applicable law or in this Agreement.
“DGCL” has the meaning ascribed to that term in the Recitals.
“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 the Indemnitee.
“D&O Insurance Policies” has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 6.1.
“Enterprise” means an entity other than the Company that is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint stock company, association, joint venture, business trust, employee benefit plan, trust, incorporated association or any other legal entity or enterprise of whatever nature.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Expense Advance” has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 3.1.
“Expenses” shall be broadly construed and shall include all attorneys’ fees, disbursements and retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, food and lodging expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, fax transmission charges, secretarial services, delivery service fees and all other disbursements or expenses actually and reasonably incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding, or in connection with seeking indemnification under this Agreement. Expenses also include Expenses actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any appeal bond or its equivalent. Expenses will also include any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on the Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payment, whether in respect of an Expense or a Loss, under this
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Agreement. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by the Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against the Indemnitee.
“Final Disposition” means the final, binding and non-appealable full or partial conclusion of a Proceeding by, including, but not limited to, (i) final judicial decision by a court of competent jurisdiction from which there is no further right to appeal, (ii) settlement or (iii) other determination. In addition, and without limiting the foregoing, a Final Disposition shall also occur when the party commencing the Proceeding has abandoned the claims asserted or otherwise fails to prosecute the matter or otherwise does not pursue the Proceeding for a period of twelve (12) months.
“Independent Counsel” means an attorney or firm of attorneys that is experienced in matters of corporation law and is not currently, and has not been in the past three years, retained to represent: (a) the Company or the Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement and/or the indemnification provisions of the Certificate or Bylaws, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements) or (b) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” does 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 the Indemnitee in an action to determine the Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.
“Losses” means losses of any type whatsoever, and shall include any liability, judgments, damages, amounts paid in settlement, fines, including excise taxes and penalties assessed with respect to employee benefit plans, penalties (whether civil, criminal or otherwise) and all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of any of the foregoing incurred by the Indemnitee, or on the Indemnitee’s behalf, in connection with a Proceeding.
[“Prior Agreement” has the meaning ascribed to that term in the Recitals.] [Insert this definition if the Indemnitee has prior indemnification agreement.]
“Proceeding” shall be broadly construed and shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, defamation claim, counterclaim, cross-claim, demand, arbitration, alternative dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether formal or informal, including any and all affirmative defenses and appeals, whether brought by or in the right of, or conducted by, the Company or otherwise, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and in each case whether or not commenced prior to the date of this Agreement, in which the Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party or otherwise, such as to provide testimony, by reason of or relating to the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status and by reason of or relating to either (i) any action or alleged action taken by the Indemnitee, or failure or alleged failure to act, or any action or alleged action, or failure or alleged failure to act, on the Indemnitee’s part, while acting in the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status or (ii) the fact of the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any Loss or Expense is incurred for which indemnification or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement, except one initiated by the Indemnitee to enforce the Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement pursuant to
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Article 7. For purposes of this definition, the term “threatened” will be deemed to include the Indemnitee’s good faith belief that a claim or other assertion may lead to institution of a Proceeding.
“Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act” has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 2.4(b).
“Spouse” means the person with whom the Indemnitee has entered into a lawful marriage, civil union or domestic partnership agreement.
“To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” means to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL or any provision that replaces or succeeds Section 145 of the DGCL with respect to such matters. The parties hereto intend that this Agreement shall provide for indemnification in excess of that expressly permitted by statute, but not to the extent prohibited by law.
“Voting Stock” means securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.
ARTICLE 2
(a) If, by reason of the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, the Indemnitee was, is or becomes a party to, or was, is or is threatened to be made a party to, or was or is otherwise involved in, any Proceeding other than Proceedings by or in the right of the Company, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified against any and all Expenses and Losses incurred by the Indemnitee, or on the Indemnitee’s behalf, in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner the 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 that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.
(b) If, by reason of the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, the Indemnitee was, is or becomes a party to, or was, is or is threatened to be made a party to, or was or is otherwise involved in, any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee, or on the Indemnitee’s behalf, in connection with such Proceeding if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company; provided, however, no indemnification against such Expenses shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter in such Proceeding as to which the 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 or the court in which such Proceeding was brought shall determine that such indemnification may be made.
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(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, other than Section 2.4, to the extent that the Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any Proceeding or any part thereof, the Company will indemnify the Indemnitee against all Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee, or on the Indemnitee’s behalf, in connection therewith to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. If the Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding, but is successful on the merits or otherwise as to one or more, but fewer than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless the Indemnitee against all Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee, or on the Indemnitee’s behalf, in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter on which the Indemnitee was successful. For purposes of this Section 2.1(c), the termination of any Proceeding, or any claim, issue or matter in such Proceeding by dismissal with or without prejudice will be deemed to be a successful result as to such Proceeding, claim, issue or matter.
(a) any Proceeding or part of any Proceeding initiated or brought voluntarily by the Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board has authorized or consented to the initiation of the Proceeding or such part of any Proceeding or (ii) the Proceeding was commenced following a Change in Control; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 2.4(a) shall limit the right of the Indemnitee to be indemnified under Section 7.4; or
(b) any Proceeding with respect to which final judgment is rendered against Indemnitee for (i) conduct determined to be knowingly fraudulent or deliberately dishonest or to constitute willful misconduct, (ii) payment or an accounting of profits
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made from the purchase and sale, or sale and purchase, by the 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 (iii) any reimbursement of, or payment to, the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 (the “Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act”) or any formal policy of the Company adopted by the Board, or from the purchase or sale by the Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act.
ARTICLE 3
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behalf, in connection with any Proceeding. The Indemnitee’s right to each Expense Advance will not be subject to the satisfaction of any standard of conduct and will be made without regard to the Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement, or under provisions of the Certificate or Bylaws or otherwise. Each Expense Advance will be unsecured and interest free and will be made by the Company without regard to the Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expense Advance. The Indemnitee shall qualify for Expense Advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute the Indemnitee’s undertaking to repay such Expense Advance if it is ultimately determined, by final decision by a court from which there is no further right to appeal, that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such Expenses under the Certificate, Bylaws, the DGCL, this Agreement or otherwise. No other form of undertaking shall be required other than the execution of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 4
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ARTICLE 5
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the Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied.
5.3. Selection of Independent Counsel. If the determination of entitlement to indemnification pursuant to Section 5.2 will be made by Independent Counsel, the Independent Counsel will be selected as provided in this Section 5.3. The Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board, and the Company will give written notice to the Indemnitee advising the Indemnitee of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. The Indemnitee may, within 10 days after such written notice of selection is 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 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 will 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 30 days after submission by the Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 5.1, no Independent Counsel has been selected, or the selection of the Independent Counsel remains the subject of a properly made objection thereto, either the Company or the Indemnitee may petition the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or other court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected or designated by the court or for resolution of any objection which has been made by the Indemnitee to the Company’s selection of Independent Counsel and the person so appointed or the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved will act as Independent Counsel under Section 5.2. The Company will pay any and all fees and expenses incurred by such Independent Counsel in connection with acting pursuant to Section 5.2, and the Company will pay all fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 5.3, regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed.
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shall not be imputed to the Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.
5.5. No Presumption in the Absence of a Determination or As Result of an Adverse Determination. Neither the failure of any person, persons or entity chosen to make a determination as to whether the Indemnitee has met any particular standard of conduct or had any particular belief, nor an actual determination by such person, persons or entity that the Indemnitee has not met such standard of conduct or did not have such belief, prior to or after the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by the Indemnitee to secure a judicial determination that the Indemnitee should be indemnified under this Agreement or under applicable law, will be a defense to the Indemnitee’s claim or create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met any particular standard of conduct or did not have any particular belief. In addition, the termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, will not, of itself, create a presumption that the 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 this Agreement or applicable law.
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days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination the Board has resolved to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within 75 days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within 15 days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within 60 days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat; provided, however, that such 75-, 15- and 60-day periods may be extended if required to comply with applicable law, rules and regulations.
5.10. Time for Submission of Request. The Indemnitee shall submit any request for indemnification pursuant to this Article 5 within a reasonable time, not to exceed three years, after any judgment, order, settlement, dismissal, arbitration award, conviction, acceptance of a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent or other Final Disposition of the Proceeding, with the latest date of the occurrence of any such event to be considered the commencement of the three-year period.
ARTICLE 6
6.1. Company Insurance. The Company currently has in force policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance (the “D&O Insurance Policies”). The Company agrees to furnish to Indemnitee copies of such D&O Insurance Policies (including any directors’ and officer’ liability insurance policies that replace D&O Insurance Policies) upon Indemnitee’s request.
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Subject to Section 6.3, for the duration of the Indemnitee’s service as a director and/or officer of the Company, and thereafter for a period of time equal to the greater of 6 years and the period during which the Indemnitee remains subject to any pending or possible Proceeding, the Company shall cause to be maintained in effect for the benefit of the Indemnitee policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance with terms of coverage substantially similar to those provided under the D&O Insurance Policies and in no event less favorable than the terms of coverage provided for the benefit of any other director or officer of the Company or any of its Affiliates.
ARTICLE 7
7.1. Action by the Indemnitee. In the event that (a) a determination is made pursuant to Article 5 that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (b) an Expense Advance is not timely made pursuant to Section 3.3, (c) no determination of entitlement to indemnification is made within the applicable time periods specified in Section 5.7, (d) payment of indemnified amounts is not made within the applicable time periods specified in Section 5.8, (e) contribution has not been timely made pursuant to Article 4, (f) D&O Insurance Policies are not maintained in accordance Article 6, or (g) it should appear to the Indemnitee that the Company has failed to comply with (a) any other provision of this Agreement, (b) any other agreement for indemnification of Indemnitee to which the Company is a party, (c) the indemnification or advancement of expenses provisions in the Bylaws or (d) the liability limitation provision in Article SEVENTEENTH of the Certificate (if the Indemnitee is or was a director of the Company), the Indemnitee will be entitled to an adjudication in the Delaware Chancery Court of the Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification, expense advance, contribution, D&O Insurance Policies coverage or liability limitation.
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ARTICLE 8
8.1. Non-Exclusivity. The rights of indemnification and to receive Expense Advances as provided by this Agreement will not be deemed exclusive of, and shall be in addition to, any other rights to which the Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate, the Bylaws, any agreement or covenant in an agreement, a vote of stockholders, a resolution of the directors or otherwise. 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 Certificate, Bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that the Indemnitee enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, will not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy. [Notwithstanding this Section 8.1, the parties agree that this Agreement shall supersede and replace the Prior Agreement.] [Insert this clause if the Indemnitee has a prior indemnification agreement.]
ARTICLE 9
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objections cannot be resolved by the parties, the Company will identify alternative counsel, which counsel will also be subject to approval by the Indemnitee in accordance with the procedure described in the prior sentence.
ARTICLE 10
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ARTICLE 11
If to Company:
MDU Resources Group, Inc.
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Mailing Address:
X.X. Xxx 0000
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: General Counsel
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile : (000) 000-0000
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If to the Indemnitee:
[·]
Facsimile: [·]
All notices, requests or other communications will be effective and deemed given only as follows: (a) if given by personal delivery, upon such personal delivery, (b) if sent by certified or registered mail, on the fifth business day after being deposited in the United States mail, (c) if sent for next day delivery by overnight delivery service, on the date of delivery as confirmed by written confirmation of delivery or (d) if sent by facsimile, upon the transmitter’s confirmation of receipt of such facsimile transmission, except that if such confirmation is received after 5:00 p.m. in the recipient’s time zone on a business day, or is received on a day that is not a business day, then such notice, request or communication will not be deemed effective or given until the next succeeding business day. Notices, requests and other communications sent in any other manner, including by electronic mail, will not be effective.
11.5. Governing Law and Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware without regard to any choice of law or conflict of law, choice of forum or other provision, rule or principle (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of this Agreement to the substantive law of another jurisdiction. The parties hereby irrevocably (a) submit themselves to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Chancery Court with respect to any action, suit or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement and (b) waive the right and hereby agree not to assert by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise in any action, suit or other legal proceeding brought in such court, any claim that they are not subject to the jurisdiction of such court, that such action, suit or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such action, suit or proceeding is improper. Each party also irrevocably and unconditionally consents to the service of any process, pleadings, notices or other papers in a manner permitted by the notice provisions of Section 11.2.
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permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, or any successor thereto.
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Agreement and any documents delivered pursuant hereto, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of a facsimile machine or as an attachment to an electronic mail message in “pdf” or similar format, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of a facsimile machine or electronic mail attachment in “pdf” or similar format to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine or as an attachment to an electronic mail message as a defense to the formation of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense. A facsimile signature or electronically scanned copy of a signature shall constitute and shall be deemed to be sufficient evidence of a party’s execution of this Agreement, without necessity of further proof. Each such copy shall be deemed an original, and it shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement to produce or account for more than one such counterpart.
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