WELLCARE HEALTH PLANS, INC. INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.1
This INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as
of __________, 20__ (the “Effective Date”) by and between WellCare Health
Plans, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and ____________
(“Indemnitee”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined in
the section or provision of this Agreement in which they are used have the
meanings set forth in Section 10 hereof.
RECITALS
A.
The Board of Directors of the Company has determined that the increasing
difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified persons as directors and
officers 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 adequate
insurance and indemnification against risks of claims and actions against them
arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the
Company.
B.
Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) empowers the Company to indemnify and advance
expenses to its officers, directors, employees and agents by agreement and to
indemnify and advance expenses to persons who serve, at the request of the
Company, as directors, officers, employees, or agents of other corporations or
enterprises, and expressly provides that the indemnification provided by Section
145 is not exclusive.
C.
The Company has adopted provisions in its Certificate of Incorporation
providing for mandatory indemnification of its officers and directors to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, subject to certain limitations
specified in the Certificate of Incorporation, and the Company wishes to clarify
and enhance the rights and obligations of the Company and the Indemnitee with
respect to indemnification and advancement of expenses.
D.
To the extent that Indemnitee previously has entered into an
indemnification agreement with the Company that remains in full force and effect
(a “Previous Agreement”), the Company desires that such Previous Agreement shall
govern the indemnification rights and obligations of Indemnitee and the Company
with respect to Proceedings (as defined below) that arose or may arise from
actual or alleged events, occurrences, acts or omissions occurring prior to the
Effective Date (regardless of whether such Proceedings were or are initiated
before, on or after the Effective Date).
E.
Regardless of whether an Indemnitee has entered into a
Previous Agreement, the Company desires that this Agreement shall govern the
indemnification rights and obligations of Indemnitee and the Company with
respect to Proceedings initiated on or after the Effective Date
and arising out of actual or alleged events, occurrences, acts or
omissions occurring on or after the Effective Date.
F.
The Company desires to attract and retain the services of highly qualified
individuals, such as Indemnitee, to serve the Company and/or one or more of its
Subsidiaries and, in order to induce Indemnitee to provide or to continue to
provide services to the Company and/or one or more of its Subsidiaries, wishes
to provide for the indemnification and advancing of expenses to Indemnitee to
the maximum extent permitted by law.
G.
In view of the considerations set forth above, the Company desires that
Indemnitee be entitled to indemnification and advancement, subject to and in
accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and Indemnitee hereby agree as follows:
1. Indemnification and
Advancement of Expenses
(a) Indemnification for
Losses
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and in a manner
permitted by such law, if Indemnitee is or was or becomes, a party to or is
otherwise involved in any Proceeding, or is or was threatened to be made a party
to or a participant in any such Proceeding, by reason of the Indemnitee’s
Corporate Status, or by reason of (or arising in part out of) any actual or
alleged event or occurrence related to the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, or by
reason of any actual or alleged act or omission on the part of Indemnitee taken
or omitted in or relating to the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, then the Company
shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Losses actually and reasonably
incurred by the Indemnitee or on the Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such
a Proceeding or any claim, issue, or matter therein.
(b) Indemnification for Expenses
as a Witness
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law and in a manner permitted by such law, to the
extent that the Indemnitee, by reason of the Indemnitee’s Corporate
Status, is or was or becomes, or is or was threatened to be made, a witness in
any Proceeding to which the Indemnitee is not a party, the Indemnitee shall be
indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the
Indemnitee or on the Indemnitee’s behalf in connection
therewith.
(c) Mandatory Payment of
Expenses
Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that Indemnitee has been successful on
the merits or otherwise, including, without limitation, the dismissal of an
action without prejudice, in defense of any Proceeding or in the defense of any
claim, issue or matter therein, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all
Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection therewith.
(d) Procedure for Determination
of Entitlement to Indemnification
(i) To obtain
indemnification under this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall submit to the Company
a written request for indemnification, including therein or therewith, except to
the extent previously provided to the Company in connection with a request or
requests for advancement pursuant to Section 1(e) hereof, a statement or
statements reasonably evidencing all Losses incurred or paid by or on behalf of
the Indemnitee and for which indemnification is requested. The
Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for
indemnification, advise the Board of Directors in writing that the Indemnitee
has requested indemnification.
(ii) Upon
written request by the Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the first
sentence of Section 1(d)(i) hereof, if required by applicable law and to the
extent not otherwise provided pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, a
determination with respect to the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification
shall be made in the specific case by the Reviewing Party. If there
has not been a Change in Control, or if there has been a Change in Control which
has been approved by a majority of the directors of the Company who were
directors immediately prior to the Change in Control (the “Incumbent
Directors”), the Reviewing Party shall be selected by the Board of Directors of
the Company by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, and if there has
been a Change in Control which has not been approved by a majority of the
Incumbent Directors, the Reviewing Party shall be Independent Legal
Counsel.
(iii) Notice in
writing of any determination as to the Indemnitee’s entitlement to
indemnification shall be delivered to the Indemnitee promptly after such
determination is made, and if such determination of entitlement to
indemnification has been made by Independent Counsel, such determination shall
be set forth in a written opinion addressed to the Board of Directors, and such
notice to Indemnitee shall be accompanied by a copy of such written
opinion. If it is determined that the Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification, then payment to the Indemnitee of all amounts to which the
Indemnitee is determined to be entitled shall be made within thirty (30) days
after such determination. If it is determined that the Indemnitee is
not entitled to indemnification, then the written notice to the Indemnitee (or,
if such determination has been made by Independent Counsel in a written opinion,
the copy of such written opinion delivered to the Indemnitee) shall disclose the
basis upon which such determination is based.
|
|
(e)
|
Advancement of
Expenses
|
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
but subject to Section 8(b) hereof, if Indemnitee is or was or becomes a party
to or is otherwise involved in any Proceeding (including as a witness), or is or
was threatened to be made a party to or a participant (including as a witness)
in any such Proceeding, by reason of the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, or by
reason of (or arising in part out of) any actual or alleged event or occurrence
related to the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, or by reason of any actual or
alleged act or omission on the part of Indemnitee taken or omitted in or
relating to the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, then the Company shall advance
all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee
in connection with any such Proceeding in advance of the final disposition of
such Proceeding within ten (10) calendar days after the receipt by the Company
of invoices presented to Indemnitee for such Expenses; provided Indemnitee shall
undertake to repay any Expenses advanced if it shall ultimately be determined
that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses
under this Agreement or otherwise. Any advances and undertakings to
repay pursuant to this Section 3 shall be unsecured and interest
free.
2.
Remedies of
Indemnitee
(a) Adjudication of Entitlement
to Indemnification or Advancement
In the event that (i) a determination is
made by the Reviewing Party pursuant to Section 1(d) of this Agreement that the
Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, (ii) advancement of Expenses is
not timely made pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement, (iii) if the
determination of entitlement to indemnification is not to be made by Independent
Counsel pursuant to Section 1(d) hereof, no determination of entitlement to
indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 1(d) within thirty (30)
days after receipt by the Company of the Indemnitee’s written request for
indemnification, (iv) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is
to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 1(d) hereof, no
determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to
Section 1(d) hereof within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the
Indemnitee’s written request for indemnification, (v) payment of indemnification
is not made pursuant to Section 1(b) or Section 1(c) of this Agreement within
thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, or
(vi) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 1(a) of this Agreement is
not made within thirty (30) days after a determination has been made pursuant to
Section 1(d) that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, then the
Indemnitee shall be entitled to commence a proceeding in the Court of Chancery
of the State of Delaware (or other court of competent jurisdiction) seeking to
establish or enforce the Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or
advancement of Expenses, and the Company hereby consents to service of process
and to appear in any such proceeding commenced in the Court of Chancery of the
State of Delaware. If a determination shall have been made by the Reviewing
Party pursuant to Section 1(d) of this Agreement that the Indemnitee is not
entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this
Section 2(a) shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial on the merits
and the Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of any adverse
determination by the Reviewing Party.
|
|
(b)
|
Notice by
Indemnitee
|
Indemnitee shall, as a condition precedent to Indemnitee’s right to be
indemnified under this Agreement, provide the Company notice in writing as soon
as practicable of any Proceeding for which indemnification will or could be
sought under this Agreement. The failure of the Indemnitee to so
notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation that it may
have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise, except to the extent
the Company is materially prejudiced by such failure.
(c)
No
Presumptions; Burden of Proof
(i) For
purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any Proceeding by judgment,
order, settlement (whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or
upon a plea of nolo contendre or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption
that Indemnitee did not meet any particular standard of conduct or have any
particular belief or that a court has determined that indemnification is not
permitted by applicable law. In addition, neither the failure of the
Reviewing Party to have made a determination as to whether Indemnitee has met
any particular standard of conduct or had any particular belief, nor an actual
determination by the Reviewing Party that Indemnitee has not met such standard
of conduct or did not have such belief, prior to the commencement of legal
proceedings by Indemnitee to secure a judicial determination that Indemnitee
should be indemnified under applicable law, shall be a defense to Indemnitee’s
claim or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met any particular
standard of conduct or did not have any particular belief.
(ii) In
connection with any determination by the Reviewing Party or the Court of
Chancery of the State of Delaware (or other court of competent jurisdiction) as
to whether Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified hereunder, the burden of
proof shall be on the Company to establish that Indemnitee is not so
entitled.
|
|
(d)
|
Notice to
Insurers
|
If, at the time of the receipt by the Company of a notice of a
Proceeding pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof, the Company has liability
insurance in effect which may cover such Proceeding, 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 action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or
investigation in accordance with the terms of such policies.
3. Scope;
Nonexclusivity
(a)
Scope
It is understood that the parties to this
Agreement intend for this Agreement to be interpreted and enforced so as to
provide indemnification and advancement of Expenses to Indemnitee to the fullest
extent now or hereafter permitted by law, subject only to the express exceptions
and limitations otherwise set forth in this Agreement. In the event
of any change after the date of this Agreement in any applicable law, statute or
rule which expands the right of a member of the Board of Directors or an
officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or any Subsidiary, as
applicable, to receive indemnification from the Company, it is the intent of the
parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater
benefits afforded by such change. In the event of any change in any
applicable law, statute or rule which narrows the right of a member of the Board
of Directors or an officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or any
Subsidiary, as applicable, to receive indemnification from the Company, such
change, to the extent not otherwise required by such law, statute or rule to be
applied to this Agreement, shall have no effect on this Agreement or the
parties’ rights and obligations hereunder.
|
|
(b)
|
Nonexclusivity
|
The indemnification and advancement of Expenses
provided by this Agreement shall be in addition to any rights to which
Indemnitee may be entitled under the certificate of incorporation, bylaws, or
similar organizational documents of the Company or any Subsidiary, any
agreement, any vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or
otherwise. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3(b) to the
contrary, to the extent the time periods specified in Sections 1 and 2 hereof
with respect to the time at which the Indemnitee shall be entitled to seek an
adjudication as to the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification or
advancement differ from similar time periods specified in the Company’s
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, the time periods set forth in Sections 1
and 2 hereof shall control and be binding on the Indemnitee and the Company and
shall be deemed a waiver of any contrary right specified in the Company’s
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws.
|
|
4.
|
No Duplication of
Payments
|
Except to the extent required by applicable law, the Company shall not be liable
under this Agreement to make any payment to Indemnitee with respect to amounts
otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (or for which advancement is otherwise
provided hereunder) if and to the extent that the Indemnitee has otherwise
actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement,
governing documents of the Company or Another Enterprise, or
otherwise. Nothing hereunder is intended to affect any right of
contribution of or against the Company in the event the Company and any other
person or persons have co-equal obligations to indemnify or advance expenses to
Indemnitee.
5.
Partial
Indemnification
If Indemnitee is entitled under any
provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a
portion of Losses incurred in connection with any Proceeding, but not for all of
the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee
for the portion of such Losses to which Indemnitee is entitled.
|
|
6.
|
Mutual
Acknowledgement
|
Both the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge that in
certain instances, Federal law or applicable public policy may prohibit the
Company from indemnifying its directors, officers, employees, agents or
fiduciaries under this Agreement or otherwise. Indemnitee understands
and acknowledges that the Company may be required in the future to undertake
with the Securities and Exchange Commission to submit the question of
indemnification to a court in certain circumstances for a determination of the
Company’s right under public policy to indemnify Indemnitee.
7.
Maintenance of
Liability Insurance
The Company shall, from time to time, make the
good faith determination whether or not it is practicable for the Company to
obtain and maintain a policy or policies of insurance with reputable insurance
companies providing the officers and directors of the Company with coverage for
losses from wrongful acts, or to ensure the Company’s performance of its
indemnification obligations under this Agreement. Among other
considerations, the Company will weigh the costs of obtaining such insurance
coverage against the protection afforded by such coverage. In all
policies of director and officer liability insurance, Indemnitee shall be named
as an insured in such a manner as to provide Indemnitee the same rights and
benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the Company’s
directors, if Indemnitee is a director, or to the Company’s officers, if
Indemnitee is not a director of the Company but is an
officer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no
obligation to obtain or maintain such insurance if the Company determines in
good faith that such insurance is not reasonably available, if the premium costs
for such insurance are disproportionate to the amount of coverage proved, if the
coverage provided by such insurance is limited by exclusions so as to provide an
insufficient benefit, or if Indemnitee is covered by similar insurance
maintained by a parent or Subsidiary of the Company.
8.
Exceptions
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein other than Section 1(c)
hereof, the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement:
|
|
(a)
|
Unlawful
Claims
|
To indemnify Indemnitee with respect to any
Proceeding if a final decision by a court having jurisdiction shall have
determined that such indemnification is not lawful;
|
|
(b)
|
Proceedings Initiated
by Indemnitee
|
To indemnify or advance Expenses to Indemnitee with respect
to Proceedings initiated or brought voluntarily by Indemnitee and not by way of
defense, except (i) as provided in Section 13 of this Agreement, (ii) with
respect to any Proceeding specifically authorized by the Board of Directors, or
(iii) as otherwise required under Section 145 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law; provided, however, that such
indemnification or advancement of Expenses may be provided by the Company in
specific cases if the Board of Directors determines it to be appropriate;
or
|
|
(c)
|
Claims Under
Section 16(b)
|
To indemnify Indemnitee for Losses incurred or sustained by or on behalf
of Indemnitee in any Proceeding for an accounting of profits arising from the
purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities of the Company in violation of
Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act”), rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any similar
provisions of any federal, state or local statute; or
|
|
(d)
|
Standards of
Conduct
|
Unless ordered by a court in a proceeding pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof
or otherwise, and except as provided in Section 1(c) and (to the extent
permitted by applicable law) Section 1(b) of this Agreement, to indemnify
Indemnitee for any Losses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection
with any Proceeding if a determination has not been made by the Reviewing Party
in the specific case that Indemnitee has satisfied any standards of conduct
required as a condition to indemnification under Section 145 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law.
9. Period
of Limitations
No legal action shall be brought and no cause of action shall be asserted by or
in the right of the Company against Indemnitee, Indemnitee’s estate, spouse,
heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives after the expiration of
three (3) years from the date of accrual of such cause of action, and any claim
or cause of action of the Company shall be extinguished and deemed released
unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action within such three-year
period; provided, however, that if any
shorter period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of
action, such shorter period shall govern.
|
|
10.
|
Construction of
Certain Terms and Phrases
|
As used in this Agreement, the following terms and phrases shall have the
meanings set forth below:
(a)
“Another Enterprise” and “Other Enterprise” refer
to a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust,
employee benefit plan, or any other form of enterprise, other than the
Company.
(b) A
“Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any “person” (as
such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange 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
stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership of stock of the Company, (A) 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, increases his beneficial ownership of such securities by 5% or more
over the percentage so owned by such person, or (B) becomes the “beneficial
owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under said Act), directly or indirectly,
of securities of the Company representing more than 20% 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 of Directors of the Company and
any new director whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for
election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at
the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was
previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof,
or (iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation
of the Company with any other corporation other than a merger or consolidation
which would result in the Voting Securities of the Company outstanding
immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining
outstanding or by being converted into Voting Securities of the surviving
entity) at least 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 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.
(c) References
to the “Company” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any
constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in
a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would
have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, employees,
agents or fiduciaries, so that if Indemnitee is or was a director, officer,
employee, agent or fiduciary of such constituent corporation, or is or was
serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer,
employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
employee benefit plan, trust or other enterprise, Indemnitee shall stand in the
same position under the provisions of this Agreement with respect to the
resulting or surviving corporation as Indemnitee would have with respect to such
constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
(d) “Corporate
Status” describes the Indemnitee’s status as a present or former director,
officer, employee, agent, or fiduciary of the Company or any Subsidiary, or the
Indemnitee’s status as a director, officer, employee, agent, or fiduciary of
Another Enterprise to the extent the Indemnitee is or was serving in such
capacity with respect to such Other Enterprise at the request of Company or any
Subsidiary.
(e)
“Expense” shall include, without limitation, attorneys’ fees; retainers;
disbursements of counsel; court costs; filing fees; transcript costs; fees and
expenses of experts; fees and expenses of witnesses; fees and expenses of
accountants and other consultants (excluding public relations consultants unless
approved in advance by the Company); travel expenses; duplicating and imaging
costs; printing and binding costs; telephone charges; facsimile transmission
charges; computer legal research costs; postage; delivery service fees; fees and
expenses of third-party vendors; the premium, security for, and other costs
associated with any bond (including supersedeas or appeal bonds, injunction
bonds, cost bonds, appraisal bonds or their equivalents), in each case 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, as well as all other “expenses” within the meaning of that
term as used in Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware and all other disbursements or expenses of types customarily 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, actions, suits, or proceedings similar to or of the
same type as the Proceeding with respect to which such disbursements or expenses
were incurred; but, notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary,
“Expenses” shall not include amounts of judgments, penalties, or fines actually
levied against the Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding.
(f)
“Independent Legal Counsel” shall mean an attorney or
firm of attorneys who shall not have otherwise performed services for the
Company or Indemnitee within the last three years (other than with respect to
matters concerning the rights of Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other
indemnitees under similar indemnity agreements). Independent Legal
Counsel shall be selected as follows: (i) by a majority of the
Disinterested Directors if there has not been a Change in Control or if there
has been a Change in Control which has been approved by a majority of the
Incumbent Directors; or (ii) by Indemnitee, subject to the approval by a
majority of the Disinterested Directors (which shall not be unreasonably
withheld), if there has been a Change in Control which has not been approved by
a majority of the Incumbent Directors. The Company agrees to pay the
reasonable fees of the Independent Legal Counsel, regardless of which party
selects the Independent Legal Counsel.
(g) “Losses”
means all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines (including any excise taxes
assessed on Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan), liabilities,
and amounts paid in settlement (if such settlement is approved in advance
by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) in
connection with a Proceeding, and any federal, state, local or foreign taxes
imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any
payments under this Agreement.
(h) “Proceeding”
means any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, arbitration,
alternative dispute resolution mechanism, investigation (including any internal
investigation), inquiry, administrative hearing, or any other threatened,
pending, or completed proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the
Company or otherwise, and whether civil, criminal, administrative, or
investigative.
(i)
“Reviewing Party” shall
mean (i) the Board of Directors acting by a majority vote of the directors
who are not and were not parties to the Proceeding in respect of which
indemnification is being sought (the “Disinterested Directors”), even though
less than a quorum of the Board of Directors, (ii) a committee of some or
all of the Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the
Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board of
Directors, or (iii) Independent Legal Counsel.
(j)
“Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, or other entity of which more than 50% of the voting
power represented by the outstanding voting securities or other equity interests
is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, by the Company and one or more
other Subsidiaries, or by one or more other Subsidiaries.
(k) “Voting
Securities,” when used with reference to the Voting Securities of the Company,
shall mean any securities of the Company that vote generally in the election of
directors.
(l)
References herein to a director
of Another Enterprise (or a director of an Other Enterprise) or to a director of
a Subsidiary shall include, in the case of any entity that is not managed by a
board of directors, such other position, such as manager or trustee or member of
the governing body of such entity, that entails responsibility for the
management and direction of such entity’s affairs, including, without
limitation, the general partner of any partnership (general or limited) and the
manager or managing member of any limited liability company.
(m) (1)
References herein to the Indemnitee’s serving at the request of the Company or a
Subsidiary as a director, officer, employee, agent, or fiduciary of Another
Enterprise shall include any service as a director, officer, employee, or agent
of the Company or any Subsidiary that imposes duties on the Indemnitee, or
involves services by the Indemnitee, with respect to an employee benefit plan of
the Company or any of its affiliates, other than solely as a participant or
beneficiary of such a plan; and (2) if the Indemnitee has acted in good faith
and in a manner such the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the interest of
the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan, the Indemnitee
shall be deemed to have acted in a manner not opposed to the best interests of
the Company for purposes of this Agreement and applicable law.
11. Counterparts
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which
shall constitute an original.
|
|
12.
|
Binding Effect;
Successors and Assigns; Survival of
Rights
|
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 reasonably 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, advancement, and other rights provided
by, or granted pursuant to, this Agreement shall continue during the period that
the Indemnitee is a director, officer, employee, agent, or fiduciary of the
Company or a Subsidiary or is serving in any such capacity with respect to
Another Enterprise at the request of the Company or a Subsidiary, and shall
continue after such period so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any
possible Proceeding (including any appeal therefrom), by reason of Indemnitee’s
Corporate Status, or by reason of (or arising in part out of) any actual or
alleged event or occurrence related to the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, or by
reason of any actual or alleged act or omission on the part of Indemnitee taken
or omitted in or relating to the Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, and shall
further continue for such period of time following the conclusion of any such
Proceeding as may be reasonably necessary for Indemnitee to enforce rights and
remedies pursuant to this Agreement as provided in Section 2 of this
Agreement.
13. Attorneys’ Fees and Other
Expenses in Enforcement Proceedings
In
the event that (a) the Indemnitee commences a proceeding seeking (1) to
establish or enforce the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification or
advancement of Expenses pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (2) to
otherwise enforce Indemnitee’s rights under or to interpret the terms of this
Agreement, (3) to recover damages for breach of this Agreement, (4) to establish
or enforce Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification or advancement pursuant
to the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, or (5) to enforce
or interpret the terms of any liability insurance policy maintained by the
Company (each such proceeding an “Indemnitee Enforcement Proceeding”), or (b)
the Company commences a proceeding against the Indemnitee seeking (1) to
recover, pursuant to an undertaking or otherwise, amounts previously advanced to
Indemnitee, (2) to enforce the Company’s rights under or to interpret the terms
of this Agreement, or (3) to recover damages for breach of this Agreement (each
such proceeding a “Company Enforcement Proceeding” and together with each form
of Indemnitee Enforcement Proceeding, an “Enforcement Proceeding”), then the
Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover from the Company, and shall be
indemnified by the Company against, any and all Expenses actually and
reasonably incurred by or on behalf of such Indemnitee in connection with such
Enforcement Proceeding, but only if (and only to the extent) the Indemnitee
prevails therein. The Company also shall be required to advance all
Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in
connection with any Enforcement Proceeding in advance of the final disposition
of such proceeding within ten (10) calendar days after the receipt by the
Company of invoices presented to Indemnitee for such Expenses; provided
Indemnitee undertakes to repay any Expenses so advanced if and to the extent
Indemnitee does not prevail in such Enforcement Proceeding.
|
|
14.
|
Notice
|
All notices and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall
be in writing, shall be effective when received, and shall in any event be
deemed to be received (a) five (5) days after deposit with the U.S. Postal
Service or other applicable postal service, if delivered by certified or
registered mail, postage prepaid, (b) upon delivery, if delivered by hand,
(c) one business day after the business day of deposit with Federal Express
or similar overnight courier, freight prepaid, or (d) one day after the business
day of delivery by facsimile transmission, if delivered by facsimile
transmission, with copy by first class mail, postage prepaid, and shall be
addressed if to Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s address as set forth beneath
Indemnitee’s signature to this Agreement and if to the Company at the address of
its principal corporate offices (attention: Secretary) or at such other address
as a party may designate by ten days’ advance written notice to the other party
hereto.
|
|
15.
|
Headings
|
The headings used in this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of
reference only and do not define or limit the provisions hereof.
16. Severability
The provisions of this Agreement shall be
severable in the event that any of the provisions hereof (including any
provision within a single section, paragraph or sentence) are held by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, and the
remaining provisions shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by
law. Furthermore, to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of
this Agreement (including, without limitations, 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, illegal or
unenforceable.
|
|
17.
|
Choice of
Law;
Submission to Jurisdiction; Service of
Process
|
This Agreement shall be governed by and its
provisions construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of
Delaware, as applied to contracts between Delaware residents, entered into and
to be performed entirely within the State of Delaware, without regard to the
conflict of laws principles thereof. The Company and the Indemnitee
each hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agrees and consents to the
nonexclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware for all
purposes in connection with any action, suit, or proceeding that arises out of
or relates to this Agreement and agrees that any such action instituted under
this Agreement may be brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware
or other court of the State of Delaware having jurisdiction over such matter;
(ii) waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or
proceeding in the courts of the State of Delaware; and (iii) waives, and agrees
not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in
the courts of the State of Delaware has been brought in an improper or otherwise
inconvenient forum. Each of the Company and the Indemnitee hereby
consents to service of any summons and complaint and any other process that may
be served in any action, suit, or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Agreement by mailing by certified or registered mail, with postage prepaid,
copies of such process to such party at its address for receiving notice
pursuant to Section 14 hereof. Nothing herein shall preclude service
of process by any other means permitted by applicable law.
18. Subrogation
In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be
subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of
Indemnitee who shall execute all documents required and shall do all acts that
may be necessary to secure such rights and to enable the Company effectively to
bring suit to enforce such rights.
19. Amendment and
Termination
No amendment, modification, termination or cancellation of this
Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing signed by both 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.
20. Effective Date; Prior
Agreements
This Agreement shall be effective as of the Effective Date and shall
govern the indemnification rights and obligations of Indemnitee and the Company
with respect to Proceedings arising from (a) any actual or alleged event or
occurrence related to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, or (b) any actual or
alleged act or omission on the part of Indemnitee taken or omitted in or
relating to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, occurring in the case of both (a) and
(b) on or after the Effective Date. To the extent that Indemnitee has a
Previous Agreement, the indemnification rights and obligations of Indemnitee and
the Company with respect to proceedings that arose or may arise from actual or
alleged events, occurrences, acts or omissions occurring prior to the Effective
Date (regardless of whether such proceedings were or are initiated before, on or
after the Effective Date) shall be governed by such Previous Agreement and not
this Agreement.
21. Integration and Entire
Agreement
This Agreement sets forth the entire
understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes (except as set forth in
paragraph 20) and merges all previous written and oral negotiations,
commitments, understandings and agreements relating to the subject matter hereof
between the parties hereto.
22. No Construction as Employment
Agreement
Nothing
contained in this Agreement shall be construed as giving Indemnitee any right to
be retained in the employ of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.
[SIGNATURE
PAGE FOLLOWS]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement
as of the date first above written.
By:
______________________________
Name:
____________________________
Title:
_____________________________
AGREED TO
AND ACCEPTED BY:
Signature:
____________________
Name:
Address:
_____________________
_____________________________
Facsimile:
____________________
Phone:
______________________
