INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Indemnification Agreement (“Agreement”),
dated as of [DATE], is by and between GSE Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and [NAME] (the “Indemnitee”).
WHEREAS, Indemnitee is or will become [a director/an officer] of the Company;
WHEREAS, both the Company and Indemnitee recognize the increased risk of litigation and other
claims being asserted against a person occupying such position with a public company;
WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that enhancing the ability of the Company to retain and attract the most capable persons is in the best interests of the Company and, therefore, the Company should seek to assure
such persons that indemnification and insurance coverage is available; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of the need to provide Indemnitee with substantial protection against
personal liability, in order to procure Indemnitee’s [continued] service and to enhance Indemnitee’s ability to serve the Company in an effective manner, and in order to provide such protection pursuant to express contract rights (intended to be
enforceable irrespective of, among other things, any amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws (collectively, the “Constituent Documents”),
any change in the composition of the Board or any change in control or business combination transaction relating to the Company), the Company wishes to provide in this Agreement for the indemnification of, and the advancement of Expenses (as
defined in Section 1(f) below) to, Indemnitee as set forth in this Agreement and for the [continued] coverage of Indemnitee under the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the Indemnitee’s agreement to [continue to]
provide services to the Company, the parties agree as follows:
1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a)
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(b)
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(i)
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(iv)
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(i)
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(ii)
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(e)
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(g)
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(k)
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(l)
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“Standard of Conduct Determination” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 9(b) below.
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(m)
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2. Services to the Company. Indemnitee agrees to [serve/continue to serve] as a [director or officer] of the Company for so long as Indemnitee is duly elected or appointed or until Indemnitee tenders [his/her]
resignation or is no longer serving in such capacity. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment agreement between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that [his/her]
[employment with/service to] the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Enterprise is at will and the Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment
agreement between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Company, by the Company’s
Constituent Documents or Delaware law. This Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or, at the request of the Company, of any of its subsidiaries or Enterprise, as provided in
Section 12 hereof.
3. Indemnification. Subject to Section 9
and Section 10 of this Agreement, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee, to the
fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware in effect on the date hereof, or as such laws may from time to time hereafter be amended to increase the scope of such permitted indemnification, against any and all Losses if
Indemnitee was or is or becomes a party to or participant in, or is threatened to be made a party to or participant in, any Claim by reason of or arising in part out of an Indemnifiable Event, including, without limitation, Claims brought by or
in the right of the Company, Claims brought by third parties, and Claims in which the Indemnitee is solely a witness.
4. Advancement of Expenses. Indemnitee shall have the right to advancement by the Company, prior to the final disposition of any Claim by final adjudication to which there are no further rights of appeal, of any and
all Expenses actually and reasonably paid or incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Claim arising out of an Indemnifiable Event. Indemnitee’s right to such advancement is not subject to the satisfaction of any standard of conduct. Without
limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, within thirty (30) days after any request by Indemnitee, the Company shall, in accordance with such request, (a) pay such Expenses on behalf of Indemnitee, (b) advance to Indemnitee funds in an
amount sufficient to pay such Expenses, or (c) reimburse Indemnitee for such Expenses. In connection with any request for Expense Advances, Indemnitee shall not be required to provide any documentation or information to the extent that the
provision thereof would undermine or otherwise jeopardize attorney-client privilege. In connection with any request for Expense Advances, Indemnitee shall execute and deliver to the Company an undertaking (which shall be accepted without
reference to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expense Advances), in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, to repay any amounts paid, advanced, or reimbursed by the Company for such Expenses to the extent that it is ultimately determined,
following the final disposition of such Claim, that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification hereunder. Indemnitee’s obligation to reimburse the Company for Expense Advances shall be unsecured and no interest shall be charged thereon.
5. Indemnification for Expenses in Enforcing
Rights. To the fullest extent allowable under applicable law, the Company shall also indemnify against, and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall advance to Indemnitee
subject to and in accordance with Section 4, any Expenses actually and reasonably
paid or incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action or proceeding by Indemnitee for (a) indemnification or reimbursement or advance payment of Expenses by the Company under any provision of this Agreement, or under any other agreement or
provision of the Constituent Documents now or hereafter in effect relating to Claims relating to Indemnifiable Events, and/or (b) recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company. Indemnitee shall
be required to reimburse the Company in the event that a final judicial determination is made that such action brought by Indemnitee was frivolous or not made in good faith.
6. Partial Indemnity. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for a portion of any Losses in respect of a Claim related to an Indemnifiable Event but
not for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.
8. Procedure upon Application for Indemnification. In order to obtain indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request therefor, including in such request 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 following the final disposition of the Claim. Indemnification shall be made insofar
as the Company determines Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification in accordance with Section 9 below.
(i)
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To the extent that Indemnitee shall have been
successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any Claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event or any portion thereof or in defense of any issue or matter therein, including without limitation dismissal without prejudice, Indemnitee
shall be indemnified against all Losses relating to such Claim in accordance with Section 3 to the fullest extent allowable by law.
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(ii)
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(b)
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Standard of Conduct. To the extent that the provisions of Section 9(a) are inapplicable to a Claim related to an Indemnifiable Event that shall have been finally disposed of, any
determination of whether Indemnitee has satisfied any applicable standard of conduct under Delaware law that is a legally required condition to indemnification of Indemnitee hereunder against Losses relating to such Claim and any
determination that Expense Advances must be repaid to the Company (a “Standard of Conduct Determination”) shall be made as follows:
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The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless
Indemnitee against and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall reimburse Indemnitee for, or advance to Indemnitee, within thirty (30) days of such request, any and all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in cooperating with the person or persons making such
Standard of Conduct Determination.
(c)
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Making the Standard of Conduct Determination. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause any Standard of Conduct Determination required under Section 9(b) to be made
as promptly as practicable. If the person or persons designated to make the Standard of Conduct Determination under Section 9(b) shall not have made a determination within thirty (30) days after the later of (A)
receipt by the Company of a written request from Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 8 (the date of such receipt being the “Notification Date”) and (B) the selection of an Independent Counsel, if such determination is to be made by Independent Counsel, then Indemnitee shall be deemed to have satisfied the applicable standard of conduct;
provided that such 30-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person or persons making such determination in good faith requires such additional time to obtain or evaluate
information relating thereto. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement of Indemnitee to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition
of any Claim.
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(i)
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Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification
pursuant to Section 9(a);
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(ii)
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(iii)
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then the Company shall pay to Indemnitee,
within five (5) days after the later of (A) the Notification Date or (B) the earliest date on which the applicable criterion specified in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) is satisfied, an amount equal to such Losses.
(e)
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Selection of Independent Counsel for Standard of Conduct Determination. If a Standard of Conduct Determination is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 9.1(b)(i),
the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board of Directors, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising [him/her] of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. If a Standard of Conduct Determination
is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 9.1(b)(ii), the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee, and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of
the Independent Counsel so selected. In either case, Indemnitee or the Company, as applicable, may, within five (5) days after receiving written notice of selection from the other, deliver to the other 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 satisfy the criteria set forth in the definition of “Independent Counsel” in Section 1(i), and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person or firm so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written
objection is properly and timely made and substantiated, (i) the Independent Counsel so 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; and (ii) the non-objecting party may, at its option, select an alternative Independent Counsel and give written notice to the other party advising such other party of the identity of the alternative Independent Counsel so selected,
in which case the provisions of the two immediately preceding sentences, the introductory clause of this sentence and numbered clause (i) of this sentence shall apply to such subsequent selection and notice. If applicable, the provisions
of clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence shall apply to successive alternative selections. If no Independent Counsel that is permitted under the foregoing provisions of this Section 9(e) to make the
Standard of Conduct Determination shall have been selected within twenty (20) days after the Company gives its initial notice pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 9(e) or Indemnitee gives its initial
notice pursuant to the second sentence of this Section 9(e), as the case may be, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (“Delaware Court”) to resolve any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or to appoint as Independent
Counsel a person to be selected by the Court or such other person as the Court shall designate, and the person or firm with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person or firm so appointed will act as Independent Counsel.
In all events, the Company shall pay all of the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel incurred in connection with the Independent Counsel’s determination pursuant to Section 9(b).
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(i)
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Indemnitee’s Entitlement to Indemnification. In making any Standard of Conduct Determination, the person or persons making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee has satisfied the applicable
standard of conduct and is entitled to indemnification, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption and establish that Indemnitee is not so entitled. Any Standard of Conduct Determination that is adverse to
Indemnitee may be challenged by the Indemnitee in the Delaware Court. No determination by the Company (including by its directors or any Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not satisfied any applicable standard of conduct may be used
as a defense to any legal proceedings brought by Indemnitee to secure indemnification or reimbursement or advance payment of Expenses by the Company hereunder or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met any applicable standard of
conduct.
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10. Exclusions from Indemnification. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not be obligated to:
(a)
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(i)
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proceedings referenced in Section 5
above (unless a court of competent jurisdiction determines that each of the material assertions made by Indemnitee in such proceeding was not made in good faith or was frivolous); or
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(ii)
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(b)
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(c)
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11. Settlement of Claims. The Company shall not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any threatened or pending Claim related to an Indemnifiable Event effected without
the Company’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that if a Change in Control has occurred, the Company shall be liable for indemnification of the Indemnitee for amounts paid in settlement if an
Independent Counsel has approved the settlement. The Company shall not settle any Claim related to an Indemnifiable Event in any manner that would impose any Losses on the Indemnitee without the Indemnitee’s prior written consent.
12. Duration. All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period that Indemnitee is a director or officer of the Company (or is serving at the request of the Company as a
director, officer, employee, member, trustee or agent of another Enterprise) and shall continue thereafter (i) so long as Indemnitee may be subject to any possible Claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event (including any rights of appeal thereto)
and (ii) throughout the pendency of any proceeding (including any rights of appeal thereto) commenced by Indemnitee to enforce or interpret his or her rights under this Agreement, even if, in either case, he or she may have ceased to serve in
such capacity at the time of any such Claim or proceeding.
13. Non-Exclusivity. The rights of Indemnitee hereunder will be in addition to any other rights Indemnitee may have under the Constituent Documents, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, any
other contract or otherwise (collectively, “Other Indemnity Provisions”); provided,
however, that (a) to the extent that Indemnitee otherwise would have any greater right to indemnification under any Other Indemnity Provision, Indemnitee will be deemed to have such greater right hereunder and (b) to the extent that any change is
made to any Other Indemnity Provision which permits any greater right to indemnification than that provided under this Agreement as of the date hereof, Indemnitee will be deemed to have such greater right hereunder.
14. Liability Insurance. For the duration of Indemnitee’s service as a [director/officer] of the Company, and thereafter for so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any pending Claim relating to an
Indemnifiable Event, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts (taking into account the scope and amount of coverage available relative to the cost thereof) to continue to maintain in effect policies of directors’ and officers’
liability insurance providing coverage that is at least substantially comparable in scope and amount to that provided by the Company’s current policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance. In all policies of directors’ and officers’
liability insurance maintained by the Company, Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide Indemnitee the same rights and benefits as are provided to the most favorably insured of the Company’s directors, if Indemnitee
is a director, or of the Company’s officers, if Indemnitee is an officer (and not a director) by such policy. Upon request, the Company will provide to Indemnitee copies of all directors’ and officers’ liability insurance applications, binders,
policies, declarations, endorsements and other related materials.
15. No Duplication of Payments. The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment to Indemnitee in respect of any Losses to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise received payment under any insurance
policy, the Constituent Documents, Other Indemnity Provisions or otherwise of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable by the Company hereunder.
16. Subrogation. In the event of payment to Indemnitee under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee. Indemnitee shall execute all papers
required and shall do everything that may be necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents necessary to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.
17. Amendments. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be binding
unless in the form of a writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of the waiver is sought, and no such waiver shall operate as a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a
continuing waiver. Except as specifically provided herein, no failure to exercise or any delay in exercising any right or remedy hereunder shall constitute a waiver thereof.
18. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors (including any direct or indirect successor by
purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company), assigns, spouses, heirs and personal and legal representatives. The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether
direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial part of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substances 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.
19. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable in the event that any of the provisions hereof (including any portion thereof) are held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid, illegal, void or otherwise unenforceable, and the remaining provisions shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
20. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered by hand, against receipt, or mailed, by postage prepaid,
certified or registered mail:
GSE Systems, Inc.
c/o General Counsel
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Notice of change of address shall be effective only when given
in accordance with this Section. All notices complying with this Section shall be deemed to have been received on the date of hand delivery or on the third (3rd) business day after mailing.
21. Governing Law and Forum. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed in such state without
giving effect to its principles of conflicts of laws. The Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally: (a) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the
Delaware Court and not in any other state or federal court in the United States, (b) 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 and (c) waive, and agree not to plead or make, any claim that the Delaware Court lacks venue or that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.
22. Headings. The headings of the sections and 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 or interpretation
thereof.
23. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
Agreement.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Agreement as of the date first above written.
GSE SYSTEMS, INC.
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By: _____________________
Name:
Title:
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INDEMNITEE
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_____________________
Name:
Address:______________
_____________________
_____________________
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FORM OF UNDERTAKING TO REPAY ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES
The Board of Directors of GSE Systems, Inc.
Re: Undertaking to Repay Expenses Advanced
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This undertaking is being provided pursuant to that certain Indemnification Agreement (the “Indemnification Agreement”) dated the ___day of _______________, 20___, by and between GSE Systems, Inc. (the “Company”) and the undersigned Indemnitee (“Indemnitee”),
pursuant to which I am entitled to advance of expenses in connection with [Description of Claim] (the “Claim”).
Terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings specified in the Indemnification Agreement.
I am subject to the Claim by reason of my status as a _______ or by reason of alleged actions or omissions by me in
such capacity. I hereby affirm that at all times, insofar as I was involved as [Description of Company Role] of the Company, in any of the facts or events
giving rise to the Claim, I (1) acted in good faith and honestly, (2) did not receive any improper personal benefit in money, property or services and (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that any act or
omission by me was unlawful.
In consideration of the advance of Expenses by the Company for reasonable attorneys’ fees and related expenses
incurred by me in connection with the Claim (the “Advanced Expenses”), I hereby agree that if, in connection with the Claim, it is
established that I am not entitled to indemnification then I shall promptly reimburse the portion of the Advanced Expenses relating to the claims, issues or matters in the Claim as to which the foregoing findings have been established and which
have not been successfully resolved as described in Section 6 of the Indemnification Agreement. To the extent that Advanced Expenses do not relate to a specific claim, issue or matter in the Claim, I agree that such Expenses shall be allocated on a
reasonable and proportionate basis.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this undertaking on this ___day of ______________, 20___.
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WITNESS:
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