DIRECTOR INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.2
DIRECTOR INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Indemnification Agreement is dated as of , 2014 (this “Agreement”) and is between Visant Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Visant” and together with its wholly owned subsidiaries for which Indemnitee serves as a director, individually or collectively, the “Company”), and [Name of director] (“Indemnitee”).
Background
Visant believes that, in order to attract and retain highly competent persons to serve as directors of Visant and its subsidiaries, it must provide such persons with adequate protection through indemnification against the risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their services to and activities on behalf of the Company.
Visant desires and has requested Indemnitee to serve as a director of the Company and, whereas Indemnitee is not an employee of or affiliated with any of the Institutional Stockholders (as defined herein), in order to induce the Indemnitee to serve as a director of the Company, the Company is willing to grant the Indemnitee the indemnification provided for herein without limitation but without duplication to any indemnification otherwise provided by the Company. Indemnitee is willing to so serve on the basis that such indemnification be provided.
The parties by this Agreement desire to set forth their agreement regarding indemnification and the advancement of expenses.
In consideration of Indemnitee’s service to the Company and the covenants and agreements set forth below, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows.
Section 1. Indemnification.
To the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”):
(a) The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee if Indemnitee was or is made or is threatened to be made a party to, or is otherwise involved in, as a witness or otherwise, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (brought in the right of the Company or otherwise), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and whether formal or informal, including appeals, by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was or has agreed to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted to be taken in any such capacity.
(b) The indemnification provided by this Section 1 shall be from and against all loss and liability suffered and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, including any appeals.
Section 2. Advance Payment of Expenses. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by Indemnitee in appearing at, participating in or defending any action, suit or proceeding or in connection with an enforcement action as contemplated by Section 3A(e), shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding within 30 days after receipt by the Company of a statement or statements from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time. The Indemnitee hereby undertakes to repay any amounts advanced (without interest) to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled under this Agreement to be indemnified by the Company in respect thereof. No other form of undertaking shall be required of Indemnitee other than the execution of this Agreement. This Section 2 shall be subject to Section 3(b) and shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 6.
Section 3. Procedure for Indemnification; Notification and Defense of Claim.
(a) Promptly after receipt by Indemnitee of notice of the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, Indemnitee shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Company hereunder, notify the Company in writing of the commencement thereof. The failure to promptly notify the Company of the commencement of the action, suit or proceeding, or of Indemnitee’s request for indemnification, will not relieve the Company from any liability that it may have to Indemnitee hereunder, except to the extent the Company is actually and materially prejudiced in its defense of such action, suit or proceeding as a result of such failure. To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request therefor including such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to enable the Company to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification.
(b) With respect to any action, suit or proceeding of which the Company is so notified as provided in this Agreement, the Company shall, subject to the last two sentences of this paragraph (b), be entitled to assume the defense of such action, suit or proceeding, with counsel reasonably acceptable to Indemnitee, upon the delivery to Indemnitee of written notice of its election to do so. After delivery of such notice, approval of such counsel by Indemnitee and the retention of such counsel by the Company, the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any subsequently-incurred fees of separate counsel engaged by Indemnitee with respect to the same action, suit or proceeding unless the employment of separate counsel by Indemnitee has been previously authorized in writing by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Indemnitee, based on the advice of his or her counsel, shall have reasonably concluded (with written notice being given to the Company setting forth the basis for such conclusion) that, in the conduct of any such defense, there is or is reasonably likely to be a conflict of interest or position between the Company and Indemnitee with respect to a significant issue, then the Company will not be entitled, without the written consent of Indemnitee, to assume such defense. In addition, the Company will not be entitled, without the written consent of Indemnitee, to assume the defense of any claim brought by or in the right of the Company.
(c) To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, the Company’s assumption of the defense of an action, suit or proceeding in accordance with paragraph (b) above will constitute an irrevocable acknowledgement by the Company that any loss and liability suffered by Indemnitee and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement by or for the account of Indemnitee incurred in connection therewith are indemnifiable by the Company under Section 1 of this Agreement.
Section 3A. Determination of Right to Indemnification.
(a) The determination whether to grant Indemnitee’s indemnification request, as provided in this Section 3A, shall be made promptly and in any event within 30 days following the Company’s receipt of a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 3(a). If the Company determines that Indemnitee is entitled to such indemnification or, as contemplated by Section 3(c) the Company has acknowledged such entitlement, the Company will make payment to Indemnitee of the indemnifiable amount within such 30-day period. If the Company is not deemed to have so acknowledged such entitlement or the Company’s determination of whether to grant Indemnitee’s indemnification request shall not have been made within such 30-day period, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, subject to Section 6, nonetheless be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under the DGCL.
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(b) To the extent Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section 1, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any loss and liability suffered by Indemnitee and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement by or for the account of Indemnitee incurred in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such action, suit or proceeding, but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims in such action, suit or proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any loss and liability suffered by Indemnitee and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement by or for the account of Indemnitee incurred in connection with each successfully resolved claim.
(c) In the event that Section 3A(b) is inapplicable, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee, unless and to the extent a Reviewing Party chosen pursuant to Section 3A(d) determines that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, as a condition to such indemnification.
(d) If, and to the extent, any applicable law requires the determination that Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, as a condition to any such indemnification, a Reviewing Party chosen by the Company Board (provided, that following a Change of Control, such Reviewing Party shall, at the written election of Indemnitee, be an Independent Legal Counsel) shall make such determination in writing, subject to the following:
(i) A Reviewing Party so chosen shall act in the utmost good faith to assure Indemnitee a complete opportunity to present to such Reviewing Party Indemnitee’s evidence that Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct.
(ii) If the Reviewing Party pursuant to this Section 3A(d) is to be an Independent Legal Counsel, the Independent Legal Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 3A(d)(ii). The Independent Legal Counsel shall be selected promptly by the Company Board, and the Company Board shall provide written notice of such selection to Indemnitee. Indemnitee may, within seven (7) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Legal 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 shall act as Independent Legal Counsel. If a written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Legal Counsel selected may not serve as Independent Legal Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within fifteen (15) days after the initial notice provided by the Company Board to Indemnitee of the initial selection of an Independent Legal Counsel, no Independent Legal Counsel shall have been selected by the Company Board and not objected to by Indemnitee, either the Company Board or the Indemnitee may petition the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or other court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Indemnitee to the Company Board’s selection of Independent Legal Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Legal Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Legal Counsel and the Reviewing Party pursuant to this Section 3A(d). The Company shall pay any and all reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Legal Counsel incurred by such Independent Legal Counsel in connection with acting pursuant to this Section 3A(d), and the Company shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 3A(d)(ii), regardless of the manner in which such Independent Legal Counsel was selected or appointed.
(e) In the event that (i) a Reviewing Party determines in accordance with this Section 3A that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) the Company denies a request for indemnification, in whole or in part, or fails to respond or make a determination of entitlement to indemnification within 30 days following receipt of a request for indemnification as described above, (iii) payment of indemnification is not made within such 30-day period, (iv) advancement of expenses is not timely
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made in accordance with Section 2, or (v) the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in any court of competent jurisdiction of his or her entitlement to such Indemnification or advancement of Expenses. Indemnitee’s expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection with successfully establishing Indemnitee’s right to indemnification or advancement of expenses, in whole or in part, in any such proceeding or otherwise shall also be indemnified by the Company to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. In the event of any dispute between the parties concerning their respective rights and obligations hereunder, the Company shall have the burden of proving that the Company is not obligated to make the payment or advance claimed by Indemnitee.
(f) The Company hereby acknowledges that a settlement or other disposition short of final judgment shall be deemed a successful resolution for purposes of Section 3A(b) if it permits a party to avoid expense, delay, distraction, disruption or uncertainty. In the event that any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party is resolved in any manner other than by adverse judgment against Indemnitee (including settlement of such action, suit or proceeding with or without payment of money or other consideration), it shall be presumed that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in such action, suit or proceeding, unless there has been a finding (either adjudicated or pursuant to Section 3A(d) above) that Indemnitee (i) did not act in good faith, (ii) did not act in a manner reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company, or (iii) with respect to any criminal proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof, and the burden of persuasion, by clear and convincing evidence.
For purposes of Section 3A, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) | The term “Company Board” means the board of directors of the Company. |
(b) | The term “Disinterested Director” means, with respect to any determination contemplated by this Agreement, any Person who, as of the time of such determination, is a member of the Company Board but is not a party to any action, suit or proceeding then pending with respect to any indemnification event. |
(c) | The term “Independent Legal Counsel” means an attorney or firm of attorneys designated by the Disinterested Directors (or, if there are no Disinterested Directors, the Company Board) that is experienced in matters of corporate law and neither presently is, nor in the thirty-six (36) months prior to such designation has been, retained to represent (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party, or (ii) any other party to the action, suit or proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Legal Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. |
(d) | The term “Reviewing Party” means, with respect to any determination contemplated by this Agreement, any one of the following: (i) a majority of all Disinterested Directors, even if such Disinterested Directors do not constitute a quorum of the Company Board; (ii) a committee of Disinterested Directors, even if such committee members do not constitute a quorum of the Company Board, so long as such committee was designated by a majority of all Disinterested Directors; (iii) if there are no Disinterested Directors, or if the Disinterested Directors so direct, Independent Legal Counsel, in which case the applicable determination shall be provided in a written opinion to the Company Board, with a copy provided to Indemnitee; or (iv) if Indemnitee is not a director or officer of the Company at the time of such determination, the Company Board. |
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Section 4. Insurance and Subrogation.
(a) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to purchase and maintain a policy or policies of insurance with reputable insurance companies with A.M. Best ratings of “A” or better, providing Indemnitee with coverage for any liability asserted against, and incurred by, Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was or has agreed to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or while serving as a director or officer of the Company, is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent (which, for purposes hereof, shall include a trustee, fiduciary, partner or manager or similar capacity) of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, or arising out of Indemnitee’s status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify Indemnitee against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement. Such insurance policies shall have coverage terms and policy limits at least as favorable to Indemnitee as the insurance coverage provided to any other director or officer of the Company. If the Company has such insurance in effect at the time the Company receives from Indemnitee any notice of the commencement of an action, suit or proceeding, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the policy. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policy.
(b) Subject to Section 9(b), in the event of any payment by the Company under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee with respect to any insurance policy. Indemnitee shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights in accordance with the terms of such insurance policy. The Company shall pay or reimburse all expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such subrogation.
(c) Subject to Section 9(b), the Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (including, but not limited to, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement, and ERISA excise taxes or penalties) if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under this Agreement or any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.
Section 5. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) The term “action, suit or proceeding” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, the investigation, preparation, prosecution, defense, settlement, arbitration and appeal of, and the giving of testimony in, any threatened, pending or completed claim, action, suit, arbitration, alternative dispute mechanism or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative.
(b) The term “by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was or has agreed to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or while serving as a director or officer of the Company, is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent (which, for purposes hereof, shall include a trustee, partner or manager or similar capacity) of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, any actual or alleged act or omission to act.
(c) The term “expenses” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, all direct and indirect costs of any type or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, all attorneys’ fees and related disbursements, appeal bonds, other out-of-pocket costs and reasonable compensation for time spent by Indemnitee for which Indemnitee is not otherwise compensated by the Company or any third party), actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with either the investigation, defense or appeal of an action, suit or proceeding or establishing or enforcing a right to indemnification under this Agreement or otherwise incurred in connection with a claim that is indemnifiable hereunder.
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(d) The term “judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, all direct and indirect payments of any type or nature whatsoever, as well as any penalties or excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan).
Section 6. Limitation on Indemnification. Notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to this Agreement:
(a) Claims Initiated by Indemnitee. To indemnify or advance expenses to Indemnitee with respect to an action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof), however denominated, initiated by Indemnitee, other than (i) an action, suit or proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Agreement (which shall be governed by the provisions of Section 6(b) of this Agreement) and (ii) an action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board of Directors of the Company, it being understood and agreed that such authorization or consent shall not be unreasonably withheld in connection with any compulsory counterclaim brought by Indemnitee in response to an action, suit or proceeding otherwise indemnifiable under this agreement, subject to the terms of Section 10 following a change in control (as defined herein).
(b) Action for Indemnification. To indemnify Indemnitee for any expenses incurred by Indemnitee with respect to any action, suit or proceeding instituted by Indemnitee to enforce or interpret this Agreement, unless Indemnitee is successful in such action, suit or proceeding in establishing Indemnitee’s right, in whole or in part, to indemnification or advancement of expenses hereunder (in which case such indemnification or advancement shall be to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL), or unless and to the extent that the court in such action, suit or proceeding shall determine that, despite Indemnitee’s failure to establish their right to indemnification, Indemnitee is entitled to indemnity for such expenses; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 6(b) is intended to limit the Company’s obligations with respect to the advancement of expenses to Indemnitee in connection with any such action, suit or proceeding instituted by Indemnitee to enforce or interpret this Agreement, as provided in Section 2 hereof.
(c) Section 16(b) Matters. To indemnify Indemnitee on account of any suit in which judgment is rendered against Indemnitee for disgorgement of profits made from the purchase or sale by Indemnitee of securities of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
(d) Fraud or Willful Misconduct. To indemnify Indemnitee on account of conduct by Indemnitee where such conduct has been determined by a final (not interlocutory) judgment or other adjudication of a court or arbitration or administrative body of competent jurisdiction as to which there is no further right or option of appeal or the time within which an appeal must be filed has expired without such filing to have been knowingly fraudulent or constitute willful misconduct.
(e) Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act. To indemnify Indemnitee in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (or any part of any action, suit or proceeding) for any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 (the “Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act), if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements).
(f) Prohibited by Law. To indemnify Indemnitee in any circumstance where such indemnification has been determined by a final (not interlocutory) judgment or other adjudication of a court or arbitration or administrative body of competent jurisdiction as to which there is no further right or option of appeal or the time within which an appeal must be filed has expired without such filing to be prohibited by law.
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(g) Duplicative Payments. To indemnify Indemnitee in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (or any part of any action, suit or proceeding) for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any valid and collectible insurance policy or any other valid and enforceable indemnity provision or agreement, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount actually paid and except to the extent amounts are thereafter “clawed back” or otherwise under dispute under such insurance policy, provision or agreement.
Section 7. Certain Settlement Provisions. The Company shall have no obligation to indemnify Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any action, suit or proceeding without the Company’s prior written consent. The Company shall not settle any action, suit or proceeding in any manner that would impose any fine or other obligation on Indemnitee or require the admission of fault or culpability of Indemnitee without Indemnitee’s prior written consent. Neither the Company nor Indemnitee will unreasonably withhold his, her, its or their consent to any proposed settlement.
Section 8. Savings Clause. If any provision or provisions (or portion thereof) of this Agreement shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee if Indemnitee was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (brought in the right of the Company or otherwise), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and whether formal or informal, including appeals, by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was or has agreed to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, from and against all loss and liability suffered and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, including any appeals, to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Agreement that shall not have been invalidated.
Section 9. Contribution/Jointly Indemnifiable Claims.
(a) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for herein is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to Indemnitee in whole or in part, it is agreed that, in such event, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, contribute to the payment of all of Indemnitee’s loss and liability suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any action, suit or proceeding, including any appeals, in an amount that is just and equitable in the circumstances; provided, that, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such contribution shall not be required where such holding by the court is due to any limitation on indemnification set forth in Section 4(c), 6 or 7 hereof.
(b) Given that certain jointly indemnifiable claims may arise due to the service of the Indemnitee as a director and/or officer of the Company at the request of the Indemnitee-related entities, the Company acknowledges and agrees that the Company shall be fully and primarily responsible for the payment to the Indemnitee in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses in connection with any such jointly indemnifiable claim, pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, irrespective of any right of recovery the Indemnitee may have from the Indemnitee-related entities. Under no circumstance shall the Company be entitled to any right of subrogation or contribution by the Indemnitee-related entities and no right of advancement or recovery the Indemnitee may have from the Indemnitee-related entities shall reduce or otherwise alter the rights of the Indemnitee or the obligations of the Company hereunder. In the event that any of the Indemnitee-related entities shall make any payment to the Indemnitee in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to any jointly indemnifiable claim, the Indemnitee-related entity making such payment shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee against the Company, and Indemnitee shall execute all papers reasonably required and shall do all things that may be reasonably necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents as may be necessary to enable the Indemnitee-related entities effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights. The Company
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and Indemnitee agree that each of the Indemnitee-related entities shall be third-party beneficiaries with respect to this Section 9(b), entitled to enforce this Section 9(b) as though each such Indemnitee-related entity were a party to this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 9(b), the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(i) The term “Indemnitee-related entities” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise (other than the Company or any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise Indemnitee has agreed, on behalf of the Company or at the Company’s request, to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent and which service is covered by the indemnity described in this Agreement) from whom an Indemnitee may be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to which, in whole or in part, the Company may also have an indemnification or advancement obligation (other than as a result of obligations under an insurance policy).
(ii) The term “jointly indemnifiable claims” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, any action, suit or proceeding for which the Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses from both the Indemnitee-related entities and the Company pursuant to the DGCL, any agreement or the certificate of incorporation, bylaws, partnership agreement, operating agreement, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or comparable organizational documents of the Company or the Indemnitee-related entities, as applicable.
Section 10. Change in Control.
(a) The Company agrees that if there is a change in control of the Company, then with respect to all matters thereafter arising concerning the rights of Indemnitee to indemnification and advancement of expenses under this Agreement, any other agreement or the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws now or hereafter in effect, the Company shall seek legal advice only from Independent Legal Counsel selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld). In addition, upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 3(a), a determination, if required by the DGCL, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made by such Independent Legal Counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Directors of the Company, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Legal Counsel referred to above and to indemnify fully such counsel against any and all expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees), claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto. A “change in control” shall mean (i) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to an Unaffiliated Person; (ii) a sale resulting in more than 50% of the voting securities of the Company being held by an Unaffiliated Person; (iii) a merger, consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization of the Company with or into another Unaffiliated Person; if and only if any such event listed in clauses (i) through (iii) above results in the inability of the Institutional Stockholders to designate or elect a majority of the Board (or the board of directors (or similar body) of the resulting entity or its parent company). For purposes of this definition, the term “Unaffiliated Person” means any Person or Group who is not (x) any of the Institutional Stockholders, (y) an Affiliate of any of the Institutional Stockholders, or (z) an entity in which any of the Institutional Stockholders, or any member of the respective Institutional Stockholders holds, directly or indirectly, a majority of the voting interests in such entity.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:
(i) “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person, (ii) any Person directly or indirectly owning or controlling ten percent (10%) or more of any class of outstanding equity securities of such Person or (iii) any officer, director, general partner or trustee of any such Person described in clause (i) or (ii).
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(ii) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
(iii) “Group” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Sections 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Group shall exclude (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.
(iv) “Independent Legal Counsel” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3A of this Agreement.
(v) “Institutional Stockholders” shall mean Fusion Acquisition LLC, on the one hand, and DLJ Merchant Banking Partners III, L.P., DLJ Offshore Partners XXX-0, X.X., XXX Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx XXX-0, X.X., XXX Offshore Partners III, C.V., DLJ MB Partners III GmbH & Co. KG, Millennium Partners II, L.P. and MBP III Plan Investors, L.P., on the other hand.
(vi) “Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, limited liability company, limited or general partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivisions thereof or any Group comprised of two or more of the foregoing.
Section 11. Form and Delivery of Communications. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand, upon receipt by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (c) mailed by reputable overnight courier, one day after deposit with such courier and with written verification of receipt or (d) sent by e-mail or facsimile transmission, with receipt of oral confirmation that such transmission has been received. Notice to the Company shall be directed to Visant Holding Corporation, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, XX 00000, Attention: General Counsel, e-mail: xxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx, facsimile: (000) 000-0000, confirmation number: (000) 000-0000, and to Indemnitee shall be directed to Indemnitee at the address set forth below Indemnitee’s signature below, or in either case to such other address, e-mail or facsimile number as such party may indicate by a notice delivered to the other party hereto under the terms of this Section 11.
Section 12. Nonexclusivity. The provisions for indemnification and advancement of expenses set forth in this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights which Indemnitee may have under any provision of law, in any court in which a proceeding is brought, other agreements or otherwise as may be in effect from time to time, and Indemnitee’s rights hereunder shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of Indemnitee. No amendment or alteration of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws or any other agreement shall adversely affect or be in limitation of the rights provided to Indemnitee under this Agreement.
Section 13. No Construction as Employment Agreement. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as giving Indemnitee any right to be retained as a director of the Company or in the employ of the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided under this Agreement shall continue as to the Indemnitee even though he may have ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company.
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Section 14. Interpretation of Agreement. It is understood that the parties hereto intend this Agreement to be interpreted and enforced so as to provide indemnification to Indemnitee to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by the DGCL.
Section 15. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the documents expressly referred to herein constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the express subject matter hereof, and any other prior or contemporaneous oral or written understandings or agreements with respect to the matters covered hereby are expressly superseded by this Agreement.
Section 16. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification, waiver or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver. For the avoidance of doubt, this Agreement may not be terminated by the Company without Indemnitee’s prior written consent.
Section 17. Successor and Assigns. All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives. The Company shall require and cause any direct or indirect successor (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of such 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.
Section 18. Service of Process and Venue. The Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) agree to appoint, to the extent such party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, an agent in the State of Delaware as such party’s agent for acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action or proceeding against such party with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware, (iv) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (v) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.
Section 19. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware. If a court of competent jurisdiction shall make a final determination that the provisions of the law of any state other than Delaware govern indemnification by the Company of Indemnitee, then the indemnification provided under this Agreement shall in all instances be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted under such law, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary.
Section 20. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument, notwithstanding that both parties are not signatories to the original or same counterpart.
Section 21. Headings. The section and subsection headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
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This Indemnification Agreement has been duly executed and delivered to be effective as of the date stated above.
VISANT HOLDING CORP. | ||
By |
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Name: | ||
Title: | ||
INDEMNITEE: | ||
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Name: | ||
Address for Notice for Indemnitee under Section 11: |
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E-mail: |
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Facsimile: |
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Confirmation number: |
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