INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT made and entered into this 28th day
of May, 1998 (the "Agreement"), by and between 24/7 MEDIA, INC., a Delaware
corporation (together with its affiliates, as defined in the federal securities
laws, the "Company"), and (the "Indemnitee"):
WHEREAS, highly competent persons are becoming more reluctant to
serve publicly-held corporations as officers or in other capacities unless they
are provided with adequate protection through insurance and indemnification
against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their
service to and activities on behalf of the corporation; and
WHEREAS, the current difficulties or virtual impossibility of
obtaining adequate insurance and uncertainties relating to indemnification have
increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has determined that
the inability to attract and retain such persons is detrimental to the best
interests of the Company's stockholders and that the Company should act to
assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in
the future; and
WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company
contractually to obligate itself to indemnify such persons to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the
Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified; and
WHEREAS, the Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and
to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition
that he be so indemnified;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants
contained herein, the Company and the Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as
follows:
Section 1. Services by Indemnitee. The Indemnitee agrees to serve as
a director of the Company. The Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason
resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or other
obligation imposed by operation of law).
Section 2. Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify the
Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law in effect on the
date hereof or as such laws may from time to time be amended. Without
diminishing the scope of the indemnification provided by this Section 2, the
rights of indemnification of the
Indemnitee provided hereunder shall include but shall not be limited to those
rights set forth hereinafter, except to the extent expressly prohibited by
applicable law.
Section 3. Action or Proceeding Other Than an Action by or in the
Right of the Company. The Indemnitee shall be entitled to the indemnification
rights provided in this Section 3 if he is a party or is threatened to be made a
party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative in nature, other than
an action by or in the right of the Company, by reason of the fact that he is or
was a director, officer, employee, agent, partner or fiduciary of the Company or
is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer,
employee, agent, partner or fiduciary of any other entity or by reason of
anything done or not done by him in any such capacity. Pursuant to this Section
3, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all expenses (including
attorneys' fees), costs, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such
action, suit or proceeding (including, but not limited to, the investigation,
defense or appeal thereof), if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
Section 4. Actions by or in the Right of the Company. The Indemnitee
shall be entitled to the indemnification rights provided in this Section 4 if he
is a person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to
any threatened, pending or completed action or suit brought by or in the right
of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he
is or was a director, officer, employee, agent, partner or fiduciary of the
Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee, agent, partner or fiduciary of any other entity by reason of
anything done or not done by him in any such capacity. Pursuant to this Section
4, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all expenses (including
attorneys' fees) and costs actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection
with such action or suit (including, but not limited to, the investigation,
defense, settlement or appeal thereof) if he acted in good faith and in a manner
he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
Company; provided, however, that no such indemnification shall be made in
respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which applicable law expressly
prohibits such indemnification by reason of an adjudication of liability of the
Indemnitee to the Company, unless, and only to the extent that, the Court of
Chancery of the State of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was
brought shall determine upon application that, despite such adjudication of
liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, the Indemnitee is
fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for such expenses and costs as
such court shall deem proper.
Section 5. Indemnification for Costs, Charges and Expenses of
Successful Party. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement and in
addition to the rights to indemnification set forth in Sections 3 and 4 hereof,
to the extent that the
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Indemnitee has served as a witness on behalf of the Company or has been
successful on the merits or otherwise, including, without limitation, the
dismissal of an action without prejudice, in defense of any action, suit or
proceeding referred to in Sections 3 and 4 hereof, or in defense of any claim,
issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against all costs, charges and
expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or
on his behalf in connection therewith.
Section 6. Partial Indemnification. In addition to the rights to
indemnification set forth in Sections 3 and 4 hereof, if the Indemnitee is only
partially successful in the defense, investigation, settlement or appeal of any
action, suit, investigation or proceeding described in Section 3 or 4 hereof,
and as a result is not entitled under Section 3, 4 or 5 hereof to
indemnification by the Company for the total amount of the expenses (including
attorneys' fees), costs, judgments, penalties, fines, and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him, the Company shall
nevertheless indemnify the Indemnitee, as a matter of right pursuant to Section
5 hereof, to the extent that the Indemnitee has been partially successful.
Section 7. Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification. Upon
written request by the Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 3 or 4
hereof, the entitlement of the Indemnitee to indemnification pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement shall be determined by the following person or persons
who shall be empowered to make such determination: (a) the Board of Directors of
the Company by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Disinterested Directors
(as hereinafter defined); or (b) if such a quorum is not obtainable or, even if
obtainable, if the Board of Directors by the majority vote of Disinterested
Directors so directs, by Independent Counsel (as hereinafter defined) in a
written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to
the Indemnitee; or (c) by the stockholders of the Company. Independent Counsel
shall be selected by the Board of Directors and approved by the Indemnitee. Upon
failure of the Board so to select Independent Counsel or upon failure of the
Indemnitee so to approve Independent Counsel, Independent Counsel shall be
selected by the Chancellor of the State of Delaware or such other person as the
Chancellor shall designate to make such selection. Such determination of
entitlement to indemnification shall be made not later than 60 days after
receipt by the Company of a written request for indemnification. Such request
shall include documentation or information which is necessary for such
determination and which is reasonably available to the Indemnitee. Any costs or
expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by the Indemnitee in connection
with his request for indemnification hereunder shall be borne by the Company.
The Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold the Indemnitee harmless
therefrom irrespective of the outcome of the determination of the Indemnitee's
entitlement to indemnification. If the person making such determination shall
determine that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification as to part (but not
all) of the application for indemnification, such person shall reasonably
prorate such partial indemnification among such claims, issues or matters.
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Section 8. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings. The
Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of the Indemnitee's
request for indemnification, advise in writing the Board of Directors or such
other person or persons empowered to make the determination as provided in
Section 7 that the Indemnitee has made such request for indemnification. Upon
making such request for indemnification, the Indemnitee shall be presumed to be
entitled to indemnification hereunder and the Company shall have the burden of
proof in the making of any determination contrary to such presumption. If the
person or persons so empowered to make such determination shall have failed to
make the requested indemnification within 60 days after receipt by the Company
of such request, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification
shall be deemed to have been made and the Indemnitee shall be absolutely
entitled to such indemnification, absent actual and material fraud in the
request for indemnification. The termination of any action, suit, investigation
or proceeding described in Section 3 or 4 hereof by judgment, order, settlement
or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not,
of itself: (a) create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not act in good
faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, that the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct
was unlawful; or (b) otherwise adversely affect the rights of the Indemnitee to
indemnification except as may be provided herein.
Section 9. Advancement of Expenses and Costs. All reasonable
expenses and costs incurred by the Indemnitee (including attorneys' fees,
retainers and advances of disbursements required of the Indemnitee) shall be
paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or
proceeding at the request of the Indemnitee within 20 days after the receipt by
the Company of a statement or statements from the Indemnitee requesting such
advance or advances from time to time. The Indemnitee's entitlement to such
expenses shall include those incurred in connection with any proceeding by the
Indemnitee seeking an adjudication or award in arbitration pursuant to this
Agreement. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the expenses
and costs incurred by him in connection therewith and shall include or be
accompanied by an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such
amount if it is ultimately determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be
indemnified against such expenses and costs by the Company as provided by this
Agreement or otherwise.
Section 10. Remedies of Indemnitee in Cases of Determination not to
Indemnify or to Advance Expenses. In the event that a determination is made that
the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification hereunder or if payment has
not been timely made following a determination of entitlement to indemnification
pursuant to Sections 7 and 8, or if expenses are not advanced pursuant to
Section 9, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to a final adjudication in an
appropriate court of the State of Delaware or any other court of competent
jurisdiction of his entitlement to such indemnification or advance.
Alternatively, the Indemnitee at his option may seek an award in arbitration to
be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the rules of the American
Arbitration
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Association, such award to be made within 60 days following the filing of the
demand for arbitration. The Company shall not oppose the Indemnitee's right to
seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration or any other claim, but may
oppose the Indemnitee's right to indemnification. Such judicial proceeding or
arbitration shall be made de novo and the Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by
reason of a determination (if so made) pursuant to Sections 7 and 8 that he is
not entitled to indemnification. If a determination is made or deemed to have
been made pursuant to the terms of Section 7 or Section 8 hereof that the
Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such
determination and is precluded from asserting that such determination has not
been made or that the procedure by which such determination was made is not
valid, binding and enforceable. The Company further agrees to stipulate in any
such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the
provisions of this Agreement and is precluded from making any assertion to the
contrary. If the court or arbitrator shall determine that the Indemnitee is
entitled to any indemnification hereunder, the Company shall pay all reasonable
expenses (including attorneys' fees) and costs actually incurred by the
Indemnitee in connection with such adjudication or award in arbitration
(including, but not limited to, any appellate proceedings).
Section 11. Other Rights to Indemnification. The indemnification and
advancement of expenses (including attorneys' fees) and costs provided by this
Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the
Indemnitee may now or in the future be entitled under any provision of the
by-laws, agreement, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, vote of
stockholders or disinterested directors, provision of law or otherwise.
Section 12. Attorneys' Fees and Other Expenses To Enforce Agreement.
In the event that the Indemnitee is subject to or intervenes in any proceeding
in which the validity or enforceability of this Agreement is at issue or seeks
an adjudication or award in arbitration to enforce his rights under, or to
recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, the Indemnitee, if he prevails in
whole or in part in such action, shall be entitled to recover from the Company
and shall be indemnified by the Company against, any actual expenses for
attorneys' fees and disbursements reasonably incurred by him.
Section 13. Duration of Agreement. This Agreement shall continue
until and terminate upon the later of: (a) 10 years after the Indemnitee has
ceased to occupy any of the positions or have any of the relationships described
in Sections 3 and 4 of this Agreement; and (b) the final termination of all
pending or threatened actions, suits, proceedings or investigations with respect
to the Indemnitee. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its
successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit the Indemnitee and his
spouse, assigns, heirs, devises, executors, administrators or other legal
representatives.
Section 14. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this
Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason
whatsoever: (a) the
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validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this
Agreement (including, without limitation, all portions of any paragraphs of this
Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, that are not themselves invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall
not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (b) to the fullest extent
possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, all
portions of any paragraph of this Agreement containing any such provision held
to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that are not themselves invalid,
illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent
manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
Section 15. Identical 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. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom
enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this
Agreement.
Section 16. Headings. The headings of the Sections of this Agreement
are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of
this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.
Section 17. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) "Disinterested Director" shall mean a director of the
Company who is not or was not a party to the action, suit, investigation or
proceeding in respect of which indemnification is being sought by the
Indemnitee.
(b) "Independent Counsel" shall mean a law firm or a member
of a law firm that neither is presently nor in the past five years has been
retained to represent: (i) the Company or the Indemnitee in any matter material
to either such party, or (ii) any other party to the action, suit, investigation
or proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term "Independent Counsel" shall not include
any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then
prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company
or the Indemnitee in an action to determine the Indemnitee's right to
indemnification under this Agreement.
Section 18. Modification and Waiver. 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 deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof
(whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
Section 19. Notice by the Indemnitee. The Indemnitee agrees promptly
to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation,
subpoena,
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complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any matter
which may be subject to indemnification covered hereunder, either civil,
criminal or investigative.
Section 20. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given if (i) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said
notice or other communication shall have been directed or if (ii) mailed by
certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day
after the date on which it is so mailed:
(a) If to the Indemnitee, to the address written on the
signature page hereto or such other address as the Indemnitee may furnish in
writing.
(b) If to the Company to:
24/7 MEDIA, INC.
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
or to such other address as may have been furnished to the Indemnitee by the
Company or to the Company by the Indemnitee, as the case may be.
Section 21. Governing Law. The parties agree that this Agreement
shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of
the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of laws.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement
on the day and year first above written.
24/7 MEDIA, INC.
By:
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Name:
Address:
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