To the Directors and Officers of Medistem Inc. Dear __________________:
Exhibit 99.2
To the Directors and Officers of Medistem Inc.
Dear __________________:
1. This letter agreement (this "Agreement") confirms the understanding by and among Intrexon Corporation ("Intrexon"), on the one hand, and each of Medistem Inc. (the "Company") and the undersigned directors and officers (each, an "Indemnified Party"), on the other hand. Capitalized terms not used herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 19, 2013 ("Merger Agreement"), by and among the Company, Intrexon and the other parties signatory thereto, and the Indemnification Agreement, by and between the Company and the Indemnified Party ("Indemnification Agreement", in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A).
2. For good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged by the parties to this Agreement, Intrexon hereby agrees that, in the event that (a) the Company does not have sufficient funds to meet its obligations to advance expenses to an Indemnified Party pursuant to the Indemnification Agreement and the Company’s charter documents and Intrexon shall have received a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company to that effect and (b) the Company’s Directors, Officers and Corporate Liability Insurance Policy and other applicable policies (collectively, the “Policies”) either (i) do not by their terms provide for the advancement of such expenses by the insurer or (ii) do not by their terms provide for the advancement by the insurer of funds sufficient to cover such expenses, then Intrexon will promptly loan to the Company, pursuant to one or more promissory notes in the form of the Promissory Note (as defined in the Merger Agreement) (each a “Note”), sufficient funds to enable the Company to advance any and all expenses that the Company may be obligated to advance to such Indemnified Party pursuant to the Indemnification Agreement and its charter documents above the expenses advanced pursuant to the Policies. Each Note shall have a maturity date one year from the date of issuance and shall provide that it shall be forgiven in the event that (i) prior to the maturity date the Merger Agreement is terminated pursuant to Article VII thereof in a manner such that Intrexon is not entitled to a Termination Fee (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and (ii) as of such date no determination has been made, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indemnification Agreement, the Company’s charter and the Nevada Revised Statutes, that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to be indemnified against such expenses because such Indemnified has not met the applicable standard of conduct under the Indemnification Agreement, the Company’s charter documents or the Nevada Revised Statutes, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the Company is reimbursed for or otherwise collects insurance proceeds under the Policies with respect to an advancement made to an Indemnified Party for which a Note was issued hereunder and subsequently forgiven, the Company shall remit said proceeds to Intrexon up to the value of the forgiven Note. The Company and the Indemnified Party agree that Intrexon shall be subrogated to their respective rights under the Policies to the extent of amounts actually loaned by Intrexon hereunder.
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3. Notwithstanding any other term or provision of this Agreement, the Indemnification Agreement, or the Merger Agreement or any ancillary agreement thereto:
a. Intrexon’s obligations to loan funds to the Company to enable it to advance the expenses of an Indemnified Party described in Section 2 above is limited to those expenses of the Company under an Indemnification Agreement or the Company’s charter documents that arise (i) from the actions of such Indemnified Party, (ii) acting in his capacity as a director or officer, as applicable, of the Company, (iii) solely in connection with the fulfillment of such Indemnified Party’s fiduciary duties as director or officer, as applicable, and (iv) solely with respect to the Company’s entry into the Merger Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, Intrexon has no obligation, under the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, to loan funds to the Company to enable the Company to advance expenses of an Indemnified Party arising (A) from actions taken prior to the date of the Merger Agreement or (B) in connection with any actions of such Indemnified Party not in connection with the fulfillment of his fiduciary duties as director or officer, as applicable, with respect to the Company’s entry into the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby; and
b. In no event shall more than $2,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Notes be outstanding at any time and Intrexon shall not be obligated to loan additional amounts to the Company hereunder until such time as the aggregate principal balance of Notes outstanding has been reduced below such threshold.
4. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement may also be executed and delivered by facsimile, e-mail or .pdf signature and in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. To the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Agreement is intended to confer upon the Indemnified Party indemnification rights to the fullest extent permitted by applicable laws. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of New York (including sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 of the New York General Obligations Law but excluding all other choice of law and conflicts of law rules). Each of the parties irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, or if such court declines to accept jurisdiction, any federal or state court within the State of New York, and, in each case, any appellate court thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment relating thereto, and each of the parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agrees not to commence any such action or proceeding except in such courts, (ii) agrees that any claim in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such courts, (iii) waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in such courts, and (iv) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in such courts. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE EITHER OF SUCH WAIVERS, (II) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVERS, (III) IT MAKES SUCH WAIVERS VOLUNTARILY, AND (IV) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS PARAGRAPH.
{Signature Page to Follow}
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned parties have caused this
Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.
Intrexon Corporation
By: /s/Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Indemnified Party
By:
Name:
Title: Member of the Board of Directors
Acknowledged and agreed to:
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Ph.D.
Title: Chief Executive Officer
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EXHIBIT A
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made as of December 19, 2013 by and between Medistem, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and __________________, (the “Indemnitee”).
WHEREAS, directors, officers, and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are often subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation, including litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself;
WHEREAS, many highly competent persons are reluctant to serve corporations as directors or in certain other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, certain 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;
WHEREAS the Bylaws of the Company and Nevada Revised Statues Chapter 78 (“NRS”) expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the board of directors, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification;
WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Bylaws of the Company and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of Indemnitee’s agreement to serve as a director, officer, employee, agent and/or fiduciary for at least one day after the date hereof, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person is or was serving at the request or consent of the Company.
(b) “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.
(c) “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that Indemnitee is or was serving at the request or consent of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary.
(d) “Expenses” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, participating, or being or preparing to be a witness in a Proceeding. Expenses also shall include the foregoing incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersede as bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.
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(e) “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the 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 Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.
(f) “Proceeding” includes any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party or otherwise, by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was an officer or director of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any inaction on his part while acting as an officer or director of the Company, or by reason of the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other Enterprise; in each case whether or not he is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement; including one pending on or before the date of this Agreement, but excluding one initiated by an Indemnitee pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement to enforce his rights under this Agreement.
2. Indemnity of Indemnitee. The Company hereby agrees to hold harmless and indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as such may be amended from time to time. In furtherance of the foregoing indemnification, and without limiting the generality thereof:
(a) Proceedings Other Than Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 2(a) if, by reason of his Corporate Status or otherwise, the Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company. Pursuant to this Section 2(a), Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement (if such settlement is approved in advance by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee, or on Indemnitee’s behalf, in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee not unreasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.
(b) Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 2(b) if, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status or otherwise, the Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company. Pursuant to this Section 2(b), Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee, or on the Indemnitee’s behalf, in connection with such Proceeding if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee not unreasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company; provided, however, if applicable law so provides, no indemnification against such Expenses shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter in such Proceeding as to which it shall be finally determined (under the procedures, and subject to the presumptions, set forth in Section 7 and Section 8 hereof), that Indemnitee is liable to the Company unless and to the extent that the Nevada courts shall determine that such indemnification may be made.
(c) Overriding Right to Indemnification if Successful on the Merits. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status or otherwise, a party to and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, he shall be indemnified to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, as such may be amended from time to time, against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.
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3. Additional Indemnity. In addition to, and without regard to any limitations on, the indemnification provided for in Section 2 of this Agreement, and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Company shall, and hereby does indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf if, by reason of his Corporate Status or otherwise, he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company), including, without limitation, all liability arising out of the negligence or active or passive wrongdoing of Indemnitee. The only limitation that shall exist upon the Company’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement shall be that the Company shall not be obligated to make any payment to Indemnitee that is finally determined (under the procedures, and subject to the presumptions, set forth in Section 7 and Section 8 hereof) to be unlawful.
4. Contribution.
(a) Whether or not the indemnification provided in Section 2 and Section 3 hereof is available, in respect of any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), the Company shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount of any judgment or settlement of such Proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment, and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have against Indemnitee. The Company shall not enter into any settlement of any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding) unless such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee.
(b) Without diminishing or impairing the obligations of the Company set forth in the preceding subparagraph, if, for any reason, Indemnitee shall elect or be required to pay all or any portion of any judgment or settlement in any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), the Company shall contribute to the amount of expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement (if such settlement is approved in advance by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) actually and reasonably incurred and paid or payable by Indemnitee in proportion to the relative benefits received by the Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company, other than Indemnitee, who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, from the transaction from which such Proceeding arose; provided, however, that the proportion determined on the basis of relative benefit may, to the extent necessary to conform to law, be further adjusted by reference to the relative fault of the Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, in connection with the events that resulted in such expenses, judgments, fines or settlement amounts, as well as any other equitable considerations which the law may require to be considered. The relative fault of the Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company, other than Indemnitee, who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, the degree to which their actions were motivated by intent to gain personal profit or advantage, the degree to which their liability is primary or secondary and the degree to which their conduct is active or passive.
(c) The Company hereby agrees to fully indemnify, defend and hold Indemnitee harmless from any claim of contribution brought by officers, directors or employees of the Company, other than Indemnitee, based upon a claim of liability which, if made against the Indemnitee directly, would be indemnifiable under this Agreement.
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(d) To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement (if such settlement is approved in advance by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company (together with its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).
5. Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status or otherwise, a witness in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, he shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith.
6. Advancement of Expenses. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status or otherwise within 20 days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether before or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by an undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay any Expenses advanced if it shall finally be determined (under the procedures, and subject to the presumptions, set forth in Section 7 and Section 8 hereof) that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses. Any advances and undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section 6 shall be unsecured and interest-free.
7. Procedures and Presumptions for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification. It is the intent of this Agreement to secure for Indemnitee rights of indemnity that are as favorable as may be permitted under the NRS and public policy of the State of Nevada. Accordingly, the parties agree that the following procedures and presumptions shall apply in the event of any question as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement:
(a) Indemnitee shall give the Company notice in writing as soon as practicable of any claim made against Indemnitee for which indemnification will or could be sought under this Agreement. Such notice shall include Indemnitee’s request for indemnification and such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and as is reasonably necessary for the Company to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board of Directors in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification. Failure to provide the notice required hereby shall not impair Indemnitee’s rights of indemnification and contribution under this Agreement except to the extent that such failure to provide notice actually and materially prejudices the rights of the Company to defend any Proceeding which is the basis of the claimed indemnification.
(b) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of Section 7(a) hereof, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case by one of the following four (4) methods, which shall be at the election of the Board of Directors: (i) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum, (ii) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum, (iii) if there are no Disinterested Directors or if the Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel, in a written opinion of such counsel to the Board of Directors and the Indemnitee, or (iv) if so directed by the Board of Directors, by the stockholders of the Company.
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(c) If the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 7(b) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 7(c). The Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board of Directors. Indemnitee may, within 10 days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company, as the case may be, 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 satisfy the definition of “Independent Counsel” set forth at Section 1 of 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 Counsel. In the event of a proper and timely objection, the Independent Counsel selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within 30 days after submission by Xxxxxxxxxx of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 7(a) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Nevada court or other court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Indemnitee to the Company’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent 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 Counsel under Section 7(b) hereof. The Company shall pay any and all reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in connection with acting pursuant to Section 7(b) hereof, and the Company shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 7(c), regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed.
(d) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence. Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination before the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
(e) In making a determination with respect to whether Xxxxxxxxxx acted in good faith and in a manner that Indemnitee not unreasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner that Indemnitee not unreasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence. Any action, or failure to act, by Indemnitee based on Indemnitee’s good faith reliance on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Enterprise shall not, in and of itself, constitute grounds for an adverse determination with respect to whether Xxxxxxxxxx acted in good faith and in a manner that Indemnitee not unreasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. In addition, the knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.
(f) If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 7 to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within 30 days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall 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 applicable law; provided, however, that such 30-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional 30 days, if the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time to obtain or evaluate documentation and/or information relating thereto.
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(g) Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Independent Counsel, member of the Board of Directors or stockholder of the Company shall act reasonably and in good faith in making a determination regarding the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement. Any costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
(h) In the event the Company shall be obligated under Section 5 hereof to pay the expenses of any proceeding against Indemnitee, the Company, if appropriate, shall be entitled to assume the defense of such proceeding, with counsel approved by 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 fees of counsel subsequently incurred by Indemnitee with respect to the same proceeding, provided that (i) Indemnitee shall have the right to employ his counsel in any such proceeding at Indemnitee’s expense; and (ii) if (A) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been previously authorized by the Company, (B) Indemnitee shall have not unreasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense, or (C) the Company shall not, in fact, have employed counsel to assume the defense of such proceeding, then the fees and expenses of Indemnitee’s counsel shall be at the expense of the Company.
(i) The Company acknowledges that a settlement or other disposition short of final judgment may be successful if it permits a party to avoid expense, delay, distraction, disruption and 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, without limitation, settlement of such 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 Proceeding. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence.
(j) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification under this Agreement or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he not unreasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
8. Remedies of Indemnitee.
(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification is made pursuant to Section 7(b) of this Agreement within 60 days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to this Agreement within 20 days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor or (v) payment of indemnification is not made within 10 days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or such determination is deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate court of the State of Nevada, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication.
(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 7(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 8 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial on the merits, and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of the adverse determination under Section 7(b). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement shall not be conditioned upon or subject to any obligation to seek payment under any insurance policy or policies, and Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement shall not be limited by any such insurance policy or policies; but the Company shall nonetheless be subrogated to Indemnitee’s rights under any applicable insurance policies to the extent of amounts actually paid by the Company hereunder.
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(c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 7(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 8, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s misstatement not materially misleading in connection with the application for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.
(d) In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 8, seeks a judicial adjudication of his rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, or to recover under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, the Company shall pay on his behalf, in advance, any and all expenses (of the types described in the definition of Expenses in Section 1 of this Agreement) reasonably expected to be incurred by him in such judicial adjudication, regardless of whether Indemnitee is ultimately determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of expenses or insurance recovery.
(e) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 8 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within 10 days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefore) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advance of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee is ultimately determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made before the final disposition of the Proceeding.
9. Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance.
(a) The rights of indemnification as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the certificate of incorporation of the Company, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders, a resolution of directors or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his Corporate Status or otherwise before such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in the NRS, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the indemnification and contribution provided for in this Agreement will remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of Indemnitee or any of Indemnitee’s agents.
(b) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents or fiduciaries of the Company or of any other Enterprise that such person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary under such policy or policies. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.
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(c) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers reasonably required and take all action reasonably necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.
(d) The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any Company insurance policy, Company contract, Company agreement or otherwise (except to the extent that Indemnitee is required (by court order or otherwise) to return such payment or to surrender it to the Company).
(e) The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of any other Enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other Enterprise (except to the extent that Indemnitee is required (by court order or otherwise) to return such payment or to surrender it to the Company).
10. Exception to Right of Indemnification. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnity in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:
(a) for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any Company insurance policy or other Company indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any Company insurance policy or other Company indemnity provision;
(b) for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law; or
(c) in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees (other than any Proceeding initiated by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 8(d), which shall be governed by the terms of such section), unless (i) the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) before its initiation or (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.
11. Duration of Agreement. All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue until six years after the end of any period Indemnitee is an officer or director of the Company (or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise) but shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any Proceeding (or any proceeding commenced under Section 8 hereof) by reason of his Corporate Status or otherwise, whether or not he is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement, notwithstanding such six year period. 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 or assets of the Company), assigns, spouses, heirs, legatees, administrators, executors and personal and legal representatives.
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12. Security. To the extent requested by Xxxxxxxxxx and approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, the Company may at any time and from time to time provide security to Indemnitee for the Company’s obligations hereunder through an irrevocable bank line of credit, funded trust or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee.
13. Enforcement.
(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumes the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as an officer or director of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as an officer or director of the Company.
(b) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
14. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. To the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Agreement is intended to confer upon Indemnitee indemnification rights to the fullest extent permitted by applicable laws. In the event any provision hereof conflicts with any applicable law, such provision shall be deemed modified, consistent with the aforementioned intent, to the extent necessary to resolve such conflict.
15. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification, termination 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. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective for any purpose unless executed in writing by the waiving party.
16. Notice By Indemnitee. Xxxxxxxxxx agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with or otherwise receiving any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification covered hereunder. The failure to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise unless and only to the extent that such failure or delay materially prejudices the Company.
17. Notices. Unless otherwise provided herein, any notice, request, demand or other communication required or permitted under this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effective upon the earlier of (a) actual receipt, or (b) (i) one business day after the date of sending by machine-confirmed facsimile transmission (provided, that the sender shall also dispatch such notice, request, demand or other communication by one of the other methods designated here before the end of such one business day), (ii) one business day after the business day of deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier service for next day delivery, freight prepaid, or (iii) three business days after deposit with the United States Postal Service for delivery by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid. Any such notice shall be addressed to the party to be notified at the address indicated for such party indicated on the signature page(s) hereto, or at such other address as such party may designate by ten days’ advance written notice to the other party hereunder.
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18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. This Agreement may also be executed and delivered by facsimile signature and in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
19. Headings. The headings of the sections and subsections 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.
20. Governing Law. This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Nevada, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.
21. Construction. The parties acknowledge that both parties have contributed to the drafting of this Agreement and, therefore, waive the application of any law, regulation, holding or rule of construction providing that ambiguities in an agreement or other document will be construed against the party drafting such agreement or document.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Indemnification Agreement as of the date first above written.
INDEMNITEE: | ||
Signature: ________________________ | ||
Name: | ||
Address: | ||
__________________ __________________ | ||
COMPANY: | ||
MEDISTEM, INC. | ||
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx | ||
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Ph.D. | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
Address: 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx 000 Xxx Xxxxx, XX 00000 |
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