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EXHIBIT 10.10
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT, made and entered into this 12th day of
September 1996 ("Agreement"), by and between MIKE'S ORIGINAL, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Corporation", which term shall include any one or more of its
subsidiaries where appropriate), and _________________ ("Indemnitee"):
WHEREAS, highly competent persons are becoming more reluctant to serve
publicly-held corporations as directors or as officers or in 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, such corporations;
and
WHEREAS, the statutes and judicial duties regarding the duties of
officers and directors are often difficult to apply, ambiguous or conflicting
and therefore fail to provide such directors and officers with adequate and
reliable knowledge of legal risks to which they are exposed or information
regarding the proper cause of action to take; and
WHEREAS, the current impracticability of obtaining adequate insurance
and the uncertainties relating to indemnification have increased the difficulty
of attracting and retaining such persons; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the "Board of
Directors") has determined that the difficulty in attracting and retaining such
persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Corporation's stockholders
and that the Corporation should act to assure such persons that there will be
increased certainty of such protection in the future; and
WHEREAS, the Corporation believes it is unfair for the directors and
officers to assume the risk of huge judgments and other expenses which may occur
in cases in which the director or officer acted in good faith; and
WHEREAS, Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware
("Section 145") under which the Corporation is organized, empowers the
Corporation to indemnify its officers and directors by agreement and expressly
provides that the indemnification provided by Section 145 is not exclusive; and
WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Corporation
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
Corporation free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified; and
WHEREAS, Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and/or to
take on additional service for or on behalf of the Corporation on the condition
that he be so indemnified;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants
contained herein, the Corporation and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as
follows:
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1. DEFINITIONS FOR PURPOSES OF THIS AGREEMENT:
(a) "Change in Control" means a change in control of the
Corporation of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to
Item 5(f) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or in response to any similar item
or similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the "Act"), whether or not the Corporation is then subject to such
reporting requirement; provided, however, that, without limitation, such a
Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any "person" (as such
term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Act) is or becomes the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Corporation representing 20% or more of the
combined voting power of the Corporation's then outstanding securities without
the prior approval of at least two-thirds of the members of the Board of
Directors in office immediately prior to such person attaining such percentage
interest; (ii) the Corporation is a party to a merger, consolidation, sale of
assets or other reorganization, or a proxy contest, as a consequence of which
members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such
transaction or event constitute less than two-thirds of the Board of Directors
thereafter; (iii) during any period of twenty-four (24) consecutive months,
individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of
Directors (including for this purpose any new director whose election or
nomination for election by the Corporation's stockholders was approved by a vote
of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors
at the beginning of such period) cease for any reason to constitute at least
two-thirds of the Board of Directors; or (iv) the stockholders of the
Corporation approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Corporation or an
agreement for the sale or disposition by the Corporation (in one transaction or
a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the Corporation's
assets.
(b) "Potential Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred
if (i) the Corporation enters into an agreement, the consummation of which would
result in the occurrence of a Change in Control; (ii) a person (including the
Corporation) publicly announces a legitimate intention to take or to consider
taking actions which if consummated would constitute a Change in Control; (iii)
any person, other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an
employee benefit plan of the Corporation or a corporation owned, directly or
indirectly, by the shareholders of the Corporation in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership of stock of the Corporation, who is or becomes
the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Corporation
representing 9.5% or more of the combined voting power of the Corporation's then
outstanding Voting Securities, increases his beneficial ownership of such
securities by five percentage points or more over the percentage so owned by
such person; or (iv) the Board of Directors adopts a resolution to the effect
that, for purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control has
occurred.
(c) "Corporate Status" describes the status of a person who is or
was or has agreed to become a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation, or served at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer,
employee, trustee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint, venture,
trust or other enterprise.
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(d) "Disinterested Director" means a director of the Corporation
who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which
indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.
(e) "Proceeding" includes any threatened, pending or completed
inquiry, action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism,
investigation, administrative hearing or any other proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative, except one initiated by an Indemnitee
pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement to enforce his rights under this
Agreement.
(f) "Expenses" includes all direct and indirect costs of any type
or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, all attorneys' fees and
related disbursements, other out-of-pocket costs and reasonable compensation for
time spent by the Indemnitee for which he is not otherwise compensated by the
Corporation or any third party, provided that the rate of compensation and
estimated time involved is approved in advance by the Board of Directors),
actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with either the
investigation, defense or appeal of a Proceeding (including amounts paid in
settlement by or on behalf of Indemnitee), or the prosecution of an action or
proceeding, including appeals, to establish or enforce a right to
indemnification under this Agreement, Section 145 or otherwise. Expenses as
defined herein, shall not include any judgments, fines or penalties actually
levied against the Indemnitee.
(g) "Independent Counsel" means (i) any law firm or member of a
law firm which the Board of Directors may designate from time to time provided
that the law firm or member of the law firm so designated is experienced in
matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years
has been, retained to represent: (A) the Corporation or Indemnitee in any matter
material to either such party, or (B) 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 Corporation or Indemnitee in an
action to determine Indemnitee's rights under this Agreement arising on or after
the date of this Agreement, regardless of when the Indemnitee's act or failure
to act occurred.
2. SERVICES BY INDEMNITEE.
Indemnitee agrees to serve or continue to serve as a Director of
the Board of the Corporation so long as he is duly appointed or elected and
qualified in accordance with the applicable provisions of the By-Laws of the
Corporation or the By-Laws of any subsidiary of the Corporation or until such
time as he tenders his resignation in writing. This Agreement shall not impose
any obligation on the Indemnitee or the Corporation to continue the Indemnitee's
position with the Corporation beyond any period otherwise applicable, nor to
create any right to continued employment of the Indemnitee in any capacity.
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3. GENERAL.
The Corporation shall indemnify, and shall advance Expenses to
Indemnitee as provided in this Agreement and to the fullest extent permitted by
law.
4. PROCEEDINGS OTHER THAN PROCEEDINGS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF
THE CORPORATION.
Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification
provided in this Section 4 if, by reason of his Corporate Status, he is, or is
threatened to be made, a party to any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or
in the right of the Corporation. Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be
indemnified against Expenses, including amounts paid in settlement, as well as
any judgments, fines and penalties levied or awarded against him in connection
with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, 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 Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding,
had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
5. PROCEEDINGS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION.
Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification
provided in this Section 5, if, by reason of his Corporate Status, he is, or is
threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or completed
Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment
in its favor. Pursuant to this Section, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against
Expenses actually incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with such
Proceeding 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 Corporation. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, no indemnification against such Expenses shall be made in respect
of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to
be liable to the Corporation if such indemnification is not permitted by the
laws of the State of Delaware or other applicable law; provided, however, that
indemnification against Expenses nevertheless shall by made by the Corporation
in such event to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware,
or the court in which such Proceeding shall have been brought or is pending,
shall determine.
6. INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A PARTY WHO IS WHOLLY OR
PARTLY SUCCESSFUL.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the
extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a party to and is
successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, he shall be
indemnified against all Expenses actually 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 Corporation shall
indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually incurred by him or on his
behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. For
purposes of this Section, but without limitation, the termination of any claim,
issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal or withdrawal, with or without
prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or
matter.
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7. ADVANCE OF EXPENSES.
The Corporation shall advance all reasonable Expenses incurred by
or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding within twenty days
after the receipt by the Corporation of a statement or statements from
Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior
to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements
shall evidence or reflect 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 is determined ultimately that Indemnitee is
not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses.
8. PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINATION OF ENTITLEMENT TO
INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee
shall submit to the Corporation a written request, including therein or
therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to
Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent
Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. Promptly upon receipt of such a
request for indemnification, the Secretary of the Corporation shall advise the
Board of Directors in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.
(b) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification
pursuant to Section 8(a) hereof, a determination, if required by applicable law,
with respect to Indemnitee's entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific
case as follows: (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent
Counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be
delivered to Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such determination
be made by the Board of Directors, in which case the determination shall be made
in the manner provided below in clauses (ii) or (iii)); (ii) if a Change of
Control shall not have occurred, (A) by the Board of Directors by a majority
vote of a quorum consisting of Disinterested Directors, or (B) if a quorum of
the Board of Directors consisting of Disinterested Directors is not obtainable
or, even if obtainable, if such quorum of Disinterested Directors so directs, by
Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of
which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; (iii) as provided in Section 9(b) of
this Agreement; and, if it is determined that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after
such determination. 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
costs or Expenses (including attorneys' fees and disbursements) incurred by
Indemnitee in so cooperating shall be borne by the Corporation (regardless of
the determination as to Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification) and the
Corporation hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
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(c) In the event the determination of entitlement to
indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 8(b) of
this Agreement, and no counsel shall have been designated previously by the
Board of Directors or the Independent Counsel so designated is unwilling or
unable to serve, then, (i) if no Change of Control shall have occurred, the
Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board of Directors and the
Corporation shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising him of the identity
of the Independent Counsel so selected; (ii) if a Change of Control shall have
occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless
Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board of Directors,
in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give
written notice to the Corporation advising it of the identity of the Independent
Counsel so selected. In either event, Indemnitee or the Corporation, as the case
may be, may, within 7 days after such written notice of selection shall have
been given, deliver to the Corporation or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a
written objection to such selection. Such objection may be asserted only on the
ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirement of
"Independent Counsel" as defined in this Agreement, and the objection shall set
forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. If such written
objection is made, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as
Independent Counsel unless and until a court has determined that such objection
is without merit. If, within 20 days after submission by Indemnitee of a written
request for indemnification pursuant to Section 8(a) hereof, no Independent
Counsel shall have been selected or if selected, shall have been objected to, in
accordance with this Section 8(c), either the Corporation or 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 Corporation or Indemnitee to the other'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 an objection is favorably resolved or the person so
appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 8(b) hereof. The
Corporation shall pay any and all reasonable fees and expenses of Independent
Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in connection with the performance
of his responsibilities pursuant to Section 8(b) hereof, and the Corporation
shall pay all reasonable fees and Expenses incident to the implementation of the
procedures of this Section 8(c), regardless of the manner in which such
Independent Counsel was selected or appointed. Upon the due commencement of any
judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement,
Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further
responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of
professional conduct then prevailing).
9. PRESUMPTIONS AND EFFECT OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS.
(a) If a Change of Control shall have occurred, in making a
determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the
person, persons or entity making such determination shall presume that the
Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if the Indemnitee
has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 8(a) of
this Agreement, and the Corporation shall have the burden of proof to overcome
that presumption in connection with the making of any determination contrary to
that presumption by any person, persons or entity.
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(b) If within 30 days after receipt by the Corporation of the
request for indemnification, the Board shall not have made a determination under
Section 8(b)(i) or 8(b)(ii)(A) with regard thereto, the requisite determination
of entitlement to indemnification shall be deemed to have been made in favor of
the Indemnitee who then shall be entitled to such indemnification. The foregoing
provisions of this Section 9(b) shall not apply if the determination of
entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to
Section 8(b)(i) or 8(b)(ii)(B) of this Agreement.
(c) 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 the
Indemnitee to indemnification or 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 Corporation or, with respect to any
criminal Proceeding, that the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that
his conduct was unlawful.
10. ASSUMPTION OF DEFENSE.
In the event the Corporation shall be obligated to pay the
Expenses of any Proceeding against the Indemnitee, the Corporation, if
appropriate, shall be entitled to assume the defense of such Proceeding, with
counsel reasonably acceptable to the Indemnitee, upon the delivery to the
Indemnitee of written notice of its election to do so. After delivery of such
notice, approval of such counsel by the Indemnitee and the retention of such
counsel by the Corporation, the Corporation will not be liable to the Indemnitee
under this Agreement for any fees of counsel subsequently incurred by the
Indemnitee with respect to the same Proceeding, provided that (i) the Indemnitee
shall have the right to employ his counsel in such Proceeding at the
Indemnitee's expense; and (ii) if (a) the employment of counsel by the
Indemnitee has been previously authorized in writing by the Corporation, (b) the
Corporation shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of
interest between the Corporation and the Indemnitee in the conduct of any such
defense, or (c) the Corporation shall not, in fact, have employed counsel to
assume the defense of such Proceeding, the fees and Expenses of the Indemnitee's
counsel shall be at the expense of the Corporation.
11. ESTABLISHMENT OF A TRUST.
(a) In the event of a Potential Change in Control, the
Corporation, upon written request by the Indemnitee, shall create a trust for
the benefit of the Indemnitee and from time to time upon written request of the
Indemnitee shall fund such trust in an amount sufficient to satisfy any and all
Expenses which at the time of each such request it is reasonably anticipated
will be incurred in connection with a Proceeding for which the Indemnitee is
entitled to rights of indemnification under Section 4 or 5 hereof, and any and
all judgments, fines, penalties and settlement amounts of any and all
proceedings for which the Indemnitee is entitled to rights of indemnification
under Section 4 or 5 from time to time actually paid or claimed, reasonably
anticipated or proposed to be paid. The amount or amounts to be deposited in the
trust pursuant to the foregoing funding obligation shall be determined by the
party who would be required to make the determination of the Indemnitee's right
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to indemnification under Section 8(b) hereof (the "Reviewing Party"). The terms
of the trust shall provide that upon a Change in Control (i) the trust shall not
be revoked or the principal thereof invaded, without the written consent of the
Indemnitee, (ii) the trustee shall advance, within two business days of a
request by the Indemnitee, any and all Expenses to the Indemnitee (and the
Indemnitee hereby agrees to reimburse the trust under the circumstances under
which the Indemnitee would be required to reimburse the Corporation under
Section 7 hereof), (iii) the trust shall continue to be funded by the
Corporation in accordance with the funding obligation set forth above, (iv) the
trustee shall promptly pay to the Indemnitee all amounts for which the
Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement or
otherwise, and (v) all unexpended funds in such trust shall revert to the
Corporation upon a final determination by the Reviewing Party or a court of
competent jurisdiction, as the case may be, that Indemnitee has been fully
indemnified under the terms of this Agreement. The trustee shall be an
institutional trustee with a highly regarded reputation chosen by the
Indemnitee. Nothing in this Section 11 shall relieve the Corporation of any of
its obligations under this Agreement.
(b) Nothing contained in this Section 11 shall prevent the Board
of Directors of the Corporation in its discretion at any time and from time to
time, upon request of the Indemnitee, from providing security to the Indemnitee
for the Corporation's obligations hereunder through an irrevocable line of
credit or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to the Indemnitee,
may not be revoked or released without the prior consent of the Indemnitee.
12. REMEDIES OF INDEMNITEE.
(a) In the event that any one or more of the following events
shall have occurred: (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 8 of this
Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this
Agreement; (ii) Expenses are not advanced timely in accordance with Section 7 of
this Agreement; (iii) the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to
be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 8(b) of this Agreement and
such determination shall not have been made and delivered in a written opinion
within 90 days after receipt by the Corporation of the request for
indemnification; (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section
6 of this Agreement within ten days after receipt by the Corporation of a
written request therefor; (v) payment of indemnification is not made within ten
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 9(b) of this Agreement; and/or (vi) the Corporation fails to comply with
its obligations under Section 11(a) with regard to the establishment or funding
of a trust for Expenses, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication of
his entitlement to such indemnification, advancement of Expenses or the
establishment and funding of the trust in an appropriate court of the State of
Delaware, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction. Alternatively,
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 Association.
Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in
arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the
right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 12. The Corporation
shall not oppose Indemnitee's right to seek any such adjudication or award in
arbitration.
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(b) Whenever a determination is made pursuant to Section 8 of this
Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, the judicial
proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12 shall be
conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and
Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. If a
Change of Control shall have occurred, the Corporation shall have the burden of
proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of
Expenses, as the case may be, in any judicial proceeding or arbitration
commenced pursuant to this Section 12.
(c) If a determination shall have been made or deemed to have been
made pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification, the Corporation shall be bound by such determination in any
judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12 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.
(d) The Corporation shall be precluded from asserting in any
judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12 that
the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and
enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator
that the Corporation is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.
(e) In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 12,
seeks a judicial adjudication or an award in arbitration to enforce his rights
under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be
entitled to recover from the Corporation, and shall be indemnified by the
Corporation against, any and all expenses (of the types described in the
definition of Expenses in this Agreement) actually incurred by him in connection
with obtaining such judicial adjudication or arbitration, but only if he
prevails therein. If it shall be determined in said judicial adjudication or
arbitration that Indemnitee is entitled to receive part but not all of the
indemnification or advancement of Expenses sought, the Expenses incurred by
Indemnitee in connection with such judicial adjudication or arbitration shall be
appropriately prorated.
13. NON-EXCLUSIVITY; DURATION OF AGREEMENT; INSURANCE:
SUBROGATION.
(a) The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of
Expenses 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 Corporation's certificate of incorporation or by-laws, any other
agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise.
This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the later of: (a) 10
years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as an officer or
director of the Corporation, or (b) the final termination of all pending
Proceedings in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification
or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any proceeding commenced by
Indemnitee pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement relating thereto. This
Agreement shall be binding upon the Corporation and its successors and assigns
and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and his heirs, executors and
administrators.
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(b) (i) To the extent that the Corporation maintains an insurance
policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors and officers of
the Corporation, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in
accordance with the terms thereof to the maximum extent of the coverage
available for any such director or officer under such policy or policies. The
Corporation shall take all necessary or appropriate action to cause such
insurers to pay on behalf of the Indemnitee all amounts payable as a result of
the commencement of a proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policy.
(ii) For a period of three years after the date the Indemnitee
shall have ceased to serve as an officer or director of the Corporation, the
Corporation will provide officers and directors liability insurance for
Indemnitee on terms no less favorable than the terms of the liability insurance
which the Corporation then provides to the current officers and directors;
provided, that the Corporation provides officers and directors liability
insurance to its current officers and directors; and provided further, that the
annual premiums for the liability insurance to be provided to the Indemnitee do
not exceed by more than 50% the premium charged for the coverage available for
any of the Corporation's current officers and directors.
(c) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the
Corporation shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the
rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who 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 Corporation to bring suit to enforce
such rights.
(d) The Corporation shall not be liable under this Agreement to
make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the
extent that Indemnitee otherwise actually has received such payment under any
insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.
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
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining 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 not
in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (b) 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
by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
15. EXCEPTION TO RIGHT OF INDEMNIFICATION OR ADVANCEMENT OF
EXPENSES.
Except as otherwise provided specifically herein, Indemnitee shall
not be entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this
Agreement with respect to any Proceeding, or any claim herein, brought or made
by him against the Corporation.
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16. HEADINGS.
The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for
convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or
to affect the construction thereof.
17. MODIFICATION AND WAIVER.
This Agreement may be amended from time to time to reflect changes
in Delaware law or for other reasons. 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 provision hereof (whether or
not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
18. NOTICE BY INDEMNITEE.
Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Corporation in writing
upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment,
information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be
subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder;
provided, however, that the failure to give any such notice shall not disqualify
the Indemnitee from indemnification hereunder.
19. 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 to the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been
directed, (ii) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid or
(iii) delivered by facsimile transmission electronically confirmed.
(a) If to Indemnitee, to:
(b) If to the Corporation, to:
MIKE'S ORIGINAL, INC.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Fax No: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
BLAU, KRAMER, WACTLAR & XXXXXXXXX, P.C.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
Fax No: (000) 000-0000
12
or to such other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the
Corporation or to the Corporation by Indemnitee, as the case may be.
20. 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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on
the day and year first above written.
MIKE'S ORIGINAL, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
INDEMNITEE:
______________________________________
