Exhibit 10.15
-------------
AGREEMENT
---------
This Agreement, made and entered into _________, 2001 ("Agreement"), by and
between Control Delivery Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Company"), and
____________ ("Indemnitee"):
WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company to
obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, its
directors and officers 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, Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve the Company as
an officer and a director and to take on additional service for or on its behalf
on the condition that he be so indemnified;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants
contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as
follows:
Section 1. Services by Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees to serve as an
----------------------
officer and/or a director of the Company. Indemnitee may at any time and for
any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual
obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law).
Section 2. Indemnification - General. The Company shall indemnify, and
-------------------------
advance Expenses (as hereinafter defined) to, Indemnitee (a) as provided in this
Agreement and (b) (subject to the provisions of this Agreement) to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law in effect on the date hereof and as amended
from time to time. The rights of Indemnitee provided under the preceding
sentence shall include, but shall not be limited to, the rights set forth in the
other Sections of this Agreement.
Section 3. 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 3 if, by reason of his Corporate Status (as hereinafter
defined), he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any
threatened, pending or completed Proceeding (as hereinafter defined), other than
a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company. Pursuant to this Section 3,
Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses, judgments, penalties,
fines and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and
other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses,
judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement) actually and
reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf 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
1
Company and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe his conduct was unlawful.
Section 4. Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. 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 or a participant in any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding
brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.
Pursuant to this Section, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses
(including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in
connection with or in respect of such Expenses) actually and reasonably 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 Company; provided, however, that indemnification against such
-------- -------
Expenses shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter in such
Proceeding as to which Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to the
Company if and only 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 that such indemnification may be made.
Section 5. Partial Indemnification. Notwithstanding any other provision
-----------------------
of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate
Status, a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or
otherwise, in defense of any Proceeding, he shall be indemnified against all
Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection
therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in defense of 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 him or on
his 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. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this agreement to
indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of the Expenses, judgments,
penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest,
assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect
of such Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement)
actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with such
Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, but not, however, for the
total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for
the portion to which the Indemnitee is entitled.
Section 6. Indemnification for Additional Expenses.
---------------------------------------
(a) The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all
Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within seven (7) business days
of such request) advance
2
such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with
any action brought by Indemnitee for (i) indemnification or advance payment of
Expenses by the Company under this Agreement or any other agreement or by-law of
the Company now or hereafter in effect; or (ii) recovery under any directors'
and officers' liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless
of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such
indemnification, advance expense payment or insurance recovery, as the case may
be.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the
extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, 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.
Section 7. Advancement of Expenses. The Company shall advance all
-----------------------
reasonable Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with
any Proceeding within seven (7) days after the receipt by the Company 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 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 ultimately
be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such
Expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligation of the Company to
advance Expenses pursuant to this Section 7 shall be subject to the condition
that, if, when and to the extent that the Company determines that Indemnitee
would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law, the Company shall
be entitled to be reimbursed, within thirty (30) days of such determination, by
Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to reimburse the Company) for all such amounts
theretofore paid; provided, however, that if Indemnitee has commenced or
-------- -------
thereafter commences legal proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to
secure a determination that Indemnitee should be indemnified under applicable
law, any determination made by the Company that Indemnitee would not be
permitted to be indemnified under applicable law shall not be binding and
Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advance of
Expenses until a final judicial determination is made with respect thereto (as
to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed).
Section 8. Procedure for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification.
-------------------------------------------------------------
(a) To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall
submit to the Company 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. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon
receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that
Indemnitee has requested indemnification.
3
(b) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant
to the first sentence of 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: (i) if a Change in Control (as hereinafter defined) shall
have occurred, by Independent Counsel (as hereinafter defined) in a written
opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to
Indemnitee; or (ii) if a Change of Control shall not have occurred, (A) by a
majority vote of the Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter defined), even
though less than a quorum of the Board, or (B) if there are no such
Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by
Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be
delivered to Indemnitee or (C) if contracting an Independent Counsel is
impracticable or undesirable and if so directed by the Board, by the
stockholders of the Company; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is
entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within seven
(7) days after such determination. The Company and the Indemnitee shall each
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 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.
(c) In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification
is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 8(b) hereof, the
Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 8(c). If a
Change of Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be
selected by the Board of Directors, and the Company shall give written notice to
Indemnitee advising him of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.
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 Company advising it of
the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. In either event,
Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within 10 days after such
written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to
Indemnitee, 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
-------
Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of "Independent
Counsel" as defined in Section 17 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set
forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. If such written
objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may
not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or
a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within 20 days
after submission
4
by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant
to Section 8(a) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not
objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Court of Chancery
of the State of Delaware for resolution of any objection which shall have been
made by the Company 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 all objections are so resolved or the person so
appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 8(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 8(b) hereof, and the Company shall pay all reasonable fees and
expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 8(c), regardless of the
manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed, and if such
Independent Counsel was selected or appointed by the Indemnitee or the Court,
shall provide such Independent Counsel with such retainer as may requested by
such counsel. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or
arbitration pursuant to Section 10(a)(iii) 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).
(d) The Company shall not be required to obtain the consent of the
Indemnitee to the settlement of any Proceeding which the Company has undertaken
to defend if the Company assumes full and sole responsibility for such
settlement and the settlement grants the Indemnitee a complete and unqualified
release in respect of the potential liability. The Company shall not be liable
for any amount paid by the Indemnitee in settlement of any Proceeding that is
not defended by the Company, unless the Company has consented to such
settlement, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
Section 9. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.
----------------------------------------------
(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to
indemnification or the advancement of expenses hereunder, the person or persons
or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Agreement if Indemnitee
has submitted a request for indemnification or the advancement of expenses in
accordance with Section 8(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the
burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by
any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption.
Neither the failure of the Company (including its board of directors or
independent legal counsel) to have made a determination prior to 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 its board of
directors or independent legal 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.
5
(b) If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under
Section 8 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) 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 60-day period may be extended for a
-------- -------
reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person,
persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to
indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or
evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided,
further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 9(b) shall not apply (i)
if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the
stockholders pursuant to Section 8(b) of this Agreement and if (A) within
fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such
determination the Board of Directors has resolved to submit such determination
to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be
held within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is
made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen
(15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such
meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so
called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of
entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to
Section 8(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 Indemnitee
to indemnification or create a presumption that 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 or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding,
that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
(d) Reliance as Safe Harbor. For purposes of any determination of
-----------------------
good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if
Indemnitee's action is based on the records or books of account of the Company
or relevant enterprise, including financial statements, or on information
supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Company or relevant enterprise in
the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Company or
relevant enterprise or on information or records given in reports made to the
Company or relevant enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or
by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Company or
relevant enterprise. The provisions of this Section 9(d) shall not be deemed to
be exclusive or to limit in any way
6
the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.
(e) Actions of Others. The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to
-----------------
act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company or relevant
enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the
right to indemnification under this Agreement.
Section 10. Remedies of Indemnitee.
----------------------
(a) In the event that any of the following occur: (i) a determination
is made pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled
to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not
timely made pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of
entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 8(b) of
this Agreement within 90 days after receipt by the Company of the request for
indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section
5 or 6 of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a
written request therefor, or (v) payment of indemnification is not made within
ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by the Court of
Chancery of the State of Delaware, or any other court of competent jurisdiction,
of his entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses.
Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his option, may seek an award in arbitration to be
conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of
the American Arbitration Association.
(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant
to Section 8(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to
this Section 10 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, in any
judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10, the
Company shall have the burden of proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.
(c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section
8(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the
Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or
arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10, 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.
7
(d) In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 10, seeks
a judicial adjudication of 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 Company, and shall be indemnified by the Company
against, any and all expenses (of the types described in the definition of
Expenses in Section 17 of this Agreement) actually and reasonably incurred by
him in 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. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses
and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by
the Company of a written request therefor) advance 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' or officers' liability insurance policies
maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is
determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of Expenses or
insurance recovery, as the case may be.
(e) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial
proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10 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 Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 11. Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; 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 Certificate of Incorporation, the By-Laws, any agreement, a vote of
stockholders or 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 prior to such
amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, whether by statute or judicial
decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would
be afforded currently under the Company's By-Laws 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.
8
(b) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or
policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees or
agents of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which 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 such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or
policies.
(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 required and take all
action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as
are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit or 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 insurance
policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.
(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 corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be reduced
by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement
of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust,
employee benefit plan or other enterprise.
Section 12. Duration of Agreement.
---------------------
(a) 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 a
director of the Company (or of any other corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which Indemnitee
served at the request of the Company); or (b) the final termination of any
Proceeding then pending 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 10 of this Agreement relating
thereto.
(b) This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract
between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee
specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee's employment with the Company (or any
of its subsidiaries), if any, is at will, and the Indemnitee may be discharged
at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise
provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee
9
and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries), other applicable formal severance
policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director or
officer of the Company, by the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, By-laws,
and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The foregoing
notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force as provided above after
Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director of the Company.
(c) This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its
successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and his
heirs, executors and administrators.
Section 13. 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; (b) such provision or
provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to
applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties
hereto; and (c) 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.
Section 14. Exception to Right of Indemnification or Advancement of
-------------------------------------------------------
Expenses. Except as provided in Section 6(a) of this Agreement, Indemnitee
--------
shall not be entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this
Agreement with respect to any Proceeding brought by Indemnitee (other than a
Proceeding by Indemnitee to enforce his rights under this Agreement), or any
claim therein, unless the bringing of such Proceeding or making of such claim
shall have been approved by the Board of Directors.
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 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.
Section 17. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
-----------
(a) "Change in Control" shall have the meaning set forth on Exhibit A.
10
(b) "Corporate Status" describes the status of a person who is or was a
director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the Company or of any other
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.
(c) "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.
(d) "Effective Date" means ___________, 2001.
(e) "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, being or preparing to be a witness, in, or
otherwise participating in, a Proceeding.
(f) "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, 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. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent
Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and
all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this
Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.
(g) "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 Corporation or otherwise and whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which Indemnitee was, is,
may be or will be involved as a party or otherwise, by reason of the fact that
Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, by reason of any
action taken by him or of any inaction on his part while acting as director or
officer 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 or agent 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 or advancement of
expenses can be provided under this Agreement; except one (i) initiated by an
Indemnitee pursuant to Section 10 of this
11
Agreement to enforce his right under this Agreement or (ii) pending on or before
the Effective Date.
Section 18. Enforcement.
-----------
(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered
into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to
induce Indemnitee to serve as a director and/or officer of the Company, and the
Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving
as a director and/or officer 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.
Section 19. 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 20. Notice by Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify
--------------------
the Company 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. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not
relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under
this Agreement or otherwise.
Section 21. Notices. All notices, requests, demands or 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 direct, or (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 Indemnitee to:
[NAME]
[ADDRESS]
12
(b) If to the Company to:
Control Delivery Systems, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
or to such other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company
or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.
Section 22. Contribution. 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 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 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).
Section 23. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Appointment of Agent
---------------------------------------------------------------
for Service of Process. 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 Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.
Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to
Section 10(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably
and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in
connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Chancery Court of
the State of Delaware (the "Delaware Court"), and not in any other state or
federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country,
(ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for
purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this
Agreement, (iii) consent to the service of legal process outside the State of
Delaware via registered mail or in-person service in connection with any such
action or proceeding against such party with the same legal force and validity
as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware, (iv) waive
any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the
Delaware Court, and (v) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that
any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in
an improper or otherwise inconvenient forum.
Section 24. Miscellaneous. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to
-------------
include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.
13
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]
14
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the
day and year first above written.
Control Delivery Systems, Inc.
By:___________________________
Name:______________________
Title:_____________________
INDEMNITEE
By:___________________________
Name:______________________
EXHIBIT A
Change of Control. For the purposes of this Agreement, a "Change of
-----------------
Control" means:
(a) The acquisition by any Person or group of the ultimate beneficial
ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) of more than 50% of the
then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors; excluding, however, the following: (i) any acquisition
directly from the Company (excluding any acquisition by virtue of the exercise
of an exercise, conversion or exchange privilege unless the security being so
exercised, converted or exchanged was itself acquired directly from the
Company); (ii) any acquisition by the Company; (iii) any acquisition by an
employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company
or by any corporation controlled by the Company; or (iv) any acquisition by any
corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (i), (ii) and
(iii) of subsection (c) of this Exhibit A; or
(b) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the
"Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the
Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to
the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election, by the Company's
shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors
then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such
individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this
purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a
result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election
or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or
consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or
(c) A reorganization, recapitalization, merger or consolidation (a
"Corporate Transaction") of the Company, unless (i) securities representing more
than 50% of the then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors of the Company or the corporation resulting from or
surviving such Corporate Transaction (or the ultimate parent of the Company or
such corporation after such Corporate Transaction) are beneficially owned
subsequent to such Corporate Transaction by the Person or Persons who were the
beneficial owners of the outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors immediately prior to such Corporate
Transaction, in substantially the same proportions as their ownership
immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction; (ii) no Person (excluding any
corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction or any employee benefit
plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such
Corporate Transaction) ultimately beneficially owns, directly or indirectly,
more than 50% of the then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors of the Company or the corporation resulting from or
surviving such Corporate Transaction (or the ultimate parent of the Company or
such corporation after such Corporate Transaction) except to the extent that
such ownership existed prior to the Corporate Transaction; and (iii) at least a
majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting
from such Corporate Transaction were members of
the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of
the action of the Board, providing for such Corporate Transaction; or
(d) The sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Company; or
(e) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation
or dissolution of the Company.
For purposes of this definition, securities entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors that are issuable upon exercise of an exercise,
conversion or exchange privilege shall be deemed to be outstanding. In
addition, for purposes of this definition the following terms have the meanings
set forth below:
A Person will be deemed to be the "owner" of any securities of which such
Person would be the "beneficial owner," as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act.
"Person" has the meaning used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, except
that "Person" does not include the Company or a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Company or an employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or of a
wholly owned subsidiary.
