EXHIBIT 10.16
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this ___ day of __________, 1997, between Peapod, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and ________________ (the "Indemnitee").
WHEREAS, it is essential to the Company and its stockholders to
attract and retain qualified and capable directors, officers, employees, agents
and fiduciaries;
WHEREAS, the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the
"Certificate of Incorporation") and Restated By-Laws (the "By-Laws") requires
the Company to indemnify, and permits the Company to advance expenses to, its
directors and officers to the extent not prohibited by law, and allows the
Company to indemnify employees and agents;
WHEREAS, in recognition of Indemnitee's need for protection against
personal liability in order to induce Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve
the Company in an effective manner, and, in the case of directors and officers,
to supplement or replace the Company's directors' and officers' liability
insurance coverage, and in part to provide Indemnitee with specific contractual
assurance that the protection promised by the Certificate of Incorporation and
By-Laws will be available to Indemnitee (regardless of, among other things, any
amendment to or revocation of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws or any
change in the composition of the Company's Board of Directors or any acquisition
transaction relating to the Company), the Company, with the prior approval of
the Company's stockholders, wishes to provide the Indemnitee with the benefits
contemplated by this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, as a result of the provision of such benefits Indemnitee has
agreed to serve or to continue to serve the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions. The following terms, as used herein, shall have the
following respective meanings:
(a) A Change in Control: shall be deemed to have occurred if any of
the following shall have occurred:
(1) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (a "Person"),
including any "person" within the meaning of Section
13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, of beneficial ownership within the
meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, of 20% or more of
either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
"Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the
then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); provided,
however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in
Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding any
acquisition resulting from the exercise of an exercise, conversion or exchange
privilege in respect of outstanding convertible or exchangeable securities), (B)
any acquisition by the Company, (C) any acquisition by an Exempt Person, (D) any
acquisition by an employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company, (E) any
acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger or
consolidation involving the Company, if, immediately after such reorganization,
merger or consolidation, each of the conditions described in clauses (i), (ii)
and (iii) of subsection (3) of this Section (1)(c) shall be satisfied; and
provided further that, for purposes of clause (B), if any Person (other than the
Company or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained
by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company) shall become the
beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Outstanding Company Common Stock or 20%
or more of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities by reason of an acquisition
by the Company and such Person shall, after such acquisition by the Company,
become the beneficial owner of any additional shares of the Outstanding Company
Common Stock or any additional Outstanding Company Voting Securities and such
beneficial ownership is publicly announced, such additional beneficial ownership
shall constitute a Change in Control;
(2) individuals who, as of the date of the consummation of the
Company's initial public offering of Common Stock, constitute the Board (the
"Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of
such Board; provided, however, that any individual who becomes a director of the
Company subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election
by the Company's stockholders, was approved by the vote of at least 66-2/3% of
the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be deemed to have been a
member of the Incumbent Board; and provided further, that no individual who was
initially elected as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or
threatened election contest, as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation
14A promulgated under the Exchange Act, or any other actual or threatened
solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any Person other than the
Board shall be deemed to have been a member of the Incumbent Board;
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(3) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all
of the assets of the Company (a "Corporate Transaction"); excluding, however, a
Corporate Transaction pursuant to which (i) all or substantially all of the
individuals or entities who are the beneficial owners, respectively, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities
immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction will beneficially own, directly
or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the outstanding shares of common
stock, and the combined voting power of the outstanding securities of such
corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case
may be, of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction (including,
without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the
Company or all or substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or
indirectly) in substantially the same proportions relative to each other as
their beneficial ownership, immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting
Securities, as the case may be, (ii) no Person (other than an Exempt Person; the
Company; any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by
the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company; the corporation
resulting from such Corporate Transaction; and any Person which beneficially
owned, immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, directly or indirectly,
20% or more of the Outstanding Company Common Stock or the Outstanding Company
Voting Securities, as the case may be) will beneficially own, directly or
indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock
of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction or the combined
voting power of the outstanding securities of such corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors and (iii) individuals who were members of
the Incumbent Board will constitute at least a majority of the members of the
board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction;
or
(4) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a plan of complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
(b) Claim: means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit,
arbitration or proceeding, or any inquiry or investigation, whether brought by
or in the right of the Company or otherwise, that Indemnitee in good faith
believes might lead to the institution of any such action, suit, arbitration or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other, or
any appeal therefrom.
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(c) Equity Security: shall have the meaning given to such term under
Rule 3a11-1 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act as in
effect on the date hereof.
(d) "Exempt Person" means each of Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxxx and any Affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 12b-1 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on the date hereof, "Affiliate")
thereof.
(e) Exchange Act: means the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
(f) D&O Insurance: means any valid directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy maintained by the Company for the benefit of the Indemnitee, if
any.
(g) Determination: means a determination, and Determined means a
matter which has been determined based on the facts known at the time, by: (i) a
majority vote of a quorum of disinterested directors, or (ii) if such a quorum
is not obtainable, or even if obtainable, if a quorum of disinterested directors
so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or, in the event
there has been a Change in Control, by the Special Independent Counsel (in a
written opinion) selected by Indemnitee as set forth in Section 6, or (iii) a
majority of the disinterested stockholders of the Company, or (iv) a final
adjudication by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(h) Excluded Claim: means any payment for Losses or Expenses in
connection with any Claim: (i) based upon or attributable to Indemnitee gaining
in fact any personal profit or advantage to which Indemnitee is not entitled; or
(ii) for the return by Indemnitee of any remuneration paid to Indemnitee without
the previous approval of the stockholders of the Company which is illegal; or
(iii) for an accounting of profits in fact made from the purchase or sale by
Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the
Exchange Act or similar provisions of any state law; or (iv) resulting from
Indemnitee's knowingly fraudulent, dishonest or willful misconduct; or (v) the
payment of which by the Company under this Agreement is not permitted by
applicable law.
(i) Expenses: means any reasonable expenses incurred by Indemnitee
as a result of a Claim or Claims made against Indemnitee for Indemnifiable
Events including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and all other costs,
expenses and obligations paid or incurred in connection with investigating,
defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or
preparing to defend, be a witness in or participate in any Claim relating to any
Indemnifiable Event.
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(j) Fines: means any fine, penalty or, with respect to an employee
benefit plan, any excise tax or penalty assessed with respect thereto.
(k) Indemnifiable Event: means any event or occurrence, occurring
prior to or after the date of this Agreement, related to the fact that
Indemnitee is, was or has agreed to serve as, a director, officer, employee,
trustee, agent or fiduciary of the Company, or is or was serving at the request
of the Company as a director, officer, employee, trustee, agent or fiduciary of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or
other enterprise, or by reason of anything done or not done by Indemnitee,
including, but not limited to, any breach of duty, neglect, error, misstatement,
misleading statement, omission, or other act done or wrongfully attempted by
Indemnitee, or any of the foregoing alleged by any claimant, in any such
capacity.
(l) Losses: means any amounts or sums which Indemnitee is legally
obligated to pay as a result of a Claim or Claims made against Indemnitee for
Indemnifiable Events including, without limitation, damages, judgments and sums
or amounts paid in settlement of a Claim or Claims, and Fines.
(m) Person: means any individual, partnership, corporation, business
trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture,
governmental authority or other entity of whatever nature.
(n) Potential Change in Control: shall be deemed to have occurred if
(A) the Company enters into an agreement, the consummation of which would result
in the occurrence of a Change in Control; (B) any Person (including the Company)
publicly announces an intention to take or to consider taking actions which if
consummated would constitute a Change in Control; or (C) the Board of Directors
adopts a resolution to the effect that, for purposes of this Agreement, a
Potential Change in Control has occurred.
(o) Relative: means a Person's spouse, parents, children, siblings,
mother- and father-in-law, sons- and daughters-in-law, and brothers- and
sisters-in-law.
(p) Reviewing Party: means any appropriate person or body consisting
of a member or members of the Company's Board of Directors or any other person
or body appointed by the Board (including the Special Independent Counsel
referred to in Section 6) who is not a party to the particular Claim for which
Indemnitee is seeking indemnification.
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(q) Subsidiary: means any corporation of which a majority of any
class of Equity Security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company.
(r) Trust: means the trust established pursuant to Section 7 hereof.
(s) Voting Shares: means any issued and outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors.
2. Basic Indemnification Agreement. In consideration of, and as an
inducement to, the Indemnitee rendering valuable services to the Company, the
Company agrees that in the event Indemnitee is or becomes a party to or witness
or other participant in, or is threatened to be made a party to or witness or
other participant in, a Claim by reason of (or arising in part out of) an
Indemnifiable Event, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent
authorized by law, against any and all Losses and Expenses (including all
interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in
respect of such Losses and Expenses) of such Claim, whether or not such Claim
proceeds to judgment or is settled or otherwise is brought to a final
disposition, subject in each case, to the further provisions of this Agreement.
3. Limitations on Indemnification. Notwithstanding the provisions of
Section 2, Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless from any Losses
or Expenses (a) which have been Determined, as provided herein, to constitute an
Excluded Claim; (b) to the extent Indemnitee is indemnified by the Company and
has actually received payment pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, By-
Laws, D&O Insurance or otherwise; or (c) other than pursuant to the last
sentence of Section 4(d) or Section 15, in connection with any claim initiated
by Indemnitee, unless the Company has joined in or the Board of Directors has
authorized such claim.
4. Indemnification Procedures.
(a) Promptly after receipt by Indemnitee of notice of any Claim,
Indemnitee shall, if indemnification with respect thereto may be sought from the
Company under this Agreement, notify the Company of the commencement thereof;
provided, however, that the failure to give such notice promptly shall not
affect or limit the Company's obligations with respect to the matters described
in the notice of such Claim, except to the extent that the Company is prejudiced
thereby. Indemnitee agrees further not to make any admission or effect any
settlement with respect to such Claim without the consent of the Company, except
any Claim with respect to which the Indemnitee has undertaken the
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defense in accordance with the second to last sentence of Section 4(d).
(b) If, at the time of the receipt of such notice, the Company has
D&O Insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of the
commencement of Claim to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set
forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all
necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of
Indemnitee, all Losses and Expenses payable as a result of such Claim.
(c) To the extent the Company does not, at the time of the Claim have
applicable D&O Insurance, or if a Determination is made that any Expenses
arising out of such Claim will not be payable under the D&O Insurance then in
effect, the Company shall be obligated to pay the Expenses of any Claim in
advance of the final disposition thereof and the Company, if appropriate, shall
be entitled to assume the defense of such Claim, with counsel satisfactory to
Indemnitee, upon the delivery to Indemnitee of written notice of its election so
to do. After delivery of such notice, the Company will not be liable to
Indemnitee under this Agreement for any legal or other Expenses subsequently
incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such defense other than reasonable
Expenses of investigation; provided that Indemnitee shall have the right to
employ its counsel in such Claim but the fees and expenses of such counsel
incurred after delivery of notice from the Company of its assumption of such
defense shall be at the Indemnitee's expense; provided further that if: (i) the
employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been previously authorized by the
Company, (ii) Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a
conflict of interest between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of any
such defense, or (iii) the Company shall not, in fact, have employed counsel to
assume the defense of such action, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel
shall be at the expense of the Company.
(d) All payments on account of the Company's indemnification
obligations under this Agreement shall be made within sixty (60) days of
Indemnitee's written request therefor unless a Determination is made that the
Claims giving rise to Indemnitee's request are Excluded Claims or otherwise not
payable under this Agreement, provided that all payments on account of the
Company's obligation to pay Expenses under Section 4(c) of this Agreement prior
to the final disposition of any Claim shall be made within 20 days of
Indemnitee's written request therefor and such obligation shall not be subject
to any such Determination but shall be subject to Section 4(e) of this
Agreement. In the event the Company takes the position that Indemnitee is not
entitled to indemnification in connection with the proposed settlement of any
Claim, Indemnitee shall have the right at his own expense to undertake defense
of any such Claim,
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insofar as such proceeding involves Claims against the Indemnitee, by written
notice given to the Company within 10 days after the Company has notified
Indemnitee in writing of its contention that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice within
such 10-day period shall not affect or limit the Company's obligations with
respect to any such Claim if such Claim is subsequently determined not to be an
Excluded Claim or otherwise to be payable under this Agreement, except to the
extent that the Company is prejudiced thereby. If it is subsequently determined
in connection with such proceeding that the Indemnifiable Events are not
Excluded Claims and that Indemnitee, therefor, is entitled to be indemnified
under the provisions of Section 2 hereof, the Company shall promptly indemnify
Indemnitee.
(e) Indemnitee hereby expressly undertakes and agrees to reimburse
the Company for all Losses and Expenses paid by the Company in connection with
any Claim against Indemnitee in the event and only to the extent that a
Determination shall have been made by a court of competent jurisdiction in a
decision from which there is no further right to appeal that Indemnitee is not
entitled to be indemnified by the Company for such Losses and Expenses because
the Claim is an Excluded Claim or because Indemnitee is otherwise not entitled
to payment under this Agreement.
(f) In connection with any Determination as to whether Indemnitee is
entitled to be indemnified hereunder the burden of proof shall be on the Company
to establish that Indemnitee is not so entitled.
5. Settlement. The Company shall have no obligation to indemnify
Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any Claim
effected without the Company's prior written consent. The Company shall not
settle any Claim in which it takes the position that Indemnitee is not entitled
to indemnification in connection with such settlement without the consent of
Indemnitee, nor shall the Company settle any Claim in any manner which would
impose any Fine or any obligation on Indemnitee, without Indemnitee's written
consent. Neither the Company nor Indemnitee shall unreasonably withhold its or
his consent to any proposed settlement.
6. Change in Control; Extraordinary Transactions. The Company and
Indemnitee agree that if there is a Change in Control of the Company (other than
a Change in Control which has been approved by a majority of the Company's Board
of Directors who were directors immediately prior to such Change in Control)
then all Determinations thereafter with respect to the rights of Indemnitee to
be paid Losses and Expenses under this Agreement shall be made only by a special
independent counsel (the "Special Independent Counsel") selected by Indemnitee
and approved by the
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Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) or by a court of
competent jurisdiction. The Company shall pay the reasonable fees of such
Special Independent Counsel and shall indemnify such Special Independent Counsel
against any and all reasonable expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees),
claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or
its engagement pursuant hereto.
The Company covenants and agrees that, in the event of a Change in
Control which is a Corporate Transaction as defined in (3) of Section 1(a), the
Company will use its best efforts (a) to have the obligations of the Company
under this Agreement including, but not limited to those under Section 7,
expressly assumed by the surviving, purchasing or succeeding entity, or (b)
otherwise adequately to provide for the satisfaction of the Company's
obligations under this Agreement, in a manner reasonably acceptable to the
Indemnitee.
7. Establishment of Trust. In the event of a Potential Change in
Control, the Company shall, upon written request by Indemnitee, create a trust
(the "Trust") for the benefit of Indemnitee and from time to time upon written
request of Indemnitee shall fund the Trust in an amount sufficient to satisfy
any and all Losses and Expenses which are actually paid or which Indemnitee
reasonably determines from time to time may be payable by the Company under this
Agreement. The amount or amounts to be deposited in the Trust pursuant to the
foregoing funding obligation shall be determined by the Reviewing Party, in any
case in which the Special Independent Counsel is involved. 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
Indemnitee; (ii) the trustee of the Trust shall advance, within 20 days of a
request by Indemnitee, any and all Expenses to Indemnitee (and Indemnitee hereby
agrees to reimburse the Trust under the circumstances under which Indemnitee
would be required to reimburse the Company under Section 4(e) of this
Agreement); (iii) the Company shall continue to fund the Trust from time to time
in accordance with the funding obligations set forth above; (iv) the trustee of
the Trust shall promptly pay to Indemnitee all Losses and Expenses for which
Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement; and
(v) all unexpended funds in the Trust shall revert to the Company upon a final
determination by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final decision from
which there is no further right of appeal that Indemnitee has been fully
indemnified under the terms of this Agreement. The trustee of the Trust shall be
chosen by Indemnitee.
8. No Presumption. For purposes of this Agreement, the termination
of any Claim by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court
approval) or conviction, or upon a
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plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a
presumption that Indemnitee did not meet any particular standard of conduct or
have any particular belief or that a court has determined that indemnification
is not permitted by applicable law.
9. Non-exclusivity, Etc. The rights of Indemnitee hereunder shall be
in addition to any other rights Indemnitee may have under the Certificate of
Incorporation, the Company's By-Laws, the Delaware General Corporation Law, any
vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action
in Indemnitee's official capacity and as to action in any other capacity by
holding such office, and shall continue after Indemnitee ceases to serve the
Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary, for so long as
Indemnitee shall be subject to any Claim by reason of (or arising in part out
of) an Indemnifiable Event. To the extent that a change in the Delaware General
Corporation Law (whether by statute or judicial decision) permits greater
indemnification by agreement than would be afforded currently under the
Certificate of Incorporation 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.
10. Liability Insurance; Notice Regarding Insurance.
(a) To the extent the Company maintains an insurance policy or
policies providing directors' and officers' liability insurance, Indemnitee, if
an officer or director of the Company, 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 or officer of the Company.
(b) The Company shall provide notice to the Indemnitee in the event
that (i) the Company's then current D&O Insurance will not be renewed or will
lapse and the Company will not obtain new D&O Insurance in an amount not
materially less than, and with a scope of coverage not materially less than,
that of the terminating D&O Insurance or (ii) the Company's then current D&O
Insurance will be reduced to a material extent in amount or scope. Such notice
shall be provided at least thirty (30) days prior to such expiration or
reduction in amount or scope, as the case may be.
11. Subrogation. In the event of 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 shall do
everything that may be necessary to secure such rights, including the execution
of such documents necessary to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to
enforce such rights.
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12. Partial Indemnity, Etc. If Indemnitee is entitled under any
provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a
portion of the Losses and Expenses of a Claim but not, however, for all of the
total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for
the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled. Moreover, notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee has been
successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any or all Claims relating
in whole or in part to any Indemnifiable Event or in defense of any issue or
matter therein, including dismissal without prejudice, Indemnitee shall be
indemnified against all Expenses incurred in connection therewith.
13. Contribution. If the indemnification or reimbursement provided
for hereunder is finally judicially determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be unavailable to Indemnitee in respect of any Losses or
Expenses of a Claim (other than for any reason specified in Section 3 hereof),
then the Company agrees, to the extent permitted by applicable law, in lieu of
indemnifying Indemnitee, to contribute to the amount paid or payable by
Indemnitee as a result of such Losses or Expenses in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits accruing to the Company and
Indemnitee with respect to the events giving rise to such Losses or Expenses.
If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is
not permitted by applicable law, then the Company agrees to contribute to the
amount paid or payable by Indemnitee as a result of such Losses or Expenses in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but
also the relative fault of the Company and of Indemnitee with respect to the
events giving rise to such Losses or Expenses. For purposes of this Section 13,
(i) the relative benefits accruing to the Company shall be deemed to be the
benefits accruing to it and to all of its directors, officers, employees and
agents (other than Indemnitee), as a group and treated as one person (the
"Company Group"), and the relative benefits accruing to Indemnitee shall be
deemed to be an amount not greater than Indemnitee's compensation from the
Company during the first year in which the events giving rise to such Losses or
Expenses are alleged to have occurred, and (ii) the relative fault of the
Company shall be deemed to be the fault of the Company Group, and the relative
fault of the Company and Indemnitee shall be determined by reference to the
relative intent, knowledge and access to information of the Company Group and
Indemnitee and their relative opportunity to have altered or prevented the
events giving rise to such Losses or Expenses.
14. Liability of Company. Indemnitee agrees that neither the
stockholders nor the directors nor any officer, employee, representative or
agent of the Company shall be personally liable for the satisfaction of the
Company's
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obligations under this Agreement and Indemnitee shall look solely to the assets
of the Company for satisfaction of any claims hereunder.
15. Enforcement.
(a) Indemnitee's right to indemnification and other rights under this
Agreement shall be specifically enforceable by Indemnitee only in the state or
Federal courts of the States of Delaware or Illinois and shall be enforceable
notwithstanding any adverse Determination by the Company's Board of Directors,
independent legal counsel, the Special Independent Counsel or the Company's
stockholders and no such Determination shall create a presumption that
Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder. In any such action the
Company shall have the burden of proving that indemnification is not required
under this Agreement.
(b) In the event that any action is instituted by Indemnitee under
this Agreement, or to enforce or interpret any of the terms of this Agreement,
Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid all court costs and reasonable expenses,
including reasonable counsel fees, incurred by Indemnitee with respect to such
action, unless the court determines that each of the material assertions made by
Indemnitee as a basis for such action was not made in good faith or was
frivolous.
16. Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement
is determined by a court to require the Company to do or to fail to do an act
which is in violation of applicable law, such provision (including any provision
within a single section, paragraph or sentence) shall be limited or modified in
its application to the minimum extent necessary to avoid a violation of law,
and, as so limited or modified, such provision and the balance of this Agreement
shall be enforceable in accordance with their terms to the fullest extent
permitted by law.
17. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements
made and to be performed entirely within such State.
18. Consent to Jurisdiction. The Company and Indemnitee each hereby
irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of the courts of the States of Delaware
and Illinois for all purposes in connection with any action or proceeding which
arises out of or relates to this Agreement and agrees that any action instituted
under this Agreement shall be brought only in the state and Federal courts of
the States of Delaware and Illinois.
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19. Notices. All notices or other communications required or
permitted hereunder shall be sufficiently given for all purposes if in writing
and personally delivered, telegraphed, telexed, sent by facsimile transmission
or sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, with postage
prepaid addressed as follows, or to such other address as the parties shall have
given notice of pursuant hereto:
(a) If to the Company, to:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Executive Vice President
Peapod, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
(b) If to Indemnitee, to:
______________________________
c/o Peapod, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
20. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each
of which shall be an original and all of which, when taken together, shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
21. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be (i) binding upon
all successors and assigns of the Company, including any direct or indirect
successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, and (ii) binding
upon and inure to the benefit of any successors and assigns, heirs, and personal
or legal representatives of Indemnitee.
22. Amendment; Waiver. No amendment, modification, termination or
cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective unless made in a writing
signed by each 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.
13
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this Agreement
as of the day and year first above written.
PEAPOD, INC.
By:_______________________________
Name:
Title:
_______________________________
(Indemnitee)
14
