FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
Exhibit
10.1
FORM
OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (the
“Agreement”) is
made and entered into as of August 17, 2010 by and between Avatech Solutions,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [Director/Officer] (“Indemnitee”).
WITNESSETH
THAT:
WHEREAS,
highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve corporations as
directors, 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 the corporation;
WHEREAS,
the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has
determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the
Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense,
liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries
from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has
been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations
and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market
conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only
at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors,
officers, and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises
are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation
relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been
brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. The bylaws
of the Company requires indemnification of the officers and directors of the
Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”). The
bylaws and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set
forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be
entered into between the Company and members of the Board, officers and other
persons with respect to indemnification;
WHEREAS,
the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification have
increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;
WHEREAS,
the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and
retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company's
stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there
will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;
WHEREAS,
it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to
obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons
and certain affiliates of such persons to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free
from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;
WHEREAS,
this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the certificate of
incorporation and the bylaws of the Company and any resolutions adopted pursuant
thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or
abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and
WHEREAS,
Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Company's
certificate of incorporation, bylaws and insurance as adequate in the present
circumstances, and may not be willing to serve as a director without adequate
protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity.
Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional
service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee and,
under certain circumstances, investment funds affiliated with Indemnitee be so
indemnified.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of Indemnitee’s agreement to serve as a director
after the date hereof, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Indemnity of
Indemnitee. The Company hereby agrees to hold harmless and
indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law, as such may be
amended from time to time. In furtherance of the foregoing
indemnification, and without limiting the generality thereof:
(a)
Proceedings Other Than
Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Indemnitee shall be
entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section l(a) if, by
reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status (as hereinafter defined), the Indemnitee
is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding (as
hereinafter defined) other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the
Company. Pursuant to this Section 1(a),
Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses (as hereinafter defined),
judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by Indemnitee, or on Indemnitee’s behalf, in connection with
such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if the Indemnitee acted
in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Company, and with respect to any criminal
Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the Indemnitee’s conduct was
unlawful.
(b) Proceedings by or in the
Right of the Company. Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of
indemnification provided in this Section 1(b) if, by
reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, the Indemnitee is, or is threatened to
be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding brought by or in the right
of the Company. Pursuant to this Section 1(b),
Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably
incurred by the Indemnitee, or on the Indemnitee’s behalf, in connection with
such Proceeding if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner the
Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the Company; provided, however, if applicable law so provides, no
indemnification against such Expenses shall be made in respect of any claim,
issue or matter in such Proceeding as to which Indemnitee shall have been
adjudged to be liable to the Company with respect to the matter claimed for
indemnification unless and to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State
of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall
determine that such indemnification may be made.
(c) Indemnification for Expenses
of a Party Who is Successful on the Merits or Otherwise.
Notwithstanding and in addition to any other provision of this Agreement, to the
extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a party
to and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, Indemnitee
shall be indemnified to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, as such
may be amended from time to time, against all Expenses actually and reasonably
incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.
If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on
the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or
matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all
Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s
behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or
matter. For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the
termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal,
with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such
claim, issue or matter.
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(d) Indemnification of
Appointing Stockholders. If (i) Indemnitee is or was
affiliated with one or more investment or venture capital funds that have
invested directly or indirectly in the Company (each, an “Appointing
Stockholder” and collectively, the “Appointing
Stockholders”), including, without limitation, Ampersand 2001 Companion
Fund Limited Partnership, Ampersand 2001 Limited Partnership, Ampersand 2006
Limited Partnership and/or Capstone Ventures SBIC, L.P., and (ii) any
Appointing Stockholder is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a
participant in any Proceeding, and (iii) such Appointing Stockholder’s
involvement in the Proceeding results from any claim based on the Indemnitee’s
service to the Company (or one or more of the Company’s predecessors,
subsidiaries or acquired companies) as a director or other fiduciary of the
Company (or one or more of the Company’s predecessors, subsidiaries or acquired
companies), the Appointing Stockholder will be entitled to indemnification
hereunder for Expenses to the same extent as Indemnitee, and the terms of this
Agreement as they relate to procedures for indemnification of Indemnitee and
advancement of Expenses shall apply to any such indemnification of Appointing
Stockholder. The Company and
Indemnitee agree that the Appointing Stockholders are express third party
beneficiaries of the terms of this Section 1(d).
2. Additional
Indemnity. In addition to, and without regard to any limitations
on, the indemnification provided for in Section 1 of this
Agreement, the Company shall and hereby does indemnify and hold harmless
Indemnitee against all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s
behalf if, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, he is, or is threatened
to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding (including, without
limitation, a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company), including, without
limitation, all liability arising out of the negligence or active or passive
wrongdoing of Indemnitee. The only limitation that shall exist upon the
Company’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement shall be that the Company shall
not be obligated to make any payment to Indemnitee that is finally determined
(under the procedures, and subject to the presumptions, set forth in Sections 6 and 7 of this Agreement)
to be unlawful.
3.
Contribution.
(a) Whether
or not the indemnification provided in Sections 1 and 2 of this Agreement
is available, in respect of any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be
if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), the Company shall pay, in the
first instance, the entire amount of any judgment or settlement of such action,
suit or proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment
and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may
have against Indemnitee. The Company shall not enter into any settlement
of any action, suit or proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with
Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding) unless
such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted
against Indemnitee.
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(b) Without
diminishing or impairing the obligations of the Company set forth in the
preceding subparagraph, if, for any reason, Indemnitee shall elect or be
required to pay all or any portion of any judgment or settlement in any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding in which the Company
is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or
proceeding), the Company shall contribute to the amount of Expenses, judgments,
fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred and paid
or payable by Indemnitee in proportion to the relative benefits received by the
Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company, other than
Indemnitee, who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in
such action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other
hand, from the events or transaction from which such action, suit or proceeding
arose; provided, however, that the proportion determined on the basis of
relative benefit may, to the extent necessary to conform to law, be further
adjusted by reference to the relative fault of the Company and all officers,
directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who are jointly
liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or
proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, in connection
with the events or transaction that resulted in such Expenses, judgments, fines
or settlement amounts, as well as any other equitable considerations which
applicable law may require to be considered. The relative fault of the
Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company, other than
Indemnitee, who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in
such action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other
hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, the degree to
which their actions were motivated by intent to gain personal profit or
advantage, the degree to which their liability is primary or secondary and the
degree to which their conduct is active or passive.
(c) The
Company hereby agrees to fully indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless from any
claims of contribution which may be brought by officers, directors or employees
of the Company, other than Indemnitee, who may be jointly liable with
Indemnitee.
(d)
To the fullest extent permissible under
applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is
unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of
indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee,
whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be
paid in settlement 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).
4. Indemnification for Expenses
of a Witness or in Response to a Subpoena. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that (i) Indemnitee, by reason
of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, is a witness, or receives a subpoena, in any
Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be indemnified
against all Expenses paid or incurred by Indemnitee in connection therewith and
in the manner set forth in this Agreement, and (ii) any Appointing Stockholder,
by reason of its affiliation with an Indemnitee, is a witness, or receives a
subpoena, in any proceeding involving the Company to which the Appointing
Stockholder is not a party, the Appointing Stockholder shall be indemnified
against all Expenses paid or incurred by it in connection therewith and in the
manner set forth in this Agreement.
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5. Advancement of
Expenses. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
the Company shall advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in
connection with any Proceeding by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status within
thirty (30) 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.
Any advances and undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section 5 shall be
unsecured and interest free and made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to
repay such advances.
6. Procedures and Presumptions
for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification. It is the
intent of this Agreement to secure for Indemnitee rights of indemnity that are
as favorable as may be permitted under the DGCL and public policy of the State
of Delaware. Accordingly, the parties agree that the following procedures
and presumptions shall apply in the event of any question as to whether
Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement:
(a) 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.
(b) Upon
written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence
of Section 6(a)
of this Agreement, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect
to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case by one of
the following four methods, which shall be at the election of the Board:
(i) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter defined),
even though less than a quorum, (ii) by a majority vote of a committee of
Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested
Directors, even though less than a quorum, or (iii) if there are no
Disinterested Directors or if the Disinterested Directors so direct, by
Independent Counsel (as hereinafter defined) in a written opinion to the Board,
a copy of which shall be delivered to the Indemnitee.
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(c) If
the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent
Counsel pursuant to Section 6(b) of this
Agreement, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 6(c).
The Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board. Indemnitee may,
within 10 days after such written notice of selection shall have been given,
deliver to the Company 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 this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity
the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection,
the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If a reasonable
written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected
may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is
withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit.
If, within 20 days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for
indemnification pursuant to Section 6(a) of this
Agreement, 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 or other court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any
objection which shall have been made by the Indemnitee to the Company’s
selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent
Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court
shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so
resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 6(b) of this
Agreement. 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 6(b) of this
Agreement, and the Company shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses incident
to the procedures of this Section 6(c),
regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or
appointed.
(d) In
making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder,
the person or persons or entity making such determination shall presume that
Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement. Anyone
seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the
burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence. Neither the failure
of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made
a determination 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 by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has
not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or
create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of
conduct.
(e) Indemnitee
shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on:
(i) the records or books of account of the Enterprise (as hereinafter defined)
(including, without limitation, financial statements); (ii) information supplied
to Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties;
(iii) the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise: or (iv) information or
records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified
public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable
care by the Enterprise. In addition, the knowledge and/or actions, or
failure to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Enterprise
shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to
indemnification under this Agreement. Whether or not the foregoing
provisions of this Section 6(e) are
satisfied, it shall in any event be presumed that Indemnitee has at all times
acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Company. Anyone seeking to overcome
this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by
clear and convincing evidence.
(f) If
the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under this Section 6 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
such determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith
requires such additional time to obtain or evaluate documentation and/or
information relating thereto.
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(g) Indemnitee
shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination
with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing
to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any
documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from
disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably
necessary to such determination. Any Independent Counsel or member of the
Board of the Company shall act reasonably and in good faith in making a
determination regarding the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification under
this Agreement. Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with
the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the
Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to
indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold
Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
(h) The
Company acknowledges that a settlement or other disposition short of final
judgment may be successful if it permits a party to avoid expense, delay,
distraction, disruption and uncertainty. In the event that any action,
claim or proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party is resolved in any manner
other than by adverse judgment against Indemnitee (including, without
limitation, settlement of such action, claim or proceeding with or without
payment of money or other consideration) it shall be presumed that Indemnitee
has been successful on the merits or otherwise in such action, suit or
proceeding. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the
burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing
evidence.
(i)
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 Indemnitee’s
conduct was unlawful.
7.
Remedies of
Indemnitee.
(a) In
the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 6 of this
Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this
Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 5 of this
Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification is made
pursuant to Section
6(b) of this Agreement within ninety (90) days after receipt by the
Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is
not made pursuant to 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 or such determination is deemed to have been made
pursuant to Section
6 of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in
an appropriate court of the State of Delaware, or in any other court of
competent jurisdiction, of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such
indemnification. Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking
adjudication within one (1) year following the date on which Indemnitee first
has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 7(a).
The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such
adjudication.
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(b) In
the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(b) of this
Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial
proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 7 shall be
conducted in all respects as a de novo trial on the merits, and Indemnitee shall
not be prejudiced by reason of the adverse determination under Section 6(b) of this
Agreement.
(c) If
a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(b) of this
Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be
bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to
this Section 7,
absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a
material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s misstatement not materially
misleading in connection with the application for indemnification, or (ii) a
prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.
(d) In
the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 7, seeks a
judicial adjudication of Indemnitee’s rights under, or to recover damages for
breach of, this Agreement, or to recover under any directors’ and officers’
liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, the Company shall pay on
Indemnitee’s behalf, in advance, any and all expenses (of the types described in
the definition of Expenses in this Agreement) actually and reasonably incurred
by Indemnitee in such judicial adjudication, regardless of whether Indemnitee
ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of
expenses or insurance recovery.
(e) The
Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding commenced
pursuant to this Section 7 that the
procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and
enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court that the Company is bound by
all the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall indemnify
Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall
(within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request
therefore) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such expenses to
Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action
brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advance of Expenses from the
Company under this Agreement or under any directors' and officers' liability
insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee
ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of
Expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be.
(f) Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement
to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to
the final disposition of the Proceeding.
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8.
Non-Exclusivity; Survival of
Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.
(a) The
rights of indemnification as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed
exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled
under applicable law, the certificate of incorporation and the bylaws of the
Company, any agreement, a vote of stockholders, a resolution of the Board or
otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any
provision of this Agreement shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee
under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such
Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration
or repeal. To the extent that a change in the DGCL, whether by statute or
judicial decision, permits greater indemnification than would be afforded
currently under the certificate of incorporation, the bylaws of the Company 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.
(b) To
the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing
liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents or fiduciaries
of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust,
employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person serves at the request
of the Company, the Company shall obtain coverage for Indemnitee under such
policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent
of the coverage available for any director, officer, employee, agent or
fiduciary under such policy or policies. If, at the time of the receipt of
a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Company has
director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give
prompt notice of the commencement of such proceeding to the insurers in
accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The
Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such
insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of
such proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.
(c) The
Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to
indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by one or
more of the Appointing Stockholders (collectively, the “Fund
Indemnitors”). The Company hereby agrees that it: (i) is the
indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to Indemnitee are primary and
any obligation of the Fund Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide
indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by Indemnitee are
secondary); (ii) shall be required to advance the full amount of Expenses
incurred by Indemnitee and shall be liable for the full amount of all Expenses,
judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement to the extent legally
permitted and as required by the terms of this Agreement and the certificate of
incorporation or bylaws of the Company (or any other agreement between the
Company and Indemnitee), without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have
against the Fund Indemnitors; and (iii) irrevocably waives, relinquishes and
releases the Fund Indemnitors from any and all claims against the Fund
Indemnitors for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in
respect thereof. The Company further agrees that no advancement or payment
by the Fund Indemnitors on behalf of Indemnitee with respect to any claim for
which Indemnitee has sought indemnification from the Company shall affect the
foregoing and that the Fund Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution
and/or be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the
rights of recovery of Indemnitee against the Company. The Company and
Indemnitee agree that the Fund Indemnitors are express third party beneficiaries
of this Section 8(c).
9
(d) Except
as provided in paragraph (c) above, 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 (other than against the Fund
Indemnitors), 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 to enforce such
rights.
(e) Except
as provided in paragraph (c) above, 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.
(f) Except
as provided in paragraph (c) above, 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, an officer, an employee, an agent or a fiduciary 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.
9. Exception to Right of
Indemnification. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the
Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnity in
connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:
(a) for
which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any
insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess
beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision,
provided, that the foregoing shall not affect the rights of Indemnitee or the
Fund Indemnitors set forth in Section 8(c) above; or
(b) for
an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase)
by Indemnitee of Company securities pursuant to Section 16(b) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or similar provisions of state
statutory law or common law; or
(c) subject
to Section 7(d), in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any
Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee (including, without limitation, any
Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the
Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees), unless (i)
the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its
initiation or (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole
discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable
law.
10
10. Duration of
Agreement. All agreements and obligations of the Company contained
herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee is a director of the Company
(or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, an officer,
an employee, an agent or a fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise) and shall continue thereafter for (i) an
additional three (3) years or (ii) so long as Indemnitee or any Appointing
Stockholder shall be subject to any Proceeding (or any proceeding commenced
under Section 7
of this Agreement) in respect of which indemnification can be provided under
this Agreement by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, whether or not
Indemnitee is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability
or Expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this
Agreement, whichever such additional term is longer. This Agreement shall
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties
hereto and their respective successors (including, without limitation, any
direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to
all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), assigns,
spouses, heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives.
11. Security. To
the extent requested by Indemnitee and approved by the Board, the Company may at
any time and from time to time provide security to Indemnitee for the Company’s
obligations hereunder through an irrevocable bank line of credit, funded trust
or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to Indemnitee, may
not be revoked or released without the prior written consent of the
Indemnitee.
12.
Enforcement.
(a) The
Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement
and assumes the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee
to serve as a director of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that
Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director and/or an
officer of the Company.
(b) This
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with
respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.
(c) The
Company shall not seek from a court, or agree to, a "bar order" which would have
the effect of prohibiting or limiting the Indemnitee's rights to receive
advancement of expenses under this Agreement.
13.
Definitions.
For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) “Corporate Status”
means the status of a person who is or was a director or an officer of the
Company, or is or was a director, an officer, an employee, an agent or a
fiduciary of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee
benefit plan or other enterprise that such person is or was serving at the
express written request of the Company.
(b) “Disinterested
Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party
to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by
Indemnitee.
(c) “Enterprise” means the
Company and any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee
benefit plan or other enterprise that Indemnitee is or was serving at the
express written request of the Company as a director, an officer, an employee,
an agent or a fiduciary.
11
(d) “Expenses” means all
reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of
experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding
costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees and all other
disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with
prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating,
participating, or being or preparing to be a witness in a Proceeding.
Expenses also shall include Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal
resulting from any Proceeding, including, without limitation, the premium,
security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersede as bond, or
other appeal bond or its equivalent. Expenses, however, shall not include
amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines
against Indemnitee.
(e) “Independent Counsel”
means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of
corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been,
retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter
material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning
Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar
indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving
rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who,
under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would
have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in
an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. 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.
(f) “Proceeding” means any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute
resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any
other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought by or in the
right of the Company or otherwise and whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party or
otherwise, by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or an
officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by Indemnitee or of any
inaction on Indemnitee’s part while acting as a director or an officer of the
Company, or by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was serving at the
request of the Company as a director, an officer, an employee, an agent or a
fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
Enterprise; in each case whether or not Indemnitee is acting or serving in any
such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which
indemnification can be provided under this Agreement; but excluding any such
proceeding initiated by an Indemnitee pursuant to Section 7 of this
Agreement to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.
14.
Severability.
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall in
no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision.
Further, the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof as to either
Indemitee or Appointing Stockholder shall in no way affect the validity or
enforceability of any provision hereof as to the other. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, this Agreement is intended to confer upon
Indemnitee and the Appointing Stockholders indemnification rights to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable laws. In the event any provision of this
Agreement conflicts with any applicable law, such provision shall be deemed
modified, consistent with the aforementioned intent, to the extent necessary to
resolve such conflict.
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15. Modification and
Waiver. No supplement, modification, termination or amendment of
this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by all 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 of this Agreement
(whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing
waiver.
16. Notice by Indemnitee or
Appointing Stockholder. Indemnitee agrees, and agrees to cause its
affiliated Appointing Stockholder, promptly to notify the Company in writing
upon being served with or otherwise receiving any summons, citation, subpoena,
complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding
or matter which may be subject to indemnification covered hereunder. The
failure to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation
which it may have to Indemnitee or any Appointing Stockholder under this
Agreement or otherwise unless and only to the extent that such failure or delay
materially prejudices the Company.
17. Notices. All
notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall
be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon personal
delivery to the party to be notified, (b) when sent by confirmed electronic mail
or facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and if not
so confirmed, then on the next business day, (c) five (5) days after having been
sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
or (d) one (1) day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier,
specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All
communications shall be sent:
(a) To
Indemnitee at his or her address set forth on the signature page
hereto.
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(b)
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To
the Company at:
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Avatech
Solutions, Inc.
00000 Xxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention:
Corporate Secretary
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.
18. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the
same Agreement. This Agreement may also be executed and delivered by
facsimile signature and in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
19. Headings. The
headings of the 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.
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20. Governing Law and Consent to
Jurisdiction. 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. The
parties hereto 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) appoint, to the extent such party is
not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware,
irrevocably The Corporation Trust Company, 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000 as its agent in the State of Delaware as such party’s agent for
acceptance of legal process 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
inconvenient forum. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to
ensure that The Corporation Trust Company maintains a current mail and e-mail
address for Indemnitee so it can promptly notify the Indemnitee of any action it
undertakes on behalf of the Indemnitee under (iii) above. The Company
shall bear the cost of engaging The Corporation Trust Company to act as agent
for service of process for Indemnitee and any related costs or
expenses.
[Remainder
of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows.]
14
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto
have executed this Agreement on and as of the day and year first above
written.
COMPANY
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AVATECH
SOLUTIONS, INC.
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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INDEMNITEE
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[________]
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Address:
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[________]
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[Signature
page to Director Indemnification Agreement]