EXHIBIT 10.9
FORM OF
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT, dated as of , by and
between General Semiconductor, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
the director and/or officer of the Company whose name appears on the signature
page of this Agreement ("Indemnitee").
RECITALS
A. Highly competent persons are becoming more reluctant to serve
publicly-held corporations as directors or officers or in other capacities
unless they are provided with reasonable protection through insurance or
indemnification against risks of claims and actions against them arising out of
their service to and activities on behalf of the corporations.
B. The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has determined
that the Company should act to assure its directors and officers that there will
be increased certainty of such protection in the future.
C. It is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually
to obligate itself to indemnify such persons to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free
from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified.
D. Indemnitee is willing to serve, to continue to serve and to take on
additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that
Indemnitee be so indemnified.
E. In consideration of the benefits received and to be received by the
Company in connection with actions taken and to be taken by the Board and by the
officers of the Company, the Company has determined that it is in the best
interest of the Company for the reasons set forth above to be a party to this
Agreement and to provide indemnification to the directors and officers of the
Company in connection with their service to and activities on behalf of the
Company and its subsidiaries.
F. The Company acknowledges that for purposes of this Agreement the
directors and officers of the Company who enter into this Agreement are serving
in such capacities at the request of the Company.
G. The Company further acknowledges that such directors and officers are
willing to serve, to continue to serve and to take on additional service for or
on behalf of the Company, thereby benefiting the Company and its subsidiaries,
on the condition that the Company enter into, and provide indemnification
pursuant to, this Agreement.
AGREEMENT
In consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein,
the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
(a) For purposes of this Agreement:
(i) "Affiliate" shall mean any corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise in respect of which Indemnitee is or
was or will be serving as a director or officer directly or indirectly at the
request of the Company, and including, but not limited to, service with respect
to an employee benefit plan.
(ii) "Disinterested Director" shall mean a director of the
Company who is not or was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which
indemnification is being sought by Indemnitee.
(iii) "Expenses" shall include all attorneys' fees and
costs, retainers, court costs, transcripts, 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
incurred in connection with asserting or defending claims.
(iv) "fines" shall include any excise taxes assessed on
Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan.
(v) "Independent Counsel" shall mean a law firm or lawyer
that neither is presently nor in the past year has been retained to represent:
(i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to any such party or (ii)
any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification
hereunder in any matter material to such other party. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the term "Independent Counsel" shall not include any firm or person
who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing,
would have a conflict of interest in representing any of the Company or
Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee's right to indemnification under
this Agreement. All Expenses of the Independent Counsel incurred in connection
with acting pursuant to this Agreement shall be borne by the Company.
(vi) "Losses" shall mean all expenses, liabilities, losses
and claims (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes under the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time,
penalties and amounts to be paid in settlement) incurred in connection with any
Proceeding.
(vii) "Proceeding" shall include any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism,
investigation, administrative hearing or any other proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative.
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(b) For purposes of this Agreement, a person who acted in good
faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of
the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed
to have acted in a manner "not opposed to the best interests of the Company" as
referred to in this Agreement; the term "serving at the request of the Company"
shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the
corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director,
officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its
participants or beneficiaries; and references to the "Company" shall include, in
addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including
any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which,
if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to
indemnify Indemnitee in its capacity as a director, officer, or employee or
agent, so that Indemnitee shall stand in the same position under this Agreement
with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as Indemnitee would have
with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had
continued.
2. SERVICE BY INDEMNITEE. Indemnitee agrees to begin or continue to
serve the Company or any Affiliate as a director and/or officer.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein, this Agreement shall not create a
contract of employment between the Company and Indemnitee, and the termination
of Indemnitee's relationship with the Company or an Affiliate by either party
hereto shall not be restricted by this Agreement.
3. INDEMNIFICATION. The Company agrees to indemnify Indemnitee for,
and hold Indemnitee harmless from and against, any Losses or Expenses at any
time incurred by or assessed against Indemnitee arising out of or in connection
with the service of Indemnitee as a director or officer of the Company or of an
Affiliate (collectively referred to as an "Officer or Director of the Company")
to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware in effect
on the date hereof or as such laws may from time to time hereafter be amended to
increase the scope of such permitted indemnification. Without diminishing the
scope of the indemnification provided by this Section 3, the rights of
indemnification of Indemnitee provided hereunder shall include but shall not be
limited to those rights set forth hereinafter.
4. ACTION OR PROCEEDING OTHER THAN AN ACTION BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF
THE COMPANY. Indemnitee shall be entitled to the indemnification rights
provided herein if Indemnitee is a person who was or is made a party or is
threatened to be made a party to or is involved (including, without limitation,
as a witness) in any Proceeding, other than an action by or in the right of the
Company, as the case may be, by reason of (a) the fact that Indemnitee is or was
an Officer or Director of the Company or any other entity which Indemnitee is or
was or will be serving at the request of the Company, as the case may be, or
(b) anything done or not done by Indemnitee in any such capacity.
5. ACTIONS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY. Indemnitee shall be
entitled to the indemnification rights provided herein if Indemnitee is a person
who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved
(including, without limitation, as a witness) in any Proceeding brought by or in
the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of (a) the
fact that Indemnitee is or was an Officer or Director of the Company or any
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Affiliate, or (b) anything done or not done by Indemnitee in any such capacity.
Pursuant to this Section, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against Losses or
Expenses incurred or suffered by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee's behalf in
connection with the defense or settlement of any Proceeding if Indemnitee acted
in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions of this Section, no such indemnification shall be made in respect of
any claim, issue or matter as to which Delaware law expressly prohibits such
indemnification by reason of an adjudication of liability of Indemnitee to the
Company unless and only 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
upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all
the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnity for such Losses and Expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other
court shall deem proper.
6. INDEMNIFICATION FOR LOSSES AND EXPENSES OF PARTY WHO IS WHOLLY OR
PARTLY SUCCESSFUL. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to
the extent that Indemnitee has been wholly successful on the merits or otherwise
in any Proceeding referred to in Section 3, 4 or 5 hereof on any claim, issue or
matter therein, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Losses and Expenses
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 agrees to indemnify Indemnitee to the
maximum extent permitted by law against all Losses and Expenses incurred by
Indemnitee in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter.
In any review or Proceeding to determine the extent of indemnification, the
Company shall bear the burden of proving any lack of success and which amounts
sought in indemnity are allocable to claims, issues or matters which were not
successfully resolved. For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the
termination of any such claim, issue or matter by dismissal with or without
prejudice shall be deemed to be a successful resolution as to such claim, issue
or matter.
7. PAYMENT FOR EXPENSES OF A WITNESS. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of the
fact that Indemnitee is or was an Officer or Director of the Company or any
Affiliate, as the case may be, a witness in any Proceeding, the Company agrees
to pay to Indemnitee all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee
or on Indemnitee's behalf in connection therewith.
8. ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES AND COSTS. All Expenses incurred by or
on behalf of Indemnitee (or reasonably expected by Indemnitee to be incurred by
Indemnitee within three months) in connection with any Proceeding shall be paid
by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding within
twenty days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements from
Indemnitee requesting from time to time such advance or advances, whether or not
a determination to indemnify has been made under Section 9. Indemnitee's
entitlement to such advancement of Expenses shall include those incurred in
connection with any Proceeding by Indemnitee seeking an adjudication or award in
arbitration pursuant to this Agreement. The financial ability of Indemnitee to
repay an advance shall not be a prerequisite to the making of such advance.
Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence such
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Expenses incurred (or reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee in
connection therewith and shall include or be accompanied by a written
undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall
ultimately be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified
therefor pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
9. PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINATION OF ENTITLEMENT TO INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) When seeking indemnification under this Agreement (which
shall not include in any case the right of Indemnitee to receive payments
pursuant to Section 7 and Section 8 hereof, which shall not be subject to this
Section 9), Indemnitee shall submit a written request for indemnification to the
Company. Determination of Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification shall be
made promptly, but in no event later than 60 days after receipt by the Company
of Indemnitee's written request for indemnification. The Secretary of the
Company shall, promptly upon receipt of Indemnitee's request for
indemnification, advise the Board that Indemnitee has made such request for
indemnification.
(b) The entitlement of Indemnitee to indemnification under this
Agreement shall be determined in the specific case (1) by the Board of Directors
by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a
quorum, or (2) if there are no Disinterested Directors, or if such Disinterested
Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel, or (3) by the stockholders.
(c) In the event the determination of entitlement is to be made
by Independent Counsel, such Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board
and approved by Indemnitee. Upon failure of the Board to so select such
Independent Counsel or upon failure of Indemnitee to so approve, such
Independent Counsel shall be selected by the American Arbitration Association of
New York, New York or such other person as such Association shall designate to
make such selection.
(d) If the determination made pursuant to Section 9(b) is that
Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification to the full extent of Indemnitee's
request, Indemnitee shall have the right to seek entitlement to indemnification
in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 10 hereof.
(e) If the person or persons empowered pursuant to Section 9(b)
to make a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification shall
have failed to make the requested determination within sixty days after receipt
by the Company of such request, the requisite determination of entitlement to
indemnification shall be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be
absolutely entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) misrepresentation by
Indemnitee of a material fact in the request for indemnification or (ii) a final
judicial determination that all or any part of such indemnification is expressly
prohibited by law.
(f) The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order,
settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of NOLO CONTENDERE or its equivalent,
shall not, of itself, adversely affect the rights of Indemnitee to
indemnification hereunder except as may be specifically provided herein, or
create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a
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manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Company, as the case may be, or create a presumption that (with
respect to any criminal action or proceeding) Indemnitee had reasonable cause to
believe that Indemnitee's conduct was unlawful.
(g) For purposes of any determination of good faith hereunder,
Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if in taking such action
Indemnitee relied on the records or books of account of the Company or an
Affiliate, including financial statements, or on information supplied to
Indemnitee by the officers of the Company or an Affiliate in the course of their
duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Company or an Affiliate or on
information or records given or reports made to the Company or an Affiliate by
an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert
selected with reasonable care to the Company or an Affiliate. The Company shall
have the burden of establishing the absence of good faith. The provisions of
this Section 9(g) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the
other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable
standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.
(h) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any
other director, officer, agent or employee of the Company or an Affiliate shall
not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to
indemnification under this Agreement.
10. REMEDIES IN CASES OF DETERMINATION NOT TO INDEMNIFY OR TO ADVANCE
EXPENSES.
(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made that
Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification hereunder, (ii) advances are not
made pursuant to Section 8 hereof or (iii) payment has not been timely made
following a determination of entitlement to indemnification pursuant to Section
9 hereof, Indemnitee shall be entitled to seek a final adjudication either
through an arbitration proceeding or in an appropriate court of the State of
Delaware or any other court of competent jurisdiction of Indemnitee's
entitlement to such indemnification or advance.
(b) In the event a determination has been made in accordance
with the procedures set forth in Section 9 hereof, in whole or in part, that
Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or
arbitration referred to in Section 10(a) shall be DE NOVO and Indemnitee shall
not be prejudiced by reason of any such prior determination that Indemnitee is
not entitled to indemnification, and the Company shall bear the burdens of proof
specified in Sections 6 and 9 hereof in such proceeding.
(c) If a determination is made or deemed to have been made
pursuant to the terms of Section 9 or 10 hereof that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any
judicial proceeding or arbitration in the absence of (i) a misrepresentation of
a material fact by Indemnitee or (ii) a final judicial determination that all or
any part of such indemnification is expressly prohibited by law.
(d) To the extent deemed appropriate by the court, interest
shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee at a reasonable interest rate for
amounts which the Company
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indemnifies or is obliged to indemnify Indemnitee for the period commencing with
the date on which Indemnitee requested indemnification (or reimbursement or
advancement of any Expenses) and ending with the date on which such payment is
made to Indemnitee by the Company.
11. EXPENSES INCURRED BY INDEMNITEE TO ENFORCE THIS AGREEMENT. All
Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the preparation and
submission of Indemnitee's request for indemnification hereunder shall be borne
by the Company. In the event that Indemnitee is a party to or intervenes in any
proceeding in which the validity or enforceability of this Agreement is at issue
or seeks an adjudication to enforce Indemnitee's rights under, or to recover
damages for breach of, this Agreement, Indemnitee, if Indemnitee prevails in
whole in such action, shall be entitled to recover from the Company, and shall
be indemnified by the Company against, any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee. If
it is determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification for part (but
not all) of the indemnification so requested, Expenses incurred in seeking
enforcement of such partial indemnification shall be reasonably prorated among
the claims, issues or matters for which Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification and for claims, issues or matters for which Indemnitee is not so
entitled.
12. NON-EXCLUSIVITY. The rights of indemnification and to receive
advances as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any
other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under any law,
certificate of incorporation, by-law, other agreement, vote of stockholders or
resolution of directors or otherwise, both as to action in Indemnitee's official
capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. To the
extent Indemnitee would be prejudiced thereby, no amendment, alteration,
rescission or replacement of this Agreement or any provision hereof shall be
effective as to Indemnitee with respect to any action taken or omitted by such
Indemnitee in Indemnitee's position with the Company or an Affiliate or any
other entity which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company
prior to such amendment, alteration, rescission or replacement.
13. DURATION OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall apply to any claim
asserted and any Losses and Expenses incurred in connection with any claim
asserted on or after the effective date of this Agreement and shall continue
until and terminate upon the later of: (a) ten years after Indemnitee has
ceased to occupy any of the positions or have any of the relationships described
in Section 3, 4 or 5 hereof; or (b) one year after the final termination of all
pending or threatened Proceedings of the kind described herein with respect to
Indemnitee. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors
and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee's
spouse, assigns, heirs, devisee, executors, administrators or other legal
representatives.
14. MAINTENANCE OF D&O INSURANCE.
(a) The Company hereby covenants and agrees with Indemnitee
that, so long as Indemnitee shall continue to serve as an Officer or Director of
the Company and thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any
possible claim or threatened, pending or completed Proceeding, whether civil,
criminal or investigative, by reason of the fact that
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Indemnitee was an Officer or Director of the Company or any other entity which
Indemnitee was serving at the request of the Company, the Company shall maintain
in full force and effect (i) the directors' and officers' liability insurance
issued by the insurer and having the policy amount and deductible as currently
in effect with respect to directors and officers of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries and (ii) any replacement or substitute policies issued by one or
more reputable insurers providing in all respects coverage at least comparable
to and in the same amount as that currently provided under such existing policy
(collectively, "D&O Insurance").
(b) In all policies of D&O Insurance, Indemnitee shall be named
as an insured in such a manner as to provide Indemnitee the same rights and
benefits, subject to the same limitations, as are accorded to the Company's
directors or officers most favorably insured by such policy.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in (a)
above, the Company shall have no obligation to maintain D&O Insurance if the
Company determines in good faith that such insurance is not reasonably
available, the premium cost for such insurance is disproportionate to the amount
of coverage provided or the coverage provided by such insurance is limited by
exclusions so as to provide an insufficient benefit.
15. SEVERABILITY. Should any part, term or condition hereof be
declared illegal or unenforceable or in conflict with any other law, the
validity of the remaining portions or provisions hereof shall not be affected
thereby, and the illegal or unenforceable portions hereof shall be and hereby
are redrafted to conform with applicable law, while leaving the remaining
portions hereof intact.
16. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same document.
17. HEADINGS. Section headings are for convenience only and do not
control or affect meaning or interpretation of any terms or provisions hereof.
18. MODIFICATION AND WAIVER. No supplement, modification or
amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by each
of the parties hereto.
19. NO DUPLICATIVE PAYMENT. 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 (net of Expenses incurred in collecting such payment) under any
insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.
20. NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
provided for by this Agreement shall be in writing (including telecopier or
similar writing) and shall be deemed to have been given at the time when mailed,
enclosed in a registered or certified postpaid envelope, in any general or
branch office of the United States Postal Service, or sent by Federal Express or
other similar overnight courier service, addressed to the address of the parties
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stated below or to such changed address as such party may have fixed by notice
or, if given by telecopier, when such telecopy is transmitted and the
appropriate answer back is received.
(a) If to Indemnitee, to the address appearing on the signature page
hereof.
(b) If to the Company to:
General Semiconductor, Inc.
00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel
21. GOVERNING LAW. The parties agree that this Agreement shall be
governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the internal laws of
the State of Delaware without regard to its conflicts of law rules.
22. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. Subject to the provisions of Section 12
hereof, this Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties
and supersedes all proposals, commitments, writings, negotiations and
understandings, oral and written, and all other communications between the
parties relating to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may not be
amended or otherwise modified except in writing duly executed by all of the
parties. A waiver by any party of any breach or violation of this Agreement
shall not be deemed or construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or
violation thereof.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the date first above written.
GENERAL SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
By:____________________________________
Name:
Title:
INDEMNITEE
By: __________________________________
Name:__________________________________
Address: ______________________________
City and State:________________________
Telecopier Number:_____________________
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