Contract
EXHIBIT
10.2
INDEMNITY
AGREEMENT
This
Indemnification Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of
_____________, 2006 by and between Merisel, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the
“Company”), and _________________________ (“Indemnitee”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve
corporations as directors or 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,
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;
WHEREAS,
the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has
determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the
Company will maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability
insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from
certain liabilities, unless this provision is subsequently amended by action
of
the Board;
WHEREAS,
the Bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”) and the Delaware
General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) permit indemnification of the directors and
officers of the Company;
WHEREAS,
the DGCL expressly provides 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 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
Bylaws and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed
a
substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee
thereunder;
WHEREAS,
Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under
the Company’s Bylaws and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and
may not be willing to serve as an officer or 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 he be so
indemnified; and
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants
contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree
as
follows:
Section
1. Services to the Company. Indemnitee
agrees to continue to serve as a director [and/or officer]of the Company
or any
subsidiary of the Company. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason
resign
from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any
obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Company shall
have
no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position.
This
Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company
(or any
of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise (as defined below)) and Indemnitee.
Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the
Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), if any, is at will,
and
the Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without
cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract
between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any
Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the
Board, or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Company,
by
the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, and the DGCL. The
foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after
Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director and/or officer of the Company
or
its subsidiaries, irrespective of whether Indemnitee is terminated with or
without cause as those terms may be defined in such Indemnitee’s written
employment agreement with the Company .
Section
2. Definitions. As used in this
Agreement:
(a) A
“Change
in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after
the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:
i. Acquisition
of Stock by Third Party. Any Person
(as defined below), other than Phoenix Acquisition Company II, LLC (“Investor”)
or its Affiliates (as defined below), is or becomes the Beneficial Owner
(as
defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
representing thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of
the
Company’s then outstanding securities;
ii. Change
in Board of Directors. During any period
of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution
of
this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute
the
Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person
who
has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described
in Sections 2(a)(i), 2(a)(iii) or 2(a)(iv)) whose election
by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was
approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in
office
who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election
or
nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason
to
constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;
iii. Corporate
Transactions. The effective date of
a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than
a
merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the
Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing
to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into
voting
securities of the surviving entity) more than 51% of the combined voting
power
of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately
after
such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority
of
the board of directors or other governing body of such surviving entity;
iv. Liquidation.
The approval by the stockholders
of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for
the
sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s
assets; and
v. Other
Events. There occurs any other event of a
nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of
Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any
similar
schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below),
whether
or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.
For
purposes of this Section 2(a), the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
(A) “Affiliate”
shall
have the meaning given to such term
pursuant to Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined
below).
(B) “Beneficial
Owner” shall have the meaning given to such term
in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial
Owner
shall exclude any Person otherwise becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason
of the
stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another
entity.
(C) “Exchange
Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
(D) “Person”
shall
have the meaning as set forth in Sections
13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person shall
exclude (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities
under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any corporation
owned,
directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially
the
same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.
(b)
“Corporate
Status” describes the status of a person
who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any
of
its subsidiaries, or of any other corporation, limited liability company,
partnership or joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other Enterprise
which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.
(c) “Disinterested
Director” means a director of the
Company who is not and was not a party to, nor an officer, director or partner
of a party to, the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought
by
Indemnitee.
(d) “Enterprise”
shall mean the Company and any other corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise
of
which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee, agent or fiduciary.
(e) “Expenses”
shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript
costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs,
printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service
fees,
and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred
in
connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend,
investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating
in, a Proceeding. Expenses also shall include (i) 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,
supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, and (ii) for purposes
of Section 12(d) only, Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with
the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this
Agreement, by litigation or otherwise. Expenses, however, shall not include
amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines
against Indemnitee.
(f) “Independent
Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of
a law firm that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither
presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent:
(i)
the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other
than with respect to matters concerning the 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 and expenses
of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such
counsel
against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out
of or
relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.
(g) The
term “Proceeding” shall include any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution
mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual,
threatened or completed proceeding, formal or informal, whether brought in
the
right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative nature, 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 officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken or omitted,
or alleged to have been taken or omitted, by him or of any action taken or
omitted, or alleged to have been taken or omitted, on his part while acting
as
director or officer of the Company, or by reason of the fact that he is or
was
serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or
agent
of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not (i) the claim arose
or is
based on acts occurring before or after the date of this Agreement or (ii)
he is
acting or serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is
incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of expenses
can be provided under this Agreement; except one initiated by an Indemnitee
to
enforce his rights under this Agreement.
(h) Reference
to “other enterprise” shall include employee
benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed with
respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of
the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent
of the Company 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 a person who acted in good faith and in
a
manner he reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants
and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted
in
manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this
Agreement.
Section
3. Indemnity in Proceedings.
(a) Third
Party Proceedings. The Company shall
indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section
3(a) if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a
participant in any Proceeding other than a Proceeding by or in the right
of the
Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section
3(a), Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his behalf
in
connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein if
Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to
be in
or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a
criminal proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was
unlawful.
(b) Indemnity
in Proceedings by or in the Right of the
Company. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 3(b) if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be
made, a
party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company
to
procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 3(b), Indemnitee
shall
be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against
all
Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection
with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee
acted
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed
to
the best interests of the Company. No indemnification for Expenses shall
be made
under this Section 3(b) in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which
Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the
Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery
or
any court in which the Proceeding 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 indemnification.
Section
4. Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who
is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent
that Indemnitee is a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on
the
merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue
or
matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee
against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him 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 him or
on
his behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or
matter.
If the Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding, the Company
also
shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses reasonably incurred in
connection with a claim, issue or matter related to any claim, issue, or
matter
on which the Indemnitee was successful. 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.
Section
5. Indemnification For Expenses of a
Witness. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee
is,
by reason of his Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding to which
Indemnitee is not a party, he shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually
and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith.
Section
6. Additional Indemnification.
(a) Notwithstanding
any limitation in Section 3 or Section 4, the Company shall
indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if
Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding
(including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment
in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with
the
Proceeding.
(b) For
purposes of Section 6(a), the meaning of the phrase “to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to:
i. to
the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the
DGCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement,
or
the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL,
and
ii. to
the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any
amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this
Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its
officers and directors.
Section
7. Exclusions. 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; or
(b) for
(i) an accounting of profits made from the
purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the
Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (as defined
in
Section 2(a)), or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law
or (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any remuneration,
bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits
realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as
required in each case under the Exchange Act or if such remuneration,
compensation or profit was in violation of law; or
(c) except
as provided in Section 12(d), in
connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated
by
Indemnitee, including 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 of Directors of the Company 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; or
(d) to
indemnify Indemnitee in connection with proceedings
or claims involving the enforcement of non-compete and/or non-disclosure
agreements or the non-compete and/or non-disclosure provisions of employment,
consulting or similar agreements the Indemnitee may be a party to with the
Company, or any subsidiary of the Company or any other applicable corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other Enterprise, if any.
Any
provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company
shall not be obligated to indemnify the Indemnitee or otherwise act pursuant
to
the terms hereof in violation of any undertaking appearing in, and required
by
the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the “Act”), any registration statement filed with the SEC under the
Act. The Indemnitee acknowledges that paragraph (h) of Item 512 of Regulation
S-K promulgated under the Act requires the company to undertake in connection
with any registration statement filed under the Act to submit the issue of
the
enforceability of the Indemnitees’ rights under this Agreement in connection
with any liability under the Act on public policy grounds to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction and to be governed by any final adjudication of
such
issues. The Indemnitee specifically agrees that any such undertaking shall
supersede the provisions of this Agreement and to be bound by any such
undertaking.
Any
provisions herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company
shall not be obligated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to indemnify
the
Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of a
Proceeding effected without the Company’s prior written consent, which shall not
be unreasonably withheld.
Section
8. Advances of Expenses. Notwithstanding
any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall advance,
to
the extent not prohibited by law, the expenses incurred by Indemnitee in
connection with any Proceeding, and such advancement shall be made within
30
days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting
such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition
of
any Proceeding. Advances shall be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall
be
made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the expenses and without
regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other
provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all reasonable
Expenses incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement,
including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company
to support the advances claimed. The Indemnitee shall qualify for advances
upon
the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement which shall
constitute an undertaking providing that the Indemnitee undertakes to repay
the
advance to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is
not
entitled to be indemnified by the Company. This Section 8 shall not apply
to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant
to
Section 7.
Section
9. Procedure for Notification and Defense of
Claim.
(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 following the final disposition
of
such action, suit or proceeding. The delay or omission to notify the Company
will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee
otherwise than under this Agreement. 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) The
Company will be entitled to participate in the
Proceeding at its own expense.
Section
10. Procedure Upon Application for
Indemnification.
(a) Upon
written request by Indemnitee for indemnification
pursuant to the first sentence of Section 9(a) or for advances pursuant
to the first sentence of Section 8, a determination, if required by
applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made
in the specific case: (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by
Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy
of
which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; or (ii) if a Change in Control shall
not
have occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, provided
that such directors constitute a quorum of the Board, (B) if a quorum of
the
Board cannot be obtained under the foregoing clause (A), by a committee of
two
or more Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of members
of the
Board (including directors other than Disinterested Directors) constituting
a
quorum of the Board, (C) if there are not at least two Disinterested Directors
or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in
a
written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee
or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company
(excluding shares owned by or voted under the control of directors that are
at
the time parties to the Proceeding); provided, however, that if
Independent Counsel makes the determination that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification, the authorization of indemnification and the evaluation
as to
reasonableness of expenses shall be made by the persons set forth in the
foregoing clause (ii)(A) or, if necessary, clause (ii)(B). If, upon written
request made by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 9(a), it is so determined
that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee of
all
authorized indemnification amounts, including expenses determined to be
reasonable, shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination.
Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such
determination with respect to Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification,
including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance
request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise
protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee
and
reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or expenses (including
attorneys' fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating
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.
(b) In
the event the determination of entitlement to
indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section
10(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this
Section 10(b). If a Change in Control shall not have occurred, the
Independent counsel shall be selected by the Board of Directors, and the
Company
shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising him of the identity of the
Independent Counsel so selected. If a Change in Control shall have occurred,
the
Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall
request that such selection be made by the Board of Directors, in which event
the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice
to
the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.
In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within
10
days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver
to
the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to
such
selection; provided however, that such objection may be asserted only on
the
ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements
of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of 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 such written objection is so made and
substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent
Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined
that such objection is without merit. If, within 20 days after the later
of
submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant
to
Section 9(a) hereof and the final disposition of the Proceeding, no
Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either
the
Company or Indemnitee may petition a court of competent jurisdiction for
resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or
Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the
appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the Court or by
such
other person as the Court shall designate, and the person with respect to
whom
all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as
Independent Counsel under Section 10(a) hereof. Upon the due commencement
of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 12(a) of
this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any
further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards
of
professional conduct then prevailing).
Section
11. Presumptions and Effect of Certain
Proceedings.
(a) 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 if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification
in
accordance with Section 9(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall, to
the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome
that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or
entity
of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither the failure of
the
Company (including by its directors or independent legal counsel) to have
made a
determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement
that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has
met
the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company
(including by its directors or independent legal counsel) that Indemnitee
has
not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action
or
create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard
of
conduct.
(b) Subject
to Section 12(e), if the person,
persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 10(a) 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,
to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made
and
Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a determination
made pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 10(a) that there has
been a
misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material
fact
necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in
connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of
such
indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day
period
may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty
(30)
days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect
to
entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time
for
the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating
thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section
11(b) shall not apply (i) if the determination of entitlement to
indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section
10(a) and if (A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of
the request for such determination the Board of Directors has resolved to
submit
such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual
meeting thereof to be held within seventy five (75) days after such receipt
and
such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders
is
called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making
such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60)
days
after having been so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii)
if
the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent
Counsel pursuant to Section 10(a).
(c) The
termination of any Proceeding or of any claim,
issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or
upon a
plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except
as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect
the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that
Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or,
with
respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause
to
believe that his conduct was unlawful.
(d) Reliance
as Safe Harbor. For purposes of any
determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in
good
faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the
Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to
Indemnitee by the officers and/or employees of the Enterprise in the course
of
their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on
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
the
reasonable care by the Enterprise. The provisions of this Section 11(d)
shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other
circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable
standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.
(e) Actions
of Others. The knowledge and/or
actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of
the
Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining
the
right to indemnification under this Agreement.
Section
12. Remedies of Indemnitee.
(a) Subject
to Section 12(e), in the event that (i)
a determination is made pursuant to Section 10 that Indemnitee is not
entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses
is not timely made pursuant to Section 8, (iii) no determination of
entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section
10(a) within 90 days after receipt by the Company of the request for
indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to
Section 4 or Section 5 or the last sentence of Section
10(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company
of
a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to
Section 3 or Section 6 is not made within ten (10) days after a
determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification,
or
(vi) in the event that the Company or any other person takes or threatens
to
take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes
any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover
from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to
the
Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by
a court
of his entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses.
Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his option, may seek an award in arbitration
to be
conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules
of
the American Arbitration Association. Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding
seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following
the
date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding
pursuant to this Section 12(a); provided, however, that the
foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a proceeding brought by
Indemnitee to enforce his rights under Section 4. The Company shall
not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in
arbitration.
(b) In
the event that a determination shall have been made
pursuant to Section 10(a) that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant
to
this Section 12 shall be conducted in all respects as a
de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee
shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. In any judicial
proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12 the
Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.
(c) If
a determination shall have been made pursuant to
Section 10(a) that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the
Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or
arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12, absent (i) a
misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material
fact
necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in
connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of
such
indemnification under applicable law.
(d) The
Company shall be precluded from asserting in any
judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12
that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding
and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such
arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.
It
is the intent of the Company that the Indemnitee not be required to incur
legal
fees or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or
defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise
because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the
benefits intended to be extended to the Indemnitee hereunder. 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.
(e)
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.
Section
13. Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights;
Insurance; Subrogation.
(a) The
rights of indemnification and to receive
advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed
exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled
under applicable law, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, the Company’s
Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors,
or
otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any
provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this
Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in
his
Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent
that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits
greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded
currently under the Company’s Bylaws 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) Unless
this provision is subsequently amended by
action of the Board, the Company shall maintain an insurance policy or policies
providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents
of
the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust,
employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such person serves at the
request of the Company. Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies
in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage
available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy
or
policies. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant
to the
terms hereof, 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) In
the event of any payment under this Agreement, the
Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights
of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take
all
action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents
as
are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.
(d) The
Company shall not be liable under this Agreement
to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable (or for which advancement
is provided hereunder) hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has
otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract,
agreement or otherwise.
(e) The
Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance
Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of
the
Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of any other corporation,
limited liability company, 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, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust,
employee benefit plan or other enterprise.
Section
14. Duration of Agreement. This Agreement
shall continue until and terminate upon the later of: (a) 10 years after
the
date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as director and/or officer
of
the Company or ceased to serve at the request of the Company in any capacity
with any subsidiary of the Company or any other Enterprise or (b) 1 year
after
the final termination of any Proceeding then pending in respect of which
Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses
hereunder and of any proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to
Section 12 relating thereto. This Agreement shall be binding upon
the Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit
of
Indemnitee and his heirs, executors and administrators. In the event of a
Change
of Control as defined in Section 2(a)(iii) hereof, or other merger,
consolidation, or reorganization of the Company if the Company shall not
be the
surviving, resulting or acquiring corporation therein, the Company shall
require
as a condition thereto that the surviving, resulting, or acquiring corporation
agree to indemnify the Indemnitee to the full extent provided in this Agreement,
such that the Indemnitee shall stand in the same position under this Agreement
with respect to the resulting, surviving or acquiring corporation as he would
have with respect to the Company if its separate existence had continued.
Section
15. Severability. If any provision or
provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without
limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any
such
provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself
invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired
thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law;
(b)
such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary
to
conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of
the
parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of
this
Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of
this
Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall
be
construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.
Section
16. Enforcement.
(a) The
Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has
entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby
in
order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director or officer of the Company,
and
the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in
serving as a director or officer of the Company.
(b) This
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied,
between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided,
however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the
Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws of the Company and applicable law,
and
shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any
rights of Indemnitee thereunder.
Section
17. Modification and Waiver. No supplement,
modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed
in
writing by 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 nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
Section
18. Notice by Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees
promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons,
citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document
relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification
or
advancement of Expenses covered hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so
notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which
it may
have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.
Section
19. Notices. All notices,
requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be
in
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand
and
receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall
have
been directed, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid,
on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (c) mailed
by
reputable overnight courier and receipted for by the party to whom said notice
or other communication shall have been directed or (d) sent by facsimile
transmission, with receipt of oral confirmation that such transmission has
been
received:
(a) If
to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the
signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall
provide to the Company.
(b) If
to the Company to:
Merisel,
Inc.
000
Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
or
to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by
the Company.
Section
20. Contribution. To the fullest extent
permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in
this
Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company,
in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred
by
Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts
paid
or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim
relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion
as
is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such
Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the
Company
and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause
to
such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its
directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with
such event(s) and/or transaction(s).
Section
21. Applicable 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. Except with
respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 12(a)
of
this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or
in
connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Chancery Court
of
the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), and not in any other state or
federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country,
(ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware court
for
purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with
this
Agreement, (iii) appoint, to the extent such party is not otherwise subject
to
service of process in the State of Delaware, the person or entity who is
listed
as the Company’s registered agent in the State of Delaware in the records of the
Delaware Secretary of State 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.
Section
22. Identical Counterparts. This Agreement
may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all
purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party
against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the
existence of this Agreement.
Section
23. Miscellaneous. Use of the masculine
pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where
appropriate. 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.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the parties have caused this Indemnity Agreement to be signed as of the day
and
year first above written.
MERISEL,
INC.
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INDEMNITEE:
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By:
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By:
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Xxxxxx
X. Xxxx
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Name
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Address:
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