INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 10.3
This Indemnification Agreement, dated as of the date set forth on the signature page hereto (this “Agreement”), is between Nextel Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the individual listed on the signature page hereto as “Indemnitee.”
RECITALS:
A. Section 141 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) provides that the business and affairs of a Delaware corporation is to be managed by or under the direction of its board of directors.
B. Pursuant to Sections 141 and 142 of the DGCL, significant authority with respect to the management of the Company has been delegated to the officers of the Company.
C. By virtue of the managerial prerogatives vested in the directors and officers of a Delaware corporation, directors and officers act as fiduciaries of the corporation and its stockholders.
D. Thus, it is important to the Company and its stockholders that the Company have capable persons reasonably available to serve as directors and officers of the Company.
E. In recognition of the need for corporations to be able to induce well-qualified persons to accept positions in corporate management, Delaware law authorizes (and in some instances requires) corporations to indemnify their directors and officers and further authorizes corporations to purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of their directors and officers.
F. The Delaware courts have recognized that indemnification by a corporation serves various legitimate purposes, including (1) allowing corporate officials to resist unjustified lawsuits and claims, secure in the knowledge that, if vindicated, the corporation will bear the expense of litigation and (2) encouraging capable people to serve as corporate directors and officers, secure in the knowledge that the corporation will absorb the costs of defending their honesty and integrity.
G. The number of lawsuits challenging the judgment and actions of directors and officers of Delaware corporations, the costs of defending those lawsuits and the threat to directors’ and officers’ personal assets have all materially increased over the past several years, in many instances chilling the willingness of capable people to undertake or continue the responsibilities imposed on corporate directors and officers.
H. Recent federal legislation and rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the national securities exchanges have exposed such directors and officers to new and substantially broadened civil liabilities.
I. Under Delaware law, a director’s or officer’s right to be reimbursed for the costs of defense of certain actions, whether such claims are asserted under state or federal law, does not depend upon the merits of the claims asserted against the director or officer and is separate and distinct from any right to indemnification the director or officer may be able to establish.
J. Indemnitee is or will be a director or officer of the Company and possibly one or more of its subsidiaries and his/her willingness to serve or continue to serve in such capacities is predicated, in substantial part, upon the Company’s willingness to indemnify him/her in accordance with the principles reflected above, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the state of Delaware, and upon the other undertakings set forth in this Agreement.
K. Therefore, in recognition of the need to provide Indemnitee with appropriate protection against personal liability, in order to procure Indemnitee’s continued service as a director or officer of the Company and to enhance Indemnitee’s ability to serve the Company in an effective manner, and in order to provide such protection pursuant to express contract rights (intended to be enforceable irrespective of, among other things, any amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws (collectively, the “Constituent Documents”), any change in the composition of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), or any Change in Control of or Business Combination relating to the Company), the Company wishes to provide in this Agreement for the indemnification of and the advancement of Expenses to Indemnitee as set forth in this Agreement and for the continued coverage of Indemnitee under the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies.
L. In light of the considerations referred to in the preceding recitals, it is the Company’s intention and desire that the provisions of this Agreement be construed liberally to maximize the protections to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder.
Now, therefore, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Certain Definitions. In addition to terms defined elsewhere herein, the following terms have the following meanings when used in this Agreement with initial capital letters:
(a) “Change in Control” means the occurrence after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:
(i) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) (“Beneficial Ownership”) of 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 1(a)(i), the following acquisitions (“Exempt Transactions”) will not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any acquisition of Voting Stock of the Company by the Company or any Subsidiary; (B) any acquisition of Voting Stock of the Company by any
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| employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary; and (C) any acquisition of Voting Stock of the Company by any Person pursuant to a Business Combination that complies with clauses (A) and (B) of Section 1(a)(iii) below; |
(ii) a majority of the Directors are not Incumbent Directors;
(iii) the consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation, or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or the acquisition of assets of another corporation, or other similar transaction (each, a “Business Combination”), unless, in each case, (A) immediately following such Business Combination all or substantially all of the Persons who were the Beneficial Owners of Voting Stock of the Company immediately prior to such Business Combination Beneficially Own, directly or indirectly, a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) or (B) such Business Combination is an otherwise Exempt Transaction; or
(iv) the Company files a report or proxy statement pursuant to the Exchange Act disclosing in response to Form 8-K or Schedule 14A that a change in control of the Company has occurred, except as a result of an Exempt Transaction.
(v) For purposes of this Section 1(a), the following terms will have the following meanings when used herein with initial capital letters:
| (A) | “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. | |||
| (B) | “Incumbent Directors” means the individuals who, as of the date hereof, are directors of the Company and any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof (including other Incumbent Directors who first became directors after the date hereof) whose election, nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders or appointment was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the then Incumbent Directors on the Board or a duly authorized directorate committee (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such individual is named as a nominee for director, without objection to such nomination); provided, however, that an individual will not be an Incumbent Director if such individual’s election or appointment to the Board occurs as a result of an | |||
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| actual or threatened election contest (as described in Rule 14a-12(c) of the Exchange Act) with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board. | ||||
| (C) | “Subsidiary” means an entity in which the Company directly or indirectly Beneficially Owns 50% or more of the outstanding Voting Stock. | |||
| (D) | “Voting Stock” means securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (or similar governing bodies). | |||
(b) “Claim” means (i) any threatened, asserted, pending or completed claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative, investigative or other, and whether made pursuant to federal, state or other law, and (ii) any inquiry or investigation, whether threatened, asserted, pending or completed, by the Company or any other Person, including without limitation any federal, state or other governmental entity, that Indemnitee determines might lead to the institution of any such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company intends indemnity to be provided hereunder in respect of acts or failures to act prior to, on or after the date hereof and apply to any act or failure to act, or claim related thereto, in whole or in part prior to, on or after the date hereof.
(c) “Controlled Affiliate” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity or enterprise, whether or not for profit, that is directly or indirectly controlled by the Company. For purposes of this definition, “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of an entity or enterprise, whether through the ownership of Voting Stock, through other voting rights, by contract or otherwise; provided that direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership of capital stock or other interests in an entity or enterprise entitling the holder to cast 50% or more of the total number of votes generally entitled to be cast in the election of directors (or persons performing comparable functions) of such entity or enterprise will be deemed to constitute control for purposes of this definition.
(d) “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Claim in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.
(e) “Expenses” means attorneys’ and experts’ fees and expenses and all other costs and expenses paid or payable in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to investigate, defend, be a witness in or participate in (including on appeal), any Claim.
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(f) “Indemnifiable Claim” means any Claim based upon, arising out of or resulting from (i) any threatened, asserted, pending or completed claim, demand, action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation regarding the act or failure to act by Indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or as a director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity or enterprise, whether or not for profit, as to which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent, including without limitation any Controlled Affiliate of the Company, (ii) any threatened, asserted, pending or completed claim, demand, action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation regarding the act or failure to act by Indemnitee in respect of any business, transaction, communication, filing, disclosure or other activity of the Company or any other entity or enterprise referred to in clause (i) of this sentence, or (iii) Indemnitee’s status as a current or former director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or as a current or former director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent of the Company or any other entity or enterprise referred to in clause (i) of this sentence or any actual, alleged or suspected act or failure to act by Indemnitee in connection with any obligation or restriction imposed upon Indemnitee by reason of such status. In addition to any service at the actual request of the Company, for purposes of this Agreement, Indemnitee will be deemed to be serving or to have served at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent of another entity or enterprise if Indemnitee is or was serving as a director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent of such entity or enterprise and (i) such entity or enterprise is or at the time of such service was a Controlled Affiliate, (ii) such entity or enterprise is or at the time of such service was an employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or a Controlled Affiliate, or (iii) the Company or a Controlled Affiliate (by action of the Board, any committee thereof or the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) (other than as the CEO him- or herself) caused or authorized Indemnitee to be nominated, elected, appointed, designated, employed, engaged or selected to serve in such capacity.
(g) “Indemnifiable Losses” means any and all Losses relating to, arising out of or resulting from any Indemnifiable Claim.
(h) “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 any Subsidiary) 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 named (or, as to a threatened matter, reasonably likely to be named) party to the Indemnifiable Claim giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” will 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.
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(i) “Losses” means any and all Expenses, damages, losses, liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties (whether civil, criminal or other) and amounts paid or payable in settlement, including without limitation all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of any of the foregoing.
2. Indemnification Obligation. Subject only to Section 7 and to the proviso in this Section, the Company will indemnify, defend and hold harmless Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted or required 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, against any and all Indemnifiable Claims and Indemnifiable Losses; provided, however, that, except as provided in Sections 4 and 20, Indemnitee will not be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement in connection with any Claim initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or any director or officer of the Company unless the Company has joined in or consented to the initiation of such Claim. The Company acknowledges that the foregoing obligation is substantially broader than that now provided by applicable law and the Company’s Constituent Documents and intends that it be interpreted consistently with this Section and the recitals to this Agreement.
3. Advancement of Expenses. Indemnitee will have the right to advancement by the Company, prior to the final disposition of any Indemnifiable Claim, of any and all Expenses relating to, arising out of or resulting from any Indemnifiable Claim paid or incurred by Indemnitee or which Indemnitee determines are reasonably likely to be paid or incurred by Indemnitee. Without limiting the generality or effect of any other provision hereof, Indemnitee’s right to such advancement is not subject to the satisfaction of any standard of conduct. Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, within five business days after any request by Indemnitee, the Company will, in accordance with such request (but without duplication), (a) pay such Expenses on behalf of Indemnitee, (b) advance to Indemnitee funds in an amount sufficient to pay such Expenses, or (c) reimburse Indemnitee for such Expenses; provided that Indemnitee will repay, without interest, any amounts actually advanced to Indemnitee that, at the final disposition of the Indemnifiable Claim to which the advance related, were in excess of amounts paid or payable by Indemnitee in respect of Expenses relating to, arising out of or resulting from such Indemnifiable Claim or in excess of the indemnification to which Indemnitee is entitled. In connection with any such payment, advancement or reimbursement, at the request of the Company, Indemnitee will, if requested by the Company, execute and deliver to the Company an undertaking, which need not be secured and must be accepted without reference to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses, by or on behalf of the Indemnitee, to repay any amounts paid, advanced or reimbursed by the Company referred to in the preceding sentence.
4. Indemnification for Additional Expenses. Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against and, if requested by Indemnitee, will reimburse Indemnitee for, or advance to Indemnitee, within five business days of such request, any and all Expenses paid or incurred by Indemnitee or which Indemnitee determines are
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reasonably likely to be paid or incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Claim made, instituted or conducted by Indemnitee for (a) indemnification or reimbursement or advance payment of Expenses by the Company under any provision of this Agreement, or under any other agreement or provision of the Constituent Documents now or hereafter in effect relating to Indemnifiable Claims, and/or (b) recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless in each case of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, reimbursement, advance or insurance recovery, as the case may be; provided, however, that Indemnitee must return, without interest, any such advance of Expenses (or portion thereof) which remains unspent at the final disposition of the Claim to which the advance related.
5. Partial Indemnity. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of any Indemnifiable Loss but not for all of the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.
6. Procedure for Notification. To obtain indemnification under this Agreement in respect of an Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss, Indemnitee must submit to the Company a written request therefor, including a brief description (based upon information then available to Indemnitee) of such Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss. If, at the time of the receipt of such request, the Company has directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in effect under which coverage for such Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss is potentially available, the Company shall give prompt written notice of such Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss to the applicable insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the applicable policies. The Company will provide to Indemnitee a copy of such notice delivered to the applicable insurers, and copies of all subsequent correspondence between the Company and such insurers regarding the Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss, in each case substantially concurrently with the delivery or receipt thereof by the Company. The failure by Indemnitee to timely notify the Company of any Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss will not relieve the Company from any liability hereunder unless, and only to the extent that, the Company did not otherwise learn of such Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss and such failure results in forfeiture by the Company of substantial defenses, rights or insurance coverage.
7. Determination of Right to Indemnification. (a) To the extent that Indemnitee is successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any Indemnifiable Claim or any portion thereof or in defense of any issue or matter therein, including without limitation dismissal without prejudice, Indemnitee will be indemnified against all Indemnifiable Losses relating to, arising out of or resulting from such Indemnifiable Claim in accordance with Section 2 and no Standard of Conduct Determination will be required. Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, any Claim that is settled in whole or in part or withdrawn will be deemed to be subject to this Section 7(a), unless the indemnification would be inconsistent with any condition with respect to indemnification expressly imposed by the court in approving the settlement.
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(b) To the extent that the provisions of Section 7(a) are inapplicable to an Indemnifiable Claim that has been finally disposed of, any determination of whether Indemnitee has satisfied any applicable standard of conduct under Delaware law that is a legally required condition precedent to indemnification of Indemnitee hereunder against Indemnifiable Losses relating to, arising out of or resulting from such Indemnifiable Claim (a “Standard of Conduct Determination”) will be made as follows: (i) if a Change in Control has not occurred, or if a Change in Control has occurred but Indemnitee has requested that the Standard of Conduct Determination be made pursuant to this clause (i), (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even if less than a quorum of the Board, (B) if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by a majority vote of a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of all Disinterested Directors, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion addressed to the Board, a copy of which must be delivered to Indemnitee, or (D) by action of the Company’s stockholders; and (ii) if a Change in Control has occurred and Indemnitee has not requested that the Standard of Conduct Determination be made pursuant to clause (i), by Independent Counsel in a written opinion addressed to the Board, a copy of which must be delivered to Indemnitee. Upon reasonable advance request, Indemnitee will cooperate with reasonable requests of the individual or firm making such Standard of Conduct Determination, including by providing to such Person 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 without incurring any unreimbursed cost in connection therewith. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against and, if requested by Indemnitee, will reimburse Indemnitee for, or advance to Indemnitee, within five business days of such request, any and all costs and expenses (including attorneys’ and experts’ fees and expenses) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the Person making such Standard of Conduct Determination.
(c) The Company will use its best efforts to cause any Standard of Conduct Determination required under Section 7(b) to be made as promptly as practicable. If (i) the Persons empowered or selected under Section 7 to make the Standard of Conduct Determination do not make a determination (x) within 30 calendar days after the later of (A) receipt by the Company of written notice from Indemnitee advising the Company of the final disposition of the applicable Indemnifiable Claim (the date of such receipt being the “Notification Date”) and (B) the selection of an Independent Counsel, if such determination is to be made by Independent Counsel, that is permitted under the provisions of Section 7(e) to make such determination or (y) if such determination is to be made by the Company’s stockholders, within 180 calendar days after the Notification Date, and (ii) Indemnitee has fulfilled his/her obligations set forth in the second sentence of Section 7(b), then Indemnitee will be deemed to have satisfied the applicable standard of conduct; provided that such applicable period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional 30 calendar days, if the Person making such determination in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluation or documentation and/or information relating thereto.
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(d) If (i) Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder against any Indemnifiable Losses pursuant to Section 7(a), (ii) no determination of whether Indemnitee has satisfied any applicable standard of conduct under Delaware law is a legally required condition precedent to indemnification of Indemnitee hereunder against any Indemnifiable Losses, or (iii) Indemnitee has been determined or deemed pursuant to Section 7(b) or (c) to have satisfied any applicable standard of conduct under Delaware law which is a legally required condition precedent to indemnification of Indemnitee hereunder against any Indemnifiable Losses, then the Company will pay to Indemnitee, within five business days after the later of (x) the Notification Date in respect of the Indemnifiable Claim or portion thereof to which such Indemnifiable Losses are related, out of which such Indemnifiable Losses arose or from which such Indemnifiable Losses resulted and (y) the earliest date on which the applicable criterion specified in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above have been satisfied, an amount equal to the amount of such Indemnifiable Losses.
(e) If a Standard of Conduct Determination is required to be, but has not been, made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 7(b)(i), the Independent Counsel will be selected by the Board or a committee of the Board, and the Company will give written notice to Indemnitee advising him or her of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. If a Standard of Conduct Determination is required to be, or to have been, made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 7(b)(ii), the Independent Counsel will be selected by Indemnitee, and Indemnitee will give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. In either case, Indemnitee or the Company, as applicable, may, within five business days after receiving written notice of selection from the other, deliver to the other 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 satisfy the criteria set forth in the definition of “Independent Counsel” in Section 1(h), and the objection must set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the Person so selected will act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is properly and timely made and substantiated, (i) 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 and (ii) the non-objecting party may, at its option, select an alternative Independent Counsel and give written notice to the other party advising such other party of the identity of the alternative Independent Counsel so selected, in which case the provisions of the two immediately preceding sentences and clause (i) of this sentence will apply to such subsequent selection and notice. If applicable, the provisions of clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence will apply to successive alternative selections. If no Independent Counsel that is permitted under the foregoing provisions of this Section 7(e) to make the Standard of Conduct Determination has been selected within 30 calendar days after the Company gives its initial notice pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 7(e) or Indemnitee gives its initial notice pursuant to the second sentence of this Section 7(e), as the case may be, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware for resolution of any objection which has 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
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person or firm selected by the Court or by such other person as the Court may designate, and the person or firm with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person or firm so appointed will act as Independent Counsel. In all events, the Company will pay all of the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel incurred in connection with the Independent Counsel’s determination pursuant to Section 7(b).
8. Presumption of Entitlement. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, in making any Standard of Conduct Determination, the Person making such determination must presume that Indemnitee has satisfied the applicable standard of conduct, and the Person may overcome such presumption only by its adducing clear and convincing evidence to the contrary. Any Standard of Conduct Determination that is adverse to Indemnitee may be challenged by the Indemnitee in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware. No determination by the Company (including by its directors, stockholders or any Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not satisfied any applicable standard of conduct will be a defense to any Claim by Indemnitee for indemnification or reimbursement or advance payment of Expenses by the Company hereunder or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met any applicable standard of conduct.
9. No Negative Presumption. For purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any Claim by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, will not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet any applicable standard of conduct or that indemnification hereunder is otherwise not permitted.
10. Non-Exclusivity. The rights of Indemnitee hereunder will be in addition to any other rights Indemnitee may have under the Constituent Documents, or the substantive laws of Delaware, any other contract or otherwise (collectively, “Other Indemnity Provisions”); provided, however, that (a) to the extent that Indemnitee otherwise would have any greater right to indemnification under any Other Indemnity Provision, Indemnitee will without further action be deemed to have such greater right hereunder, (b) to the extent that any change is made to any Other Indemnity Provision which permits any greater right to indemnification than that provided under this Agreement as of the date hereof, Indemnitee will without further action be deemed to have such greater right hereunder, and (c) in no event will Indemnitee be entitled to indemnity hereunder to the extent that he/she has been actually indemnified under any Other Indemnity Provision (but the existence of such Other Indemnity Provisions will not affect any right hereunder). The Company may not adopt any amendment to any of the Constituent Documents the effect of which would be to deny, diminish or encumber Indemnitee’s right to indemnification under this Agreement or any Other Indemnity Provision.
11. Liability Insurance and Funding. For the duration of Indemnitee’s service as a director and/or officer of the Company and for not less than six years thereafter, the Company will cause to be maintained in effect policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance providing coverage for directors and/or officers of the Company that is at least as favorable in scope and amount to that provided by the Company’s current policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance. Upon
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request, the Company will provide Indemnitee or his or her counsel with a copy of all directors’ and officers’ liability insurance applications, binders, policies, declarations, endorsements and other related materials, and will provide Indemnitee with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the same. Without limiting the generality or effect of the two immediately preceding sentences, the Company will not discontinue or significantly reduce the scope or amount of coverage from one policy period to the next (i) without the prior approval thereof by a majority vote of the Incumbent Directors, even if less than a quorum, or (ii) if at the time that any such discontinuation or significant reduction in the scope or amount of coverage is proposed there are no Incumbent Directors, without the prior written consent of Indemnitee in his or her sole discretion. In all policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance obtained by the Company, Indemnitee will 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 and officers most favorably insured by such policy. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Company may, but will not be required to, create a trust fund, grant a security interest or use other means, including without limitation a letter of credit, to ensure the payment of such amounts as may be necessary to satisfy its obligations to indemnify and advance expenses pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) in renewing or seeking to renew any insurance hereunder, the Company will not be required to expend more than two times the premium amount of the immediately preceding policy period (equitably adjusted if necessary to reflect differences in policy periods).
12. Subrogation. In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company will be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the related rights of recovery of Indemnitee against other Persons (other than Indemnitee’s successors), including any entity or enterprise referred to in clause (i) of the definition of “Indemnifiable Claim” in Section 1(f). Indemnitee will execute all papers reasonably required to evidence such rights (all of Indemnitee’s reasonable Expenses, including attorneys’ fees and charges, related thereto to be reimbursed by or, at the option of Indemnitee, advanced by the Company).
13. No Duplication of Payments. The Company will not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment to Indemnitee in respect of any Indemnifiable Losses to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise already actually received payment (net of Expenses incurred in connection therewith) under any insurance policy, the Constituent Documents or the Other Indemnity Provisions or otherwise (including from any entity or enterprise referred to in clause (i) of the definition of “Indemnifiable Claim” in Section 1(f)) in respect of such Indemnifiable Losses otherwise indemnifiable hereunder.
14. Defense of Claims. The Company will be entitled to participate in the defense of any Indemnifiable Claim or to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee; provided that if Indemnitee determines, after consultation with counsel selected by Indemnitee, that (a) the use of counsel chosen by the Company to represent Indemnitee would present such counsel with an actual or potential conflict, (b) the named parties in any such Indemnifiable Claim (including any impleaded parties) include both the Company and Indemnitee and Indemnitee concludes that there may be one or more legal
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defenses available to him or her that are different from or in addition to those available to the Company, (c) any such representation by such counsel would be precluded under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, or (d) Indemnitee has interests in the claim or underlying subject matter that are different from or in addition to those of other Persons against whom the Claim has been made or might reasonably be expected to be made, then Indemnitee will be entitled to retain separate counsel (but not more than one law firm plus, if applicable, local counsel in respect of any particular Indemnifiable Claim for all indemnitees in Indemnitee’s circumstances) at the Company’s expense. The Company will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any threatened or pending Indemnifiable Claim effected without the Company’s prior written consent. The Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee, effect any settlement of any threatened or pending Indemnifiable Claim which the Indemnitee is or could have been a party unless such settlement solely involves the payment of money and includes a complete and unconditional release of the Indemnitee from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such Indemnifiable Claim. Neither the Company nor Indemnitee will unreasonably withhold its consent to any proposed settlement; provided that Indemnitee may withhold consent to any settlement that does not provide a complete and unconditional release of Indemnitee.
15. Successors and Binding Agreement. (a) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee and its counsel, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor to the Company, including without limitation any Person acquiring directly or indirectly all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise (and such successor will thereafter be deemed the “Company” for purposes of this Agreement), but will not otherwise be assignable or delegatable by the Company.
(b) This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Indemnitee’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, legatees and other successors.
(c) This Agreement is personal in nature and neither of the parties hereto will, without the consent of the other, assign or delegate this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder except as expressly provided in Sections 15(a) and 15(b). Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, Indemnitee’s right to receive payments hereunder will not be assignable, whether by pledge, creation of a security interest or otherwise, other than by a transfer by the Indemnitee’s will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and, in the event of any attempted assignment or transfer contrary to this Section 15(c), the Company will have no liability to pay any amount so attempted to be assigned or transferred.
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16. Notices. For all purposes of this Agreement, all communications, including without limitation notices, consents, requests or approvals, required or permitted to be given hereunder must be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when hand delivered or dispatched by electronic facsimile transmission (with receipt thereof orally confirmed), or one business day after having been sent for next-day delivery by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed to the Company (to the attention of the General Counsel of the Company) and to Indemnitee at the applicable address shown on the signature page hereto, or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing and in accordance herewith, except that notices of changes of address will be effective only upon receipt.
17. Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws of such State. The Company and Indemnitee each hereby irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware for all purposes in connection with any action or proceeding which arises out of or relates to this Agreement, waive all procedural objections to suit in that jurisdiction, including without limitation objections as to venue or inconvenience, agree that service in any such action may be made by notice given in accordance with Section 16 and also agree that any action instituted under this Agreement will be brought only in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware.
18. Validity. If any provision of this Agreement or the application of any provision hereof to any Person or circumstance is held invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to any other Person or circumstance will not be affected, and the provision so held to be invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal will be reformed to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to make it valid, enforceable or legal. In the event that any court or other adjudicative body declines to reform any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal as contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence, the parties thereto will take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate to replace the provision so held to be invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal with one or more alternative provisions that effectuate the purpose and intent of the original provisions of this Agreement as fully as possible without being invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal.
19. Miscellaneous. No provision of this Agreement may be waived, modified or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by Indemnitee and the Company. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto or compliance with any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party will be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, expressed or implied with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party that are not set forth expressly in this Agreement.
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20. Legal Fees and Expenses. It is the intent of the Company that 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 Indemnitee hereunder. Accordingly, without limiting the generality or effect of any other provision hereof, if it should appear to Indemnitee that the Company has failed to comply with any of its obligations under this Agreement or 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, Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder, the Company irrevocably authorizes the Indemnitee from time to time to retain counsel of Indemnitee’s choice, at the expense of the Company as hereafter provided, to advise and represent Indemnitee in connection with any such interpretation, enforcement or defense, including without limitation the initiation or defense of any litigation or other legal action, whether by or against the Company or any director, officer, stockholder or other Person affiliated with the Company, in any jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any existing or prior attorney-client relationship between the Company and such counsel, the Company irrevocably consents to Indemnitee’s entering into an attorney-client relationship with such counsel, and in that connection the Company and Indemnitee agree that a confidential relationship will exist between Indemnitee and such counsel. Without limiting the generality or effect of any other provision hereof, and without regard to whether Indemnitee prevails, in whole or in part, in connection with any of the foregoing, the Company will pay and be solely financially responsible for any and all attorneys’ and related fees and expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any of the foregoing.
21. Certain Interpretive Matters. Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, (i) “it” or “its” or words of any gender include each other gender, (ii) words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively, (iii) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby” and derivative or similar words refer to this entire Agreement, (iv) the term “Section” refers to the specified Section of this Agreement, (v) the terms “include,” “includes” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation” (whether or not so expressed), and (vi) the word “or” is disjunctive but not exclusive. Whenever this Agreement refers to a number of days, such number will refer to calendar days unless business days are specified and whenever action must be taken (including the giving of notice or the delivery of documents) under this Agreement during a certain period of time or by a particular date that ends or occurs on a non-business day, then such period or date will be extended until the immediately following business day. As used herein, “business day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or a United States federal holiday.
22. Entire Agreement. Subject to Section 10, this Agreement, the Constituent Documents and the Other Indemnity Provisions constitute the entire agreement and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. Any prior agreements or understandings between the parties hereto
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with respect to indemnification are hereby terminated and of no further force or effect.
23. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same agreement.
[Signatures Appear On Following Page]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Indemnitee has executed and the Company has caused its duly authorized representative to execute this Agreement as of the date set forth below.
| NEXTEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | |||||||
| By: | |||||||
| Name: | |||||||
| Title: | |||||||
| INDEMNITEE | |||||||
| Print Name: | |||||||
| Notice Address: | |||||||
| 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |||||||
| Xxxxxx, XX 00000 | |||||||
| Facsimile No.: | |||||||
Dated: |
||
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