EXHIBIT 10.09
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Agreement, made and entered into this ___ day of ________________,
1997 ("Agreement"), by and between At Home Corporation, a Delaware corporation
("Company"), and _____________________________ ("Indemnitee"):
WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve
privately- and publicly-held corporations as directors 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; and
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;
and
WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to
indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such
persons; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (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; and
WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company
contractually to obligate itself to indemnify such persons to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law so that they will service or continue to serve the
Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified; and
WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the
Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the Company and any resolutions
adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to
diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and
WHEREAS, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the Delaware
director indemnification statute each is nonexclusive, and therefore each
contemplates that contracts may be entered into with respect to indemnification
of directors, officers and employees; and
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; and
WHEREAS, 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;
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 by Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees to serve and/or
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continue to serve as a director, officer, employee and/or agent of the Company
and, and at the request of the Company, as a director, officer, employee, agent
and/or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust,
employee benefit plan or other enterprise. 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) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee
specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee's employment with the Company (or any
of its subsidiaries), if any, is at will, and that 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), other applicable formal severance policies duly
adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director of the Company,
by the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, and the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The foregoing notwithstanding, this
Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as an
officer, director, employee and/or agent of the Company or as a director,
officer, employee, agent and/or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise.
Section 2. Indemnification - General. The Company shall indemnify, and
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advance Expenses (as hereinafter defined) to, Indemnitee (a) as provided in this
Agreement and (b) (subject to the provisions of this Agreement) to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law in effect on the date hereof and as amended
from time to time. The rights of Indemnitee provided under the preceding
sentence shall include, but shall not be limited to, the rights set forth in the
other Sections of this Agreement.
Section 3. Proceedings Other Than Proceedings by or in the Right of the
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Company. Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided
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in this Section 3 if, by reason of his Corporate Status (as hereinafter
defined), he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any
threatened, pending, or completed Proceeding (as hereinafter defined), other
than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company. Pursuant to this Section
3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses, judgments, penalties,
fines and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and
other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses,
judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement) actually and
reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding
or any claim, issue or matter therein, if he 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, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe his conduct was unlawful.
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Section 4. Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Indemnitee
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shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 4
if, by reason of his Corporate Status, he is, or is threatened to be made, a
party to or a participant in any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding
brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.
Pursuant to this Section, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses
(including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in
connection with or in respect of such Expenses) actually and reasonably incurred
by him or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding if he acted in good
faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Company; provided, however, that, if applicable law so
provides, no indemnification against such Expenses shall be made in respect of
any claim, issue or matter in such Proceeding as to which Indemnitee shall have
been adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and to the extent that the
Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or the court in which such
Proceeding shall have been brought or is pending, shall determine that such
indemnification may be made.
Section 5. Partial Indemnification. Notwithstanding any other provision
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of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate
Status, a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or
otherwise, in defense of any Proceeding, he shall be indemnified against all
Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection
therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in defense of 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.
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. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this agreement to
indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of the Expenses, judgments,
penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest,
assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect
of such Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement)
actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with such
Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, but not, however, for the
total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for
the portion to which Indemnitee is entitled.
Section 6. Indemnification for Additional Expenses.
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(a) The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses
and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within twenty (20) business days of such
request) advance such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee
in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for (i) indemnification or
advance payment of Expenses by the Company under this Agreement or any other
agreement or bylaw of the Company now or hereafter in effect; or (ii) recovery
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, advance expense payment or insurance recovery,
as the case may be.
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(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, 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 7. Advancement of Expenses. The Company shall advance all
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reasonable Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with
any Proceeding within twenty (20) days after the receipt by the Company of a
statement or statements from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from
time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding.
Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by
Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by an undertaking by
or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay any Expenses advanced if it shall ultimately
be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such
Expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligation of the Company to
advance Expenses pursuant to this Section 7 shall be subject to the condition
that, if, when and to the extent that the Company determines that Indemnitee
would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law, the Company shall
be entitled to be reimbursed, within thirty (30) days of such determination, by
Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to reimburse the Company) for all such amounts
theretofore paid; provided, however, that if Indemnitee has commenced or
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thereafter commences legal proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to
secure a determination that Indemnitee should be indemnified under applicable
law, any determination made by the Company that Indemnitee would not be
permitted to be indemnified under applicable law shall not be binding and
Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advance of
Expenses until a final judicial determination is made with respect thereto (as
to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed).
Section 8. Procedure for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification.
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(a) To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit
to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such
documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is
reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is
entitled to indemnification. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon
receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that
Indemnitee has requested indemnification.
(b) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the
first sentence of Section 8(a) hereof, a determination, if required by
applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee's entitlement thereto shall be made
in the specific case at the election of Indemnitee, by any of the following
procedures: (i) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors (as
hereinafter defined), even though less than a quorum of the Board, or (ii) by
Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be
delivered to Indemnitee or (iii) by the stockholders of the Company; and, if it
is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to
Indemnitee shall be made within seven (7) business 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
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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 reasonable
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.
(c) In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to
be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 8(b) hereof, the Independent
Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 8(c). 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 Board shall
select such counsel and give written notice to Indemnitee of the identity of
such Independent Counsel), 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 ten
(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
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ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements
of "Independent Counsel" as defined in Section 17 of this Agreement, and the
objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such
assertion. 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 twenty (20) days after submission by Indemnitee of
a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 8(a) hereof, no
Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the
Company or Indemnitee may petition the Court of Chancery of the State of
Delaware 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 8(b) hereof. The Company shall pay any and
all reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by such
Independent Counsel in connection with acting pursuant to Section 8(b) hereof,
and the Company shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the
procedures of this Section 8(c), regardless of the manner in which such
Independent Counsel was selected or appointed. Upon the due commencement of any
judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 10(a)(iii) 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).
(d) The Company shall not be required to obtain the consent of Indemnitee
to the settlement of any Proceeding which the Company has undertaken to defend
if the Company assumes full and sole responsibility for such settlement and such
settlement grants Indemnitee a complete and unqualified release in respect of
the potential liability. The Company shall not be
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liable for any amount paid by Indemnitee in settlement of any Proceeding that is
not defended by the Company, unless the Company has consented in writing to such
settlement, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(e) In the event the Company shall be obligated to advance the expenses for
any Proceeding against Indemnitee, the Company, if appropriate, shall be
entitled to assume the defense of such proceeding, upon the delivery to
Indemnitee of written notice of its election to do so. After delivery of such
notice and the retention of such counsel by the Company, the Company will not be
liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any fees of counsel subsequently
incurred by Indemnitee with respect to the same Proceeding, provided that (a)
Indemnitee shall have the right to employ his own counsel in any such proceeding
at Indemnitee's expense; (b) Indemnitee shall have the right to employ his own
counsel in connection with any such Proceeding, at the expense of the Company,
if such counsel serves in a review, observer, advice and counseling capacity and
does not otherwise materially control or participate in the defense of such
Proceeding; and (c) if (i) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been
previously authorized by the Company, (ii) Indemnitee shall have reasonably
concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and
Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense or (iii) the Company shall not, in
fact, have employed counsel to assume the defense of such Proceeding, then the
reasonable fees and expenses of Indemnitee's counsel shall be at the expense of
the Company.
Section 9. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.
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(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to
indemnification or the advancement of expenses hereunder, the person or persons
or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Agreement if Indemnitee
has submitted a request for indemnification or the advancement of expenses in
accordance with Section 8(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall 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 the Board 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 the Board 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) If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 8
of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification
shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the
Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to
indemnification shall be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be
entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a
material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee's
statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for
indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of
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such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day
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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
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Section 9(b) shall not apply (i) if the determination of entitlement to
indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 8(b) of
this Agreement 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 (C) a written consent of stockholders is solicited within
fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such
determination, and such consent is obtained within sixty (60) days after such
solicitation, or (ii) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is
to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 8(b) of this Agreement.
(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
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contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided
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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) 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 Company or relevant enterprise, including
financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers
of the Company or relevant enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the
advice of legal counsel for the Company or relevant enterprise or on information
or records given or reports made to the Company or relevant enterprise by an
independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert
selected with reasonable care by the Company or relevant enterprise. The
provisions of this Section 9(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit
in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed to have met
the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.
(e) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director,
officer, agent or employee of the Company or relevant enterprise shall not be
imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification
under this Agreement.
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Section 10. Remedies of Indemnitee.
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(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 8 of
this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this
Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 7
of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification
shall have been made pursuant to Section 8(b) of this Agreement within ninety
(90) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv)
payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5 or 6 of this
Agreement within twenty (20) days after receipt by the Company of a written
request therefor, or (v) payment of indemnification is not made within seven (7)
business days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by the Court of
Chancery of the State of Delaware 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 one hundred eighty (180) days following the date on which
Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this
Section 10(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply in
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respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his rights under
Section 5 of this Agreement.
(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to
Section 8(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to
this Section 10 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or
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arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of
that adverse determination. If a Change of Control shall have occurred, in any
judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10, the
Company shall have the burden of proving that 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 8(b) of
this Agreement 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 10, 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) In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 10, seeks a
judicial adjudication of or an award in arbitration to enforce his rights under,
or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be
entitled to recover from the Company, and shall be indemnified by the Company
against, any and all expenses (of the types described in the definition of
Expenses in Section 17 of this Agreement) actually and reasonably incurred by
him in such judicial adjudication or arbitration, but only if he prevails
therein. If it shall be determined in said judicial adjudication or arbitration
that Indemnitee is entitled to receive part but not all of the indemnification
or advancement of expenses sought, the expenses incurred by Indemni-
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tee in connection with such judicial adjudication or arbitration shall be
appropriately prorated. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and
all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within twenty (20) days
after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance 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) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial
proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10 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.
Section 11. Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.
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(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
Certificate of Incorporation, the 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 the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware, 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) To the extent that the Company maintains 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.
(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 execu-
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tion 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 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, agent and/or fiduciary of any other corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be reduced
by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement
of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust,
employee benefit plan or other enterprise.
Section 12. Duration of Agreement. This Agreement shall continue until
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and terminate upon the later of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that
Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director, officer, employee and/or
agent of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which Indemnitee served at the
request of the Company; or (b) 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 10 of this Agreement 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.
Section 13. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this
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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; (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 14. Exception to Right of Indemnification or Advancement of
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Expenses. Except as provided in Section 6(a) of this Agreement, Indemnitee
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shall not be entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this
Agreement with respect to any Proceeding brought by Indemnitee (other than a
Proceeding by Indemnitee to enforce his rights under this Agreement), or any
claim therein prior to a Change in Control, unless the bringing of such
Proceeding or making of such claim shall have been approved by the Board of
Directors.
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Section 15. 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.
Section 16. Headings. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement
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are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of
this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.
Section 17. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
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(a) "Change in Control" means a change in control of the Company occurring
after the Effective Date of a nature that would be required to be reported in
response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or in response to any
similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), whether or not the Company is then
subject to such reporting requirement; provided, however, that, without
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limitation, such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if after
the Effective Date (i) any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d) of the Act) acquires "beneficial ownership" (as defined in Rule 13d-3
under the Act), directly or indirectly, (other than as a result of an Indirect
Transfer which does not result in a Change in Control of a Stockholder (as each
such term is defined in the Stockholders Agreement) of securities of the Company
representing twenty percent (20%) or more of the combined voting power of the
Company's then outstanding securities without the prior approval of at least
two-thirds of the members of the Board in office immediately prior to such
person attaining such percentage interest or (ii) there occurs a proxy contest,
or the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, sale of assets, plan of
liquidation or other reorganization not approved by at least two-thirds of the
members of the Board then in office, as a consequence of which members of the
Board in office immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute less
than a majority of the Board thereafter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a
Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred so long as the members of
the TCI Stockholder Group (as defined in the Stockholders Agreement) are the
beneficial owners of securities of the Company representing fifty percent or
more of the combined voting power of the Company's outstanding securities.
(b) "Corporate Status" describes the status of a person who is or was a
director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the Company or of any other
corporation, partnership, 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 the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought
by Indemnitee.
(d) "Effective Date" means ______________, 1996.
(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
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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.
(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 two years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or
Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party, or (ii) any other party
to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term "Independent Counsel" shall not include
any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then
prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company
or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee's rights under this
Agreement. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent
Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and
all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this
Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.
(g) "Proceeding" includes any threatened, pending or completed action,
suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation,
inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed
proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Corporation or otherwise
and whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which
Indemnitee was, is, may be or will be involved as a party or otherwise, by
reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee
and/or agent of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any
inaction on his part while acting as director, officer, employee and/or agent 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, agent or fiduciary of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise; in each case
whether or not he is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any
liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification or advancement of
expenses can be provided under this Agreement; except one (i) initiated by an
Indemnitee pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement to enforce his rights under
this Agreement or (ii) pending on or before the Effective Date.
(h) "Stockholders Agreement" means that certain Amended and Restated
Stockholders' Agreement, dated as of August 1, 1996, by and among the
Corporation and certain of its stockholders, as such agreement may be amended
from time to time.
Section 18. 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, officer, employee and/or agent of the
Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this
Agreement in serving as a director, officer, employee and/or agent 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 under-
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standings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to
the subject matter hereof.
Section 19. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification or
-----------------------
amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both
of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement
shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof
(whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
Section 20. 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 Indemnitee under this
Agreement or otherwise.
Section 21. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other
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communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given if (i) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said
notice or other communication shall have been directed, (ii) mailed by certified
or registered mail, return receipt requested, with postage prepaid, on the third
business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (iii) dispatched by
recognized overnight courier with fees prepaid, on the first business day after
dispatch or (iv) transmitted by facsimile (confirmed by first class mail), on
the date of transmission:
(a) If to Indemnitee, to the address and facsimile number listed on the
signature page hereto.
(b) If to the Company to:
At Home Corporation
000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxx, Esq.
with a copy to:
Fenwick & West LLP
Xxx Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
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or to such other address or facsimile number as may have been furnished to
Indemnitee by the Company or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.
Section 22. 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 23. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Appointment of
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Agent for Service of Process. 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 10(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 a resident of the
State of Delaware, irrevocably RL&F Service Corp., One Xxxxxx Square, 10th
Floor, 10th and King Streets, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 as its agent in the
State of Delaware as such party's agent for acceptance of legal process in
connection with any such action or proceeding against such party with the same
legal force and validity as if served upon such party personally within the
State of Delaware, (iv) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such
action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (v) waive, and agree not to
plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the
Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or otherwise inconvenient forum.
Section 24. Miscellaneous. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed
-------------
to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the
day and year first above written.
ATTEST AT HOME CORPORATION
By: By:
-------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
INDEMNITEE
-------------------------------------
Signature
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Print Name
Address:
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Facsimile: ( )
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