EXHIBIT 10.26
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Agreement, made and entered into effective this 3rd day of
March, 1997 ("Agreement"), by and between The Grand Union Company, a Delaware
corporation ("Company"), and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx ("Indemnitee"):
WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve
publicly-held corporations as directors or in other capacities unless they are
provided with adequate protection through insurance and 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, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has
determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the
Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense,
liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its
subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such
insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United
States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes
that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be
available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more
exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers, and other persons in
service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly
subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other
things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the
Company or business enterprise itself; 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 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 serve 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
By-laws of the Company and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall
not be deemed a substitute therefore, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights
of Indemnitee thereunder; and
WHEREAS, the By-laws and the Delaware director indemnification
statute each is
nonexclusive, and therefore 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 as a
director and/or officer of the Company. Indemnitee may at any time and for any
reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation
or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Company
shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such
position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between
the Company (or any of its subsidiaries) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee
specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee's employment with the Company (or
any of its subsidiaries), if any, is at will, and the Indemnitee may be
discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be
otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and
the Company (or any of its subsidiaries), other applicable formal severance
policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director
or officer of the Company, by the Company's Certificate of Incorporation,
By-laws, 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 a director and/or officer of the Company.
Section 2. Indemnification - General. The Company shall indemnify,
and 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 Company. Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification
provided 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
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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.
Section 4. Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Indemnitee
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 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 the Indemnitee is entitled.
Section 6. Indemnification for Additional Expenses.
(a) The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and
all Expenses
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and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within seven (7) 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 by-law 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.
(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
reasonable Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with
any Proceeding within seven (7) 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 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.
(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.
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(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: (i) if a Change in Control (as hereinafter
defined) shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel (as hereinafter defined)
in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be
delivered to Indemnitee; or (ii) if a Change of Control shall not have
occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors (as
hereinafter defined), even though less than a quorum of the Board, or (B) if
there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors
so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of
which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (C) if so directed by the Board, 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) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the
person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to
Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such
person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or
information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and
which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such
determination. Any costs or expenses (including attorneys' fees and
disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person,
persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company
(irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee's entitlement to
indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold
Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
(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). If a Change of Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel
shall be selected by the Board of Directors, and the Company shall give
written notice to Indemnitee advising him of the identity of the Independent
Counsel so selected. If a Change of Control shall have occurred, the
Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall
request that such selection be made by the Board of Directors, in which event
the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice
to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so
selected. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may,
within 10 days after such written notice of selection shall have been given,
deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written
objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be
asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not
meet the requirements of "Independent Counsel" as defined in Section 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 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
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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 the 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 the settlement grants the Indemnitee a complete and
unqualified release in respect of the potential liability. The Company shall
not be liable for any amount paid by the Indemnitee in settlement of any
Proceeding that is not defended by the Company, unless the Company has
consented to such settlement, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.
Section 9. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.
(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 its board of
directors or independent legal counsel) to have made a determination prior to
the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification
is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable
standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including its
board of directors or independent legal counsel) that Indemnitee has not met
such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or
create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of
conduct.
(b) 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
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materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or
(ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided,
however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to
exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making
the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith
requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation
and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing
provisions of this Section 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 (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 contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise
expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of
Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not
act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal
Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct
was unlawful.
(d) Reliance as Safe Harbor. For purposes of any
determination of Good Faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in Good
Faith if Indemnitee's action is based on the records or books of account of
the 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 to
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 the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable
standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.
(e) Actions of Others. The knowledge and/or actions, or
failure to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company or
relevant enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of
determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.
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 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 ten (10) days after receipt by the
Company of a written request therefor, or (v) payment of indemnification is
not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that
Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, 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 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 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
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 Indemnitee in connection with such judicial adjudication or
arbitration shall be appropriately
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prorated. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses
and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by
the Company of a written request 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' or 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.
(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 By-Laws, 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 By-Laws 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
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execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring
suit or 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 or agent 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 and terminate upon the later of: (a) 10 years after the date that
Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director and/or officer 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
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
Expenses. Except as provided in Section 6(a) of this Agreement, Indemnitee
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. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom
enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of
this Agreement.
Section 16. Headings. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement
are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of
this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.
Section 17. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
(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 (the "Act"), whether or not the
Company is then subject to such reporting requirement; provided, however,
that, without 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) is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of
the Company representing 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; (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; or (iii) during any period of two
consecutive years, other than as a result of an event described in clause
(a)(ii) of this Section 17, individuals who at the beginning of such period
constituted the Board (including for this purpose any new director whose
election or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders was approved
by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who
were directors at the beginning of such period) cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of the Board.
(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.
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(d) "Effective Date" means March 3, 1997.
(e) "Expenses" shall include all reasonable attorneys' fees,
retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees,
travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone
charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements or
expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting,
defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing
to be a witness, in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding.
(f) "Independent Counsel" means a law firm, or a member of a
law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither
presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i)
the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party, 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 or officer of the
Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any inaction on his part
while acting as director or officer of the Company, or by reason of the fact
that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, 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 right under this Agreement or (ii) pending on or
before the Effective Date.
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 and/or officer of the
Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this
Agreement in serving as a director and/or officer of the Company.
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(b) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between
the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes
all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between
the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
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 the
Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.
Section 21. Notices. All notices, requests, demands or other
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 direct, or (ii) mailed by
certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day
after the date on which it is so mailed:
(a) If to Indemnitee to:
Address set forth below Indemnitee's signature.
(b) If to the Company to:
The Grand Union Company
Attn: General Counsel
000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx., 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000-0000
or to such other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the
Company or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.
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
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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
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 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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement
on the day and year first above written.
ATTEST: THE GRAND UNION COMPANY
By:
----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Name: Name: Xxxxxx X. XxXxxx
Title: Chief Executive Officer
ATTEST: INDEMNITEE
By:
----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
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Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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