EXHIBIT 10.24
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
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This Agreement between Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx and ChatCom, Inc., a
California Corporation (the "Company"), is effective as of March 5, 1996.
WHEREAS, it is essential to the Company to retain and attract as
directors and officers the most capable persons available;
WHEREAS, Indemnitee is an Officer and Director of the Company;
WHEREAS, both the Company and Indemnitee recognize the increased
risk of litigation and other claims being asserted against directors and
officers in today's environment;
WHEREAS, in recognition of Indemnitee's need for substantial
protection against personal liability in order to enhance Indemnitees' continued
service to the Company in an effective manner, the Company wishes to provide in
this Agreement for the indemnification of and the advancing of expenses to
Indemnitee to the full extent (whether partial or complete) permitted by law as
set forth in this Agreement, and, to the extent insurance is maintained, for the
continued coverage of Indemnitee under the Company's directors' and officers'
liability insurance policies;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of Indemnitee
continuing to serve the Company directly, or, at the Company's request, with
another enterprise, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto
agree as follows:
1. Certain Definitions.
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a. Change in Control: shall be deemed to have occurred when
(i) there has been a change in control of the Company, not approved by a
resolution of the Company's Board of Directors, of a nature that would be
required to be reported by a company subject to the reporting requirements of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), in
response to Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act,
including in any event the acquisition by any "person" (as such term is used in
Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) of beneficial ownership,
directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing twenty-five
percent (25%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then
outstanding securities, (ii) followed within a period of not more than two (2)
years by a change in the identity of a majority of the members of the Company's
Board of Directors otherwise than through death, disability or retirement in
accordance with the Company's normal retirement policies.
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b. Claim: any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding, or any inquiry or investigation, whether conducted by the Company or
any other party, that Indemnitee in good faith believes might lead to the
institution of any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative, investigative or otherwise.
c. Expenses: include attorneys' fees and all other costs,
expenses and obligations paid or incurred in connection with investigating,
defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or
preparing to defend, be a witness in or participate in any Claim relating to any
Indemnifiable Event.
d. Indemnifiable Event: any event or occurrence related to the
fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary
of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a
director, officer, employee, trustee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or other enterprise, or
by reason of anything done or not done by Indemnitee in any such capacity.
e. Reviewing party: any appropriate person or body consisting of
a member or members of the Company's Board of Directors or any other person or
body appointed by the Board (including the special, independent counsel referred
to in Section 3) who is not a party to the particular Claim for which Indemnitee
is seeking indemnification.
f. Voting Securities: any securities of the Company which vote
generally in the election of directors.
2. Basic Indemnification Arrangement.
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a. In the event Indemnitee was, is or becomes a party to or
witness or other participant in, or is threatened to be made a party to or
witness or other participant in, a Claim by reason of (or arising in part out
of) an Indemnifiable Event, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the
fullest extent permitted by law as soon as practicable but in any event no later
than thirty (30) days after written demand is presented to the Company, against
any and all Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties 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, fines, penalties or
amounts paid in settlement) of such Claim. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification
pursuant to this Agreement in connection with any Claim initiated by Indemnitee
against the Company or any director or officer of the Company unless the Company
has joined in or consented to the initiation of such Claim. If so requested by
Indemnitee, the Company shall advance
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(within two (2) business days of such request) any and all Expenses to
Indemnitee (an "Expense Advance").
b. Notwithstanding the foregoing (i) the obligations of the
Company under Section 2(a) shall be subject to the condition that the Reviewing
Party shall not have determined (in a written opinion, in any case in which the
special, independent counsel referred to in Section 3 hereof is involved) that
Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law, and
(ii) the obligation of the Company to make an Expense Advance pursuant to
Section 2(a) shall be subject to the condition that, if, when and to the extent
that the Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be
so indemnified under applicable law, the Company shall be entitled to be
reimbursed by Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to reimburse the Company) for all
such amounts theretofore paid; provided, however, that if Indemnitee has
commenced 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 Reviewing Party 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 Expense Advance until a final
judicial determination is made with respect thereto (as to which all rights of
appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed). If there has not been a Change
in Control, the Reviewing Party shall be selected by the Board of Directors, and
if there has been such a Change in Control, the Reviewing Party shall be the
special, independent counsel referred to in Section 3 hereof. If the Reviewing
Party determines that Indemnitee substantively would not be permitted to be
indemnified in whole or in part under applicable law, Indemnitee shall have the
right to commence litigation in any court in the State of California having
subject matter jurisdiction thereof and in which venue is proper challenging any
such determination by the Reviewing Party or any aspect thereof, and the Company
hereby consents to service of process and to appear in any such proceeding. Any
determination by the Reviewing Party otherwise shall be conclusive and binding
on the Company and Indemnitee.
3. Change in Control. The Company agrees that if there is a
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Change in Control of the Company (other than a Change in Control which has been
approved by a majority of the Company's Board of Directors who were directors
immediately prior to such Change in Control) then with respect to all matters
thereafter arising concerning the rights of Indemnitee to indemnity payments and
Expense Advances under this Agreement or any other agreement or Company bylaw
now or hereafter in effect relating to claims for Indemnifiable Events, the
Company shall seek legal advice only from special, independent counsel selected
by Indemnitee and approved by the Company (which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld), and who has not otherwise performed services for the
Company within the last ten (10) years (other than in connection with such
matters) or for the Indemnitee. Such counsel, among
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other things, shall render its written opinion to the Company and Indemnitee as
to whether and to what extent the Indemnitee would be permitted to be
indemnified under applicable law. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees
of the special, independent counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify
such counsel against any and all expenses (including attorneys' fees), claims,
liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this agreement or its
engagement pursuant hereto.
4. Indemnification for Additional Expenses. The Company shall indemnify
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Indemnitee against any and all expenses (including attorneys' fees) and, if
requested by Indemnitee, shall (within two (2) business days of such request)
advance such expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in
connection with any claim asserted against or action brought by Indemnitee for
(i) indemnification or advance payment of Expenses by the Company under this
Agreement or any other agreement or Company bylaw now or hereafter in effect
relating to claims for Indemnifiable Events and/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.
5. Partial Indemnity. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of
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this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of the
Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement of a Claim
but not, however, for all of the total amount thereof, the Company shall
nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is
entitled. Moreover, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to
the extent that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in
defense of any or all Claims relating in whole or in part to an Indemnifiable
Event or in defense of any issue or matter therein, including dismissal without
prejudice, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses incurred in
connection therewith. In connection with any determination by the Reviewing
Party or otherwise as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified
hereunder the burden of proof shall be on the Company to establish that
Indemnitee is not so entitled.
6. No Presumption. For purposes of this Agreement, the termination of
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any claim, action, suit or proceeding, by judgment, order, settlement (whether
with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo
contendere, or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption that Indemnitee
did not meet any particular standard of conduct or have any particular belief or
that a court has determined that indemnification is not permitted by applicable
law.
7. Non-Exclusivity, Etc. The rights of the Indemnitee hereunder shall
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be in addition to any other rights Indemnitee may have under the Company's
bylaws or the California General
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Corporation Law or otherwise. To the extent that a change in the California
General Corporation Law (whether by statute or judicial decision) permits
greater indemnification by agreement 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.
8. Liability Insurance. To the extent the Company maintains an
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insurance policy or policies providing directors' and officers' liability
insurance, 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
Company director or officer.
9. Period of Limitations. No legal action shall be brought and no
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cause of action shall be asserted by or on behalf of the Company or any
affiliate of the Company against Indemnitee, Indemnitee's spouse, heirs,
executors or personal or legal representatives after the expiration of two (2)
years from the date of accrual of such cause of action, and any claim or cause
of action of the Company or its affiliate shall be extinguished and deemed
released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action within such two
(2) year period; provided, however, that if any shorter period of limitations is
otherwise applicable to any such cause of action such shorter period shall
govern.
10. Amendments, Etc. No supplement, modification or amendment of this
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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.
11. Subrogation. In the event of payment under this Agreement, the
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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 shall do
everything that may be necessary to secure such rights, including the execution
of such documents necessary to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to
enforce such rights.
12. No Duplication of Payments. The Company shall not be liable under
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this Agreement to make any payment in connection with any claim made against
Indemnitee to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment
(under any insurance policy, bylaw or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise
indemnifiable hereunder.
13. Binding Effect, Etc. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure
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to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective
successors, assigns, including any direct or indirect successor by purchase,
merger,
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consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business and/or
assets of the Company, spouses, heirs, and personal and legal representatives.
This Agreement shall continue in effect regardless of whether Indemnitee
continues to serve as an officer or director of the Company or of any other
enterprise at the Company's request.
14. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable
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in the event that any of the provisions hereof (including any provision within a
single section, paragraph or sentence) are held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, and the remaining
provisions shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
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counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument, even though all parties
do not sign the same counterparts.
16. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
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and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of California applicable
to contracts made and to be performed in such state without giving effect to the
principles of conflicts of laws.
Executed as of the date first above written.
"INDEMNITEE" "COMPANY"
CHATCOM, INC.,
a California corporation
_____________________________ By:__________________________
XXXXX X. XXXXXXX
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