MAYOR’S JEWELERS, INC. INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.4
MAYOR’S JEWELERS, INC.
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of , is made by and between Mayor’s Jewelers, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and (the “Indemnitee”).
RECITALS
A. Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, under which the Company is organized (“Section 145”), empowers the Company to indemnify its directors, officers, employees and agents by agreement and to indemnify persons who serve, at the request of the Company, as the directors, officers, employees or agents of other corporations or enterprises, and expressly provides that the indemnification provided by Section 145 is not exclusive.
B. The Company desires and has requested the Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve as a director or officer of the Company free from undue concern for claims for damages arising out of or related to such services to the Company.
C. The Indemnitee is willing to serve, or to continue to serve the Company, provided that he is furnished the indemnity provided for herein.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
(a) Expenses. For purposes of this Agreement, “Expenses” include all out-of-pocket costs of any type or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, all attorneys’ fees and related disbursements and any judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement of a Proceeding (as defined below)), actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with either the investigation, defense or appeal of a Proceeding or establishing or enforcing a right to indemnification under this Agreement or Section 145 or otherwise.
(b) Proceeding. For the purposes of this Agreement, “Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Company).
2. Agreement to Serve. The Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director or officer of the Company, so long as he is duly appointed or elected and qualified in accordance with the applicable provisions of the By-laws of the Company or until such time as he tenders his resignation in writing; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to create any right to continued employment by the Indemnitee.
3. Liability Insurance.
(a) Maintenance of D&O Insurance. The Company covenants and agrees that, so long as the Indemnitee shall continue to serve as a director or officer of the Company and thereafter so long as the Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible Proceeding by reason of the fact that the Indenmitee was a director or officer of the Company, the Company, subject to Section 3(c), shall promptly obtain and maintain in full force and effect directors’ and officers’ liability insurance (“D&O Insurance”) in reasonable amounts from established and reputable insurers.
(b) Rights and Benefits. In all policies of D&O Insurance, the Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide the Indenmitee the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the Company’s directors and officers, if the Indemnitee is a director or officer.
(c) Limitation on Required Maintenance of D&O Insurance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no obligation to obtain or maintain D&O Insurance if the Company determines in good faith that such insurance is not reasonably available, the premium costs for such insurance are disproportionate to the amount of coverage provided or the coverage provided by such insurance is limited by exclusions so as to provide an insufficient benefit. If the Company determines to discontinue D&O Insurance coverage, the Company shall give prompt written notice to the Indemnitee.
4. Mandatory Indemnification. Subject to Section 8 below, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee as follows:
(a) Successful Defense. To the extent the Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any Proceeding (including, without limitation, an action by or in the right of the Company) to which the Indemnitee was a party by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer of the Company at any time, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee against all Expenses of any type whatsoever actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the investigation, defense or appeal of such Proceeding.
(b) Third Party Actions. If the Indemnitee is a person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the Company) by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, or by reason of anything done or not done by the Indemnitee in any such capacity, then the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and liabilities of any type whatsoever actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the investigation, defense, settlement or appeal of such Proceeding; PROVIDED that the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, and, with respect to any criminal action or Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
(c) Derivative Actions. If the Indemnitee is a person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Company by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, or by reason of anything done or not done by the Indemnitee in any such capacity, then the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the investigation, defense, settlement, or appeal of such Proceeding, PROVIDED that the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders; except that no indemnification under this Section 4(c) shall be made in respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which the Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged to be liable to the Company by a court of competent jurisdiction unless and only to the extent that the court in which such Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in
view of all the circumstances of the case, the Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such amounts which the court shall deem proper.
(d) Actions Where The Indemnitee Is Deceased. If the Indemnitee is a person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, or by reason of anything done or not done by the Indemnitee in any such capacity, and if prior to, during the pendency of, or after completion of, such Proceeding the Indemnitee becomes deceased, then the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators against any and all Expenses and liabilities of any type whatsoever actually and reasonably incurred to the extent the Indemnitee would have been entitled to indemnification pursuant to Sections 4(a), 4(b) or 4(c) above were the Indemnitee still alive.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to indemnify the Indemnitee for Expenses or liabilities of any type whatsoever for which payment is actually made to or on behalf of the Indemnitee under a valid and collectible insurance policy of D&O insurance, or under a valid and enforceable indemnity clause, bylaw or agreement.
5. Partial Indemnification. If the Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of any Expenses or liabilities of any type whatsoever incurred by the Indemnitee in the investigation, defense, settlement or appeal of a Proceeding, but not entitled, however, to indemnification for all of the total amount thereof, then the Company shall nevertheless indemnify the Indemnitee for such total amount except as to the portion thereof to which the Indemnitee is not entitled.
6. Mandatory Advancement of Expenses. Subject to Section 8(a) below, the Company shall advance all expenses (including, for purposes of this Section 6 only, all attorneys’ fees and related disbursements, but not any judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties, or amounts paid in settlement of a proceeding) incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the investigation, defense, settlement or appeal of any Proceeding to which the Indemnitee is a party or is threatened to be made a party by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company. The Indemnitee undertakes to repay such amounts advanced only if, and to the extent that, it shall be determined finally by a court of competent jurisdiction that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as unauthorized hereby. The advances to be made hereunder shall be paid by the Company to the Indemnitee within five (5) days following delivery of a written request by the Indemnitee to the Company.
7. Notice And Other Indemnification Procedures.
(a) Promptly after receipt by the Indemnitee of notice of the commencement of or the threat of commencement of any Proceeding, the Indemnitee shall, if the Indemnitee reasonably believes that indemnification with respect thereto may be sought from the Company under this Agreement, notify the Company of the commencement or threat of commencement thereof.
(b) If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of the commencement of a Proceeding pursuant to Section 7(a) the Company has D&O Insurance in effect, then the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.
(c) If the Company is obligated to pay any Expenses of any Proceeding against the Indemnitee, then the Company, if appropriate, shall be entitled to assume the defense of such Proceeding, with
counsel reasonably approved by the Indemnitee, upon the delivery to the Indemnitee of written notice of its election so to do. After delivery of such notice, approval of such counsel by the Indemnitee and the retention of such counsel by the Company, the Company will not be liable to the Indemnitee under this Agreement for any fees of counsel subsequently incurred by the Indemnitee with respect to the same Proceeding, PROVIDED that: (i) the Indemnitee shall have the right to employ the Indemnitee’s counsel in any such Proceeding at the Indemnitee’s expense; and (ii) if (A) the employment of counsel by the Indemnitee has been previously authorized in writing by the Company, (B) the Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and the Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense or (C) the Company shall not, in fact, have employed counsel to assume the defense of such Proceeding, then the fees and expenses of the Indemnitee’s counsel shall be at the expense of the Company.
(d) The Indemnitee may elect to have the right to indemnification or reimbursement or advancement of Expenses interpreted on the basis of the applicable law in effect at the time of the occurrence of the event or events giving rise to the applicable Proceeding, to the extent permitted by law, or on the basis of the applicable law in effect at the time such indemnification or reimbursement or advancement of Expenses is sought. Such election shall be made by a notice in writing to the Company at the time indemnification or reimbursement or advancement of Expenses is sought; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if no such notice is given, and if the General Corporation Law of Delaware is amended, or other Delaware law is enacted, to permit further indemnification of the directors or officers, then the directors and officers of the Company shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted under the General Corporation Law, as so amended, or by such other Delaware law, as so enacted. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provision shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director or officer of the Company existing at the time of such repeal or modification.
8. Exceptions. Any other provision to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement:
(a) Claims Initiated by The Indemnitee. To indemnify or advance Expenses to the Indemnitee with respect to Proceedings or claims initiated or brought voluntarily by the Indemnitee and not by way of defense, unless (i) such indemnification is expressly required to be made by law, (ii) the Proceeding was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company, (iii) such indemnification is provided by the Company, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under the General Corporation Law of Delaware or (iv) the Proceeding is brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification under this Agreement or any other statute or law or otherwise as required under Section 145;
(b) Lack of Good Faith. To indemnify the Indemnitee for any Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee with respect to any Proceeding instituted by the Indemnitee to enforce or interpret this Agreement, if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that each of the material assertions made by the Indemnitee in such Proceeding was not made in good faith or was frivolous; or
(c) Unauthorized Settlements. To indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of a Proceeding unless the Company consents to such settlement, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
9. Non-exclusivity. The provisions for indemnification and advancement of Expenses set forth in this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights which the Indemnitee may have under any provision of law, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws, the vote of the Company’s stockholders or disinterested directors, other agreements, or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and to action in another capacity while occupying the Indemnitee’s position as a director or officer of the Company, and the Indemnitee’s rights hereunder shall continue after the Indemnitee has ceased acting as a
director or officer of the Company and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of the Indemnitee.
10. Enforcement. Any right to indemnification or advances granted by this Agreement to the Indenmitee shall be enforceable by or on behalf of the Indemnitee if (i) the claim for indemnification or advances is denied, in whole or in part or (ii) no disposition of such claim is made within ninety (90) days of request therefor. The Indemnitee, in such enforcement action, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting the Indemnitee’s claim. It shall be a defense to any action for which a claim for indemnification is made under this Agreement (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses pursuant to Section 6, PROVIDED that the required undertaking has been tendered to the Company) that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification because of the limitations set forth in Sections 4 and 8. Neither the failure of the Company (including its Board of Directors or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such enforcement action that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances, nor an actual determination by the Company (including its Board of Directors or its stockholders) that such indemnification is improper, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the Indenmitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement or otherwise.
11. Subrogation. In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee, who shall execute all documents required and shall do all acts that may be necessary to secure such rights and to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.
12. Survival of Rights.
(a) All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period the Indemnitee is a director or officer of the Company and shall continue thereafter so long as the Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible claim or threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, arbitrational, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee was serving in the capacity referred to herein.
(b) The Company shall require any successor to the Company (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company, expressly to assume and agree in writing to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.
13. Interpretation of Agreement. It is understood that the parties intend this Agreement to be interpreted and enforced so as to provide indemnification to the Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law including those circumstances in which indemnification would otherwise be discretionary.
14. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason, then (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of the Agreement (including without limitation, all portions of any paragraphs of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that are not themselves invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, all portions of any paragraph of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that are not themselves invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable and to give effect to Section 13.
15. Modification And Waiver. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both parties. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
16. Notice. Any notice by either party shall be given by personal delivery or by sending such notice by certified mail, return-receipt requested, or by overnight delivery with a reputable courier service, or telecopied, addressed or telecopied, as the case may be, to the other party at its address set forth below or at such other address designated by notice in the manner provided in this section. Such notice shall be deemed to have been received upon the date of actual delivery if personally delivered or, in the case of mailing, two (2) days after deposit with the U.S. mail, or if by overnight delivery, the date of delivery or, in the case of facsimile transmission, when confirmed by the facsimile machine report.
If to the Indemnitee:
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Facsimile: _________________________________
If to the Company:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
General
Counsel
Mayor’s
Jewelers, Inc.
00000
Xxxxxxxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx & Xxxxxxx
000
Xxxx Xxxxxx 00xx xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
17. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed exclusively by and construed according to the laws of the State of Delaware as applied to contracts between Delaware residents entered into and to be performed entirely within the State of Delaware.
18. Consent to Suit. In the case of any dispute under or in connection with this Agreement, the Indenmitee may only bring suit against the Company in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. The Indenmitee hereby consents to the jurisdiction and venue of the courts of the State of Delaware, and the Indemnitee hereby waives any claim the Indemnitee may have at any time as to FORUM NON CONVENIENS with respect to such venue. The Company shall have the right to institute any legal action arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court of competent jurisdiction. Any judgment entered against either of the parties in any proceeding may be entered and enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction. If an action at
law or in equity is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, then the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover, in addition to any other relief, reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements.
19. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof, and merges and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous discussions, agreements and understandings of every nature between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof.
The parties have entered into this Agreement effective as of the date written above.
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