EXHIBIT 10.2
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Indemnification Agreement ("AGREEMENT") is entered into as of the
10th day of August by and between Whitehall Jewellers, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "COMPANY"), and the director of the Company identified on the
signature page hereto (the "DIRECTOR" or "INDEMNITEE").
RECITALS
A. The Company and the Director recognize the substantial increase in
corporate litigation in general, subjecting directors, officers, employees,
controlling persons, fiduciaries and other agents and affiliates to expensive
litigation risks at the same time as the availability and coverage of liability
insurance has been severely limited.
B. The current protection available to directors, officers, employees,
controlling persons, fiduciaries and other agents and affiliates of the Company
may not be adequate under the present circumstances, and directors, officers,
employees, controlling persons, fiduciaries and other agents and affiliates of
the Company (or persons who may be alleged or deemed to be the same), including
the Indemnitee, may not be willing to continue to serve or be associated with
the Company in such capacities without additional protection.
C. The Company (i) desires to attract and retain the involvement of highly
qualified persons, such as the Director, to serve and be associated with the
Company, and (ii) accordingly, wishes to provide for the indemnification and
advancement of expenses to the Director to the maximum extent permitted by law.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Director hereby agree as follows:
1. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification of Expenses. The Company shall indemnify and
hold harmless the Director to the fullest extent permitted by law if he or she
was or 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, any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute
resolution mechanism, or any hearing, inquiry or investigation that Indemnitee
in good faith believes might lead to the institution of any such action, suit,
proceeding or alternative dispute resolution mechanism, whether civil, criminal,
administrative, investigative or other (hereinafter a "CLAIM") by reason of (or
arising in part out of) any event or occurrence related to the fact that
Indemnitee is or was (or is alleged to be or to have been) a director, officer,
employee, controlling person, fiduciary or other agent or affiliate of the
Company, or any subsidiary of the Company, or is or was (or is alleged to be or
to have been) serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer,
employee, controlling person, fiduciary or other agent or affiliate of another
corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action or inaction on
the part of Indemnitee while serving (or allegedly serving) in such capacity
including, without limitation, any and all losses, claims, damages, expenses and
liabilities, joint or several (including any investigation, legal and other
expenses incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any
action, suit proceeding or any claim asserted) under the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common
law or otherwise, which relate directly or indirectly to the registration,
purchase, sale or ownership of any securities of the Company or to any fiduciary
obligation owed with respect to the Company and its stockholders (hereinafter an
"INDEMNIFICATION EVENT"), against any and all reasonable expenses (including
reasonable attorneys' fees and all other reasonable costs, expenses and
obligations incurred in connection with investigating, defending a witness in or
participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be a witness in
or participate in, any such action, suit, proceeding, alternative dispute
resolution mechanism, hearing, inquiry or investigation), judgments, fines,
penalties and amounts paid in settlement (if such settlement is approved in
advance by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) of
such Claim and any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee
as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement
(collectively, hereinafter "EXPENSES"), including all interest, assessments and
other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses.
Such payment of Expenses shall be made by the Company as soon as practicable but
in any event no later than ten (10) days after written demand by the Indemnitee
therefor is presented to the Company.
(b) Reviewing Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the
obligations of the Company under Section 1(a) shall be subject to the condition
that the Reviewing Party (as defined in Section 10(f) hereof) shall not have
determined (in a written opinion, in any case in which the Independent Legal
Counsel referred to in Section 1(c) 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 advance payment of Expenses to Indemnitee pursuant to
Section 2(a) (an "EXPENSE ADVANCE") 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 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 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. Indemnitee's obligation to reimburse the Company for any
Expense Advance shall be unsecured and no interest shall be charged thereon. If
there has not been a Change in Control (as defined in Section 10(d) hereof), the
Reviewing Party shall be selected by the Board of Directors with the approval of
the Indemnitee (which
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approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), and if there has been such a
Change in Control (other than a Change in Control (i) which has been approved by
a majority of the Company's Board of Directors prior to such Change in Control
and (ii) following which a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company is
comprised of directors who were directors of the Company immediately prior to
the Change in Control), the Reviewing Party shall be the Independent Legal
Counsel referred to in Section 10(e) hereof subject to the approval of the
Indemnitee (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld). If there has
been no determination by the Reviewing Party or 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 seeking an initial determination by the court or
challenging any such determination by the Reviewing Party or any aspect thereof,
including the legal or factual bases therefor, 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.
(c) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section
1(a) above for any reason is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
unavailable to an Indemnitee in respect of any losses, claims, damages, expenses
or liabilities referred to therein, then the Company, in lieu of indemnifying
Indemnitee thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
Indemnitee as a result of such losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities
(i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits
received by the Company and the Indemnitee, or (ii) if the allocation provided
by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i)
above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Indemnitee in
connection with the action or inaction which resulted in such losses, claims,
damages, expenses or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. In connection with the registration of the Company's securities,
the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee shall be deemed to
be in the same respective proportions that the net proceeds from the offering
(before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Indemnitee, in each
case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the applicable prospectus,
bear to the aggregate public offering price of the securities so offered. The
relative fault of the Company and Indemnitee shall be determined by reference
to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Company or the Indemnitee and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company and Indemnitee agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 1(c) were determined by pro
rata or per capita allocation or by any other method of allocation which does
not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph. In connection with the registration of the Company's
securities, in no event shall an Indemnitee be required to contribute any amount
under this Section 1(c) in excess of the lesser of (i) that proportion of the
total of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities indemnified against equal
to the proportion of the total securities sold under such registration statement
which is being sold by Indemnitee or (ii) the net proceeds received by
Indemnitee from its sale of securities under such registration statement. No
person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any
person who was not found guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
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(d) Survival Regardless of Investigation. The indemnification and
contribution provided for in this Section 1 will remain in full force and effect
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnitee.
(e) Change in Control. The Company agrees that if there is a Change
in Control (as defined below) 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
payments of Expenses under this Agreement or any other agreement or under the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws as now or hereafter in effect,
Independent Legal Counsel (as defined in Section 10(e) hereof) shall be selected
by the Indemnitee and approved by the Company (which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld). Such counsel, among other things, shall render its
written opinion to the Company and Indemnitee as to whether and to what extent
Indemnitee would be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law. The
Company agrees to abide by such opinion and to pay the reasonable fees of the
Independent Legal 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.
(f) Mandatory Payment of Expenses. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement other than Section 9 hereof, to the extent that an
Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise, including, without
limitation, the dismissal of an action without prejudice, in the defense of any
action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation referred to in Section (1)(a)
hereof or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, Indemnitee shall
be indemnified against all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection
therewith.
2. Expenses; Indemnification Procedure.
(a) Advancement of Expenses. The Company shall advance all Expenses
incurred by Indemnitee. The advances to be made hereunder shall be paid by the
Company to the Indemnitee as soon as practicable but in any event no later than
ten (10) days after written demand by Indemnitee therefor to the Company.
(b) Notice/Cooperation by Indemnitee. Indemnitee shall, as a
condition precedent to Indemnitee's right to be indemnified under this
Agreement, give the Company notice in writing as soon as practicable of any
Claim made against Indemnitee for which indemnification will or could be sought
under this Agreement. In addition, Indemnitee shall give the Company such
information and cooperation as it may reasonably require and as shall be within
Indemnitee's power.
(c) No Presumptions; Burden of Proof. For purposes of this
Agreement, the termination of any Claim by judgment, order, settlement (whether
with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo
contendere, or its equivalent, 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. In addition, neither the failure of the Reviewing Party to have made a
determination as to whether Indemnitee has met any
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particular standard of conduct or had any particular belief, nor an actual
determination by the Reviewing Party that the Indemnitee has not met such
standard of conduct or did not have such belief, prior to the commencement of
legal proceedings by Indemnitee to secure a judicial determination that the
Indemnitee should be indemnified under applicable law, shall be a defense to the
Indemnitee's claim or create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met any
particular standard of conduct or did not have any particular belief. In
connection with any determination by the Reviewing Party or otherwise as to
whether the Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified hereunder, the burden of
proof shall be on the Company to establish that the Indemnitee is not so
entitled.
(d) Notice to Insurers. If, at the time of the receipt by the
Company of a notice of a Claim pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof, the Company has
liability insurance in effect which may cover such Claim, the Company shall give
prompt notice of the commencement of such Claim 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 Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such action, suit,
proceeding, inquiry or investigation in accordance with the terms of such
policies.
(e) Selection of Counsel. In the event the Company shall be
obligated hereunder to pay the Expenses of any Claim, the Company shall be
entitled to assume the defense of such Claim, with counsel approved by the
Indemnitee, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, upon the delivery
to Indemnitee of written notice of its election to do so. 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 Indemnitee under this
Agreement for any fees of counsel subsequently incurred by Indemnitee with
respect to the same Claim; provided that, (i) the Indemnitee shall have the
right to employ Indemnitee's counsel in any such Claim at the Indemnitee's
expense and (ii) if (A) the employment of counsel by the Indemnitee has been
previously authorized by the Company, (B) Indemnitee shall have reasonably
concluded that there is a conflict of interest between the Company and
Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense, or (C) the Company shall not
continue to retain such counsel to defend such Claim, then the fees and expenses
of the Indemnitee's counsel shall be at the expense of the Company. The Company
shall have the right to conduct such defense as it sees fit in its sole
discretion, including the right to settle any claim, action or proceeding
against Indemnitee without the consent of Indemnitee, provided such settlement
includes a full release of the Indemnitee by the claimant from all liabilities
or potential liabilities under such claim.
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3. Additional Indemnification Rights; Nonexclusivity.
(a) Scope. The Company hereby agrees to indemnify Indemnitee to the
fullest extent permitted by law, notwithstanding that such indemnification may
not be specifically authorized by the other provisions of this Agreement, the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation, the Company's Bylaws or by statute. In
the event of any change after the date of this Agreement in any applicable law,
statute or rule which expands the right of a Delaware corporation to indemnify a
member of its Board of Directors or an officer, employee, controlling person,
agent or fiduciary, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall
enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits afforded by such change. In the
event of any change in any applicable law, statute or rule which narrows the
right of a Delaware corporation to indemnify a member of its Board of Directors
or an officer, employee, agent or fiduciary, such change, to the extent not
otherwise required by such law, statute or rule to be applied to this Agreement,
shall have no effect on this Agreement or the parties' rights and obligations
hereunder except as set forth in Section 8(a) hereof.
(b) Nonexclusivity. The indemnification provided by this Agreement
shall be in addition to any rights to which Indemnitee may be entitled under the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation, its Bylaws, any agreement, any vote of
stockholders or disinterested directors, the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware, or otherwise. The indemnification provided under this
Agreement shall continue as to Indemnitee for any action Indemnitee took or did
not take while serving in an indemnified capacity even though the Indemnitee may
have ceased to serve in such capacity.
4. No Duplication of Payments. The Company shall not be liable under
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, Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaw or otherwise)
of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder.
5. Partial Indemnification. If Indemnitee is entitled under any
provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for any portion of
Expenses incurred in connection with any Claim, but not, however, for all of the
total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for
the portion of such Expenses to which Indemnitee is entitled.
6. Mutual Acknowledgment. The Company and Indemnitee acknowledge that
in certain instances, Federal law or applicable public policy may prohibit the
Company from indemnifying its directors, officers, employees, controlling
persons, fiduciaries or other agents or affiliates under this Agreement or
otherwise. Indemnitee understands and acknowledges that the Company has
undertaken or may be required in the future to undertake with the Securities and
Exchange Commission to submit the question of indemnification to a court in
certain circumstances for a determination of the Company's rights under public
policy to indemnify the Indemnitee.
7. Liability Insurance. To the extent the Company maintains liability
insurance applicable to directors, officers, employees, control persons,
fiduciaries or other agents and affiliates,
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Indemnitee shall be covered by such policies in such a manner as to provide to
the Indemnitee the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most
favorably insured of the Company's directors.
8. Exceptions. Any other provision herein to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to the terms of the
this Agreement:
(a) Excluded Action or Omissions. To indemnify Indemnitee for any
intentional malfeasance by the Indemnitee or any act undertaken by the
Indemnitee where the Indemnitee did not in good faith believe the Indemnitee was
acting in the best interests of the Company, or for any other acts, omissions or
transactions from which the Indemnitee may not be relieved of liability under
applicable law;
(b) Claims Initiated by Indemnitee. To indemnify or advance expenses
to Indemnitee with respect to Claims initiated or brought voluntarily by
Indemnitee and not by way of defense, except (i) with respect to actions or
proceedings to establish or enforce a right to indemnify under this Agreement or
any other agreement or insurance policy or under the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws now or hereafter in effect relating to Claims for
Indemnifiable Events, (ii) in specific cases if the Board of Directors has
approved the initiation or bringing of such Claim, or (iii) as otherwise
required under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, regardless
of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such
indemnification, advance expense payment or insurance recovery, as the case may
be;
(c) Lack of Good Faith. To indemnify Indemnitee for any expenses
incurred by Indemnitee with respect to any proceeding instituted by 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
(d) Claims Under Section 16(b). To indemnify Indemnitee for expenses
and the payment of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of
securities in violation of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended or any similar successor statute.
9. Period of Limitations. No legal action shall be brought and no cause
of action shall be asserted by or in the right of the Company against
Indemnitee, Indemnitee's estate, spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal
representatives after the expiration of two years from the date of accrual of
such cause of action, and any claim or cause of action of the Company shall be
extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal
action within such two-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.
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10. Construction of Certain Phrases.
(a) For purposes of this Agreement, references to the "COMPANY"
shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent
corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a
consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would
have had power and authority to indemnify is directors, officers, employees,
agents and fiduciaries, so that if Indemnitee is or was a director, officer,
employee, agent, control person or fiduciary of such constituent corporation, or
is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director,
officer, employee, control person, agent or fiduciary or another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or other enterprise,
Indemnitee shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this
Agreement with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as Indemnitee
would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate
existence had continued.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, references to "other
enterprises" shall include employee benefit plans; references to "fines" shall
include any excise taxes assessed on Indemnitee with respect to an employee
benefit plan; and references to "serving at the request of the Company" shall
include any service as a director, office, employee, agent or fiduciary of the
Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director,
officer, employee, agent or fiduciary with respect to an employee benefit plan,
its participants or its beneficiaries; and if Indemnitee acted in good faith and
in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the interest of the
participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan, Indemnitee shall be
deemed to have acted in a manner "not opposed to the best interests of the
Company" as referred to in this Agreement.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement a "CHANGE IN CONTROL" shall mean
(i) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (a "Person"), including
any "person" within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange
Act, of Beneficial Ownership of 50% or more of either (1) the then outstanding
shares of common stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock")
or (2) the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the
Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the
"Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); excluding, however, the following: (A)
any acquisition directly from the Company or (B) any acquisition by an employee
benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any
corporation controlled by the Company; (ii) approval by the stockholders of the
Company of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a
"Corporate Transaction"); excluding, however, a Corporate Transaction pursuant
to which (1) all or substantially all of the individuals or entities who are the
Beneficial Owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the
Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Corporate
Transaction will Beneficially Own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of,
respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock, and the combined voting
power of the outstanding securities of such corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation
resulting from such Corporate Transaction (including, without limitation, a
corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or
substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or indirectly) or
substantially the same proportions relative to each
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other as their Beneficial Ownership, immediately prior to such Corporate
Transaction, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company
Voting Securities, as the case may be, (2) no Person (other than the Company;
any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the
Company or any corporation controlled by the Company, the corporation resulting
from such Corporate Transaction; and any Person which Beneficially Owned,
immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, directly or indirectly, 50% or
more of the Outstanding Company Common Stock or the Outstanding Company Voting
Securities, as the case may be) will Beneficially Own, directly or indirectly,
50% or more of, respectively the outstanding shares of common stock of the
corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction or the combined voting
power of the outstanding securities of such corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, and (3) individuals who were members of
the Incumbent Board will constitute at least a majority of the members of the
board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction;
or directors of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction; or
(iii) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a plan of complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement, "INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL"
shall mean an attorney or firm of attorneys, selected in accordance with the
provisions of Section 1(b) hereof, who shall not have otherwise performed
services for the Company or Indemnitee within the last three years (other than
with respect to matters concerning the right of Indemnitee under this Agreement,
or of other indemnitees under similar indemnity agreements).
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, a "REVIEWING PARTY" shall mean
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
of Directors who is not a party to the particular Claim for which an Indemnitee
is seeking indemnification, or Independent Legal Counsel.
(f) For purposes of this Agreement, "VOTING SECURITIES" shall mean
any securities of the Company that vote generally in the election of directors.
11. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original.
12. Binding Effect; Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure 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, consolidation or otherwise to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, spouses, heirs,
and personal and legal representatives. The Company shall require and cause any
successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or
otherwise) to all, substantially all, or a substantial part, of the business
and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance
satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree 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. This Agreement shall
continue in effect with respect to Claims relating to Indemnifiable Events
regardless of whether Indemnitee continues to serve as a director, officer,
employee, agent, controlling person, or fiduciary of the Company or of any other
enterprise at the Company's request.
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13. Attorneys' Fees. In the event that any action is instituted by
Indemnitee under this Agreement or under any liability insurance policies
maintained by the Company to enforce or interpret any of the terms hereof or
thereof, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid all Expenses incurred by
Indemnitee with respect to such action, regardless of whether Indemnitee is
ultimately successful in such action, and shall be entitled to the advancement
of Expenses with respect to such action, unless, as a part of such action, a
court of competent jurisdiction over such action determines that each of the
material assertions made by Indemnitee as a basis for such action was not made
in good faith or was frivolous. In the event of an action instituted by or in
the name of the Company under this Agreement to enforce or interpret any of the
terms of this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid all
Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in defense of such action (including costs and
expenses incurred with respect to Indemnitee counterclaims and cross-claims made
in such action), and shall be entitled to the advancement of Expenses with
respect to such action, unless, as a part of such action, a court having
jurisdiction over such action determines that each of Indemnitee's material
defenses to such action was made in bad faith or was frivolous.
14. Notice. All notices and other communications required or permitted
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be effective upon the earlier of receipt
or (a) five (5) days after deposit with the U.S. Postal Service or other
applicable postal service, if delivered by first class mail, postage prepaid,
(b) upon delivery, if delivered by hand, (c) one business day after the business
day of deposit with Federal Express or similar overnight courier, freight
prepaid, or (d) one business day after the day of delivery by facsimile
transmission, if deliverable by facsimile transmission, with copy by first class
mail, postage prepaid, and shall be addressed if to Indemnitee at the
Indemnitee's address as set forth beneath the Indemnitee's signature to this
Agreement, and if to the Company at the address of its principal corporate
offices (attention: Secretary) or at such other address as such party may
designate by ten days' advance written notice to the other party hereto.
15. Consent to Jurisdiction. The Company and Indemnitee each hereby
irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware
for all purposes in connection with any action or proceeding which arises out of
or relates to this Agreement and agree that any action instituted under this
Agreement shall be commenced, prosecuted and continued only in the Court of
Chancery of the State of Delaware in and for New Castle County, which shall be
the exclusive and only proper forum for adjudicating such a claim.
16. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable 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.
Furthermore, to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement
(including, without limitations, each portion of this Agreement containing any
provision held to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, that is not
itself invalid, void or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect
to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or
unenforceable.
17. Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and its
provisions construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of
Delaware, as applied to contracts between
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Delaware residents, entered into and to be performed entirely within the State
of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.
18. 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 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.
19. Amendment and Termination. No amendment, modification, termination
or cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing
signed by all 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.
20. Integration and Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the
entire understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes and merges all
previous written and oral negotiations, commitments, understandings and
agreements relating to the subject matter hereof between the parties hereto.
21. No Construction as Employment Agreement. Nothing contained in this
Agreement shall be construed as giving Indemnitee any right to be retained in
the employ of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
-11-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the date first above written.
WHITEHALL JEWELLERS, INC.
a Delaware corporation
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
---------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Chairman
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxx
-----------------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxx
Address: 0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx
