Exhibit 10.7
VIANT CORPORATION
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Indemnification Agreement ("AGREEMENT") is effective as of March
___, 1999 by and between Viant Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"COMPANY"), and FIELD(1) ("INDEMNITEE").
WHEREAS, effective as of the date hereof, Viant Corporation, a
California corporation, is reincorporating into Delaware;
WHEREAS, the Company desires to attract and retain the services of
highly qualified individuals, such as Indemnitee, to serve the Company and its
related entities;
WHEREAS, in order to induce Indemnitee to continue to provide services
to the Company, the Company wishes to provide for the indemnification of, and
the advancement of expenses to, Indemnitee to the maximum extent permitted by
law;
WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee recognize the continued difficulty
in obtaining liability insurance for the Company's directors, officers,
employees, agents and fiduciaries, the sig nificant increases in the cost of
such insurance and the general reductions in the coverage of such insurance;
WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee further recognize the substantial
increase in corporate litigation in general, subjecting directors, officers,
employees, agents and fiduciaries to expensive litigation risks at the same time
as the availability and coverage of liability insurance has been severely
limited; and
WHEREAS, in connection with the Company's reincorporation, the Company
and Indemnitee desire to continue to have in place the additional protection
provided by an indemnification agreement, with such changes as are required to
conform the existing agreement to Delaware law and to provide indemnification
and advancement of expenses to the Indemnitee to the maximum extent permitted by
Delaware law;
WHEREAS, in view of the considerations set forth above, the Company
desires that Indemnitee shall be indemnified and advanced expenses by the
Company as set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and Indemnitee hereby agree as set forth
below.
1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.
a. "CHANGE IN CONTROL" shall mean, and shall be deemed to have
occurred if, on or after the date of this Agreement: (i) any "PERSON" (as such
term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended), other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding
securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company acting in such capacity
or a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company
in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the
Company, becomes the "BENEFICIAL OWNER" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under said
Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more
than 50% of the total voting power represented by the Company's then outstanding
Voting Securities; (ii) during any period of two (2) consecutive years,
individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of
Directors of the Company and any new director whose election by the Board of
Directors or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders was approved
by a vote of at least two thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who
either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or
nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to
constitute a majority thereof, (iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a
merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation other than a
merger or consolidation which would result in the Voting Securities of the
Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by
remaining outstanding or by being converted into Voting Securities of the
surviving entity) at least ______% of the total voting power represented by the
Voting Securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation; or (iv) the stockholders of the
Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement
for the sale or disposition by the Company of (in one transaction or a series of
related transactions) all or substantially all of the Company's assets.
b. "CLAIM" shall mean with respect to a Covered Event: 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.
c. References to the "COMPANY" shall include, in addition to
Viant Corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a
constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger to which Viant Corporation
(or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries) is a party which, if its separate
existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its
directors, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries, so that if Indemnitee is
or was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of such constituent
corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation
as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of 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 Indem xxxxx
would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate
existence had continued.
d. "COVERED EVENT" shall mean any event or occurrence related
to the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or
fiduciary of the Company, or any subsidiary of the Company, or is or was serving
at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or
fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, or by reason of any action or inaction on the part of Indemnitee
while serving in such capacity.
-2-
e. "EXPENSES" shall mean any and all expenses (including
attorneys' fees and all other costs, expenses and obligations incurred in
connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in
(including on appeal), or preparing to defend, to be a witness in or to
participate in, any 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 any Claim and any
federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on the Indemnitee as a result of
the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement.
f. "EXPENSE ADVANCE" shall mean a payment to Indemnitee
pursuant to Section 3 of Expenses in advance of the settlement of or final
judgement in any action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute resolution
mechanism, hearing, inquiry or investigation which constitutes a Claim.
g. "INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL" shall mean an attorney or firm
of attorneys, selected in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(d) hereof,
who shall not have otherwise performed services for the Company or Indemnitee
within the last three (3) years (other than with respect to matters concerning
the rights of Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other Indemnitees under
similar indemnity agreements).
h. 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, officer,
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.
i. "REVIEWING PARTY" shall mean, subject to the provisions of
Section 2(d), any person or body appointed by the Board of Directors in
accordance with applicable law to review the Company's obligations hereunder and
under applicable law, which may include a member or members of the Company's
Board of Directors, Independent Legal Counsel or any other person or body not a
party to the particular Claim for which Indemnitee is seeking indemnification.
j. "SECTION" refers to a section of this Agreement unless
otherwise indicated.
k. "VOTING SECURITIES" shall mean any securities of the
Company that vote generally in the election of directors.
2. INDEMNIFICATION.
a. INDEMNIFICATION OF EXPENSES. Subject to the provisions of
Section 2(b) below,
-3-
the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee for Expenses to the fullest extent
permitted by law if Indemnitee 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 Claim (whether by reason of or arising in part out of a
Covered Event), including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or
payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses.
b. REVIEW OF INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the event any Reviewing Party shall have determined (in a written
opinion, in any case in which Independent Legal Counsel is the Reviewing Party)
that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder under applicable
law: (i) the Company shall have no further obligation under Section 2(a) to make
any payments to Indemnitee not made prior to such determination by such
Reviewing Party; and (ii) the Company shall be entitled to be reimbursed by
Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to reimburse the Company) for all Expenses
theretofore paid to Indemnitee to which Indemnitee is not entitled hereunder
under applicable law; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if Indemnitee has commenced or
thereafter commences legal proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to
secure a determination that Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified hereunder
under applicable law, any determination made by any Reviewing Party that
Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder under applicable law
shall not be binding and Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the
Company for any Expenses theretofore paid in indemnifying Indemnitee until a
final judicial determination is made with respect thereto (as to which all
rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed). Indemnitee's
obligation to reimburse the Company for any Expenses shall be unsecured and no
interest shall be charged thereon.
c. INDEMNITEE RIGHTS ON UNFAVORABLE DETERMINATION; BINDING
EFFECT. If any Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee substantively is not
entitled to be indemnified hereunder 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 such
Reviewing Party or any aspect thereof, including the legal or factual bases
therefor, and, subject to the provisions of Section 15, the Company hereby
consents to service of process and to appear in any such proceeding. Absent such
litigation, any determination by any Reviewing Party shall be conclusive and
binding on the Company and Indemnitee.
d. SELECTION OF REVIEWING PARTY; CHANGE IN CONTROL. If there
has not been a Change in Control, any Reviewing Party shall be selected by the
Board of Directors, and if there has been such a Change in Control (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),
any Reviewing Party with respect to all matters thereafter arising concerning
the rights of Indemnitee to indemnification 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, or under any other applicable law, if
desired by Indemnitee, shall be Independent Legal Counsel selected by 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
entitled to be indemnified hereunder under applicable law and the Company agrees
-4-
to abide by such opinion. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the
Independent Legal Counsel referred to above and to indemnify fully 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. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
Company shall not be required to pay Expenses of more than one Independent Legal
Counsel in connection with all matters concerning a single Indemnitee, and such
Independent Legal Counsel shall be the Independent Legal Counsel for any or all
other Indemnitees unless: (i) the employment of separate counsel by one or more
Indemnitees has been previously authorized by the Company in writing; or (ii) an
Indemnitee shall have provided to the Company a written statement that such
Indemnitee has reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest
between such Indemnitee and the other Indemnitees with respect to the matters
arising under this Agreement.
e. MANDATORY PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement other than Section 10 hereof, to the extent that
Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise, including, without
limitation, the dismissal of an action without prejudice, in defense of any
Claim, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses incurred by
Indemnitee in connection therewith.
3. EXPENSE ADVANCES.
a. OBLIGATION TO MAKE EXPENSE ADVANCES. Upon receipt of a
written undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amounts if
it shall ultimately be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be
indemnified therefore by the Company hereunder under applicable law, the Company
shall make Expense Advances to Indemnitee.
b. FORM OF UNDERTAKING. Any obligation to repay any Expense
Advances hereunder pursuant to a written undertaking by the Indemnitee shall be
unsecured and no interest shall be charged thereon.
c. DETERMINATION OF REASONABLE EXPENSE ADVANCES. The parties
agree that for the purposes of any Expense Advance for which Indemnitee has made
written demand to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses
included in such Expense Advance that are certified by affidavit of Indemnitee's
counsel as being reasonable shall be presumed conclusively to be reasonable.
4. PROCEDURES FOR INDEMNIFICATION AND EXPENSE ADVANCES.
a. TIMING OF PAYMENTS. All payments of Expenses (including
without limitation Expense Advances) by the Company to the Indemnitee pursuant
to this Agreement shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law as soon
as practicable after written demand by Indemnitee therefor is presented to the
Company, but in no event later than thirty (30) business days after such written
demand by Indemnitee is presented to the Company, except in the case of Expense
Advances, which shall be made no later than ten (10) business days after such
written demand by Indemnitee is presented to the Company.
-5-
b. NOTICE/COOPERATION BY INDEMNITEE. Indemnitee shall, as a
condition precedent to Indemnitee's right to be indemnified or Indemnitee's
right to receive Expense Advances 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. Notice to
the Company shall be directed to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company at
the address shown on the signature page of this Agreement (or such other address
as the Company shall designate in writing to Indemnitee). 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 this
Agreement or applicable law. In addition, neither the failure of any Reviewing
Party to have made a determination as to whether Indemnitee has met any
particular standard of conduct or had any particular belief, nor an actual
determination by any Reviewing Party that 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 Indemnitee
should be indemnified under this Agreement under applicable law, shall be a
defense to Indemnitee's claim or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not
met any particular standard of conduct or did not have any particular belief. In
connection with any determination by any Reviewing Party or otherwise as to
whether the Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified hereunder under applicable
law, the burden of proof shall be on the Company to establish that 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 4(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 the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Claim in
accordance with the terms of such policies.
e. SELECTION OF COUNSEL. In the event the Company shall be
obligated hereunder to provide indemnification for or make any Expense Advances
with respect to the Expenses of any Claim, the Company, if appropriate, shall be
entitled to assume the defense of such Claim with counsel approved by Indemnitee
(which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) upon the delivery to
Indemnitee of written notice of the Company's election to do so. After delivery
of such notice, approval of such counsel by Indemnitee and the retention of such
counsel by the Company, the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee under this
Agreement for any fees or expenses of separate counsel subsequently retained by
or on behalf of Indemnitee with respect to the same Claim; PROVIDED, that: (i)
Indemnitee shall have the right to employ Indemnitee's separate counsel in any
such Claim at Indemnitee's expense; and (ii) if (A) the employment of separate
counsel by Indemnitee has been previously authorized by the Company, (B)
Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of
interest between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense,
or (C) the Company shall not
-6-
continue to retain such counsel to defend such Claim, then the fees and expenses
of Indemnitee's separate counsel shall be Expenses for which Indemnitee may
receive indemnification or Expense Advances hereunder.
5. ADDITIONAL INDEMNIFICATION RIGHTS; NONEXCLUSIVITY.
a. SCOPE. The Company hereby agrees to indemnify the
Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law, notwithstanding that such
indemnification is not 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 direc tors or an officer,
employee, 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 10(a) hereof.
b. NONEXCLUSIVITY. The indemnification and the payment of
Expense Advances 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 other agreement, any vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware,
or otherwise. The indemnification and the payment of Expense Advances provided
under this Agreement shall continue as to Indemnitee for any action taken or not
taken while serving in an indemnified capacity even though subsequent thereto
Indemnitee may have ceased to serve in such capacity.
6. 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, provision of the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation, Bylaws or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise payable hereunder.
7. PARTIAL INDEMNIFICATION. If Indemnitee is entitled under any
provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a
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.
8. MUTUAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Both 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, agents or
fiduciaries 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 right under public policy to indemnify Indemnitee.
-7-
9. LIABILITY INSURANCE. To the extent the Company maintains liability
insurance applicable to directors, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries,
Indemnitee shall be covered by such policies in such a manner as to provide
Indemnitee the same rights and benefits as are provided to the most favorably
insured of the Company's directors, if Indemnitee is a director; or of the
Company's officers, if Indemnitee is not a director of the Company but is an
officer; or of the Company's key employees, agents or fiduciaries, if Indemnitee
is not an officer or director but is a key employee, agent or fiduciary.
10. EXCEPTIONS. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement:
a. EXCLUDED ACTIONS OR OMISSIONS. To indemnify or make Expense
Advances to Indemnitee with respect to Claims arising out of acts, omissions or
transactions for which Indemnitee is prohibited from receiving indemnification
under applicable law.
b. CLAIMS INITIATED BY INDEMNITEE. To indemnify or make
Expense Advances to Indemnitee with respect to Claims initiated or brought
voluntarily by Indemnitee and not by way of defense, counterclaim or crossclaim,
except: (i) with respect to actions or proceedings brought to establish or
enforce a right to indemnification 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 Covered 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, Expense Advances, or
insurance recovery, as the case may be.
c. LACK OF GOOD FAITH. To indemnify Indemnitee for any
Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee with respect to any action instituted: (i)
by Indemnitee to enforce or interpret this Agreement, if a court having
jurisdiction over such action determines as provided in Section 13 that each of
the material assertions made by the Indemnitee as a basis for such action was
not made in good faith or was frivolous; or (ii) by or in the name of the
Company to enforce or interpret this Agreement, if a court having jurisdiction
over such action determines as provided in Section 13 that each of the material
defenses asserted by Indemnitee in such action was made in bad faith or was
frivolous.
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.
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 or assets of the Company), spouses, heirs and
personal and legal
-8-
representatives. The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether
direct or indirect, and whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise)
to all, substantially all, or a substantial part, of the business 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
regardless of whether Indemnitee continues to serve as a director, officer,
employee, agent or fiduciary (as applicable) of the Company or of any other
enterprise at the Company's request.
13. EXPENSES INCURRED IN ACTION RELATING TO ENFORCEMENT OR
INTERPRETATION. 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 indemnified for all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee with
respect to such action (including without limitation attorneys' fees),
regardless of whether Indemnitee is ultimately successful in such action, unless
as a part of such action a court having jurisdiction over such action makes a
final judicial determination (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have
been exhausted or lapsed) that each of the material assertions made by
Indemnitee as a basis for such action was not made in good faith or was
frivolous; provided, however, that until such final judicial determination is
made, Indemnitee shall be entitled under Section 3 to receive payment of Expense
Advances hereunder with respect to such action. 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, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be
indemnified for all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in defense of such action
(including without limitation costs and expenses incurred with respect to
Indemnitee's counterclaims and cross-claims made in such action), unless as a
part of such action a court having jurisdiction over such action makes a final
judicial determination (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been
exhausted or lapsed) that each of the material defenses asserted by Indemnitee
in such action was made in bad faith or was frivolous; provided, however, that
until such final judicial determination is made, Indemnitee shall be entitled
under Section 3 to receive payment of Expense Advances hereunder with respect to
such action.
14. 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 (2) 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 (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.
15. NOTICE. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given: (i) if
delivered by hand and signed for by the party addressed, on the date of such
delivery; or (ii) if mailed by domestic certified or registered mail with
postage prepaid, on the third (3rd) business day after the date postmarked.
Addresses for notice to either party are as shown on the signature page of this
Agreement, or as subsequently modified by written notice.
-9-
16. 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.
17. 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 limitation 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.
18. CHOICE OF LAW. This Agreement, and all rights, remedies,
liabilities, powers and duties of the parties to this Agreement, shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware
as applied to contracts between Delaware residents entered into and to be
performed entirely in the State of Delaware without regard to principles of
conflicts of laws.
19. 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.
20. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. No amendment, modification, termination
or cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing
signed by both the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this
Agreement shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver of any other
provisions hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a
continuing waiver.
21. 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.
22. 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 or affiliated entities.
-10-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Indemnification Agreement as of the date first above written.
VIANT CORPORATION
By:
-----------------------------------
Name:
---------------------------------
Title:
--------------------------------
Address: 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED
INDEMNITEE:
------------------------------------
(signature)
FIELD(1)
------------------------------------
Name
------------------------------------
Address
------------------------------------
-11-
