INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.8
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is effective as of June 24, 2013, by and between SAExploration Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [NAME] (the “Indemnitee”).
WHEREAS, the Indemnitee has been asked to serve on the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) and/or as an officer of the Company, as the case may be;
WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify persons serving as directors or officers of the Company to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve as directors or officers of the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified; and
WHEREAS, the Indemnitee is willing to serve and continue to serve on the Board or as an officer of the Company, as the case may be, on the condition that he be so indemnified;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and the Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
Section 1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person. For purposes hereof, “control” (including, with correlative meaning, the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management and policies of such Person, by contract or otherwise.
(b) “Another Enterprise” means any corporation (other than the Company), partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which the Indemnitee is serving at the request of the Company or any of its Affiliates as an officer, director, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee or in a similar capacity. In addition to any service at the actual request of the Company, for purposes of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be deemed to be serving or to have served at the request of the Company as an officer, director, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee or in a similar capacity of any such enterprise if Indemnitee is or was serving as an officer, director, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee or in a similar capacity of such enterprise and (A) such enterprise is or at the time of such service was an Affiliate of the Company, (B) such enterprise is or at the time of such service was an employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or an affiliate of the Company or (C) the Company or an Affiliate of the Company directly or indirectly caused Indemnitee to be nominated, elected, appointed, designated, employed, engaged or selected to serve in such capacity.
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(c) “Change of Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following: (i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company 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, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 30% of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding Voting Securities; (ii) during any period of two 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; or (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 50% of the total voting power represented by the Voting Securities of the Company of such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or 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 transactions) all or substantially all of the Company’s assets.
(d) “Corporate Status” describes the status of an individual who is or was director or officer of the Company or any of the Company’s Affiliates, or is or was serving as an officer, director, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee or in a similar capacity of Another Enterprise.
(e) “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to, or otherwise involved in, the Proceeding for which indemnification is sought by the Indemnitee.
(f) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(g) “Expenses” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating or being or preparing to be a witness in a Proceeding, and federal, state, local, or foreign taxes imposed as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement.
(h) “Governing Documents” means the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws as now or hereafter in effect.
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(i) “Independent Counsel” means a law firm or a member of a law firm that is experienced in matters of corporation law and such law firm neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or the Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any Person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or the Indemnitee in an action to determine the Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.
(j) “Person” means a natural person, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation, company, limited liability company, trust, business trust, estate or other entity.
(k) “Proceeding” includes any action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, administrative hearing or any other proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (including on appeal).
(l) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(m) “Voting Securities” means any securities of the Company that vote generally in the election of directors.
Section 2. Services by the Indemnitee. The Indemnitee agrees to continue to serve at the request of the Company as a director or officer of the Company (including, without limitation, service on one or more committees of the Board), as the case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from any such position.
Section 3. Indemnification – General. The Company shall indemnify, and advance Expenses to, the Indemnitee as provided in this Agreement and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law in effect on the date hereof and to such greater extent as applicable law may thereafter from time to time permit. The rights of the Indemnitee provided under the preceding sentence shall include, but shall not be limited to, the rights set forth in the other Sections of this Agreement.
Section 4. Proceedings Other Than Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 4 if, by reason of his Corporate Status, he was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company. Pursuant to this Section 4, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee against Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines (including any excise taxes assessed on the Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan) and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, if he also had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
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Section 5. Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 5 if, by reason of his Corporate Status, he was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 5, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee against Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no indemnification against such Expenses shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter in such Proceeding as to which the Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company or if applicable law prohibits such indemnification; provided, however, that, in such event, if applicable law so permits, indemnification against Expenses shall nevertheless be made by the Company if and to the extent that the court in which such Proceeding shall have been brought or is pending shall determine 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 expenses.
Section 6. Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful.
(a) To the extent that the Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a party to and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith. If the Indemnitee is not wholly successful in defense of any Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with each such claim, issue or matter as to which the Indemnitee is successful, on the merits or otherwise. For purposes of this Section 6(a), the term “successful, on the merits or otherwise,” shall include, but shall not be limited to, (i) the termination of any claim, issue or matter in a Proceeding by withdrawal or dismissal, with or without prejudice, (ii) termination of any claim, issue or matter in a Proceeding by any other means without any express finding of liability or guilt against the Indemnitee, with or without prejudice, or (iii) the expiration of 120 days after the making of a claim or threat of a Proceeding without the institution of the same and without any promise or payment made to induce a settlement. The provisions of this Section 6(a) are subject to Section 6(b) below.
(b) In no event shall the Indemnitee be entitled to indemnification under Section 6(a) above with respect to a claim, issue or matter to the extent (i) applicable law prohibits such indemnification or (ii) an admission is made by the Indemnitee in writing to the Company or in such Proceeding or a final, non-appealable determination is made in such Proceeding that the standard of conduct required for indemnification under this Agreement has not been met with respect to such claim, issue or matter.
Section 7. Indemnification for Expenses as a Witness. Notwithstanding any provisions herein to the contrary, to the extent that the Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in connection therewith.
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Section 8. Advancement of Expenses. The Company shall advance all reasonable Expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements from the Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after the final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee; provided, however, that Indemnitee shall not be required to provide any documentation or information which is privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure. The Indemnitee hereby expressly undertakes to repay such amounts advanced, if, but only if, and then only to the extent that it shall ultimately be determined by a final, non-appealable adjudication or arbitration decision that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses. The Indemnitee further undertakes to return any such advance which remains unspent at the final, non-appealable conclusion of the Proceeding to which the advance related. All amounts advanced to the Indemnitee by the Company pursuant to this Section 8 and repaid shall be repaid without interest. The Company shall make all advances pursuant to this Section 8 without regard to the financial ability of the Indemnitee to make repayment, without bond or other security and without regard to the prospect of whether the Indemnitee may ultimately be found to be entitled to indemnification under the provisions of this Agreement. Any required reimbursement of Expenses by the Indemnitee shall be made by the Indemnitee to the Company within 30 days following the entry of the final, non-appealable adjudication or arbitration decision pursuant to which it is determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses.
Section 9. Procedure for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification.
(a) To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, following final disposition of the applicable Proceeding, the Indemnitee shall submit to the Company in care of the Secretary of the Company a written request therefor, along with such documentation and information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to the Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification; provided, however, that no deficiency in any such request, documentation or information shall adversely affect the Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Agreement. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that the Indemnitee has requested indemnification.
(b) Upon written request by the Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of Section 9(a) hereof, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to the Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case: (i) by the Board by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter defined); or (ii) if a quorum of the Board consisting Disinterested Directors is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, such quorum of Disinterested Directors so directs, by Independent Counsel (as hereinafter defined), as selected pursuant to Section 9(d), in a written opinion to the Board (which opinion may be a “should hold” or a “more likely than not” opinion), a copy of which shall be delivered to the Indemnitee. If it is so determined that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall make payment to the Indemnitee within 10 days after such determination. The Indemnitee shall cooperate with the Person or Persons making such determination with respect to the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such Person or Persons upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to the Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 hereof, any costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by the Indemnitee in so cooperating with the Person or Persons making such determination shall be borne by the Company, and the Company hereby agrees to indemnify and hold the Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
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(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change of Control has occurred, the Indemnitee may require a determination with respect to the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification to be made by Independent Counsel, as selected pursuant to Section 9(d), in a written opinion to the Board (which opinion may be a “should hold” or a “more likely than not” opinion), a copy of which shall be delivered to the Indemnitee.
(d) In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 9(b) or (c) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 9(d). If a Change of Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board (including a vote of a majority of the Disinterested Directors if obtainable), and the Company shall give written notice to the Indemnitee advising him of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. If a Change of Control shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Indemnitee (unless the Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and approved by the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). If (i) an Independent Counsel is to make the determination of entitlement pursuant to Section 9(b) or (c) hereof, and (ii) within 20 days after submission by the Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 9(a) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected, either the Company or the Indemnitee may petition the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a Person selected by such court or by such other Person as such court shall designate. The Company shall pay any and all reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in connection with acting pursuant to Section 9(b) or (c) hereof, and the Company shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 9(d), regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 11(a)(iv) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).
Section 10. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings; Construction of Certain Phrases.
(a) In making a determination with respect to whether the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, the Person(s) making such determination shall presume that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if the Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 9(a) of this Agreement, and anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof.
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(b) Subject to the terms of Section 17 hereof, the termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of the Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
(c) For purposes of any determination of the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement or otherwise, the Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to a criminal Proceeding, to have also had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, if it is determined by the Board or by the Independent Counsel, as applicable, that the Indemnitee’s actions were based on reliance in good faith on the records or books of account of the Company or Another Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to the Indemnitee by the officers of the Company or Another Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal or financial counsel for the Company or the Board (or any committee thereof) or for Another Enterprise or its board of directors (or any committee thereof), or on information or records given or reports made by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected by the Company or the Board (or any committee thereof) or by Another Enterprise or its board of directors (or any committee thereof). In addition, (i) the knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, officer, agent or employee of the Company or Another Enterprise shall not be imputed to the Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement and (ii) if the Indemnitee has acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan, he shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as used in this Agreement. The provisions of this Section 10(c) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed or found to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.
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Section 11. Remedies of the Indemnitee.
(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement, (iii) the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the Board pursuant to Section 9(b) of this Agreement and such determination shall not have been made and delivered to the Indemnitee in writing within 20 days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 9(b) or (c) of this Agreement and such determination shall not have been made in a written opinion to the Board and a copy delivered to the Indemnitee within 20 days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (v) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement within 30 days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor or (vi) payment of indemnification is not made within 10 days after a determination has been made that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or such determination is deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 9 or Section 10 of this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware of his entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses. Alternatively, the Indemnitee, at his sole option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Indemnitee shall commence such Proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which the Indemnitee first has the right to commence such Proceeding pursuant to this Section 11(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a Proceeding brought by the Indemnitee to enforce his rights under Section 6 of this Agreement.
(b) In the event that a determination is made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 11 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial or a de novo arbitration (as applicable) on the merits, and the Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 11, the Company shall have the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, and the Company shall be precluded from referring to or offering into evidence a determination made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement that is adverse to the Indemnitee’s right to indemnification. If the Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this Section 11, the Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advances pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement until a final determination is made with respect to the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification (as to which all rights of appeal have been exhausted or have lapsed).
(c) If a determination is made or deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 9 or Section 10 of this Agreement that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 11, absent (i) an intentional misstatement by the Indemnitee of a material fact, or an intentional omission by the Indemnitee of a material fact necessary to make the Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.
(d) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 11 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement.
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(e) In the event that the Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 11, seeks a judicial adjudication or an award in arbitration to enforce his rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover from the Company, and shall be indemnified by the Company against, any and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him in such judicial adjudication or arbitration to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that until such final determination is made, the Indemnitee shall be entitled under and as provided in Section 8 hereof to receive payment of Expenses hereunder with respect to such Proceeding. In the event that a Proceeding is commenced by or in the right of the Company against the Indemnitee to enforce or interpret any of the terms of this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover from the Company, and shall be indemnified by the Company against, any and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him in such Proceeding (including with respect to any counter-claims or cross-claims made by the Indemnitee against the Company in such Proceeding) to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that until such final determination is made, the Indemnitee shall be entitled under and as provided in Section 8 hereof to receive payment of Expenses hereunder with respect to such Proceeding.
(f) Any judicial adjudication or arbitration determined under this Section 11 shall be final and binding on the parties.
Section 12. Defense of Certain Proceedings. In the event the Company shall be obligated under this Agreement to pay the Expenses of any Proceeding against the Indemnitee in which the Company is a co-defendant with the Indemnitee, the Company shall be entitled to assume the defense of such Proceeding, with counsel approved by the Indemnitee, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, upon the delivery to the 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 Indemnitee shall nevertheless be entitled to employ or continue to employ his own counsel in such Proceeding. Employment of such counsel by the Indemnitee shall be at the cost and expense of the Company unless and until the Company shall have demonstrated to the reasonable satisfaction of the Indemnitee and the Indemnitee’s counsel that there is complete identity of issues and defenses and no conflict of interest between the Company and the Indemnitee in such Proceeding, after which time further employment of such counsel by the Indemnitee shall be at the cost and expense of the Indemnitee. In all events, if the Company shall not, in fact, have timely employed counsel to assume the defense of such Proceeding, then the fees and Expenses of the Indemnitee’s counsel shall be at the cost and expense of the Company.
Section 13. Exception to Right of Indemnification or Advancement of Expenses.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Agreement with respect to any Proceeding, or any claim therein, brought or made by the Indemnitee against:
(i) the Company, except for (x) any claim or Proceeding in respect of this Agreement and/or the Indemnitee’s rights hereunder, (y) any claim or Proceeding to establish or enforce a right to indemnification under (A) any statute or law, (B) any other agreement with the Company or (C) the Governing Documents, and (z) any counter-claim or cross-claim brought or made by him against the Company in any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company against him; or
(ii) any other Person, except for Proceedings or claims approved by the Board and any counter-claim or cross-claim brought or made by such Person against Indemnitee.
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(b) In the event that a claim for indemnification against liabilities arising under the Securities Act (other than the payment by the Company of Expenses incurred or paid by the Indemnitee in the successful defense of any Proceeding) is asserted by the Indemnitee in connection with securities being registered under the Securities Act, the Company shall, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of competent jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and the parties hereto shall be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Section 14. Contribution.
(a) If, with respect to any Proceeding, the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to the Indemnitee for any reason other than that the Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to a criminal Proceeding, that the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, the Company shall contribute to the amount of Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Indemnitee and the relative fault of the Indemnitee versus the other defendants or participants in connection with the action or inaction which resulted in such Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
(b) The Company and the Indemnitee agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 14 were determined by pro rata or per capita allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in Section 14(a) above.
(c) 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.
Section 15. Officer and Director Liability Insurance.
(a) The Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain in effect during the entire period for which the Company is obligated to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement, one or more policies of insurance with reputable insurance companies to provide the directors and officers of the Company with coverage for losses from wrongful acts and omissions and to ensure the Company’s performance of its indemnification obligations under this Agreement. In all such insurance policies, the Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide the Indemnitee with the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the Company’s current or former directors and officers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no obligation to obtain or maintain such insurance if the Company determines in good faith that the Indemnitee is covered by such insurance maintained by a subsidiary or parent of the Company.
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(b) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors or officers of Another Enterprise, the Indemnitee shall be named as an insured under and shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for the most favorably insured director or officer under such policy or policies.
(c) In the event that the Company is a named insured under any policy or policies of insurance referenced in either Section 15(a) or (b) above, the Company hereby covenants and agrees that it will not settle any claims under such policy or policies with the relevant insurance company or companies in respect of any Proceeding that may be covered by such policy or policies of insurance and in which the Indemnitee has or may incur Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines or amounts paid in settlement without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
Section 16. Security. The Company may, but shall not be required to, provide security to the Indemnitee for the Company’s obligations hereunder through an irrevocable bank letter of credit, funded trust or other similar collateral. Any such security, once provided to the Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
Section 17. Settlement of Claims. The Company shall not be required to obtain the consent of the Indemnitee to the settlement of any Proceeding which the Company has undertaken to defend if such settlement solely involves the payment of money, the Company assumes full and sole responsibility for such settlement and the settlement grants the Indemnitee a complete and unqualified release in respect of the potential liability. The Company shall not be liable for any amount paid by an Indemnitee in settlement of any Proceeding unless the Company has consented to such settlement, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
Section 18. Duration of Agreement. This Agreement shall be unaffected by the termination of the Corporate Status of the Indemnitee and shall continue for so long as the Indemnitee may have any liability or potential liability by virtue of his Corporate Status, including, without limitation, the final termination of all pending Proceedings in respect of which the Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any Proceeding commenced by the Indemnitee pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement relating thereto, whether or not he is acting or serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors (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), assigns, spouses, heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives.
Section 19. Remedies of the Company. The Company hereby covenants and agrees to submit any and all disputes relating to this Agreement that the parties are unable to resolve between themselves to binding arbitration pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration Association, and waives all rights to judicial adjudication of any matter or dispute relating to this Agreement, except where judicial adjudication is requested or required by the Indemnitee.
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Section 20. Limitation of Liability. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, neither party shall have any liability to the other for, and neither party shall be entitled to recover from the other, any consequential, special, punitive, multiple or exemplary damages as a result of a breach of this Agreement.
Section 21. Subrogation. In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.
Section 22. Remedies Not Exclusive. The Indemnitee’s rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Governing Documents, any other agreement, a vote of stockholders, a resolution of directors or otherwise, and every other right or remedy shall be cumulative of and in addition to the rights and remedies given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy of the Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise shall not be deemed an election of remedies on the part of the Indemnitee and shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy by the Indemnitee.
Section 23. Changes in Law. In the event that a change in applicable law after the date of this Agreement, whether by statute, rule or judicial decision, expands or otherwise increases the right or ability of a Delaware corporation to indemnify (or to otherwise pay or advance Expenses as to any Proceeding for the benefit of) a member of its board of directors or an officer, the Indemnitee shall, by this Agreement, enjoy the greater benefits so afforded by such change. In the event that a change in applicable law after the date of this Agreement, whether by statute, rule or judicial decision, narrows or otherwise reduces the right or ability of a Delaware corporation to indemnify (or to otherwise pay or advance Expenses as to any Proceeding for the benefit of) a member of its board of directors or an officer, such change shall have no effect on this Agreement or any of the Indemnitee’s rights hereunder, except and only to the extent required by law.
Section 24. Interpretation of Agreement; Negligence. The Company and the Indemnitee acknowledge and agree that it is their intention that this Agreement be interpreted and enforced so as to provide indemnification to the Indemnitee to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by law. WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, THE COMPANY AND THE INDEMNITEE EACH HEREBY EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT (A) THE INDEMNIFICATION PROVIDED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL EXTEND TO AND INCLUDE, BUT SHALL NOT BE LIMITED TO, INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES, JUDGMENTS, PENALTIES, FINES AND AMOUNTS PAID IN SETTLEMENT ARISING, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OUT OF THE SOLE OR CONCURRENT NEGLIGENCE OF THE INDEMNITEE AND (B) THIS SECTION 24 CONSTITUTES A CONSPICUOUS NOTICE OF SUCH AGREEMENT FOR ALL PURPOSES.
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Section 25. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; (b) such provision or provisions will be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision or provisions held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
Section 26. Governing Law; Jurisdiction and Venue; Specific Performance.
(a) The parties agree that this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.
(b) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 11 AND SECTION 19 OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY “ACTION OR PROCEEDING” (AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED BELOW) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE FILED IN AND LITIGATED SOLELY BEFORE THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, AND EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT: (i) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 11 AND SECTION 19 OF THIS AGREEMENT, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY ACCEPTS THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURT AND VENUE THEREIN, AND WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW ANY DEFENSE OR OBJECTION TO SUCH JURISDICTION AND VENUE BASED UPON THE DOCTRINE OF “FORUM NON CONVENIENS;” AND (ii) GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY DELIVERY OF CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED MAILING OF THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NOTICE PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM “ACTION OR PROCEEDING” IS DEFINED AS ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, SUITS, ACTIONS, HEARINGS, ARBITRATIONS OR OTHER SIMILAR PROCEEDINGS, INCLUDING APPEALS AND PETITIONS THEREFROM, WHETHER FORMAL OR INFORMAL, GOVERNMENTAL OR NON-GOVERNMENTAL, OR CIVIL OR CRIMINAL. THE FOREGOING CONSENT TO JURISDICTION SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE GENERAL CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE FOR ANY PURPOSE EXCEPT AS PROVIDED ABOVE, AND SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO CONFER RIGHTS ON ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT.
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(c) The Company acknowledges that the Indemnitee may, as a result of the Company’s breach of its covenants and obligations under this Agreement, sustain immediate and long-term substantial and irreparable injury and damage which cannot be reasonably or adequately compensated by damages at law. Consequently, the Company agrees that the Indemnitee shall be entitled, in the event of the Company’s breach or threatened breach of its covenants and obligations hereunder, to obtain equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction, including enforcement of each provision of this Agreement by specific performance and/or temporary, preliminary and/or permanent injunctions enforcing any of the Indemnitee’s rights, requiring performance by the Company, or enjoining any breach by the Company, all without proof of any actual damages that have been or may be caused to the Indemnitee by such breach or threatened breach and without the posting of bond or other security in connection therewith. The Company waives the claim or defense therein that the Indemnitee has an adequate remedy at law, and the Company shall not allege or otherwise assert the legal position that any such remedy at law exists. The Company agrees and acknowledges that: (i) the terms of this Section 26(c) are fair, reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the Indemnitee; (ii) this waiver is a material inducement to the Indemnitee to serve and continue to serve as a director or officer of the Company and in any other Corporate Status capacity; and (iii) the Indemnitee relied upon this waiver in entering into this Agreement and will continue to rely on this waiver in its future dealings with the represents and warrants that it has reviewed this provision with its legal counsel, and that it has knowingly and voluntarily waived its rights referenced in this Section 26 following consultation with such legal counsel.
Section 27. Nondisclosure of Payments. Except as expressly required by Federal securities or tax laws, the Company shall not disclose any payments under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee. Any payments to the Indemnitee that must be disclosed shall, unless otherwise required by law, be described only in the Company proxy or information statements relating to special and/or annual meetings of the Company’s stockholders, and the Company shall afford the Indemnitee a reasonable opportunity to review all such disclosures and, if requested by the Indemnitee, to explain in such statement any mitigating circumstances regarding the events reported.
Section 28. Notice by the Indemnitee; Notice to Insurers.
(a) The Indemnitee agrees to promptly notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder; provided, however, that the failure of the Indemnitee to timely provide such notice shall not affect the Indemnitee’s right to be indemnified or to receive advancement of Expenses under this Agreement except if, and then only to the extent that, the Company is actually prejudiced by such failure.
(b) If, at the time of the receipt by the Company of a notice of a Proceeding pursuant to Section 28(a) above, the Company has insurance in effect which may cover such Proceeding, 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.
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Section 29. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand and received for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) mailed by U.S. certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, or (c) sent via facsimile or electronic mail transmission (with electronic or telephonic confirmation of receipt): (i) If to the Company: SAExploration Holdings, Inc., 0000 0xx Xxxxxx XX, Xxxxxxx XX, X0X0X0, attention: General Counsel or xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx; and (ii) if to any other party hereto, including the Indemnitee, to the address of such party set forth on the signature page hereof; or to such other address as may have been furnished by any party to the other(s), in accordance with this Section 29.
Section 30. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification or amendment of any right of the Indemnitee under this Agreement will be effective with respect to any action taken or omitted by the Indemnitee in his Corporate Status prior to such supplement, modification or amendment. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement or any provision hereof shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the Company and the Indemnitee. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a wavier of any other provision hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
Section 31. Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the final, entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior negotiations, commitments, agreements, representations and understandings, whether written or oral, relating to such subject matter and may not be contradicted or varied by evidence of prior, contemporaneous or subsequent oral agreements or discussions of the parties hereto.
Section 32. Headings. The headings of the Sections or paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.
Section 33. Gender. Use of the masculine pronoun in this Agreement shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.
Section 34. Identical Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (whether by original, photocopy or facsimile signature), each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart executed by the party against whom enforcement is sought must be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.
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Section 35. Successors and Assigns.
(a) The Company shall require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee and his counsel, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.
(b) This Agreement is personal in nature and neither of the parties hereto will, without the consent of the other, assign or delegate this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder except as expressly provided in Section 35(a). Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, Indemnitee’s right to receive payments hereunder will not be assignable, whether by pledge, creation of a security interest or otherwise, other than by a transfer by Indemnitee’s will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and, in the event of any attempted assignment or transfer contrary to this Section 35(b), the Company will have no liability to pay any amount so attempted to be assigned or transferred.
[Reminder of Page Intentionally Left Blank.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement effective as of the day and year first above written.
SAEXPLORATION HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
[NAME] | ||
Address: | ||
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