INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.01
This Indemnification Agreement, dated as of [l], is made by and between Pyxus International, Inc. (formerly known as Pyxus One, Inc.), a Virginia corporation (the “Corporation”), and [l] (the “Indemnitee”).
RECITALS
A.The Corporation recognizes that competent and experienced persons are increasingly reluctant to serve or to continue to serve as directors or officers of corporations unless they are protected by comprehensive liability insurance or indemnification, or both, due to increased exposure to litigation costs and risks resulting from their service to such corporations, and due to the fact that the exposure frequently bears no reasonable relationship to the compensation of such directors and officers;
B.The statutes and judicial decisions regarding the duties of directors and officers are often difficult to apply, ambiguous, or conflicting, and therefore fail to provide such directors and officers with adequate, reliable knowledge of legal risks to which they are exposed or information regarding the proper course of action to take;
C.The Corporation and Indemnitee recognize that plaintiffs often seek damages in such large amounts and the costs of litigation may be so significant (whether or not the case is meritorious), that the defense and/or settlement of such litigation is often beyond the personal resources of directors and officers;
D.The Corporation believes that it is unfair for its directors and officers to assume the risk of large judgments and other expenses which may occur in cases in which the director or officer received no personal profit and in cases where the director or officer was not culpable;
E.The Corporation, after reasonable investigation, has determined that the liability insurance coverage presently available to the Corporation may be inadequate in certain circumstances to cover all possible exposure for which Indemnitee should be protected. The Corporation believes that the interests of the Corporation and its shareholders would best be served by a combination of such insurance and the indemnification by the Corporation of the directors and officers of the Corporation;
F.The Corporation’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the “Articles”) and the Virginia Stock Corporation Act, as amended from time to time (the “VSCA”) expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Corporation and its directors and officers with respect to indemnification;
G.The Corporation’s Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”) has determined that contractual indemnification as set forth herein is not only reasonable and prudent but also promotes the best interests of the Corporation and its shareholders;
H.The Corporation desires and has requested Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve as a director or officer of the Corporation free from undue concern for unwarranted claims for damages arising out of or related to such services to the Corporation; and
I.Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve or to provide additional service for or on behalf of the Corporation on the condition that he is furnished the indemnity provided for herein.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth below, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
Section 1.Generally. To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia:
(a)The Corporation shall indemnify Indemnitee if Indemnitee was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Corporation or otherwise or whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or while serving as a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent (which, for purposes hereof, shall include a trustee, partner or manager or similar capacity) of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing indemnification obligation includes, without limitation, claims for monetary damages against Indemnitee in respect of an alleged breach of fiduciary duties, to the fullest extent permitted under the VSCA as in existence on the date hereof.
(b)The indemnification provided by this Section 1 shall be from and against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding and any appeal therefrom, except that the Corporation shall make no indemnity against the willful misconduct of or knowing violation of the criminal law by Indemnitee.
(c)The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that Indemnitee engaged in willful misconduct or a knowing violation of the criminal law.
Section 2.Successful Defense; Partial Indemnification. To the extent that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any Proceeding referred to in Section 1 hereof or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith. For purposes of this Agreement and without limiting the foregoing, if any Proceeding is disposed of, on the merits or otherwise (including a disposition without prejudice), without (i) the disposition being adverse to Indemnitee, (ii) an adjudication that Indemnitee was
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liable to the Corporation, (iii) a plea of guilty or nolo contendere by Indemnitee, or (iv) an adjudication that Indemnitee engage in willful misconduct or a knowing violation of criminal law, Indemnitee shall be considered for the purposes hereof to have been wholly successful with respect thereto.
If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Corporation for a portion of the expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, and any appeal therefrom but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion of such expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement to which Indemnitee is entitled.
Section 3.Determination That Indemnification Is Proper. Any indemnification hereunder shall (unless otherwise ordered by a court) be made by the Corporation unless a reasonable determination is made that indemnification of such person is not proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 1(b) hereof. Any such determination shall be made (a) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors not at the time parties to the Proceeding, (b) if a quorum cannot be obtained under clause (a), by majority vote of a committee duly designated by the Board of Directors (in which designation directors who are parties may participate), consisting solely of two or more directors not at the time parties to the Proceeding; or (c) by special legal counsel (i) selected by the Board of Directors or its committee in the manner prescribed in clause (a) or (b), or (ii) if a quorum of the Board of Directors cannot be obtained under clause (a) and a committee cannot be designated under clause (b), selected by a majority vote of the full Board of Directors, in which selection directors who are parties may participate, or (d) by the holders of the Corporation’s common stock, but shares owned by or voted under the control of directors who are at the time parties to the Proceeding may not be voted on the determination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event there has been a change in the composition of a majority of the Board of Directors after the date of the alleged act or omission with respect to which indemnification, an advance or reimbursement is claimed, other than through successor directors approved by the Board of Directors, any determination as to such indemnification, advance or reimbursement shall be made by special legal counsel agreed upon by the Board of Directors and the Indemnitee. If the Board of Directors and the Indemnitee are unable to agree upon such special legal counsel, the Board of Directors and the Indemnitee each shall select a nominee, and the nominees shall select such special legal counsel. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Corporation (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Corporation hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
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Section 4.Advance Payment of Expenses; Notification and Defense of Claim.
(a)Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by Indemnitee in defending a threatened or pending Proceeding, or in connection with an enforcement action pursuant to Section 5(b), shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Corporation of (i) a statement or statements from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, and (ii) an undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay such amount or amounts, only if, and to the extent that, it shall ultimately be determined that Indemnitee did not meet the standard of conduct described in Section 1(b). Such undertaking shall be accepted without reference to the financial ability of Indemnitee to make such repayment. Advances shall be unsecured and interest-free.
(b)Promptly after receipt by Indemnitee of notice of the commencement of any Proceeding, Indemnitee shall, if a claim thereof is to be made against the Corporation hereunder, notify the Corporation of the commencement thereof. The failure to promptly notify the Corporation of the commencement of the Proceeding, or Indemnitee’s request for indemnification, will not relieve the Corporation from any liability that it may have to Indemnitee hereunder, except to the extent the Corporation is prejudiced in its defense of such Proceeding as a result of such failure.
(c)In the event the Corporation shall be obligated to pay the expenses of Indemnitee with respect to a Proceeding, as provided in this Agreement, the Corporation, if appropriate, shall be entitled to assume the defense of such Proceeding, with counsel reasonably acceptable to Indemnitee, upon the delivery to Indemnitee of written notice of its election to do so. After delivery of such notice, approval of such counsel by Indemnitee and the retention of such counsel by the Corporation, the Corporation will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any fees of counsel subsequently incurred by Indemnitee with respect to the same Proceeding, provided that (1) Indemnitee shall have the right to employ Indemnitee’s own counsel in such Proceeding at Indemnitee’s expense and (2) if (i) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been previously authorized in writing by the Corporation, (ii) counsel to the Corporation or Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest or position, or reasonably believes that a conflict is likely to arise, on any significant issue between the Corporation and Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense or (iii) the Corporation shall not, in fact, have employed counsel to assume the defense of such Proceeding, then the fees and expenses of Indemnitee’s counsel shall be at the expense of the Corporation, except as otherwise expressly provided by this Agreement. The Corporation shall not be entitled, without the consent of Indemnitee, to assume the defense of any claim brought by or in the right of the Corporation or as to which counsel for the Corporation or Indemnitee shall have reasonably made the conclusion provided for in clause (2)(ii) above.
(d)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s corporate status with respect to the Corporation or any corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which Indemnitee is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation, a witness or otherwise participates in any Proceeding at a time when Indemnitee is not a party in the Proceeding, the Corporation shall indemnify Indemnitee against all expenses
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(including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.
Section 5.Procedure for Indemnification
(a)To obtain indemnification, Indemnitee shall promptly submit to the Corporation a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. The Corporation shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board of Directors in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.
(b)Subject to Section 5(d), in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 4(a) of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement within 90 days after receipt by the Corporation of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 2 within ten (10) days after receipt by the Corporation of a written request therefor, or (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 4(d) of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of expenses. In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial Proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 5(b) shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. In any judicial Proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 5(b) the Corporation shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses, as the case may be.
(c)If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Corporation shall be bound by such determination in any judicial Proceeding commenced pursuant to Section 5(b), absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law. The Corporation shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial Proceeding commenced pursuant to Section 5(b) that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court that the Corporation is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. The Corporation shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Corporation of a written request therefor) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advance of expenses from the Corporation under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Corporation, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be.
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(d)Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.
Section 6.Insurance and Subrogation.
(a)The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of Indemnitee who is or was or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise against any liability asserted against, and incurred by, Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in any such capacity, or arising out of Indemnitee’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify Indemnitee against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement. If the Corporation has such insurance in effect at the time the Corporation receives from Indemnitee any notice of the commencement of a Proceeding, the Corporation shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the policy. The Corporation 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 policy.
(b)In the event of any payment by the Corporation under this Agreement, the Corporation shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee with respect to any insurance policy (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any insurance policy of the Fund Indemnitors or any person other than the Corporation), 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 Corporation to bring suit to enforce such rights in accordance with the terms of such insurance policy. The Corporation shall pay or reimburse all expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such subrogation.
(c)The Corporation shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (including, but not limited to, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties, and amounts paid in settlement) if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under this Agreement or any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.
Section 7.Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:
(a)The term “Proceeding” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, the investigation, preparation, prosecution, defense, settlement, arbitration and appeal of, and the giving of testimony in, any threatened, pending or completed claim, action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative.
(b)The term “by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or while serving as a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan
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or other enterprise” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, any actual or alleged act or omission to act.
(c)The term “expenses” shall be broadly and reasonably construed and shall include, without limitation, all direct and indirect costs of any type or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, all attorneys’ fees and related disbursements, appeal bonds, other out-of- pocket costs and reasonable compensation for time spent by (or on behalf of) Indemnitee for which Indemnitee is not otherwise compensated by the Corporation or any third party, provided that the rate of compensation and estimated time involved is approved by the Board of Directors, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with either the investigation, defense or appeal of a Proceeding or establishing or enforcing a right to indemnification under this Agreement, the VSCA or otherwise.
(d)The term “judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, all direct and indirect payments of any type or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, all penalties and amounts required to be forfeited or reimbursed to the Corporation), as well as any penalties or excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan.
(e)The term “Corporation” shall include, without limitation and 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 its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Agreement with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
(f)The term “other enterprises” shall include, without limitation, employee benefit plans.
(g)The term “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include, without limitation, any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries.
(h)A person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this Agreement.
Section 8.Limitation on Indemnification. Notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, the Corporation shall not be obligated pursuant to this Agreement:
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(a)Claims Initiated by Indemnitee. To indemnify or advance expenses to Indemnitee with respect to a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by Indemnitee, except with respect to a Proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification pursuant to Section 5(b) (which shall be governed by the provisions of Section 8(b) of this Agreement), unless such Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
(b)Action for Indemnification. To indemnify Indemnitee for any expenses incurred by Indemnitee with respect to any Proceeding instituted by Indemnitee to enforce or interpret this Agreement, unless Indemnitee is successful in establishing Indemnitee’s right to indemnification in such Proceeding, in whole or in part, or unless and to the extent that the court in such Proceeding shall determine that, despite Indemnitee’s failure to establish Indemnitee’s right to indemnification, Indemnitee is entitled to indemnity for such expenses; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 8(b) is intended to limit the Corporation’s obligation with respect to the advancement of expenses to Indemnitee in connection with any such Proceeding instituted by Indemnitee to enforce or interpret this Agreement, as provided in Section 5(b) hereof.
(c)Section 16 Violations. To indemnify Indemnitee on account of any Proceeding with respect to which final judgment is rendered against Indemnitee for payment or an accounting of profits arising from the purchase or 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.
(d)Non-compete and Non-disclosure. To indemnify Indemnitee in connection with Proceedings or claims involving the enforcement of non-compete and/or non-disclosure agreements or the non-compete and/or non-disclosure provisions of employment, consulting or similar agreements the Indemnitee may be a party to with the Corporation, or any subsidiary of the Corporation or any other applicable foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, if any.
Section 9.Certain Settlement Provisions. The Corporation shall have no obligation to indemnify Indemnitee under this Agreement for amounts paid in settlement of any Proceeding without the Corporation’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Corporation shall not settle any Proceeding in any manner that would impose any fine or other obligation on Indemnitee without Indemnitee’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.
Section 10.Savings Clause. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee as to costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any Proceeding, including an action by or in the right of the Corporation, to the full extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Agreement that shall not have been invalidated and to the full extent permitted by applicable law.
Section 11.Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for herein is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to Indemnitee in whole or in part, it is agreed that, in such event, the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, contribute to the payment of
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Indemnitee’s costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any Proceeding in an amount that is just and equitable in the circumstances, taking into account, among other things, contributions by other directors and officers of the Corporation or others pursuant to indemnification agreements or otherwise; provided, that, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such contribution shall not be required where such holding by the court is due to (i) the failure of Indemnitee to meet the standard of conduct set forth in Section 1(b) hereof, or (ii) any limitation on indemnification set forth in Section 6(c), 8 or 9 hereof.
Section 12.Form and Delivery of Communications. Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given to the parties under this Agreement shall be in writing and either delivered in person or sent by telecopy, telex, telegram, overnight mail or courier service, or certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other addresses for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
(a)If to the Corporation:
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. X’Xxxxx, Xx., Chief Legal Officer
Email: xxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, P.A.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Email: xxxxxx@xxx.xxx
(b)If to Indemnitee:
[l]
[l]
Attention: [l]
Email: [l]
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
[l]
[l]
Attention: [l]
Email: [l]
Section 13.Subsequent Legislation. If the VSCA is amended after adoption of this Agreement to expand further the indemnification permitted to directors or officers, then the
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Corporation shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by the VSCA, as so amended.
Section 14.Duration. All agreements and obligations of the Corporation contained herein shall continue during the period that Indemnitee is a director or officer of the Corporation and shall continue thereafter (a) so long as Indemnitee may be subject to any possible Proceeding related to Indemnitee’s service to the Corporation and (b) throughout the pendency of any Proceeding (including any rights of appeal thereto) commenced by Indemnitee to enforce or interpret Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, even if, in either case, Indemnitee may have ceased to serve in such capacity at the time of any such Proceeding.
Section 15.Nonexclusivity. The provisions for indemnification and advancement of expenses set forth in this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights which Indemnitee may have under any provision of law, the Articles or Bylaws of the Corporation, in any court in which a Proceeding is brought, the vote of the Corporation’s shareholders or disinterested directors, other agreements or otherwise, and Indemnitee’s rights hereunder shall continue after Indemnitee has ceased acting as an agent of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of Indemnitee. However, no amendment or alteration of the Corporation’s Articles or Bylaws or any other agreement shall adversely affect the rights provided to Indemnitee under this Agreement.
Section 16.Enforcement. The Corporation shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial Proceeding that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable. The Corporation agrees that its execution of this Agreement shall constitute a stipulation by which it shall be irrevocably bound in any court of competent jurisdiction in which a Proceeding by Indemnitee for enforcement of his rights hereunder shall have been commenced, continued or appealed, that its obligations set forth in this Agreement are unique and special, and that failure of the Corporation to comply with the provisions of this Agreement will cause irreparable and irremediable injury to Indemnitee, for which a remedy at law will be inadequate. As a result, in addition to any other right or remedy Indemnitee may have at law or in equity with respect to breach of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to injunctive or mandatory relief directing specific performance by the Corporation of its obligations under this Agreement.
Section 17.Interpretation of Agreement. It is understood that the parties hereto intend this Agreement to be interpreted and enforced so as to provide indemnification to Indemnitee to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by law. To the extent any provision of this Agreement would offer Indemnitee rights that are less beneficial to Indemnitee than the provisions of the Articles provide, or would result in indemnification not being available in a circumstance where indemnification is permissible under the Articles, such provision shall be deemed to be amended so as to provide benefits and/or indemnification to Indemnitee to the maximum extent permissible under the Articles.
Section 18.Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the documents expressly referred to herein constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the matters covered hereby, and any other prior or contemporaneous oral or written understandings or agreements with respect to the matters covered hereby are expressly superseded by this Agreement.
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Section 19.Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
Section 20.Successor and Assigns. All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives. The Corporation shall require and cause any direct or indirect successor (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Corporation, by written agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.
Section 21.Service of Process and Venue. For purposes of any claims or Proceeding to enforce this agreement, the Corporation consents to the jurisdiction and venue of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, or in the event that court lacks jurisdiction to hear such action, the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond, Virginia, and waives and agrees not to raise any defense that any such court is an inconvenient forum or any similar claim.
Section 22.Supersedes Prior Agreement. This Agreement supersedes any prior indemnification agreement between Indemnitee and the Corporation or its predecessors.
Section 23.Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed exclusively by and construed according to the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, as applied to contracts between Virginia residents entered into and to be performed entirely within Virginia. If a court of competent jurisdiction shall make a final determination that the provisions of the law of any state other than Virginia govern indemnification by the Corporation of its officers and directors, then the indemnification provided under this Agreement shall in all instances be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted under such law, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary.
Section 24.Employment Rights. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to create in Indemnitee any right to employment or continued employment.
Section 25.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument, notwithstanding that both parties are not signatories to the original or same counterpart.
Section 26.Headings. The section and subsection headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered to be effective as of the date first above written.
By ______________________________
Name: Xxxxxxx X. X’Xxxxx, Xx.
Title: Senior Vice President – Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary
INDEMNITEE:
By ______________________________
Name:
[Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement]
