Exhibit 10.12
FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into this ___ day of April, 2003 between
The White House, Inc., a Maryland corporation ("Corporation"), whose address is
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx X, Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000 and
__________________ ("Officer"), whose address is
__________________________________.
RECITALS:
A. WHEREAS, Officer, an officer of Corporation (but not currently a
member of the Board of Directors of Corporation (the "Board")), performs a
valuable service in such capacity for Corporation; and
B. WHEREAS, the stockholders of Corporation have adopted Bylaws (the
"Bylaws") providing for the indemnification of the officers, directors, agents
and employees of Corporation to the maximum extent authorized by Maryland, as
amended (the "Law"); and
C. WHEREAS, the Bylaws and the Law, as amended and in effect from time to
time or any successor or other statutes of Maryland having similar import and
effect, currently purport to be the controlling law governing Corporation with
respect to certain aspects of corporate law, including indemnification of
directors and officers; and
D. WHEREAS, in accordance with the authorization provided by the Law,
Corporation may from time to time purchase and maintain a policy or policies of
Directors and Officers Liability Insurance ("D & O Insurance"), covering certain
liabilities which may be incurred by its directors and officers in the
performance of services as directors and officers of Corporation; and
E. WHEREAS, as a result of developments affecting the terms, scope and
availability of D & O Insurance there exists general uncertainty as to the
extent and overall desirability of protection afforded officers by such D & O
Insurance, if any, and by statutory and bylaw indemnification provisions; and
F. WHEREAS, in order to induce Officer to continue to serve as an officer
of Corporation, Corporation has determined and agreed to enter into this
contract with Officer.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of Officer's continued service as an
officer after the date hereof, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. The following terms used in this Agreement shall
have the meanings set forth below.Other terms are defined where appropriate in
this Agreement.
(a) "DISINTERESTED DIRECTOR" shall mean a director of Corporation who
is not or was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification
is being sought by Officer.
(b) "EXPENSES" shall include all direct and indirect costs (including,
without limitation, attorneys' fees, retainers, court costs, transcripts, fees
of experts, witness fees, travel
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expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges,
postage, delivery service fees, all other disbursements or out-of-pocket
expenses and reasonable compensation for time spent by Officer for which he or
she is otherwise not compensated by Corporation) actually and reasonably
incurred in connection with a Proceeding or establishing or enforcing a right to
indemnification under this Agreement, applicable law or otherwise; provided,
however, that "Expenses" shall not include any Liabilities.
(c) "FINAL ADVERSE DETERMINATION" shall mean that a determination that
Officer is not entitled to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to
Section 5 hereof and either (i) a final adjudication in a Maryland court or
decision of an arbitrator pursuant to Section 13(a) hereof shall have denied
Officer's right to indemnification hereunder, or (ii) Officer shall have failed
to file a complaint in a Maryland court or seek an arbitrator's award pursuant
to Section 13(a) for a period of one hundred twenty (120) days after the
determination made pursuant to Section 5 hereof.
(d) "INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL" shall mean a law firm or member of a
law firm selected by Corporation and approved by Officer (which approval shall
not be unreasonably withheld) and that neither is presently nor in the past five
years has been retained to represent: (i) Corporation, in any material matter,
or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for
indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term "Independent
Legal 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 Corporation or Officer in a Proceeding to determine
Officer's right to indemnification under this Agreement.
(e) "LIABILITIES" shall mean liabilities of any type whatsoever
including, but not limited to, any judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and
penalties, and penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest
assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect
of such judgments, fines, penalties or amounts paid in settlement) of any
proceeding.
(f) "PROCEEDING" shall mean any threatened, pending or completed
action, claim, suit, arbitration, alternative dispute resolution mechanism,
investigation, administrative hearing or any other proceeding whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative, including any appeal therefrom.
(g) "CHANGE OF CONTROL" shall mean the occurrence of any of the
following events after the date of this Agreement:
(i) A change in the composition of the Board, as a result of
which fewer than two-thirds (2/3) of the incumbent directors are directors who
either (1) had been directors of Corporation twenty-four (24) months prior to
such change or (2) were elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with
the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the directors who had been
directors of Corporation 24 months prior to such change and who were still in
office at the time of the election or nomination; or
(ii) Any "person" (as such term is used in section 13(d) and
14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) through the
acquisition or aggregation of
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securities is or becomes the beneficial owner,directly or indirectly, of
securities of Corporation representing twenty percen (20%) or more of the
combined voting power of Corporation's then outstanding securities ordinarily
(and apart from rights accruing under special circumstances) having the right to
vote at elections of directors (the "Capital Stock"), except that any change in
ownership of Corporation's securities by any person resulting solely from a
reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of Capital Stock, and
any decrease thereafter in such person's ownership of securities, shall be
disregarded until such person increases in any manner, directly or indirectly,
such person's beneficial ownership of any securities of Corporation.
2. INDEMNITY OF OFFICER. Corporation hereby agrees to hold harmless and
indemnify Officer to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by the
provisions of the Law, as may be amended from time to time.
3. ADDITIONAL INDEMNITY. Subject only to the exclusions set forth in
Section 4 hereof, Corporation hereby further agrees to hold harmless and
indemnify Officer:
(a) against any and all Expenses in connection with any Proceeding
(including an action by or in the right of Corporation) to which Officer is, was
or at any time becomes a party, or is threatened to be made a party, by reason
of the fact that Officer is, was or at any time becomes a director, officer,
employee or agent of Corporation, or is or was serving or at any time serves at
the request of Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise; and
(b) otherwise to the fullest extent as may be provided to Officer by
Corporation under the non-exclusivity provisions of the Bylaws of Corporation
and the Law.
4. LIMITATIONS ON ADDITIONAL INDEMNITY. No indemnity pursuant to
Section 3 hereof shall be paid by Corporation:
(a) except to the extent the aggregate of losses to be indemnified
thereunder exceeds the sum of such losses for which the Officer is indemnified
pursuant to Section 2 hereof or reimbursed pursuant to any D & O Insurance
purchased and maintained by Corporation;
(b) in respect of remuneration paid to Officer if it shall be
determined by a final judgment or other final adjudication that such
remuneration was in violation of law;
(c) on account of any Proceeding in which judgment is rendered against
Officer for an accounting of profits made from the purchase or sale by Officer
of securities of Corporation pursuant to the provisions of Section 16(b) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and amendments thereto or similar provisions of
any federal, state or local statutory law;
(d) on account of a Final Adverse Determination that Officer's conduct
was knowingly fraudulent or deliberately dishonest or constituted willful
misconduct;
(e) provided there has been no Change of Control, on account of or
arising in response to any Proceeding (other than a Proceeding referred to in
Section 10(b) hereof) initiated by Officer or any of Officer's affiliates
against Corporation or any officer, director or stockholder
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of Corporation unless such Proceeding was authorized in the specific case
by action of the Board;
(f) if a final decision by a Court having jurisdiction in the matter
shall determine that such indemnification is not lawful; or
(g) on account of any Proceeding to the extent that Officer is a
plaintiff, a counter-complainant or a cross-complainant therein (other than a
Proceeding permitted by Section 4(e) hereof).
5. PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINATION OF ENTITLEMENT TO INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) Whenever Officer believes that he or she is entitled to
indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, Officer shall submit a written
request for indemnification to Corporation. Any request for indemnification
shall include sufficient documentation or information reasonably available to
Officer to support his or her claim for indemnification. Officer shall submit
his or her claim for indemnification within a reasonable time not to exceed five
years after any judgment, order, settlement, dismissal, arbitration award,
conviction, acceptance of a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, final
termination or other disposition or partial disposition of any Proceeding,
whichever is the later date for which Officer requests indemnification. The
President, Secretary or other appropriate officer shall, promptly upon receipt
of Officer's request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that
Officer has made such a request. Determination of Officer's entitlement to
indemnification shall be made not later than ninety (90) days after
Corporation's receipt of his or her written request for such indemnification.
(b) The Corporation shall be entitled to select the forum in which
Officer's request for indemnification will be heard, which selection shall be
determined in the Corporation's sole and absolute discretion. This forum shall
be any one of the following:
(i) The stockholders of Corporation;
(ii) A quorum of the Board consisting of Disinterested Directors;
(iii) Independent Legal Counsel, who shall make the determination
in a written opinion; or
(iv) A panel of three arbitrators, one selected by Corporation,
another by Officer and the third by the first two arbitrators selected. If for
any reason three arbitrators are not selected within thirty (30) days after the
appointment of the first arbitrator, then selection of additional arbitrators
shall be made by the American Arbitration Association. If any arbitrator resigns
or is unable to serve in such capacity for any reason, the American Arbitration
Association shall select his or her replacement. The arbitration shall be
conducted pursuant to the commercial arbitration rules of the American
Arbitration Association now in effect.
If Officer fails to make such designation, his or her claim shall be
determined by the forum selected by Corporation.
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6. PRESUMPTION AND EFFECT OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS. Upon making a request
for indemnification, Officer shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification
under this Agreement and Corporation shall have the burden of proof to overcome
that presumption in reaching any contrary determination. The termination of any
Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, arbitration award or conviction, or
upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not affect this
presumption or, except as may be provided in Section 4 hereof, establish a
presumption with regard to any factual matter relevant to determining Officer's
rights to indemnification hereunder. If the person or persons so empowered to
make a determination pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof shall have failed to make
the requested determination within thirty (30) days after any judgment, order,
settlement, dismissal, arbitration award, conviction, acceptance of a plea of
nolo contendere or its equivalent, or other disposition or partial disposition
of any Proceeding or any other event which could enable Corporation to determine
Officer's entitlement to indemnification, the requisite determination that
Officer is entitled to indemnification shall be deemed to have been made.
7. CONTRIBUTION. If the indemnification provided in Sections 2 and 3 is
unavailable and may not be paid to Officer for any reason other than those set
forth in Section 4, then in respect of any Proceeding in which Corporation is or
is alleged to be jointly liable with Officer (or would be if joined in such
Proceeding), Corporation shall contribute to the amount of Expenses and
Liabilities paid or payable by Officer in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect (i) the relative benefits received by Corporation on the one hand and
Officer on the other hand from the transaction from which such Proceeding arose,
and (ii) the relative fault of Corporation on the one hand and of Officer on the
other hand in connection with the events which resulted in such Expenses and
Liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
relative fault of Corporation on the one hand and of Officer on the other shall
be determined by reference to, among other things, the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent the
circumstances resulting in such Expenses and Liabilities. Corporation agrees
that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section
7 were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which
does not take account of the foregoing equitable considerations.
8. INSURANCE AND FUNDING. Corporation hereby represents and warrants that
it shall purchase and maintain insurance to protect Officer against any Expenses
and Liabilities in connection with any Proceeding to the fullest extent
permitted by the Law.
9. CONTINUATION OF OBLIGATIONS. All agreements and obligations of
Corporation contained herein shall continue during the period Officer is a
director, officer, employee or agent of Corporation (or is or was serving at the
request of Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise) and shall continue thereafter so long as Officer shall be subject to
any possible Proceeding, by reason of the fact that Officer was serving
Corporation or such other entity in any capacity referred to herein.
10. NOTIFICATION AND DEFENSE OF CLAIM. Promptly after receipt by Officer
of notice of the commencement of any Proceeding, Officer will, if a claim in
respect thereof is to be made against Corporation under this Agreement, notify
Corporation of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify
Corporation will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to
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Officer otherwise than under this Agreement. With respect to any
Proceeding as to which Officer notifies Corporation of the commencement thereof:
(a) Corporation will be entitled to participate therein at its own
expense;
(b) Except as otherwise provided below, to the extent that it may
wish, Corporation jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified
will be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to Officer. After notice from Corporation to Officer of its
election to assume the defense thereof, Corporation will not be liable to
Officer under this Agreement for any Expenses subsequently incurred by Officer
in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of
investigation or as otherwise provided below. Officer shall have the right to
employ his or her own counsel in such Proceeding but the Expenses associated
with the employment of such counsel incurred after notice from Corporation of
its assumption of the defense thereof shall be at the expense of Officer unless
(i) the employment of counsel by Officer has been authorized by Corporation,
(ii) Officer shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of
interest between Corporation and Officer in the conduct of the defense of such
Proceeding or (iii) Corporation shall not in fact have employed counsel to
assume the defense of such Proceeding, in each of which cases the Expenses of
Officer's separate counsel shall be at the expense of Corporation. Corporation
shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any Proceeding brought by or on
behalf of Corporation or as to which Officer shall have made the conclusion
provided for in (ii) above; and
(c) Provided there has been no Change of Control, Corporation shall
not be liable to indemnify Officer under this Agreement for any amounts paid in
settlement of any Proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld. Corporation shall be permitted to settle any
Proceeding except that it shall not settle any Proceeding in any manner which
would impose any penalty, out-of-pocket liability, or limitation on Officer
without Officer's written consent.
11. ADVANCEMENT AND REPAYMENT OF EXPENSES.
(a) In the event that Officer employs his or her own counsel pursuant
to Section 10(b)(i) through (iii) above, Corporation shall advance to Officer,
prior to any final disposition of any Proceeding any and all Expenses incurred
in investigating or defending any such Proceeding within ten (10) days after
receiving copies of invoices presented to Officer for such Expenses.
(b) Officer agrees that Officer will reimburse Corporation for all
Expenses paid by Corporation in defending any Proceeding against Officer in the
event and only to the extent that there has been a Final Adverse Determination
that Officer is not entitled, under the provisions of the Law, the Bylaws, this
Agreement or otherwise, to be indemnified by Corporation for such Expenses.
12. REMEDIES OF OFFICER.
(a) In the event that (i) a determination pursuant to Section 5 hereof
is made that Officer is not entitled to indemnification, (ii) advances of
Expenses are not made pursuant to
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this Agreement, (iii) payment has not been timely made following a
determination of entitlement to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, or
(iv) Officer otherwise seeks enforcement of this Agreement, Officer shall be
entitled to a final adjudication in an appropriate court of his or her rights.
Alternatively, Officer at his or her option may seek an award in arbitration to
be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the commercial arbitration rules
of the American Arbitration Association now in effect, whose decision is to be
made within ninety (90) days following the filing of the demand for arbitration.
The Corporation shall not oppose Officer's right to seek any such adjudication
or arbitration award.
(b) In the event that a determination that Officer is not entitled to
indemnification, in whole or in part, has been made pursuant to Section 5
hereof, the decision in the judicial proceeding or arbitration provided in
paragraph (a) of this Section 12 shall be made de novo and Officer shall not be
prejudiced by reason of a determination that he or she is not entitled to
indemnification.
(c) If a determination that Officer is entitled to indemnification has
been made pursuant to Section 5 hereof or otherwise pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement, Corporation shall be bound by such determination in the absence
of (i) a misrepresentation of a material fact by Officer or (ii) a specific
finding (which has become final) by an appropriate court that all or any part of
such indemnification is expressly prohibited by law.
(d) In any court proceeding pursuant to this Section 12, Corporation
shall be precluded from asserting that the procedures and presumptions of this
Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable. The Corporation shall
stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that Corporation is
bound by all the provisions of this Agreement and is precluded from making any
assertion to the contrary.
(e) Expenses reasonably incurred by Officer in connection with his or
her request for indemnification under this Agreement, meeting enforcement of
this Agreement or to recover damages for breach of this Agreement shall be borne
by Corporation.
(f) Corporation and Officer agree herein that a monetary remedy for
breach of this Agreement, at some later date, will be inadequate, impracticable
and difficult to prove, and further agree that such breach would cause Officer
irreparable harm. Accordingly, Corporation and Officer agree that Officer shall
be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief to enforce this
Agreement without the necessity of proving actual damages or irreparable harm.
The Corporation and Officer further agree that Officer shall be entitled to such
injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary
injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bond or
other undertaking in connection therewith. Any such requirement of bond or
undertaking is hereby waived by Corporation, and Corporation acknowledges that
in the absence of such a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be required by the
court.
13. ENFORCEMENT. Corporation expressly confirms and agrees that it has
entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on Corporation
hereby in order to induce Officer to continue as an officer of Corporation, and
acknowledges that Officer is relying upon this Agreement in continuing in such
capacity.
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14. SEPARABILITY. Each of the provisions of this Agreement is a separate
and distinct agreement and independent of the others, so that if any or all of
the provisions hereof shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable to any extent
for any reason, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof, or the obligation of
the Corporation to indemnify the Officer to the full extent provided by the
Bylaws or the Law, and the affected provision shall be construed and enforced so
as to effectuate the parties' intent to the maximum extent possible.
15. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted and
enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Maryland.
16. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. The Corporation and Officer each irrevocably
consent to jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Maryland for all purposes
in connection with any Proceeding which arises out of or relates to this
Agreement and agree that any Proceeding instituted under this Agreement shall be
brought only in the state courts of the State of Maryland.
17. BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall be binding upon Officer and upon
Corporation, its successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of
Officer, his or her heirs, executors, administrators, personal representatives
and assigns and to the benefit of Corporation, its successors and assigns.
18. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement represents the entire agreement
between the parties hereto and there are no other agreements, contracts or
understandings between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter of
this Agreement, except as specifically referred to herein. This Agreement
supersedes any and all agreements regarding indemnification heretofore entered
into by the parties.
19. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. No amendment, modification, waiver,
termination or cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective for any purpose
unless set forth in writing signed by both parties hereto.
20. SUBROGATION. In the event of payment under this agreement, Corporation
shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of
recovery of Officer, who shall execute all documents required and shall do all
acts that may be necessary to secure such rights and to enable Corporation
effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.
21. NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS. The rights conferred on Officer by this
Agreement shall not be exclusive of any other right which Officer may have or
hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of Corporation's Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or directors, or
otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in
another capacity while holding office.
22. SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS. The rights conferred on Officer by this Agreement
shall continue after Officer has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or
other agent of Corporation or such other entity.
23. NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be addressed to Officer or to
Corporation, as the case may be, at the
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address shown on page 1 of this Agreement, or to such other address as may
have been furnished by either party to the other, and shall be deemed to have
been duly given if (a) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom
said notice or other communication shall have been directed, or (b) mailed by
certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day
after the date on which it is so mailed.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on and
as of the day and year first above written.
OFFICER: THE WHITE HOUSE, INC.,
a Maryland corporation
------------------------ By:
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Its:
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