FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 10.12
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of this day
of between PRIMUS GUARANTY, LTD., a Bermuda company (the “Company”), and
, and his or her executors, heirs, personal and legal representatives, successors,
and assigns, which are sometimes hereinafter collectively referred to individually as an
“Indemnified Party” and, collectively, as the “Indemnified Parties”.
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to induce the undersigned to serve or continue to serve as a
director or executive officer, as applicable.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein and for
other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties
hereto agree as follows:
1. Nature of Indemnity.
(a) The Company shall indemnify the Indemnified Party if the Indemnified Party is made, or
threatened to be made, a party to an action or proceeding (other than one by or in the right of the
Company to procure a judgment in its favor), whether civil or criminal (including an action by or
in the right of any other corporation of any type or kind, domestic or foreign, or any partnership,
joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, which the Indemnified Party served
in any capacity at the request of the Company, by reason of the fact that the Indemnified Party or
the Indemnified Party’s testator or intestate, was a director or officer of the Company, or served
such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise in any capacity), against judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable
expenses, including attorney’s fees actually and necessarily incurred as a result of such action or
proceeding, or any appeal therein, if such Indemnified Party acted in good faith, for a purpose
which such Indemnified Party reasonably believed to be in, or, in the case of service for any other
corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise,
not opposed to, the best interests of the Company.
(b) The termination of any such civil or criminal action, investigation or proceeding by
judgment, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not in
itself create a presumption that the Indemnified Party did not act, in good faith, for a purpose
which the Indemnified Party reasonably believed to be in, or, in the case of service for any other
corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise,
not opposed to, the best interests of the Company or that the Indemnified Party had reasonable
cause to believe that the Indemnified Party’s conduct was unlawful.
(c) The Company shall also indemnify the Indemnified Party if the Indemnified Party is made,
or threatened to be made, a party to, or a participant in, an action by or in the right of the
Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the Indemnified Party
(including the Indemnified Party’s testator or intestate) is or was a director or officer of the
Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director or officer of any other
corporation of any type or kind, domestic or foreign, of any partnership, joint venture, trust,
employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against amounts paid in settlement and reasonable
expenses, including attorneys, fees, actually and necessarily incurred by the Indemnified Party in
connection with the defense or settlement of such action, or in connection with an appeal therein,
if such Indemnified Party acted in good faith, for a purpose which such Indemnified Party
reasonably believed to be in, or, in the case of service for any other corporation or any
partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, not opposed to, the
best interests of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no indemnification shall be made in
respect of (1) a threatened action, or a pending action which is settled or otherwise disposed of,
or (2) any claim, issue or matter as to which the Indemnified Party shall have been adjudged to be
liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action was
brought, or, if no action was brought, any court of competent jurisdiction determines upon
application that, or independent legal counsel concludes in a written opinion that, in view of all
the circumstances, the Indemnified Party is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such
portion of the settlement amount and expenses as the court or such counsel deems proper.
(d) For the purpose of this Agreement, the Company shall be deemed to have requested a person
to serve an employee benefit plan where the performance by such person of his or her duties to the
Company also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, such person to the plan or
participants or beneficiaries of the plan. Excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an
employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall be considered fines; and action taken or
omitted by a person with respect to an employee benefit plan in the performance of the Indemnified
Party’s duties for a purpose reasonably believed by the Indemnified Party to be in the interest of
the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose which is not
opposed to the best interests of the Company.
2. Successful Defense. If the Indemnified Party is successful, on the merits or
otherwise, in the defense of a civil or criminal action or proceeding of the character described in
Section 1, the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to indemnification as authorized in such Section
1.
3. Determination that Indemnification is Proper. Except as provided in Section 2, any
indemnification under Section 1 of this Agreement, unless ordered by a court, shall be made by the
Company, only if authorized in a specific case:
(a) by the Board of Directors, acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties
to such action, investigation or proceeding, upon a finding that the Indemnified Party has met the
standard of conduct set forth in Section 1;
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(b) if such a quorum is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, a quorum of disinterested
directors so directs:
(1) by the Board of Directors upon the opinion in writing of independent legal counsel
that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because the applicable standard of
conduct set forth in Section 1 has been met by the Indemnified Party, or
(2) by the shareholders upon a finding that the Indemnified Party has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in such Section 1.
4. Indemnification by Court Award.
(a) Despite any contrary resolution of the Board of Directors or of the shareholders in a
specific case under Section 1, indemnification shall be awarded by a court to the extent authorized
under Section 1 or Section 2. Any Indemnified Party may make application for indemnity under this
Section 4 in every case, either:
(1) in the civil action or proceeding in which the expenses were incurred or other
amounts were paid, or
(2) to a court of appropriate jurisdiction in a separate proceeding, in which case the
application shall set forth the disposition of any previous application made to any court
for the same or similar relief and also reasonable cause for the failure to make
application for such relief in the action or proceeding in which the expenses were incurred
or other amounts were paid.
(b) The application shall be made in such manner and form as may be required by the applicable
rules of court or, in the absence thereof, by direction of a court to which it is made. Such
application shall be upon notice to the Company. The court may also direct that notice be given at
the expense of the Company to the shareholders and such other persons as it may designate in such
manner as it may require.
(c) Where indemnification is sought by judicial action, the court may allow a person such
reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, during the pendency of the litigation as are
necessary in connection with his or her defense therein, if the court shall find that the defendant
has by his or her pleadings or during the course of the litigation raised genuine issues of fact or
law.
5. Advance Payment of Expenses. Unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines
for good reason in a specific case, expenses incurred by the Indemnified Party in defending a civil
or criminal action or proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance of final disposition of
such action or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party
to repay such amount or an appropriate portion thereof if it is ultimately found, under the
procedure set forth in this Agreement, that the Indemnified Party is not entitled to any
indemnification or to indemnification to the full extent of the expenses advanced by the Company.
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6. Waiver of Claims. The Company hereby waives any claim or right of action the
Company might have against the Indemnified Party on account of any action taken by the Indemnified
Party, or the failure of the Indemnified Party to take any action, in the performance of his or her
duties with or for the Company; provided, that such waiver shall not extend to any matter in
respect of any fraud or dishonesty which may attach to the Indemnified Party.
7. Survival; Preservation of Other Rights.
(a) The foregoing provisions for indemnification and advancement of expenses shall not be
deemed to be affected by any amendment or repeal of any applicable law affecting indemnification of
directors and officers. This agreement may not be modified retroactively without the consent of
the Indemnified Party.
(b) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by this Agreement shall not be
deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the Indemnified Party may be entitled, whether
contained in a statute, the Memorandum of Association or Bye-laws of the Company or, when
authorized by (i) a resolution of shareholders, (ii) a resolution of directors, (iii) an agreement
providing for such indemnification, or (iv) any insurance contract covering the Indemnified Party.
8. Severability. If this Agreement or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any
ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Company shall nevertheless indemnify each
Indemnified Party as to costs, charges and expenses (including attorney’s fees), judgments, fines
and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative, including an action by or in the right of the Company,
to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Agreement that shall not have
been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
9. Subrogation. In the event of payment of indemnification to the Indemnified Party,
the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to any right of recovery the
Indemnified Party may have and the Indemnified Party, as a condition of receiving indemnification
from the Company, shall execute all documents and do all things that the Company may deem necessary
or desirable to perfect such right of recovery, including the execution of such documents necessary
to enable the Company effectively to enforce any such recovery.
10. No Duplication of Payments. The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement
to make any payment in connection with any claim made against any Indemnified Party to the extent
the Indemnified Party has otherwise received payment (under any insurance policy, Bye-law,
agreement, statute or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise payable as indemnity hereunder.
11. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York (without giving effect any choice of law principles).
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12. Submission to Jurisdiction. The parties hereto irrevocably submit to the
non-exclusive jurisdiction of (x) any New York State or federal court sitting in New York, New York
(each a “New York Court”) and (y) any appellate court to which an appeal may be taken from
a judgment of any New York Court, in any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to
this Agreement, and the parties hereto hereby irrevocably agree that all claims in respect of this
Agreement may be heard and determined in such New York Court. A final judgment in any such suit,
action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the
judgement or any other manner provided by law.
13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same
instrument.
[Signature page follows.]
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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.
| PRIMUS GUARANTY, LTD. | ||||||
| By: | ||||||
| [DIRECTOR/OFFICER] | ||||||
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