Orbitz Inc. Contracts
Sample Business Contracts
Indemnification Agreement - Orbitz Inc.
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Indemnification Agreement ("Agreement") is made as of
________________, 2003 by and between Orbitz, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and ______________ ("Indemnitee").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve
publicly-held corporations as directors or in other capacities unless they are
provided with adequate protection through insurance and/or adequate
indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them
arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation.
WHEREAS, although Indemnitee may be entitled to indemnification
pursuant to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and the
Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL"), the DGCL expressly provides that the
indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby
contemplates that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members
of the board of directors, officers and other persons with respect to
indemnification.
WHEREAS, the Company has determined that the increased difficulty in
attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of
the Company's stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such
persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future.
WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company
contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf
of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they
will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they
will not be so indemnified.
WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the
Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the Company and any resolutions
adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to
diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.
WHEREAS, Indemnitee believes that this Agreement is desirable to
augment the protection available under the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation, the Company's Bylaws and insurance, and may not be willing to
serve as a director without the additional protection provided for under this
Agreement, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity and
Indemnitee is willing to serve and continue to serve on the condition that he be
so indemnified;
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants
contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as
follows:
1. SERVICES TO THE COMPANY. Indemnitee will serve or continue to
serve,at the will of the Company in accordance with the Company's Bylaws, as a
director of the Company for so long as Indemnitee is duly elected or appointed
or until Indemnitee tenders his or her resignation.
2. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement:
(a) A "Change in Control" shall be deemed to occur upon the
earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following
events:
(i) Change in Board of Directors. During any
period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the
execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period
constitute the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), and any new
director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an
agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections
2(a)(ii) or 2(a)(iii)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by
the Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds 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 least a majority of the members of the
Board;
(ii) Corporate Transactions. The effective date of
a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a
merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the
Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing
to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting
securities of the surviving entity) more than 51% of the combined voting power
of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after
such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of
the board of directors or other governing body of such surviving entity;
(iii) Liquidation. The approval by the
stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an
agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all
of the Company's assets; and
(iv) Other Events. There occurs any other event
of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of
Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar
schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether
or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.
For purposes of this Section 2(a), the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
(A) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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(B) "Person" shall have the meaning as set
forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act;
provided, however, that Person shall exclude (i) the
Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding
securities under an employee benefit plan of the
Company, and (iii) any corporation owned, directly or
indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership
of stock of the Company.
(C) "Beneficial Owner" shall have the
meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner
shall exclude any Person otherwise becoming a
Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the
Company approving a merger of the Company with another
entity.
(b) "Corporate Status" describes the status of a person
who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or of any
other corporation, limited liability company, partnership or joint venture,
trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such person is or was
serving at the request of the Company.
(c) "Disinterested Director" means a director of
the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which
indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.
(d) "Enterprise" shall mean the Company and any other
corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust,
employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving
at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or
fiduciary.
(e) "Expenses" shall include all reasonable attorneys' fees
and expenses, 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, being or preparing to be a
witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding. Expenses also shall
include Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any
Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other
costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its
equivalent. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by
Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.
(f) Reference to "other enterprise" shall include employee
benefit plans; references to "fines" shall include any excise tax assessed with
respect to any employee benefit
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plan; references to "serving at the request of the Company" shall include any
service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company 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; and
a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in
the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit
plan shall be deemed to have acted in manner "not opposed to the best interests
of the Company" as referred to in this Agreement.
(g) The term "Proceeding" shall include any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution
mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual,
threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company
or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
nature, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party or otherwise
by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director of the Company, by
reason of any action taken by him or of any action on his part while acting as
director of the Company, or by reason of the fact that he is or was serving at
the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the
time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification,
reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement;
except one initiated by Indemnitee to enforce his rights under this Agreement;
provided that, the term Proceeding shall not include any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism,
investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened
or completed proceeding by Indemnitee against the Company, including, but not
limited to, proceedings initiated by Indemnitee or involving a counterclaim by
Indemnitee.
(h) "Independent Counsel" means a law firm, or a member of
a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither
presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i)
the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other
than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or
of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), 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 Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee's rights
under this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses
of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel
against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.
3. INDEMNITY IN THIRD-PARTY PROCEEDINGS. The Company shall
indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if
Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any
Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure
a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be
indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all
Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by Indemnitee
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or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or
matter therein, if Indemnitee 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, in
the case of a criminal proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe that his
conduct was unlawful.
4. INDEMNITY IN PROCEEDINGS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY.
The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 4 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a
participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a
judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be
indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all
Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection
with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the Company. No indemnification for Expenses shall be made
under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which
Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the
Company unless, and only to the extent that, the Delaware Court of Chancery or
any court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application
that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances
of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.
5. INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A PARTY WHO IS WHOLLY OR
PARTLY SUCCESSFUL. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee
is a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or
otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter
therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all
Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith. If
Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such 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 Indemnitee against all
Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection
with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. If the Indemnitee is not
wholly successful in such Proceeding, the Company also shall indemnify
Indemnitee against all Expenses reasonably incurred in connection with a claim,
issue or matter related to any claim, issue, or matter on which the Indemnitee
was successful. For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the
termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal,
with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such
claim, issue or matter.
6. INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A WITNESS. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable
law and to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a
witness in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, he shall be
indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on
his behalf in connection therewith.
7. ADDITIONAL INDEMNIFICATION.
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(a) Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5,
the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to
any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to
procure a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in
connection with the Proceeding; provided, however, that the Company shall have
the right to consent to any settlement, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld. No indemnity shall be made under this Section 7(a) on account of
Indemnitee's conduct which constitutes a breach of Indemnitee's duty of loyalty
to the Company or its stockholders or is an act or omission not in good faith or
which involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law.
(b) Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, 5 or
7(a), the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to
any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to
procure a judgement in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in
connection with the Proceeding; provided, however, that the Company shall have
the right to consent to any settlement, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.
(c) For purposes of Sections 7(a) and 7(b), the meaning of
the phrase "to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law" shall include,
but not be limited to:
i. to the fullest extent permitted by the
provision of the DGCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification
by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement
of the DGCL, and
ii. to the fullest extent authorized or
permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the
date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may
indemnify its officers and directors.
8. EXCLUSIONS. Notwithstanding any provision in this
Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any
indemnity in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:
(a) for which payment has actually been made to or on
behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or under another valid and
enforceable indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the
amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision and except
for any payments which are required to be disgorged by Indemnitee; or
(b) for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and
sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within
the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
or similar provisions of other federal or state statutory law or common law; or
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(c) in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any
Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of
any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company's directors,
officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) such indemnification is
expressly required to be made by applicable law, (ii) the Board of Directors of
the Company authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to
its initiation or (iii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole
discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law.
9. ADVANCES OF EXPENSES. Notwithstanding any provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law the
Company shall advance the expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any
Proceeding within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a
statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether
prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall be
unsecured and interest free. Advances shall be made without regard to
Indemnitee's ability to repay the expenses and without regard to Indemnitee's
ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this
Agreement. Advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred
pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses
incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the
advances claimed. The Indemnitee shall qualify for advances solely upon the
execution and delivery to the Company of an undertaking providing that the
Indemnitee undertakes to repay the advance to the extent that it is ultimately
determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.
This Section 9 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which
indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 8.
10. PROCEDURE FOR NOTIFICATION AND DEFENSE OF CLAIM.
(a) Within thirty (30) days after service of process of
Indemnitee relating to notice of the commencement of any Proceeding, Indemnitee
shall submit to the Company 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 omission to notify the Company within such
thirty (30) day period will not relieve the Company from any liability which it
may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement except to the extent the failure of
Indemnitee to provide such notice within thirty (30) days after receipt by
Indemnitee of notice of the commencement of any Proceeding adversely affects the
Company's rights, legal position, ability to defend or ability to obtain
insurance coverage with respect to such Proceeding. The omission to notify the
Company will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to
Indemnitee otherwise than under this Agreement. The Secretary of the Company
shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the
Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.
(b) If the Company shall be obligated to pay the Expenses
of any Proceeding against the Indemnitee, the Company shall be entitled to
assume and control the defense of such Proceeding, (with counsel consented to by
the Indemnitee, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), upon the
delivery to the Indemnitee of written notice of its election so to do. After
delivery of such notice, consent to such counsel by the Indemnitee and the
retention of
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such counsel by the Company, the Company will not be liable to the Indemnitee
under this Agreement for any fees of counsel subsequently incurred by the
Indemnitee with respect to the same Proceeding, provided that if (i) the
employment of separate counsel by the Indemnitee has been previously authorized
by the Company, (ii) the Indemnitee or counsel selected by the Company shall
have concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and
the Indemnitee or among Indemnitees jointly represented in the conduct of any
such defense or (iii) the Company shall not, in fact, have employed counsel, to
which Indemnitee has consented as aforesaid, to assume the defense of such
Proceeding, then the reasonable fees and expenses of Indemnitee's counsel shall
be at the expense of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indemnitee
shall have the right to employ counsel in any such Proceeding at the
Indemnitee's expense.
(c) The Company will be entitled to participate in the
Proceeding at its own expense. The Company will not, without prior written
consent of the Indemnitee, effect any settlement of a claim against the
Indemnitee in any threatened or pending Proceeding unless such settlement solely
involves the payment of money and includes an unconditional release of the
Indemnitee from all liability on any claims that are or were threatened to be
made against the Indemnitee in the Proceeding.
11. PROCEDURE UPON APPLICATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification
pursuant to the first sentence of Section 10(a), a determination, if required by
applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee's entitlement thereto shall be made
in the specific case: (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by
Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of
which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not
have occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even
though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested
Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even
though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested
Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel
in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to
Indemnitee or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the
Company; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after
such determination. 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 attorneys' fees and expenses and disbursements)
incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity
making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the
determination as to Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification) and the Company
hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
(b) In the event the determination of entitlement to
indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 11(a)
hereof, the Independent Counsel shall
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be selected as provided in this Section 11(b). If a Change in Control shall not
have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board of
Directors, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising him
of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. If a Change in Control
shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee
(unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board of
Directors, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee
shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the
Independent Counsel so selected. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as
the case may be, may, within 10 days after such written notice of selection
shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may
be, a written objection to such selection; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such
objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so
selected does not meet the requirements of "Independent Counsel" as defined in
Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with
particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely
objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such
written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so
selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is
withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If,
within 20 days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for
indemnification pursuant to Section 10(a) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall
have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may
petition a court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which
shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other's selection of
Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a
person selected by the Court or by such other person as the Court shall
designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or
the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 11(a)
hereof. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration
pursuant to Section 13(a) 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).
12. PRESUMPTIONS AND EFFECT OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS.
(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement
to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such
determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under
this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in
accordance with Section 10(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the
burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by
any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption.
Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or independent
legal counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any
action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the
circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor
an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or
independent legal counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard
of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that
Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
(b) If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected
under Section 11 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled
to indemnification shall not have
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made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the
request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification
shall be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such
indemnification, absent a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable
law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable
time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or
entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification
in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of
documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that
the foregoing provisions of this Section 12(b) shall not apply (i) if the
determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the
stockholders pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement and if (A) within
fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such
determination the Board of Directors has resolved to submit such determination
to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be
held within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is
made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen
(15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such
meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so
called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of
entitlement to indemnification is made by Independent Counsel pursuant to
Section 11(a) of this Agreement.
(c) 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
Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that 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 Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was
unlawful.
(d) RELIANCE AS SAFE HARBOR. For purposes of any
determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good
faith if Indemnitee's action is based on the records or books of account of the
Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to
Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or
on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records
given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public
accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with the reasonable care
by the Enterprise. The provisions of this Section 12(d) shall not be deemed to
be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which the
Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set
forth in this Agreement.
(e) ACTIONS OF OTHERS. The knowledge and/or actions, or
failure to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Enterprise
shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to
indemnification under this Agreement.
13. REMEDIES OF INDEMNITEE.
(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant
to Section 11 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification under this Agreement, (ii)
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advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 9 of this
Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have
been made pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement within 45 days after
receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of
indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5 or 6 or the last sentence of
Section 11(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the
Company of a written request therefor, or (v) payment of indemnification
pursuant to Section 3, 4 or 7 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
his entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses.
Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his 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. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee's
right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.
(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made
pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to
this Section 13 shall be conducted in all respects as a DE NOVO trial, or
arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of
that adverse determination. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced
pursuant to this Section 13 the Company 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 11(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification,
the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or
arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13, absent 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 13 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 the provisions of this Agreement. The Company
shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by
Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a
written request therefor) advance, to the extent not prohibited by Section 402
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or other applicable 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
Company under this Agreement or under any directors' and officers' liability
insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee
ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of
Expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be.
14. NON-EXCLUSIVITY; SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS; SUBROGATION.
(a) The 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 Indemnitee may at any time be entitled
under applicable law, the Company's Certificate of
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Incorporation, the Company's Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a
resolution of directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of
this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of
Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by
such Indemnitee in his Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or
repeal. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or
judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses
than would be afforded currently under the Company's Bylaws and this Agreement,
it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this
Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy
herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and
every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other
right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in
equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy
hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or
employment of any other right or remedy.
(b) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance
policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers,
employees, or agents of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such
person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be an insured
under such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the
maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer,
employee or agent under such policy or policies. The Company may, but will not
be required to, create a trust fund, grant a security interest or use other
means, including, without limitation, a letter of credit, to ensure the payment
of such amounts as may be necessary to satisfy the obligations to indemnify and
advance Expenses pursuant to this Agreement. If, at the time of the receipt of a
notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and
officer liability insurance in effect, 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 and Indemnitee
shall mutually cooperate and take all reasonable actions to cause such insurers
to pay on behalf of the insureds, all amounts payable as a result of such
proceeding in accordance with the terms of all applicable policies.
(c) 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 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.
(d) The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to
make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable (or for which advancement is
provided hereunder) hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise
actually received such payment under any insurance policy, the Certificate of
Incorporation, the Bylaws, contract, agreement or otherwise.
(e) The Company's obligation to indemnify or advance
Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the
Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of any other corporation,
limited liability company, partnership, joint venture,
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trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be reduced by any amount
Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of expenses
from such other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint
venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise.
15. DURATION OF AGREEMENT, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement
shall continue until and terminate upon the later of: (a) twenty years after
Indemnitee has ceased to occupy any positions or have any relationships
described in Section 1 of this Agreement; and (b) the final termination of all
actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending or threatened during such
twenty year period to which Indemnitee may be subject by reason of the fact that
Indemnitee is or was a director of the Company or is or was serving at the
request of the Company as a director, officer, employee agent or fiduciary of
any other entity, including, but not limited to, another corporation,
partnership, joint venture or trust, or by reason of anything done or not done
by Indemnitee in any such capacity. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by Indemnitee and his personal and legal representatives, heirs,
executors, administrators, distributees, legatees and other successors.
16. SEVERABILITY. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement
or any application of any provision hereof 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, that is not itself
invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired
thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b)
such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to
conform to applicable law and to give the 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 thereby.
17. ENFORCEMENT.
(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has
entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in
order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director of the Company, and the
Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving
as a director of the Company.
(b) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between
the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all
prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however,
that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company, the Bylaws of the Company and applicable law, and
shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any
rights of Indemnitee thereunder.
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18. MODIFICATION AND WAIVER. No supplement, modification or
amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the
parties thereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be
deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement
nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
19. NOTICE BY INDEMNITEE. Indemnitee agrees promptly to 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. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not
relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under
this Agreement or otherwise.
20. NOTICES. Any notices or other communications required or
permitted under, or otherwise in connection with this Agreement, shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person or
upon confirmation of receipt when transmitted by facsimile transmission (but
only if followed by transmittal by national overnight courier or hand for
delivery on the next business day) or on receipt after dispatch by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed, or on the next business day if
transmitted by national overnight courier, in each case as follows: (i) if to
the Company, directed to the Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel at its
principal place of business; and (ii) if to the Indemnitee, to such address as
set forth below their name on the signature page to this Agreement; or such
other persons or addresses as shall be furnished in writing by the Indemnitee to
the Company.
21. CONTRIBUTION. To the fullest extent permissible by applicable
law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to
Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying
Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for
judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in
settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an
indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair
and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order
to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a
result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding;
and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers,
employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or
transaction(s).
22. APPLICABLE LAW AND CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. This Agreement and
the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and
enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard
to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced
by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 13 of this Agreement, the Company and
Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or
proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought
only in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (the "Delaware Court"), and
not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any
court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction
of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or
in connection with this Agreement, (iii) appoint, to the extent such party is
not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware,
irrevocably RL&F
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Service Corp., One Rodney Square, 10th Floor, 10th and King Streets, Wilmington,
Delaware 19801 as its agent in the State of Delaware as such party's agent for
acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action or proceeding
against such party with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such
party personally within the State of Delaware, (iv) waive any objection to the
laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (v)
waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or
proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or
inconvenient forum.
23. IDENTICAL COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one
or more counterparts, 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 signed by the party against whom enforceability is
sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.
24. MISCELLANEOUS. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be
deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate. The headings
of the 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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed
as of the day and year first above written.
[COMPANY] INDEMNITEE
By:
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Name: Name:
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Office: Address:
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