Director Indemnification Agreement - Albertson's Inc.
FORM OF DIRECTOR INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
THIS DIRECTOR INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT, dated as of __________ (this
"Agreement"), is made by and between Albertson's, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), and ____________ ("Indemnitee").
RECITALS
A. It is important to the Company to attract and retain as directors the
most capable persons reasonably available.
B. Indemnitee is a director of the Company.
C. Both the Company and Indemnitee recognize the increased risk of
litigation and other claims being asserted against directors of companies in
today's environment.
D. The Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws (the
"Constituent Documents") provide that the Company will indemnify its directors
and the Company's By-laws provide that the Company will advance expenses in
connection therewith, and Indemnitee's willingness to serve as a director of the
Company is based in part on Indemnitee's reliance on such provisions.
E. In recognition of Indemnitee's need for substantial protection against
personal liability in order to enhance Indemnitee's continued service to the
Company in an effective manner, and Indemnitee's reliance on the aforesaid
provisions of the Constituent Documents, and to provide Indemnitee with express
contractual indemnification (regardless of, among other things, any amendment to
or revocation of such provisions or any change in the composition of the
Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") or any acquisition or business
combination transaction relating to the Company), the Company wishes to provide
in this Agreement for the indemnification of and the advancement of Expenses (as
defined in Section 1(c)) to Indemnitee as set forth in this Agreement and, to
the extent insurance is maintained, for the continued coverage of Indemnitee
under the Company's directors' and officers' liability insurance policies.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Certain Definitions. In addition to terms defined elsewhere herein, the
following terms have the following meanings when used in this Agreement with
initial capital letters:
(a) "Affiliate" has the meaning given to that term in Rule 405 under the
Securities Act of 1933, provided, however, that for purposes of this Agreement
the Company and its subsidiaries will not be deemed to constitute Affiliates of
Indemnitee or the Indemnitee.
(b) "Claim" means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding, or any inquiry or investigation, whether instituted, made or
conducted by the Company or any other party, including without limitation any
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governmental entity, that Indemnitee determines might lead to the institution of
any such action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative,
arbitrative, investigative or other.
(c) "Expenses" includes attorneys' and experts' fees, expenses and
charges and all other costs, expenses and obligations paid or incurred in
connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in
(including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be a witness in or participate
in, any Claim.
(d) "Indemnifiable Losses" means any and all Expenses, damages, losses,
liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement
(including without limitation all interest, assessments and other charges paid
or payable in connection with or in respect of any of the foregoing)
(collectively, "Losses") relating to, resulting from or arising out of any act
or failure to act by the Indemnitee, or his or her status as any person referred
to in clause (i) of this sentence, (i) in his or her capacity as a director,
officer, employee or agent of the Company, any of its Affiliates or any other
entity as to which the indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the
Company as a director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent of
another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other entity or enterprise, whether or not for profit and (ii) in
respect of any business, transaction or other activity of any entity referred to
in clause (i) of this sentence.
2. Basic Indemnification Arrangement. The Company will indemnify and hold
harmless Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of
Delaware in effect on the date hereof or as such laws may from time to time
hereafter be amended to increase the scope of such permitted indemnification,
against all Indemnifiable Losses relating to, resulting from or arising out of
any Claim. The failure by Indemnitee to notify the Company of such Claim will
not relieve the Company from any liability hereunder unless, and only to the
extent that, the Company did not otherwise learn of the Claim and such failure
results in forfeiture by the Company of substantial defenses, rights or
insurance coverage. Except as provided in Section 17, however, Indemnitee will
not be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement in connection with
any Claim initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or any director or officer
of the Company unless the Company has joined in or consented to the initiation
of such Claim. If so requested by Indemnitee, the Company will advance within
two business days of such request any and all Expenses to Indemnitee which
Indemnitee determines reasonably likely to be payable, provided, however, that
Indemnitee will return, without interest, any such advance which remains unspent
at the final conclusion of the Claim to which the advance related.
3. Indemnification for Additional Expenses. Without limiting the generality
or effect of the foregoing, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee against and,
if requested by Indemnitee, will within two business days of such request
advance to Indemnitee, any and all attorneys' fees and other Expenses paid or
incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Claim asserted or brought by
Indemnitee for (i) indemnification or advance payment of Expenses by the Company
under this Agreement or any other agreement or under any provision of the
Company's Constituent Documents now or hereafter in effect relating to Claims
for Indemnifiable Losses and/or (ii) recovery under any directors' and officers'
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liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether
Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification,
advance expense payment or insurance recovery, as the case may be.
4. Partial Indemnity, Etc. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of
this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of any
Indemnifiable Loss but not for all of the total amount thereof, the Company will
nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is
entitled. Moreover, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to
the extent that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in
defense of any or all Claims relating in whole or in part to an Indemnifiable
Loss or in defense of any issue or matter therein, including without limitation
dismissal without prejudice, Indemnitee will be indemnified against all Expenses
incurred in connection therewith. In connection with any determination as to
whether Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified hereunder, there will be a
presumption that Indemnitee is so entitled, which presumption the Company may
overcome only by its adducing clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.
5. No Other Presumption. For purposes of this Agreement, the termination of
any Claim by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court
approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent,
will not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet any particular
standard of conduct or have any particular belief or that a court has determined
that indemnification is not permitted by applicable law.
6. Non-Exclusivity, Etc. The rights of Indemnitee hereunder will be in
addition to any other rights Indemnitee may have under the Constituent
Documents, or the substantive laws of the Company's jurisdiction of
incorporation, any other contract or otherwise (collectively, "Other Indemnity
Provisions"); provided, however, that (i) to the extent that Indemnitee
otherwise would have any greater right to indemnification under any Other
Indemnity Provision, Indemnitee will be deemed to have such greater right
hereunder and (ii) to the extent that any change is made to any Other Indemnity
Provision which permits any greater right to indemnification than that provided
under this Agreement as of the date hereof, Indemnitee will be deemed to have
such greater right hereunder. The Company will not adopt any amendment to any of
the Constituent Documents the effect of which would be to deny, diminish or
encumber Indemnitee's right to indemnification under this Agreement or any Other
Indemnity Provision.
7. Liability Insurance and Funding. To the extent the Company maintains an
insurance policy or policies providing directors' and officers' liability
insurance, Indemnitee will be covered by such policy or policies, in accordance
with its or their terms, to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any
director of the Company. 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 its obligations to indemnify and advance expenses pursuant
to this Agreement.
8. Subrogation. In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company
will be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the related rights of
recovery of Indemnitee against other persons or entities (other than
Indemnitee's successors). The Indemnitee will execute all papers reasonably
required to evidence such rights of recovery (all of Indemnitee's reasonable
Expenses, including attorneys' fees and charges, related thereto to be
reimbursed by or, at the option of Indemnitee, advanced by the Company).
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9. No Duplication of Payments. The Company will not be liable under this
Agreement to make any payment in connection with any Indemnifiable Loss made
against Indemnitee to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise actually received
payment (net of Expenses incurred in connection therewith) under any insurance
policy, the Constituent Documents and Other Indemnity Provisions or otherwise of
the amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder.
10. Defense of Claims. The Company will be entitled to participate in the
defense of any Claim or to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnitee, provided that in the event that (i) the use of
counsel chosen by the Company to represent Indemnitee would present such counsel
with an actual or potential conflict, (ii) the named parties in any such Claim
(including any impleaded parties) include both the Company and Indemnitee and
Indemnitee shall conclude that there may be one or more legal defenses available
to him or her that are different from or in addition to those available to the
Company, or (iii) any such representation by the Company would be precluded
under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, then
Indemnitee will be entitled to retain separate counsel (but not more than one
law firm plus, if applicable, local counsel in respect of any particular Claim)
at the Company's expense. The Company will not, without the prior written
consent of the Indemnitee, effect any settlement of any threatened or pending
Claim which the Indemnitee is or could have been a party 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 the subject matter of
such Claim.
11. Successors and Binding Agreement. (a) The Company will require any
successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation,
reorganization or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or
assets of the Company, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to
Indemnitee and his or her counsel, expressly to assume and agree to perform this
Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent the Company would be
required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement will
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor to the
Company, including without limitation any person acquiring directly or
indirectly all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company
whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise (and
such successor will thereafter be deemed the "Company" for purposes of this
Agreement), but will not otherwise be assignable or delegatable by the Company.
(b) This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Indemnitee's personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, legatees and other successors.
(c) This Agreement is personal in nature and neither of the parties
hereto will, without the consent of the other, assign or delegate this Agreement
or any rights or obligations hereunder except as expressly provided in Sections
11(a) and 11(b). Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing,
Indemnitee's right to receive payments hereunder will not be assignable, whether
by pledge, creation of a security interest or otherwise, other than by a
transfer by the Indemnitee's will or by the laws of descent and distribution,
and, in the event of any attempted assignment or transfer contrary to this
Section 11(c), the Company will have no liability to pay any amount so attempted
to be assigned or transferred.
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12. Notices. For all purposes of this Agreement, all communications,
including without limitation notices, consents, requests or approvals, required
or permitted to be given hereunder will be in writing and will be deemed to have
been duly given when hand delivered or dispatched by electronic facsimile
transmission (with receipt thereof orally confirmed), or five business days
after having been mailed by United States registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested, postage prepaid or one business day after having been sent
for next-day delivery by a nationally recognized overnight courier service,
addressed to the Company (to the attention of the Secretary of the Company) and
to the Indemnitee at the addresses shown on the signature page hereto, or to
such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing and
in accordance herewith, except that notices of changes of address will be
effective only upon receipt.
13. Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and
performance of this Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance
with the substantive laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the
principles of conflict of laws of such State. Each party consents to
non-exclusive jurisdiction of any Delaware state or federal court or any court
in any other jurisdiction in which a Claim is commenced by a third person for
purposes of any action, suit or proceeding hereunder, waives any objection to
venue therein or any defense based on forum non conveniens or similar theories
and agrees that service of process may be effected in any such action, suit or
proceeding by notice given in accordance with Section 12.
14. Validity. If any provision of this Agreement or the application of any
provision hereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, unenforceable or
otherwise illegal, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such
provision to any other person or circumstance will not be affected, and the
provision so held to be invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal will be
reformed to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to make it
enforceable, valid or legal.
15. Miscellaneous. No provision of this Agreement may be waived, modified
or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in
writing signed by Indemnitee and the Company. No waiver by either party hereto
at any time of any breach by the other party hereto or compliance with any
condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party
will be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the
same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral
or otherwise, expressed or implied with respect to the subject matter hereof
have been made by either party that are not set forth expressly in this
Agreement. References to Sections are to references to Sections of this
Agreement.
16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original but all of which
together will constitute one and the same agreement.
17. Legal Fees and Expenses. It is the intent of the Company that the
Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees and or other Expenses associated
with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee's rights under
this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof
would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the
Indemnitee hereunder. Accordingly, without limiting the generality or effect of
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any other provision hereof, if it should appear to the Indemnitee that the
Company has failed to comply with any of its obligations under this Agreement or
in the event that the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any
action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any
litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from,
the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the
Indemnitee hereunder, the Company irrevocably authorizes the Indemnitee from
time to time to retain counsel of Indemnitee's choice, at the expense of the
Company as hereafter provided, to advise and represent the Indemnitee in
connection with any such interpretation, enforcement or defense, including
without limitation the initiation or defense of any litigation or other legal
action, whether by or against the Company or any director, officer, stockholder
or other person affiliated with the Company, in any jurisdiction.
Notwithstanding any existing or prior attorney-client relationship between the
Company and such counsel, the Company irrevocably consents to the Indemnitee's
entering into an attorney-client relationship with such counsel, and in that
connection the Company and the Indemnitee agree that a confidential relationship
shall exist between the Indemnitee and such counsel. Without respect to whether
the Indemnitee prevails, in whole or in part, in connection with any of the
foregoing, the Company will pay and be solely financially responsible for any
and all attorneys' and related fees and expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in
connection with any of the foregoing.
18. Certain Interpretive Matters. No provision of this Agreement will be
interpreted in favor of, or against, either of the parties hereto by reason of
the extent to which any such party or its counsel participated in the drafting
thereof or by reason of the extent to which any such provision is inconsistent
with any prior draft hereof or thereof.
[Signatures appear on following page.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Indemnitee has executed and the Company has caused
its duly authorized representative to execute this Agreement as of the date
first above written.
ALBERTSON'S, INC.
250 Parkcenter Boulevard
Boise, Idaho 83706
By: ________________________
Name:
Title:
[INDEMNITEE]
[Address]
By: ________________________
[Indemnitee]