Indemnity Agreement - Interchange Corp.
INDEMNITY AGREEMENT
This Indemnity Agreement ("Agreement") is made as of __________ __, 2004
by and between Interchange Corporation, 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 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, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has
determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the
Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense,
liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries
from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a
customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and
other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market
conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only
at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors,
officers and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises
are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation
relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been
brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. The Certificate
of Incorporation (the "Charter") and the Bylaws of the Company require
indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may
also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to applicable provisions of the
Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL"). The Charter, the Bylaws and the DGCL
expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not
exclusive, and thereby contemplate 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 uncertainties relating to such insurance and to
indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such
persons;
WHEREAS, the Board 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;
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WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the
Charter, 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; and
WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the
Company's Charter, Bylaws and insurance as adequate in the present
circumstances, and may not be willing to serve as an officer or director without
adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such
capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on
additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that he be
so indemnified;
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
as an officer, director or key employee of the Company for so long as Indemnitee
is duly elected or appointed or until Indemnitee tenders his resignation.
2. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement:
(a) References to "agent" shall mean any person who is or was a
director, officer, or employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or
other person authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such
person serving in such capacity as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or
other official of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of, for the convenience
of, or to represent the interests of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.
(b) The terms "Beneficial Owner" and "Beneficial Ownership" shall
have the meanings set forth in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (as
defined below) as in effect on the date hereof.
(c) 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) Acquisition of Stock by Third Party. Any Person (as
defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of
securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the
combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities entitled to
vote generally in the election of directors, unless (1) the change in the
relative Beneficial Ownership of the Company's securities by any Person results
solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of
securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, or (2) such
acquisition was approved in advance by the Continuing Directors (as defined
below) and such acquisition would not constitute a Change in Control under part
(iii) of this definition;
(ii) Change in Board of Directors. Individuals who, as of the
date hereof, constitute the Board, and any new director whose election by the
Board or nomination
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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 were directors on the date
hereof or whose election for nomination for election was previously so approved
(collectively, the "Continuing Directors"), cease for any reason to constitute
at least a majority of the members of the Board;
(iii) Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a
reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company (a "Business
Combination"), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination: (1)
all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the Beneficial
Owners of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or
indirectly, more than 51% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding
securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors resulting from such Business Combination (including, without
limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company
or all or substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or through
one or more Subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the securities
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; (2) no Person
(excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination) is the
Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 15% or more of the combined voting
power of the then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors of such corporation except to the extent that such
ownership existed prior to the Business Combination; and (3) at least a majority
of the Board of Directors of the corporation resulting from such Business
Combination were Continuing Directors at the time of the execution of the
initial agreement, or of the action of the Board of Directors, providing for
such Business Combination;
(iv) Liquidation. The approval by the stockholders of the
Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement or series of
agreements for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially
all of the Company's assets, other than factoring the Company's current
receivables or escrows due (or, if such approval is not required, the decision
by the Board to proceed with such a liquidation, sale, or disposition in one
transaction or a series of related transactions); or
(v) 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.
(d) "Corporate Status" describes the status of a person who is or
was a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary,
employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise (as defined below)
which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.
(e) "Delaware Court" shall mean the Court of Chancery of the State
of Delaware.
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(f) "Disinterested Director" shall mean a director of the Company
who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding (as defined below) in respect
of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.
(g) "Enterprise" shall mean the Company and any other corporation,
constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in
a consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its wholly owned
subsidiaries) is a party, 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, trustee, general
partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent.
(h) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
(i) "Expenses" shall include attorneys' fees and costs, 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 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 (as defined below). Expenses also shall include Expenses incurred in
connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding (as defined below),
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.
(j) "Independent Counsel" shall mean 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 (as defined below) 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.
(k) References to "fines" shall include any excise tax assessed on
Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to "serving at
the request of the Company" shall include any service as a director, officer,
employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves
services by, such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary with respect
to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and if
Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to
be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee
benefit plan, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in a manner "not opposed
to the best interests of the Company" as referred to in this Agreement.
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(l) The term "Person" shall have the meaning as set forth in
Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof;
provided, however, that "Person" shall exclude: (i) the Company; (ii) any
Subsidiaries (as defined below) of the Company; (iii) any employment benefit
plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary (as defined below) of the Company or of
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; and (iv) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an
employee benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary (as defined below) of
the Company or of a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders
of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock
of the Company.
(m) A "Potential Change in Control" shall be deemed to have
occurred if: (i) the Company enters into an agreement or arrangement, the
consummation of which would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control;
(ii) any Person or the Company publicly announces an intention to take or
consider taking actions which if consummated would constitute a Change in
Control; (iii) any Person who becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 5% or more of the combined
voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors increases his Beneficial Ownership of
such securities by 5% or more over the percentage so owned by such Person on the
date hereof; or (iv) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that, for
purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control has occurred.
(n) 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 (including intentional or unintentional tort
claims), 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 or officer of the Company, by reason of any
action (or failure to act) taken by him or of any action (or failure to act) on
his part while acting as a director or officer 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, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent
of any 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.
(o) The term "Subsidiary," with respect to any Person, shall mean
any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the
voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by
that Person.
3. INDEMNITY IN THIRD-PARTY PROCEEDINGS. The Company shall indemnify
and hold harmless Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3
if Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant
(as a witness or otherwise) 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 against all Expenses, judgments,
liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all
interest,
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assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect
of such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement)
actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee 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 and hold harmless Indemnitee in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made,
a party to or a participant (as a witness or otherwise) 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 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 any court in which the Proceeding was brought or the Delaware Court
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
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 and hold
harmless 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 and hold harmless 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 and hold harmless 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 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 and held harmless against all Expenses actually
and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith.
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7. ADDITIONAL INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, the
Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee 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, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including
all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with
or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in
settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with
the Proceeding. 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 and hold harmless Indemnitee 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, penalties and amounts paid in settlement
(including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in
connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and
amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in
connection with the Proceeding.
8. CONTRIBUTION IN THE EVENT OF JOINT LIABILITY.
(a) To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the
indemnification and hold harmless rights provided for in this Agreement are
unavailable to Indemnitee in whole or in part for any reason whatsoever, the
Company, in lieu of indemnifying and holding harmless Indemnitee, shall pay, in
the first instance, the entire amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for
judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties, amounts paid or to be paid in
settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any Proceeding without
requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment, and the Company hereby
waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have at any time
against Indemnitee.
(b) The Company shall not enter into any settlement of any
Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be
if joined in such Proceeding) unless such settlement provides for a full and
final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee.
(c) The Company hereby agrees to fully indemnify and hold harmless
Indemnitee from any claims for contribution which may be brought by officers,
directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who may be jointly
liable with Indemnitee.
9. 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:
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(a) for which payment has actually been received by or on behalf
of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except
with respect to any excess beyond the amount actually received under any
insurance policy, contract, agreement, other indemnity provision or otherwise;
(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 Exchange Act or similar provisions of state
statutory law or common law; or
(c) except as otherwise provided in Sections 14(e)-(f) hereof,
prior to a Change in Control, 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 or its directors,
officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the
Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) the
Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the
powers vested in the Company under applicable law.
10. ADVANCES OF EXPENSES; DEFENSE OF CLAIM.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company
shall advance the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee (or reasonably expected by
Indemnitee to be incurred by Indemnitee within three months) in connection with
any Proceeding within ten (10) 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 a Proceeding 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, to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, 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 under the provisions of this
Agreement, the Charter, the Bylaws of the Company, applicable law or otherwise.
This Section 10(a) shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which
indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 9.
(b) The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding
at its own expense.
(c) The Company shall not settle any action, claim or Proceeding
(in whole or in part) which would impose any Expense, judgment, fine, penalty or
limitation on the Indemnitee without the Indemnitee's prior written consent.
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11. PROCEDURE FOR NOTIFICATION AND APPLICATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) Indemnitee agrees to notify promptly 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.
(b) Indemnitee may deliver to the Company a written application to
indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee in accordance with this Agreement. Such
application(s) may be delivered from time to time and at such time(s) as
Indemnitee deems appropriate in his or her sole discretion. Following such a
written application for indemnification by Indemnitee, the Indemnitee's
entitlement to indemnification shall be determined according to Section 12(a) of
this Agreement.
12. PROCEDURE UPON APPLICATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) A determination, if required by applicable law, with respect
to Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification shall be made in the specific
case by one of the following methods, which shall be at the election of
Indemnitee: (i) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though
less than a quorum of the Board or (ii) by Independent Counsel in a written
opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee. The
Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any
determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification,
including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has
been denied. 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 reasonably 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 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 12(a)
hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section
12(b). The Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless
Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board), and
Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity
of the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying that the Independent
Counsel so selected meets the requirements of "Independent Counsel" as defined
in Section 2 of this Agreement. If the Independent Counsel is selected by the
Board, the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising him of the
identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying
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that the Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements of "Independent
Counsel" as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. In either event, Indemnitee
or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written
notice of selection shall have been received, 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 of competent jurisdiction has determined that such
objection is without merit. If, within twenty (20) days after submission by
Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a)
hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to,
either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court 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 Delaware Court, and the person
with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed
shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 12(a) hereof. Upon the due
commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(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).
(c) The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of
Independent Counsel and to fully indemnify and hold harmless such Independent
Counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising
out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.
13. PRESUMPTIONS AND EFFECT OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS.
(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to
indemnification hereunder, the person, 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 11(b) 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
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 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 12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification shall not have
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made a determination within thirty (30) 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 (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or
an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee's statement not
materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or
(ii) a final judicial determination that any or all such indemnification is
expressly prohibited under applicable law; provided, however, that such 30-day
period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional
fifteen (15) 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.
(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) 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 by the Enterprise. The provisions of this Section 13(d)
shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other
circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed or found to have met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.
(e) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other
director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, agent or
employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of
determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.
14. REMEDIES OF INDEMNITEE.
(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to
Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification
under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, is not timely made pursuant to Section 10 of this
Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have
been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement within thirty (30) days
after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of
indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5, 6, 7 or the last sentence of
Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the
Company of a written request therefor, (v) a contribution payment is not made in
a timely manner pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement, or (vi) payment
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of indemnification pursuant to Section 3 or 4 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
the Delaware Court to such indemnification, contribution 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. Except as set forth
herein, the provisions of Delaware law (without regard to its conflict of laws
rules) shall apply to any such arbitration. 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 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to
this Section 14 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 14, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to
indemnification under this Agreement and the Company shall have the burden of
proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of
Expenses, as the case may be, and the Company may not refer to or introduce into
evidence any determination pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement adverse
to Indemnitee for any purpose. If Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or
arbitration pursuant to this Section 14, Indemnitee shall not be required to
reimburse the Company for any advances pursuant to Section 10 until a final
determination is made with respect to Indemnitee's entitlement to
indemnification (as to which all rights of appeal have been exhausted or
lapsed).
(c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section
12(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 14, absent (i) a misstatement by
Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to
make Indemnitee's statement not materially misleading, in connection with the
request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under
applicable law.
(d) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial
proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 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.
(e) The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee to
the fullest extent permitted by law against all Expenses and, if requested by
Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after the Company's receipt of such
written request) advance to Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, such Expenses which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection
with any judicial proceeding or arbitration brought by Indemnitee (i) to enforce
his rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement or any
other indemnification, advancement or contribution agreement or provision of the
Charter, or the Company's Bylaws now or hereafter in effect; or (ii) for
recovery or advances under any insurance policy maintained by any person for the
benefit of Indemnitee, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is
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determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advance, contribution or
insurance recovery, as the case may be.
(f) Interest shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee at the
legal rate under Delaware law for amounts which the Company indemnifies or is
obliged to indemnify for the period commencing with the date on which Indemnitee
requests indemnification, contribution, reimbursement or advancement of any
Expenses and ending with the date on which such payment is made to Indemnitee by
the Company.
15. ESTABLISHMENT OF TRUST. In the event of a Potential Change in
Control, the Company shall, upon written request by Indemnitee, create a "Trust"
for the benefit of Indemnitee and from time to time upon written request of
Indemnitee shall fund such Trust in an amount sufficient to satisfy any and all
Expenses reasonably anticipated at the time of each such request to be incurred
in connection with investigating, preparing for, participating in or defending
any Proceedings, and any and all judgments, fines, 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 and
amounts paid in settlement) in connection with any and all Proceedings from time
to time actually paid or claimed, reasonably anticipated or proposed to be paid.
The trustee of the Trust (the "Trustee") shall be a bank or trust company or
other individual or entity chosen by the Indemnitee and reasonably acceptable to
the Company. Nothing in this Section 15 shall relieve the Company of any of its
obligations under this Agreement. The amount or amounts to be deposited in the
Trust pursuant to the foregoing funding obligation shall be determined by mutual
agreement of the Indemnitee and the Company or, if the Company and the
Indemnitee are unable to reach such an agreement, by Independent Counsel
selected in accordance with Section 12(b) of this Agreement. The terms of the
Trust shall provide that, except upon the consent of both the Indemnitee and the
Company, upon a Change in Control: (a) the Trust shall not be revoked or the
principal thereof invaded, without the written consent of the Indemnitee; (b)
the Trustee shall advance, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law,
within two (2) business days of a request by the Indemnitee and 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, any
and all Expenses to the Indemnitee; (c) the Trust shall continue to be funded by
the Company in accordance with the funding obligations set forth above; (d) the
Trustee shall promptly pay to the Indemnitee all amounts for which the
Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement or
otherwise; and (e) all unexpended funds in such Trust shall revert to the
Company upon mutual agreement by the Indemnitee and the Company or, if the
Indemnitee and the Company are unable to reach such an agreement, by Independent
Counsel selected in accordance with Section 12(b) of this Agreement, that the
Indemnitee has been fully indemnified under the terms of this Agreement. The
Trust shall be governed by Delaware law (without regard to its conflicts of laws
rules) and the Trustee shall consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the
Delaware Court in accordance with Section 23 of this Agreement.
16. SECURITY. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the
extent requested by the Indemnitee and approved by the Board, the Company may at
any time and from time to time provide security to the Indemnitee for the
Company's obligations hereunder through
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an irrevocable bank line of credit, funded trust or other collateral. Any such
security, once provided to the Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released
without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee.
17. NON-EXCLUSIVITY; SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS; INSURANCE; 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 Charter, 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 applicable law, whether by statute or
judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses
than would be afforded currently under the Charter, the Company's Bylaws or 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) The DGCL, the Charter and the Company's Bylaws permit the
Company to purchase and maintain insurance or furnish similar protection or make
other arrangements including, but not limited to, providing a trust fund, letter
of credit, or surety bond ("Indemnification Arrangements") on behalf of
Indemnitee against any liability asserted against him or incurred by or on
behalf of him or in such capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent of
the Company, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Company
would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the
provisions of this Agreement or under the DGCL, as it may then be in effect. The
purchase, establishment, and maintenance of any such Indemnification Arrangement
shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company
or of the Indemnitee under this Agreement except as expressly provided herein,
and the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the
Indemnitee shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of
the Company or the other party or parties thereto under any such Indemnification
Arrangement.
(c) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy
or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, trustees,
partners, managing members, fiduciaries, employees, or agents of the Company or
of any other Enterprise which such person serves at the request of the Company,
Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or
their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such
director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or
agent under such policy or policies. If, at the time the Company receives notice
from any source of a Proceeding as to which Indemnitee is a party or a
participant (as a witness or otherwise), the Company has director and officer
liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such
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Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the
respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or
desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all
amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of
such policies.
(d) 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.
(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, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or
agent of any other Enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has
actually received as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such
Enterprise.
18. DURATION OF AGREEMENT. All agreements and obligations of the Company
contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee serves as a
director or officer of the Company or as a director, officer, trustee, partner,
managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other Enterprise
which Indemnitee serves at the request of the Company and shall continue
thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible Proceeding
(including any rights of appeal thereto and any Proceeding commenced by
Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement) by reason of his Corporate
Status, whether or not he is acting in any such capacity at the time any
liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under
this Agreement.
19. SEVERABILITY. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement 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, paragraph
or sentence 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, paragraph or
sentence 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.
20. ENFORCEMENT AND BINDING EFFECT.
(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
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serve as a director, officer or key employee of the Company, and the Company
acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a
director, officer or key employee of the Company.
(b) Without limiting any of the rights of Indemnitee under the
Charter or Bylaws of the Company as they may be amended from time to time, 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.
(c) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or
granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by
the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any
direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to
all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), shall
continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee
or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise at the Company's request, and
shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and his or her spouse, assigns, heirs,
devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives.
(d) The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether
direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all,
substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the
Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the
Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same
manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if
no such succession had taken place.
(e) The Company and Indemnitee agree herein that a monetary remedy
for breach of this Agreement, at some later date, may be inadequate,
impracticable and difficult of proof, and further agree that such breach may
cause Indemnitee irreparable harm. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that
Indemnitee may enforce this Agreement by seeking injunctive relief and/or
specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or
irreparable harm and that by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific
performance, Indemnitee shall not be precluded from seeking or obtaining any
other relief to which he may be entitled. The Company and Indemnitee further
agree that Indemnitee shall be entitled to such specific performance and
injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary
injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bonds or
other undertaking in connection therewith. The Company acknowledges that in the
absence of a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be required of Indemnitee by the
Court, and the Company hereby waives any such requirement of such a bond or
undertaking.
21. MODIFICATION AND WAIVER. No supplement, modification or amendment of
this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties
hereto. 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.
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22. NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly
given (i) if delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said
notice or other communication shall have been directed, or (ii) mailed by
certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third (3rd) business
day after the date on which it is so mailed:
(a) If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature
page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide in
writing to the Company.
(b) If to the Company, to:
Interchange Corporation
24422 Avenida de la Carlota, Suite 120
Laguna Hills, California 92653
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee in writing by
the Company.
23. 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 14(a) of this Agreement, the Company and
Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally: (a) agree that any action or
proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought
only in 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; (b) 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; (c)
appoint irrevocably, to the extent such party is not a resident of the State of
Delaware, RL&F 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; (d) waive
any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the
Delaware Court; and (e) 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, or is subject (in whole or in part) to a jury
trial.
24. 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.
25. 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
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are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of
this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as
of the day and year first above written.
INTERCHANGE CORPORATION INDEMNITEE:
By:_________________________________ ________________________________
Heath B. Clarke
Chief Executive Officer
Address:__________________________
__________________________
__________________________