EX-10.1 7 ea020218904ex10-1_gauzy.htm FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.1

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of [●] [●], 2024, is entered into by and between Gauzy Ltd., an Israeli company (company number 514335967) whose address is 14 Hathiya Street, Tel Aviv 6816914, Israel, e-mail: legal@gauzy.com (the “Company”), and the undersigned Office Holder (as defined below) of the Company whose name appears on the signature page hereto (the “Indemnitee”).

 

WHEREAS,   Indemnitee is an Office Holder (“Nosse Misra”), as such term is defined in the Companies Law, 5759–1999, as amended (the “Office Holder” and the “Companies Law” respectively), of the Company;
   
WHEREAS,   both the Company and Indemnitee recognize the increased risk of litigation and other claims being asserted against Office Holders of companies;
   
WHEREAS,   the Amended and Restated Articles of Association of the Company (the “Articles of Association”) authorize the Company to indemnify and advance expenses to its Office Holders and provide for insurance and exculpation to its Office Holders, in each case, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law;
   
WHEREAS,   the Company has determined that (i) the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining competent persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its shareholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future, and (ii) it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company to contractually 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; and
   
WHEREAS,   in recognition of Indemnitee’s need for substantial protection against personal liability in order to assure Indemnitee’s continued service to the Company in an effective manner and, in part, in order to provide Indemnitee with specific contractual assurance that the indemnification, insurance and exculpation afforded by the Articles of Association will be available to Indemnitee, the Company wishes to undertake in this Agreement for the indemnification of and the advancing of expenses to Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and as set forth in this Agreement and provide for insurance and exculpation of Indemnitee as set forth in this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE.

 

1.1.The Company hereby undertakes to indemnify Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, for any liability and expense specified in Sections ‎1.1.1 through ‎1.1.4 below, imposed on or incurred by Indemnitee due to or in connection with an act performed by such Indemnitee, either prior to or after the date hereof, in Indemnitee’s capacity as an Office Holder, including, without limitation, as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company, any subsidiary thereof or any other corporation, collaboration, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, in which Indemnitee serves at any time at the request of the Company (the “Corporate Capacity”). The term “act performed in Indemnitee’s capacity as an Office Holder” shall include, without limitation, any act, omission or failure to act and any other circumstances relating to or arising from Indemnitee’s service in a Corporate Capacity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Office Holder is the beneficiary of an indemnification undertaking provided by a subsidiary of the Company or any such other entity with respect to his or her Corporate Capacity, then the indemnification obligations of the Company hereunder with respect to such Corporate Capacity shall only apply to the extent that the indemnification by such subsidiary or other entity does not cover the liabilities and expenses that are indemnifiable by the Company under this Agreement. The following shall be hereinafter referred to as “Indemnifiable Events”:

 

1.1.1.Financial liabilities imposed on or incurred by Indemnitee in favor of another person pursuant to a judgment, including a judgment rendered in the context of a settlement or an arbitrator’s award approved by a court;

 

 

 

 

1.1.2.Reasonable Expenses (as defined below) incurred by Indemnitee as a result of an investigation or proceeding instituted against Indemnitee by an authority that is authorized to conduct such investigation or proceeding, and that was concluded without the filing of an indictment against Indemnitee and without imposing on Indemnitee a financial liability in lieu of a criminal proceeding, or that was concluded without the filing of an indictment against Indemnitee but imposing a financial liability in lieu of a criminal proceeding for an offense that does not require proof of mens rea, or in connection with a financial sanction. In this section, the terms or phrases “conclusion of a proceeding without the filing of an indictment,” “financial liability in lieu of a criminal proceeding” and “financial sanction,” or similar terms or phrases, shall have the meanings assigned to such terms or phrases or referred to in Section 260(a)(1a) of the Companies Law;

 

1.1.3.Reasonable Expenses incurred by or imposed on Indemnitee by a court in a proceeding instituted against Indemnitee by the Company or on its behalf or by another person, or in connection with a criminal charge from which Indemnitee was acquitted or for which Indemnitee was convicted of an offense that does not require proof of mens rea; and

 

1.1.4.Any other event, occurrence, matter or circumstances under any law with respect to which the Company may, or will be able to, indemnify an Office Holder (including, without limitation, in accordance with Section 56H(b)(1) of the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968 (the “Israeli Securities Law”) and Section 50P(b)(2) of the Israeli Economic Competition Law, 5748-1988 (the “Economic Competition Law”)).

 

For the purpose of this Agreement, “Expenses” shall include, without limitation, legal fees and all other costs, expenses and obligations paid or incurred by Indemnitee 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, action, suit, demand, proceeding, alternative dispute resolution mechanism, hearing, inquiry or investigation, whether civil, criminal or investigative (each a “Claim”) relating to any matter for which indemnification hereunder may be provided. Expenses shall be considered paid or incurred by Indemnitee at such time as Indemnitee is required to pay or incur such costs or expenses, including upon receipt of an invoice or payment demand. The Company shall pay the Expenses in accordance with the provisions of Section ‎1.3.

 

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1.2.Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company’s undertaking to indemnify Indemnitee in advance under Section ‎1.1.1 shall only be with respect to events described in Exhibit A hereto. The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that the categories of events listed in Exhibit A are foreseeable in light of the operations of the Company. The maximum amount of indemnification payable by the Company under Section ‎1.1.1 with respect to the specific events described in Exhibit A during any five-year period (a “Five-Year Period”) commencing on the closing of the first issuance and sale of the Company’s ordinary shares to the public, pursuant to an effective registration statement under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the securities law of any other jurisdiction (“IPO”), and for every subsequent Five-Year Period shall be as set forth in Exhibit A hereto (the “Limit Amount”). If the Company undertook to indemnify multiple persons under agreements similar to this Agreement (the “Indemnifiable Persons”), the Limit Amount for any Five-Year Period shall apply to all Indemnifiable Persons, in the aggregate, and if the Limit Amount is insufficient to cover all the indemnity amounts payable with respect to all Indemnifiable Persons during the relevant Five-Year Period, then such amount shall be allocated to such Indemnifiable Persons pro rata according to the percentage of their culpability, as finally determined by a court tribunal or any other competent authority in the relevant Claim, or, absent such determination or in the event such persons are parties to different Claims, based on an equal pro rata allocation among such Indemnifiable Persons. The Limit Amount payable by the Company as described in Exhibit A is deemed by the Board to be reasonable in light of the circumstances. The indemnification provided under Section ‎1.1.1 shall not be subject to the limitations imposed by this Section ‎1.2 and Exhibit A if and to the extent such limits are not or are no longer required by the Companies Law.

 

1.3.If so requested by Indemnitee in writing, and subject to the Company’s repayment and reimbursement rights set forth in Sections ‎3 and ‎5 below, the Company shall pay amounts to cover Indemnitee’s Expenses with respect to which Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified under Section ‎1.1, as and when incurred. The payments of such amounts shall be made by the Company directly to Indemnitee’s legal and other advisors, as soon as practicable, but in any event no later than fifteen (15) days after written demand by Indemnitee therefor to the Company, and any such payment shall be deemed to constitute indemnification hereunder. As part of the aforementioned undertaking, the Company will make available to Indemnitee any security or guarantee that Indemnitee may be required to post in accordance with an interim decision given by a court, governmental or administrative body, or an arbitrator, including for the purpose of substituting liens imposed on Indemnitee’s assets.

 

1.4.The Company’s obligation to indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses in accordance with this Agreement shall be for such period (the “Indemnification Period”) as Indemnitee shall be subject to any actual, possible or threatened Claim arising out of the Indemnitee’s service in a Corporate Capacity, whether or not Indemnitee is still serving in such position.

 

1.5.The Company undertakes that, subject to the mandatory limitations under applicable law, as long as it may be obligated to provide indemnification and advance Expenses under this Agreement, the Company will purchase and maintain in effect directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, which will include coverage for the benefit of Indemnitee, providing coverage in amounts as reasonably determined by the Board; provided that, the Company shall have no obligation to obtain or maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance if the Company determines in good faith that such insurance is not reasonably available, the premium costs for such insurance or deductible amounts thereunder are disproportionate to the amount of coverage provided, or the coverage provided by such insurance is so limited by exclusions that it provides an insufficient benefit. The Company hereby undertakes to notify Indemnitee prior to the expiration or termination of the directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.

 

1.6.The Company undertakes to give prompt written notice of the commencement of any claim hereunder to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in each of the relevant policies. The Company shall thereafter diligently take all actions reasonably necessary under the circumstances to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such claim in accordance with the terms of such policies. The above shall not derogate from the Company’s authority to freely negotiate or reach any compromise with the insurer which is reasonable in the Company’s sole discretion, provided that the Company shall act in good faith and in a diligent manner.

 

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2.SPECIFIC LIMITATIONS ON INDEMNIFICATION.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall not indemnify or advance Expenses to Indemnitee with respect to (i) any act, event or circumstance with respect to which it is prohibited to do so under applicable law, or (ii) a counterclaim made by the Company or in its name in connection with a claim, action, suit, demand or proceeding against the Company filed by Indemnitee.

 

3.REPAYMENT OF EXPENSES.

 

3.1.In the event that the Company provides or is required to provide indemnification with respect to Expenses hereunder and at any time thereafter the Company determines, based on advice from its legal counsel, that Indemnitee was not entitled to such payments, the amounts so indemnified by the Company will be promptly repaid by Indemnitee, unless Indemnitee disputes the Company’s determination, in which case Indemnitee’s obligation to repay to the Company shall be postponed until such dispute is resolved.

 

3.2.Indemnitee’s obligation to repay to the Company for any Expenses or other sums paid hereunder shall be deemed as a loan given to Indemnitee by the Company subject to the minimum interest rate prescribed by Section 3(9) of the Income Tax Ordinance [New Version], 5721-1961, or any other legislation replacing it, which is not considered a taxable benefit.

 

4.SUBROGATION.

 

4.1.In the event of payment under this Agreement by the Company or on its behalf, the Company, or in the Company’s discretion, the payee on its behalf, shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all documents required and shall do everything that may be necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents necessary to enable the Company or payee to effectively bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

4.2.The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by shareholder(s) of the Company or certain of Indemnitee’s or such shareholder’s affiliates (collectively, the “Secondary Indemnitors”). The Company hereby agrees (i) that it is the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to Indemnitee are primary and any obligation of the Secondary Indemnitors to advance Expenses or to provide indemnification for the same Expenses or liabilities incurred by Indemnitee are secondary), (ii) that it shall be required to advance the full amount of Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall be liable for the full amount of all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement to the extent legally permitted but only as required by the terms of this Agreement, the Articles of Association (or any other agreement between the Company and Indemnitee), without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against the Secondary Indemnitors, and, (iii) that it irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the Secondary Indemnitors from any and all claims against the Secondary Indemnitors for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. Without altering or expanding any of the Company’s indemnification obligations hereunder, the Company further agrees that no advancement or payment by the Secondary Indemnitors on behalf of Indemnitee with respect to any claim for which Indemnitee has sought indemnification from the Company shall affect the foregoing and the Secondary Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution and/or be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee against the Company. The Company and Indemnitee agree that the Secondary Indemnitors are express third-party beneficiaries of the terms of this Section ‎4.2.

 

5.REIMBURSEMENT.

 

The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment in connection with any Indemnifiable Event to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment under any insurance policy or otherwise (without any obligation of Indemnitee to repay any such amount) of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder. Any amounts paid to Indemnitee under any such insurance policy or otherwise after the Company has indemnified Indemnitee for such liability or Expense shall be repaid to the Company by Indemnitee promptly upon receipt by Indemnitee, in accordance with the terms set forth in Section ‎3.2.

 

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6.EFFECTIVENESS.

 

The Company represents and warrants that this Agreement is valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms and was duly adopted and approved by the Company, and shall be in full force and effect immediately upon its execution (or, if executed prior to the Company’s IPO, immediately prior to the closing of the IPO).

 

7.NOTIFICATION AND DEFENSE OF CLAIM.

 

Indemnitee shall notify the Company of the commencement of any Claim and of the receipt of any notice or threat that any such Claim has been or shall or may be initiated against Indemnitee (including any Claim by or against the Company and any subsidiary thereof), promptly upon Indemnitee first becoming so aware; but the omission so to notify the Company will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement unless and to the extent that such failure to provide notice prejudices the Company’s ability to defend such Claim. Notice to the Company shall be directed to the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company at the address shown in the preamble to this Agreement (or such other address as the Company shall designate in writing to Indemnitee). With respect to any such Claim as to which Indemnitee notifies the Company of the commencement thereof and without derogating from Sections ‎1.1 and ‎2:

 

7.1.The Company will be entitled to participate therein at its own expense.

 

7.2.Except as otherwise provided below, the Company, alone or jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, will be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel selected by the Company. Indemnitee shall have the right to employ his or her own counsel in such Claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel incurred after notice from the Company of its assumption of the defense thereof shall be at the expense of Indemnitee, unless: (i) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been authorized in writing by the Company; (ii) the Company, in good faith, reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of the defense of such Claim; or (iii) the Company has not in fact employed counsel to assume the defense of such Claim within reasonable time, in which cases the reasonable fees and expenses of Indemnitee’s counsel shall be at the expense of the Company. The Company shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any Claim brought by or on behalf of the Company or as to which the Company shall have reached the conclusion specified in (ii) above.

 

7.3.The Company shall not be liable to indemnify Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts or expenses paid in connection with a settlement of any Claim effected without the Company’s prior written consent.

 

7.4.The Company shall have the right to conduct the defense as it sees fit in its sole discretion (provided that the Company shall conduct the defense in good faith and in a diligent manner), including the right to settle or compromise any Claim or to consent to the entry of any judgment against Indemnitee without the consent of Indemnitee, provided that, the amount of such settlement, compromise or judgment does not exceed the Limit Amount (if applicable) and is fully indemnifiable pursuant to this Agreement (subject to Section 1.2 of this Agreement) and/or applicable law, and any such settlement, compromise or judgment does not impose any penalty or limitation on Indemnitee without Indemnitee’s prior written consent. Indemnitee’s consent shall not be required if the settlement includes a complete release of Indemnitee, does not contain any admission of wrong-doing by Indemnitee, and includes monetary sanctions only as provided above. In the case of criminal proceedings, the Company and/or its legal counsel will not have the right to plead guilty or agree to a plea-bargain in Indemnitee’s name without Indemnitee’s prior written consent. Neither the Company nor Indemnitee will unreasonably withhold or delay their consent to any proposed settlement.

 

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7.5.Indemnitee shall fully cooperate with the Company and shall give the Company all information and access to documents, files and to his or her advisors and representatives as shall be within Indemnitee’s power, as may be required by the Company with respect to any Claim which is the subject matter of this Agreement and in the defense of other Claims asserted against the Company (other than claims asserted by Indemnitee), provided that the Company shall cover all expenses, costs and fees incidental thereto such that Indemnitee will not be required to pay or bear such expenses, costs and fees.

 

8.EXCULPATION.

 

Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, the Company hereby releases, in advance, Indemnitee from liability to the Company for any damage that arises from the breach of Indemnitee’s duty of care to the Company (within the meaning of such terms under Sections 252 and 253 of the Companies Law), other than breach of the duty of care towards the Company in a distribution (as such term is defined in the Companies Law).

 

9.NON-EXCLUSIVITY.

 

The rights of Indemnitee hereunder shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights Indemnitee may have under the Articles of Association, applicable law or otherwise, and to the extent that during the Indemnification Period the indemnification rights of the then serving Office Holders of the Company are more favorable to such Office Holders than the indemnification rights provided under this Agreement to Indemnitee, Indemnitee shall be entitled to the full benefits of such more favorable indemnification rights to the extent permitted by law.

 

10.PARTIAL INDEMNIFICATION.

 

If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of the expenses, judgments, fines or penalties actually or reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Claim, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion of such expenses, judgments, fines or penalties to which Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement. Subject to the provisions of Section ‎5 above, any amount received by Indemnitee (under any insurance policy or otherwise) shall not reduce the Limit Amount hereunder and shall not derogate from the Company’s obligation to indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement up to the Limit Amount, as applicable.

 

11.BINDING EFFECT.

 

This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. In the event of a merger or consolidation of the Company or a transfer or disposition of all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company, Indemnitee shall be entitled to the same indemnification and insurance provisions as the most favorable indemnification and insurance provisions afforded to the then-serving Office Holders of the Company. In the event that in connection with such transaction the Company purchases a directors’ and officers’ “tail” or “run-off” policy for the benefit of its then serving Office Holders, then such policy shall cover Indemnitee and such coverage shall be deemed to be in satisfaction of the insurance requirements under this Agreement. This Agreement shall continue in effect during the Indemnification Period regardless of whether Indemnitee continues to serve in a Corporate Capacity.

 

Any amendment to the Companies Law, the Israeli Securities Law, the Economic Competition Law or other applicable law adversely affecting the right of Indemnitee to be indemnified, insured or released pursuant hereto shall be prospective in effect, and shall not affect the Company’s obligation or ability to indemnify or insure Indemnitee for any act or omission occurring prior to such amendment, unless otherwise provided by applicable law.

 

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12.SEVERABILITY.

 

The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof or any circumstance, is invalid or unenforceable, (a) a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order to carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid or unenforceable provision and (b) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision or circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity or unenforceability affect the validity or enforceability of such provision, or the application thereof, in any other jurisdiction.

 

13.NOTICE.

 

All notices and other communications pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed provided if delivered personally, telecopied, sent by electronic facsimile, email, reputable overnight courier or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), postage prepaid, to the Company at the address shown in the preamble to this Agreement and to Indemnitee at the address shown in the signature page to this Agreement, or to such other address as the party to whom notice is to be given may have furnished to the other party hereto in writing in accordance herewith. Any such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been delivered and received (i) in the case of personal delivery, on the date of such delivery, (ii) in the case of telecopier or electronic facsimile, one (1) business day after the date of transmission if confirmation of receipt is received, (iii) in the case of email, one (1) business day after the date of transmission (provided that the notice shall not be deemed given if the sender receives an automatic system-generated response that such electronic mail was undeliverable), (iv) in the case of a reputable overnight courier, three (3) business days after deposit with such reputable overnight courier service, and (v) in the case of mailing, on the seventh (7th) business day following that on which the mail containing such communication is posted. In the case of clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), if such notice or other communication is received after 5:00 p.m. on a business day (in the country of the addressee), or is received on a day that is not a business day (in the country of the addressee), then such notice or other communication will not be deemed effective or given until 9:00 a.m. on the next succeeding business day (in the country of the addressee).

 

14.GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION.

 

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Israel, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflicts of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Israel or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the State of Israel. The Company and Indemnitee each hereby irrevocably consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the courts of Tel Aviv, Israel for all purposes in connection with any action or proceeding which arises out of or relates to this Agreement.

 

15.ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

 

This Agreement represents the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes any other agreements, contracts or understandings between the parties, whether written or oral, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

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16.NO MODIFICATION AND NO WAIVER.

 

No supplement, modification or amendment, termination or cancellation of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of 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 hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver. Any waiver shall be in writing. The Company hereby undertakes not to amend its Articles of Association in a manner which will adversely affect the provisions of this Agreement.

 

17.ASSIGNMENTS; NO THIRD-PARTY RIGHTS.

 

Neither party hereto may assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder except with the express prior written consent of the other party. Other than as specifically stated in Section ‎4.2, nothing herein shall be deemed to create or imply an obligation for the benefit of a third party. Without limitation of the foregoing, nothing herein shall be deemed to create any right of any insurer that provides directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, to claim, on behalf of Indemnitee, any rights hereunder.

 

18.INTERPRETATION; DEFINITIONS.

 

Unless the context shall otherwise require: words in the singular shall also include the plural, and vice versa; any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms; the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”; the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any part hereof; all references herein to Sections or clauses shall be deemed references to Sections or clauses of this Agreement; any references to any agreement or other instrument or law, statute or regulation are to it as amended, supplemented or restated, from time to time (and, in the case of any law, to any successor provisions or re-enactment or modification thereof being in force at the time); any reference to “law” shall include any supranational, national, federal, state, local, or foreign statute or law and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; any reference to a “day” or a number of “days” (without any explicit reference otherwise, such as to business days) shall be interpreted as a reference to a calendar day or number of calendar days; reference to a month or year means according to the Gregorian calendar; reference to a “person” shall include a natural person, partnership, firm, company, corporation, limited liability company, association, other legal entity, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, estate, or a government municipality or any political, governmental, regulatory or similar agency or body; the headings of this Agreement are included for purposes of convenience only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of any of its provisions.

 

19.COUNTERPARTS

 

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument; it being understood that parties need not sign the same counterpart. The exchange of an executed Agreement (in counterparts or otherwise) by electronic mail, electronic delivery in pdf. format or other similar image, or by any other electronic means intended to preserve the original graphic and pictorial appearance of a document shall be sufficient to bind the parties to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, as an executed original counterpart.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties, each acting under due and proper authority, have executed this Indemnification Agreement as of the date first mentioned above, in one or more counterparts.

 

Gauzy Ltd.
     
By:    
Name and Title:     

 

Indemnitee:
     
Name:    
Signature:     
Address:    

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A*

 

CATEGORY OF INDEMNIFIABLE EVENT

 

1.Matters, events, occurrences or circumstances in connection or associated with employment relationships with employees or consultants or any employee union or similar or comparable organization.

 

2.Matters, events, occurrences or circumstances in connection or associated with business relations of any kind between the Company and its employees, independent contractors, customers, suppliers, partners, distributors, agents, resellers, representatives, licensors, licensees, service providers and other business associates.

 

3.Negotiations, execution, delivery and performance of agreements of any kind or nature and any decisions or deliberations relating to actions or omissions relating to the foregoing; any acts, omissions or circumstances that do or may constitute or are alleged to constitute anti-competitive acts, acts of commercial wrongdoing, or failure to meet any standard of conduct which is or may be applicable to such acts, omissions or circumstances.

 

4.Approval of and recommendation or information provided to shareholders with respect to any and all corporate actions, including the approval of the acts of the Company’s management, their guidance and their supervision, matters relating to the approval of transactions with Office Holders (including, without limitation, all compensation related matters) or shareholders, including controlling persons and Claims and allegations of failure to exercise business judgment, participation and/or non-participation at Board meetings and/or voting and/or abstention from voting at Board meetings, reasonable level of proficiency, expertise, care or any other applicable standard, with respect to the foregoing or otherwise with respect to the Company’s business, strategy, operations and prospective outlook, and any discussions, deliberations, reviews or other preparatory or preliminary phases relating to any of the foregoing.

 

5.Violation, infringement, misappropriation, dilution and other misuse of copyrights, patents, designs, trade secrets, confidential information, proprietary information and any intellectual property rights, acts in connection with the registration, assertion or protection of rights to intellectual property and the defense of Claims related to intellectual property, breach of confidentiality obligations, acts in regard of invasion of privacy or any violation of privacy or privacy related right or regulation, including with respect to databases or handling, collection or use of private information, acts in connection with slander and defamation, and Claims in connection with publishing or providing any information, including any filings with any governmental authorities, whether or not required under any applicable laws.

 

 

 

 

6.Violations of or failure to comply with corporate or securities laws, and any regulations or other rules promulgated thereunder, of any jurisdiction, including without limitation, Claims under the Israeli Companies Law, or Claims under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 or the U.S. Exchange Act of 1934 or under the Israeli Securities Law, fraudulent disclosure Claims, failure to comply with any securities or corporate authority or any stock exchange disclosure or filing or other rules and any other Claims relating to relationships with investors, debt holders, shareholders, optionholders, holders of any other equity or debt instrument of the Company, and otherwise with the investment community (including without limitation any such Claims relating to a merger, acquisition, change in control transaction, issuance of securities, restructuring, spin out, spin off, divestiture, recapitalization or any other transaction relating to the corporate structure or organization of the Company); Claims relating to or arising out of financing arrangements, any breach of financial covenants or other obligations towards investors, lenders or debt holders, class actions, violations of laws requiring the Company to obtain regulatory and governmental licenses, permits and authorizations in any jurisdiction, including in connection with disclosure, offering or other transaction related documents; actions taken in connection with the issuance, purchase, holding or disposition of any type of securities of Company, including, without limitation, the grant of options, warrants or other rights to purchase any of the same or any offering of the Company’s securities (whether on behalf of the Company or on behalf of any holders of securities of the Company) to private investors, underwriters, resellers or to the public, and listing of such securities, or the offer by the Company to purchase securities from the public or from private investors or other holders, and any undertakings, representations, warranties and other obligations related to any of the foregoing or to the Company’s status as a public company or as an issuer of securities.

 

7.Liabilities arising in connection with any products or services developed, distributed, rendered, sold, provided, licensed or marketed by the Company or any Affiliate thereof, and any actions or omissions in connection with the distribution, provision, sale, marketing, license or use of such products or services, including without limitation in connection with professional liability and product liability Claims or regulatory or reputational matters.

 

8.The offering of securities by the Company (whether on behalf of itself or on behalf of any holder of securities and any other person) to the public and/or to offerees or the offer by the Company to purchase securities from the public and/or from private investors or other holders pursuant to a prospectus, offering documents, agreements, notices, reports, tenders and/or other processes.

 

9.Events, facts or circumstances in connection with change in ownership or in the structure of the Company, its reorganization, dissolution, winding up, any other arrangements concerning creditors’ rights, merger, change in control, issuances of securities, restructuring, spin out, spin off, divestiture, recapitalization or any other transaction relating to the corporate structure or organization of the Company, and the approval of failure to approve of any corporate actions and any matters relating to corporate governance, capital structure, articles of association or other charter or governance documents, appointment or dismissal of office holders or compensation thereof and appointment or dismissal of auditors, internal auditor or any other person performing any services for the Company.

 

10.Any claim or demand made in connection with any transaction not in the ordinary course of business of the Company, as well as the sale, lease, purchase or acquisition of, or the receipt or grant of any rights with respect to, any assets or business.

 

11.Any claim or demand made by any third party suffering any personal injury and/or bodily injury or damage to business or personal property or any other type of damage through any act or omission attributed to the Company, or its employees, agents or other persons acting or allegedly acting on its behalf, including, without limitation, failure to make proper safety arrangements for the Company or its employees and liabilities arising from any accidental or continuous damage or harm to the Company’s employees, its contractors, its guests and visitors as a result of an accidental or continuous event, or employment conditions, permanent or temporary, in the Company’s offices.

 

12.Any claim or demand made directly or indirectly in connection with complete or partial failure, by the Company or its directors, officers and employees, to pay, report, keep applicable records or otherwise, of any local or foreign federal, state, county, municipal or city taxes or other taxes or compulsory payments of any nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, income, sales, use, transfer, excise, value added, registration, severance, stamp, occupation, customs, duties, real property, personal property, capital stock, social security, unemployment, disability, payroll or employee withholding or other withholding, including any interest, penalty or addition thereto, whether disputed or not.

 

 

 

 

13.Any administrative, regulatory, judicial or civil actions orders, decrees, suits, demands, demand letters, directives, Claims, liens, or notices of noncompliance or violation by any governmental entity or other person alleging potential responsibility or liability (including potential responsibility or liability for costs of enforcement investigation, cleanup, governmental response, removal or remediation, for natural resources damages, property damage, personal injuries or penalties or for contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief) arising out of, based on or related to (a) the presence of, release, spill, emission, leaning, dumping, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge, leaching or migration into the environment (each a “Release”) or threatened Release of, or exposure to, any hazardous, toxic, explosive or radioactive substances, contaminants, wastes or other pollutants, and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any environmental law, at any location, whether or not owned, operated, leased or managed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (b) circumstances forming the basis of any violation of any environmental law or environmental permit, license, registration or other authorization required under applicable environmental law.

 

14.Any administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, orders, decrees, suits, demands, demand letters, directives, claims, liens, investigations, proceedings or notices of noncompliance or violation by any governmental or regulatory entity or authority or any other person alleging the failure to comply with any statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation, order or decree of any governmental entity applicable to the Company or any of its businesses, assets or operations, or the terms and conditions of any operating certificate or licensing agreement.

 

15.Participation and/or non-participation at Company Board meetings, expression of opinion or view and/or voting and/or abstention from voting at Company Board meetings, including, in each case, any committee thereof, as well as expression of opinion publicly in connection with the service as an Office Holder.

 

16.Review and approval of the Company’s financial statements and any specific items or matters within, including any action, consent or approval related to or arising from the foregoing, including, without limitations, engagement of or execution of certificates for the benefit of third parties related to the financial statements.

 

17.Violation of laws, rules or regulations requiring the Company to obtain regulatory and governmental licenses, permits and authorizations (including without limitation relating to export, import, encryption, antitrust or competition authorities) or laws related to any governmental grants in any jurisdiction.

 

18.Resolutions and/or actions relating to investments in the Company and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliated companies and/or investment in corporate or other entities and/or investments in other traded or non-traded securities and/or any other form of investment.

 

19.Liabilities arising out of advertising, including misrepresentations regarding the Company’s products or services and unlawful distribution of emails.

 

20.Management of the Company’s bank accounts, including money management, foreign currency deposits, securities, loans and credit facilities, credit cards, bank guarantees, letters of credit, consultation agreements concerning investments including with portfolio managers, hedging transactions, options, futures, and the like.

 

21.All actions, consents and approvals, including any prior discussions, reviews and deliberations, relating to a distribution of dividends, in cash or otherwise, or to any other “distribution,” as such term is defined under the Companies Law.

 

22.Any claim or demand made in connection with any preparation or formulation of work plans, including pricing, marketing, distribution, instructions to employees, customers and suppliers, and collaboration with competitors.

 

 

 

 

23.Any administrative, regulatory, judicial, civil or criminal, actions orders, decrees, suits, demands, demand letters, directives, claims, liens, investigations, proceedings or notices of noncompliance, violation or breaches alleging potential responsibility, liability, loss or damage (including potential responsibility or liability for costs of enforcement, investigation, cleanup, governmental response, removal or remediation, property damage or penalties, or for contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief), whether alleged or claimed by customers, consumers, regulators, shareholders or others, arising out of, based on or related to: (a) cyber security, cyber-attacks, data loss or breaches, unauthorized access to information, data, or databases (including but not limited to any personally identifiable information or private health information) and use or disclosure of information contained therein, not preventing or detecting the breach or failing to otherwise disclose or respond to the breach; (b) circumstances forming the basis of any violation of any law, permit, license, registration or other authorization required under applicable law governing data security, data protection, network security, information systems, privacy or any cyber environment (including, users, networks, devices, software, processes, information systems, databases, information in storage or transit, applications, services, and systems that can be connected directly or indirectly to networks); (c) failure to implement a reporting system or control, or failure to monitor or oversee the operation of such a system; (d) data destruction, extortion, theft, hacking, and denial of service attacks; losses or liabilities to others caused by errors and omissions, failure to safeguard data or defamation; or (e) security-audit, post-incident public relations and investigative expenses, criminal reward funds, data breach/privacy crisis management (including, management of an incident, investigation, remediation, data subject notification, call management, credit checking for data subjects, legal costs, court attendance and regulatory fines), extortion liability (including, losses due to a threat of extortion, professional fees related to dealing with the extortion), or network security liability (including, losses as a result of denial of access, costs related to data on third-parties and costs related to the theft of data on third-party systems).

 

24.Acts or omissions resulting in the failure to maintain appropriate insurance and/or inadequate safety measures and/or inadequate risk management.

 

The Limit Amount for all Indemnifiable Persons during each relevant period referred to in Section ‎‎1.2 of the Agreement for all events described in this Exhibit A (in Sections 1-24 (inclusive) above), shall be the greater of:

 

(a)twenty-five percent (25%) of the Company’s total shareholders’ equity according to the Company’s most recent consolidated financial statements as of the time of the actual payment of indemnification; and

 

(b)US $25 million.

 

The Limit Amount for all Indemnifiable Persons in connection with or arising out of a public offering of the Company’s securities, shall not exceed, in any case, the aggregate amount of the gross proceeds from the sale by the Company and/or any shareholder of Company’s securities in such offering.

 

* Any reference in this Exhibit A to the Company shall include the Company and any entity in which Indemnitee serves in a Corporate Capacity.