-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Mhml18EllHLiD7bzMemSfoiUO9HoUokMklFz9fyUmsz5bNU2jSCXdCgsJHJ/KJFk dmLf7SURVqgVWyvriEslMg== 0001104659-10-002077.txt : 20100119 0001104659-10-002077.hdr.sgml : 20100118 20100119165112 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-10-002077 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20100112 ITEM INFORMATION: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement ITEM INFORMATION: Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20100119 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20100119 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: GEORGIA GULF CORP /DE/ CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000805264 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: PLASTICS, MATERIALS, SYNTH RESINS & NONVULCAN ELASTOMERS [2821] IRS NUMBER: 581563799 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-09753 FILM NUMBER: 10533746 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 115 PERIMETER CENTER PLACE STREET 2: STE. 460 CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30346 BUSINESS PHONE: 7703954500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 115 PERIMETER CENTER PLACE STREET 2: STE. 460 CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30346 8-K 1 a10-2084_18k.htm 8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  January 19, 2010 (January 12, 2010)

 

GEORGIA GULF CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

1-09753

 

58-1563799

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

115 Perimeter Center Place, Suite 460, Atlanta, GA

 

30346

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (770) 395 - 4500

 

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o                        Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o                        Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o                        Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2 (b))

 

o                        Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4 (c))

 

 

 



 

Item 1.01               Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

Indemnification Agreements

 

On January 12, 2010, Georgia Gulf Corporation (the “Company”) entered into indemnification agreements (the “Indemnification Agreements”) with each of its executive officers and directors (each an “Indemnitee”), which include the following individuals:  Paul D. Carrico, Gregory C. Thompson, Mark J. Orcutt, Joel I. Beerman, Mark E. Buckis, William H. Doherty, Mark J. Seal, C. Douglas Shannon, James L. Worrell, Patrick J. Fleming, T. Kevin DeNicola, Robert M. Gervis, Stephen E. Macadam, Mark L. Noetzel, Wayne C. Sales and David N. Weinstein.

 

In general, the Indemnification Agreements provide that the Company will indemnify the Indemnitee, subject to certain provisions, to the fullest extent permitted or required by Delaware law and to any greater extent that Delaware law may permit in the future against any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative, investigative or other, and whether made pursuant to federal, state or other law or inquiries or investigations, whether made, instituted or conducted by or in the right of the Company or any other person related to Indemnitee’s actions or failure to act in his capacity as an officer or director of the Company (a “claim”) and any and all expenses, damages, losses, liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties (whether civil, criminal or other) and amounts paid in settlement in connection with such claim, except for any claim initiated by the Indemnitee against the Company or any director or officer of the Company unless the Company has joined or consented to the initiation of such claim.  The Indemnification Agreements also provide for the advancement by the Company prior to the final disposition of the claim of any and all expenses relating to any claim incurred or paid by the Indemnitee or reasonably expected to be paid or incurred by the Indemnitee, provided that the Indemnitee undertakes in writing to repay any such amounts to the extent that it is determined the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification.

 

An Indemnitee will be entitled to indemnification if he (i) is successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any claim, including without limitation dismissal with or without prejudice or (ii) has satisfied any applicable standard of conduct under Delaware law, depending on the circumstances, as determined by (A) a majority vote of the directors not a party to the claim at issue (the “Disinterested Directors”), (B) a majority vote of a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by all Disinterested Directors, or (C) independent counsel, if a change of control (as defined) has occurred or there are no Disinterested Directors.

 

The Indemnification Agreements do not exclude any other rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses to which the Indemnitee may be entitled, including any rights arising under the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, any other contract, any vote of the Company’s shareholders or resolution of directors, Delaware law or otherwise. The Indemnification Agreements also require the Company to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and require any successor to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company to expressly assume the agreement.  The Company is entitled to participate in the defense of any claim or to assume the defense of such claim, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee; however, the Indemnitee may have the right to retain separate counsel at the Company’s expense in certain circumstances.

 

The foregoing description does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the form of agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Restricted Stock Units

 

On January 12, 2010, pursuant to the Georgia Gulf Corporation 2009 Equity and Performance Plan (the “Plan”), the Company awarded restricted stock units to its non-employee directors as reported on Forms 4 filed on January 14, 2010.  The form of award agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2.  A description of the Plan appears in the Company’s Form 8-K filed September 18, 2009.

 

Item 5.02               Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

Effective January 14, 2010, Robert A. Schriesheim resigned from the Company’s board of directors to devote more time to his new position as chief financial officer of Hewitt Associates.

 

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Item 9.01               Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)           Exhibits.

 

Number

 

Exhibit

 

 

 

10.1

 

Form of Indemnification Agreement

10.2

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (Directors)

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

GEORGIA GULF CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Joel I. Beerman

 

Name:

Joel I. Beerman

 

Title:

Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Date:  January 19, 2010

 

 

 

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EX-10.1 2 a10-2084_1ex10d1.htm EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

 

DIRECTOR/OFFICER INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement, dated as of                    ,       (this “Agreement”), is made by and between GEORGIA GULF CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and                                                (“Indemnitee”).

 

RECITALS:

 

A.            Section 141 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that the business and affairs of a corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of its board of directors.

 

B.            [Pursuant to Sections 141 and 142 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, significant authority with respect to the management of the Company has been delegated to the officers of the Company.  (clause only applicable in the officer’s form)]

 

C.            By virtue of the [managerial]/[management] prerogatives vested in the [directors]/[officers] of a Delaware corporation, [directors]/[officers] act as fiduciaries of the corporation and its stockholders.

 

D.            Thus, it is critically important to the Company and its stockholders that the Company be able to attract and retain the most capable persons reasonably available to serve as [directors]/[officers] of the Company.

 

E.             In recognition of the need for corporations to be able to induce capable and responsible persons to accept positions in corporate management, Delaware law authorizes (and in some instances requires) corporations to indemnify their directors and officers, and further authorizes corporations to purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of their directors and officers.

 

F.             The Delaware courts have recognized that indemnification by a corporation serves the dual policies of (1) allowing corporate officials to resist unjustified lawsuits, secure in the knowledge that, if vindicated, the corporation will bear the expense of litigation and (2) encouraging capable women and men to serve as corporate directors and officers, secure in the knowledge that the corporation will absorb the costs of defending their honesty and integrity.

 

G.            The number of lawsuits challenging the judgment and actions of [directors]/[officers] of Delaware corporations, the costs of defending those lawsuits, and the threat to [directors’]/[officers’]  personal assets have all materially increased over the past several years, chilling the willingness of capable women and men to undertake the responsibilities imposed on corporate [directors]/[officers].

 

H.            Recent federal legislation and rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the national securities exchanges have imposed additional disclosure and corporate governance obligations on [directors]/[officers] of public companies and have exposed such [directors]/[officers]  to new and substantially broadened civil liabilities.

 



 

I.              These legislative and regulatory initiatives have also exposed [directors]/[officers]  of public companies to a significantly greater risk of criminal proceedings, with attendant defense costs and potential criminal fines and penalties.

 

J.             Under Delaware law, a/an [director’s]/[officer’s] right to be reimbursed for the costs of defense of criminal actions, whether such claims are asserted under state or federal law, does not depend upon the merits of the claims asserted against the [director]/[officer] and is separate and distinct from any right to indemnification the [director]/[officer] may be able to establish; and indemnification of the [director]/[officer] against criminal fines and penalties is permitted if the [director]/[officer] satisfies the applicable standard of conduct.

 

K.            Indemnitee is a/an [director]/[officer] of the Company and Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, By-laws and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve or continue to serve as a/an [director]/[officer] without adequate protection; and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity.  Indemnitee’s willingness to serve in such capacity is predicated, in substantial part, upon the Company’s willingness to indemnify him/her in accordance with the principles reflected above, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the state of Delaware, and upon the other undertakings set forth in this Agreement.

 

L.             The Board (as defined below) has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future.

 

M.           Therefore, in recognition of the need to provide Indemnitee with substantial protection against personal liability, in order to procure Indemnitee’s continued service as a/an [director]/[officer] of the Company and to enhance Indemnitee’s ability to serve the Company in an effective manner, and in order to provide such protection pursuant to express contract rights (intended to be enforceable irrespective of, among other things, any amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws (collectively, the “Constituent Documents”), any change in the composition of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) or any change-in-control or business combination transaction relating to the Company), the Company wishes to provide in this Agreement for the indemnification of and the advancement of Expenses (as defined in Section 1(f)) to Indemnitee as set forth in this Agreement and for the continued coverage of Indemnitee under the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies.

 

N.            In light of the considerations referred to in the preceding recitals, it is the Company’s intention and desire that the provisions of this Agreement be construed liberally, subject to their express terms, to maximize the protections to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder.

 

AGREEMENT:

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.             Certain Definitions.  In addition to terms defined elsewhere herein, the following terms have the following meanings when used in this Agreement with initial capital letters:

 

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(a)           A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

 

(i)            Acquisition of Stock by Third Party.  Any Person (as defined below), other than a Person who is the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more in the combined Voting Power of the Company’s securities outstanding on the date of this Agreement (each such Person so long as such Person maintains such ownership position in respect of 15% or more of the Company’s voting securities, an “Existing 15% Holder”) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), 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, or an Existing 15% Holder acquires, directly or indirectly, securities of the Company representing an additional one percent (1%) or more of the combined Voting Power of the Company’s then outstanding securities;

 

(ii)           Change in Board of Directors.  During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 1(a)(i), 1(a)(iii) or 1(a)(iv)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;

 

(iii)          Corporate Transactions.  The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 51% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such surviving entity; and

 

(iv)          Liquidation.  The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets.

 

For purposes of this Section 1(a), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(A)          “Person” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person shall exclude (i) the

 

3



 

Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

 

(B)           “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner shall exclude any Person otherwise becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity.

 

(b)           “Claim” means (i) any threatened, asserted, pending or completed claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative, investigative or other, and whether made pursuant to federal, state or other law; (ii) any threatened, pending or completed inquiry or investigation, whether made, instituted or conducted by or in the right of the Company or any other person, including without limitation any federal, state or other governmental entity, that Indemnitee determines might lead to the institution of any such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding, and (iii) any appeal from any of the foregoing.  A “Claim” also shall include any of the foregoing in which Indemnitee is a party, a non-party witness, or in which Indemnitee is or reasonably believes he/she may be a potential party or a potential non-party witness.

 

(c)           “Controlled Affiliate” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity or enterprise, whether or not for profit, that is directly or indirectly controlled by the Company.  For purposes of this definition, “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of an entity or enterprise, whether through the ownership of voting securities, through other voting rights, by contract or otherwise; provided that without limiting the generality of the foregoing, direct or indirect beneficial ownership of capital stock or other interests in an entity or enterprise entitling the holder to cast 20% or more of the total number of votes generally entitled to be cast in the election of directors (or persons performing comparable functions) of such entity or enterprise shall be deemed to constitute control for purposes of this definition.

 

(d)           “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Claim in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(e)           “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, as such law, rules and regulations may be amended from time to time.

 

(f)            “Expenses” means all attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and all other expenses paid or payable in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or

 

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preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Claim.  Expenses also shall include without limitation (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Claim, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, and (ii) for purposes of Section 4 only, Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, by litigation or otherwise.  Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

 

(g)           “Indemnifiable Claim” means any Claim based upon, arising out of or resulting from (i) any actual, alleged or suspected act or failure to act by Indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or as a director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity or enterprise, whether or not for profit, as to which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent, (ii) any actual, alleged or suspected act or failure to act by Indemnitee in respect of any business, transaction, communication, filing, disclosure or other activity of the Company or any other entity or enterprise referred to in clause (i) of this sentence, or (iii) Indemnitee’s status as a current or former director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or as a current or former director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent of the Company or any other entity or enterprise referred to in clause (i) of this sentence or any actual, alleged or suspected act or failure to act by Indemnitee in connection with any obligation or restriction imposed upon Indemnitee by reason of such status.  In addition to any service at the actual request of the Company, for purposes of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be deemed to be serving or to have served at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent of another entity or enterprise if Indemnitee is or was serving as a director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent of such entity or enterprise and (i) such entity or enterprise is or at the time of such service was a Controlled Affiliate, (ii) such entity or enterprise is or at the time of such service was an employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or a Controlled Affiliate, or (iii) the Company or a Controlled Affiliate directly or indirectly caused or authorized Indemnitee to be nominated, elected, appointed, designated, employed, engaged or selected to serve in such capacity.

 

(h)           “Indemnifiable Losses means any and all Losses relating to, arising out of or resulting from any Indemnifiable Claim.

 

(i)            “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent:  (i) the Company (or any Subsidiary) 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 named (or, as to a threatened matter, reasonably likely to be named) party to the Indemnifiable Claim 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

 

5



 

representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

 

(j)            “Losses” means any and all Expenses, damages, losses, liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties (whether civil, criminal or other) and amounts paid in settlement, including without limitation all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of any of the foregoing.

 

(k)           Subsidiary” means a corporation, company or other entity (i) more than fifty percent (50%) of whose outstanding shares or securities (representing the right to vote for the election of directors or other managing authority) are, or (ii) which does not have outstanding shares or securities (as may be the case in a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, or unincorporated association), but more than fifty percent (50%) of whose ownership interest representing the right generally to make decisions for such other entity is, now or hereafter, owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company.

 

(l)            “Voting Power” means at any time, the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of the Board in the case of the Company, or members of the board of directors or similar body in the case of another entity.

 

2.             Indemnification Obligation.  Subject to Section 7, the Company shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted or required by the laws of the State of Delaware in effect on the date hereof or as such laws may from time to time hereafter be amended to increase the scope of such permitted indemnification, against any and all Indemnifiable Claims and Indemnifiable Losses; provided, however, that, except as provided in Sections 4 and 22, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement in connection with any Claim initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or any director or officer of the Company unless the Company has joined in or consented to the initiation of such Claim.

 

3.             Advancement of Expenses.  Indemnitee shall have the right to advancement by the Company prior to the final disposition of any Indemnifiable Claim of any and all Expenses relating to, arising out of or resulting from any Indemnifiable Claim paid or incurred by Indemnitee or which Indemnitee determines are reasonably likely to be paid or incurred by Indemnitee.  Indemnitee’s right to such advancement is not subject to the satisfaction of any standard of conduct.  Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, within five business days after any request by Indemnitee, the Company shall, in accordance with such request (but without duplication), (a) pay such Expenses on behalf of Indemnitee, (b) advance to Indemnitee funds in an amount sufficient to pay such Expenses, or (c) reimburse Indemnitee for such Expenses; provided that Indemnitee shall repay, without interest any amounts actually advanced to Indemnitee that, at the final disposition of the Indemnifiable Claim to which the advance related, were in excess of amounts paid or payable by Indemnitee in respect of Expenses relating to, arising out of or resulting from such Indemnifiable Claim.  In connection with any such payment, advancement or reimbursement, Indemnitee shall execute and deliver to the Company an undertaking in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (subject to Indemnitee filling in the blanks therein and selecting from among the bracketed alternatives therein), which need not be secured and shall be accepted without reference to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the

 

6



 

Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement.  In no event shall Indemnitee’s right to the payment, advancement or reimbursement of Expenses pursuant to this Section 3 be conditioned upon any undertaking that is less favorable to Indemnitee than, or that is in addition to, the undertaking set forth in Exhibit A.

 

4.             Indemnification for Additional Expenses.  Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall reimburse Indemnitee for, or advance to Indemnitee, within five business days of such request, any and all Expenses paid or incurred by Indemnitee or which Indemnitee determines are reasonably likely to be paid or incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Claim made, instituted or conducted by Indemnitee for (a) indemnification or payment, advancement or reimbursement of Expenses by the Company under any provision of this Agreement, or under any other agreement or provision of the Constituent Documents now or hereafter in effect relating to Indemnifiable Claims, and/or (b) recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless in each case of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, reimbursement, advance or insurance recovery, as the case may be; provided, however, that Indemnitee shall return, without interest, any such advance of Expenses (or portion thereof) which remains unspent at the final disposition of the Claim to which the advance related.

 

5.             Partial Indemnity.  If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of any Indemnifiable Loss, but not for all of the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.

 

6.             Procedure for Notification.  To obtain indemnification under this Agreement in respect of an Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request therefor, including a brief description (based upon information then available to Indemnitee) of such Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss.  If, at the time of the receipt of such request, the Company has directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in effect under which coverage for such Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss is potentially available, the Company shall give prompt written notice of such Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss to the applicable insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the applicable policies.  The Company shall provide to Indemnitee a copy of such notice delivered to the applicable insurers, and copies of all subsequent correspondence between the Company and such insurers regarding the Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss, in each case substantially concurrently with the delivery or receipt thereof by the Company.  The failure by Indemnitee to timely notify the Company of any Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss shall not relieve the Company from any liability hereunder unless, and only to the extent that, (i) the Indemnitee failed to notify the Company of such Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss as soon as reasonably practicable following the actual receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof, (ii) the Company did not otherwise learn of such Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss, and (iii) such failure results in forfeiture by the Company of substantial defenses on which the Company was likely to prevail, substantial rights or substantial insurance coverage.

 

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7.             Determination of Right to Indemnification.

 

(a)           To the extent that Indemnitee shall have been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any Indemnifiable Claim or any portion thereof or in defense of any issue or matter therein, including without limitation dismissal with or without prejudice, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Indemnifiable Losses relating to, arising out of or resulting from such Indemnifiable Claim in accordance with Section 2 and no Standard of Conduct Determination (as defined in Section 7(b)) shall be required.

 

(b)           To the extent that the provisions of Section 7(a) are inapplicable to an Indemnifiable Claim that shall have been finally disposed of, any determination of whether Indemnitee has satisfied any applicable standard of conduct under Delaware law that is a legally required condition precedent to indemnification of Indemnitee hereunder against Indemnifiable Losses relating to, arising out of or resulting from such Indemnifiable Claim (a “Standard of Conduct Determination”) shall be made as follows:  (i) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, or if a Change in Control shall have occurred but Indemnitee shall have requested that the Standard of Conduct Determination be made pursuant to this clause (i), (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even if less than a quorum of the Board, (B) if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by a majority vote of a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of all Disinterested Directors, or (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion addressed to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; and (ii) if a Change in Control shall have occurred and Indemnitee shall not have requested that the Standard of Conduct Determination be made pursuant to clause (i), by Independent Counsel in a written opinion addressed to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee.  Indemnitee will cooperate with the person or persons making such Standard of Conduct Determination, including providing to such person or persons, 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.  The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall reimburse Indemnitee for, or advance to Indemnitee, within five business days of such request, any and all costs and expenses (including attorneys’ and experts’ fees and expenses) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person or persons making such Standard of Conduct Determination.

 

(c)           The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause any Standard of Conduct Determination required under Section 7(b) to be made as promptly as practicable.  If (i) the person or persons empowered or selected under Section 7 to make the Standard of Conduct Determination shall not have made a determination within 30 days after the later of (A) receipt by the Company of written notice from Indemnitee advising the Company of the final disposition of the applicable Indemnifiable Claim (the date of such receipt being the “Notification Date”) and (B) the selection of an Independent Counsel, if such determination is to be made by Independent Counsel, that is permitted under the provisions of Section 7(e) to make such determination and (ii) Indemnitee shall have fulfilled his/her obligations set forth in the second sentence of Section 7(b), then Indemnitee shall be deemed to have satisfied the applicable standard of conduct; provided that such 30-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional 30 days, if the person or persons making such determination in good

 

8



 

faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluation or documentation and/or information relating thereto.

 

(d)           If (i) Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification hereunder against any Indemnifiable Losses pursuant to Section 7(a), (ii) no determination of whether Indemnitee has satisfied any applicable standard of conduct under Delaware law is a legally required condition precedent to indemnification of Indemnitee hereunder against any Indemnifiable Losses, or (iii) Indemnitee has been determined or deemed pursuant to Section 7(b) or (c) to have satisfied any applicable standard of conduct under Delaware law which is a legally required condition precedent to indemnification of Indemnitee hereunder against any Indemnifiable Losses, then the Company shall pay to Indemnitee, within five business days after the later of (x) the Notification Date in respect of the Indemnifiable Claim or portion thereof to which such Indemnifiable Losses are related, out of which such Indemnifiable Losses arose or from which such Indemnifiable Losses resulted and (y) the earliest date on which the applicable criterion specified in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above shall have been satisfied, an amount equal to the amount of such Indemnifiable Losses.

 

(e)           If a Standard of Conduct Determination is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 7(b)(i), the Independent Counsel shall be selected as soon as reasonably possible (but in no event later than 25 days following the date that it becomes apparent that a Standard of Conduct Determination is required) by the Board, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising him or her of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  If a Standard of Conduct Determination is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 7(b)(ii), the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee, and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  In either case, Indemnitee or the Company, as applicable, may, within five business days after receiving written notice of selection from the other, deliver to the other 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 satisfy the criteria set forth in the definition of “Independent Counsel” in Section 1(i), and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion.  Absent a proper and timely objection, the person or firm so selected shall act as Independent Counsel.  If such written objection is properly and timely made and substantiated, (i) the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit and (ii) the non-objecting party may, at its option, select an alternative Independent Counsel and give written notice to the other party advising such other party of the identity of the alternative Independent Counsel so selected, in which case the provisions of the two immediately preceding sentences and clause (i) of this sentence shall apply to such subsequent selection and notice.  If applicable, the provisions of clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence shall apply to successive alternative selections.  If no Independent Counsel that is permitted under the foregoing provisions of this Section 7(e) to make the Standard of Conduct Determination shall have been selected within 30 days after the Company gives its initial notice pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 7(e) or Indemnitee gives its initial notice pursuant to the second sentence of this Section 7(e), as the case may be, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware 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

 

9



 

person or firm selected by the Court or by such other person as the Court shall designate, and the person or firm with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person or firm so appointed will act as Independent Counsel.  In all events, the Company shall pay all of the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel incurred in connection with the Independent Counsel’s determination pursuant to Section 7(b).

 

8.             Presumption of Entitlement.  In making any Standard of Conduct Determination, the person or persons making such determination shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, presume that (i) Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 6 of this Agreement, and (ii) Indemnitee has satisfied the applicable standard of conduct.  The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, in any legal proceeding, including without limitation, under Section 10, or otherwise, have the burden of proof to overcome such presumptions in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination (including any Standard of Conduct Determination ) contrary to such presumptions.  The Company may overcome such presumptions only by its adducing clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.  Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or independent legal counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including its directors or independent legal counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.  Any Standard of Conduct Determination that is adverse to Indemnitee may be challenged by the Indemnitee in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware.  No determination by the Company (including by its directors or any Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not satisfied any applicable standard of conduct shall be a defense to any Claim by Indemnitee for indemnification or reimbursement or advance payment of Expenses by the Company hereunder or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met any applicable standard of conduct.

 

9.             No Other Presumption; Reliance as Safe Harbor; Actions of Others.

 

(a)           For purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any Claim by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, will not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet any applicable standard of conduct or that indemnification hereunder is otherwise not permitted, or (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) otherwise of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification hereunder.

 

(b)           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 (as defined below), including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with the reasonable care by the Enterprise.  The provisions of this Section 9(b) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which the

 

10



 

Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.  For purposes of this Section 9(b), “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary.

 

(c)           The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

10.          Remedies of Indemnitee.

 

(a)           Subject to Section 10(d), in the event that (i) a determination is made that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement, (iii) no Standard of Conduct Determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement within ninety (90) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 3, 4 or 5 of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder, or (vii) the Company otherwise breaches any of the terms of this Agreement or defaults in the performance thereof in any manner, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of his or her entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses.

 

(b)           In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 7(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 10 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.

 

(c)           The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 10 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate if requested in any such court that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(d)           Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement of Indemnitee to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of any applicable judicial proceeding.

 

11.          Non-Exclusivity.  The rights of Indemnitee hereunder will be in addition to any other rights Indemnitee may have under the Constituent Documents, or the substantive laws of the Company’s jurisdiction of incorporation, any other contract, any vote of stockholders or resolution of directors, or otherwise (collectively, “Other Indemnity Provisions”); provided,

 

11



 

however, that (a) to the extent that Indemnitee otherwise would have any greater right to indemnification under any Other Indemnity Provision, Indemnitee will be deemed to have such greater right hereunder and (b) to the extent that any change is made to any Other Indemnity Provision which permits any greater right to indemnification than that provided under this Agreement as of the date hereof, Indemnitee will be deemed to have such greater right hereunder.  The Company will not adopt any amendment to any of the Constituent Documents the effect of which would be to deny, diminish or encumber Indemnitee’s right to indemnification under this Agreement or any Other Indemnity Provision.  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.

 

12.          Liability Insurance and Funding.  For the duration of Indemnitee’s service as a director and/or officer of the Company, and thereafter for so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any pending or possible Indemnifiable Claim, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts (taking into account the scope and amount of coverage available relative to the cost thereof) to cause to be maintained in effect policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance providing coverage for directors and/or officers of the Company that is at least substantially comparable in scope and amount to that provided by the Company’s current policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.  If requested, the Company shall provide Indemnitee with a copy of all directors’ and officers’ liability insurance applications, binders, policies, declarations, endorsements and other related materials, and shall provide Indemnitee with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the same.  Without limiting the generality or effect of the two immediately preceding sentences, the Company shall not discontinue or significantly reduce the scope or amount of coverage from one policy period to the next (i)  without the prior approval thereof by a majority vote of the Incumbent Directors, even if less than a quorum, or (ii) if at the time that any such discontinuation or significant reduction in the scope or amount of coverage is proposed there are no Incumbent Directors, without the prior written consent of Indemnitee (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).  In all policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance obtained by the Company, Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide Indemnitee the same rights and benefits, subject to the same limitations, as are accorded to the Company’s directors and officers most favorably insured by such policy.  The Company may, but shall not be required to, create a trust fund, grant a security interest or use other means, including without limitation a letter of credit, to ensure the payment of such amounts as may be necessary to satisfy its obligations to indemnify and advance expenses pursuant to this Agreement.

 

13.          Subrogation.  In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the related rights of recovery of Indemnitee against other persons or entities (other than Indemnitee’s successors), including any entity or enterprise referred to in clause (i) of the definition of “Indemnifiable Claim” in Section 1(g).  Indemnitee shall execute all papers reasonably required to evidence such rights (all of Indemnitee’s reasonable Expenses, including attorneys’ fees and charges, related thereto to be reimbursed by or, at the option of Indemnitee, advanced by the Company).

 

12



 

14.                               No Duplication of Payments.  The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment to Indemnitee in respect of any Indemnifiable Losses to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment (net of Expenses incurred in connection therewith) under any insurance policy, the Constituent Documents and Other Indemnity Provisions or otherwise (including from any entity or enterprise referred to in clause (i) of the definition of “Indemnifiable Claim” in Section 1(g)) in respect of such Indemnifiable Losses otherwise indemnifiable hereunder.

 

15.                               Defense of Claims.  The Company shall be entitled to participate in the defense of any Indemnifiable Claim or to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee; provided that if Indemnitee believes, after consultation with counsel selected by Indemnitee, that (a) the use of counsel chosen by the Company to represent Indemnitee would present such counsel with an actual or potential conflict, (b) the named parties in any such Indemnifiable Claim (including any impleaded parties) include both the Company and Indemnitee and Indemnitee shall conclude that there may be one or more legal defenses available to him or her that are different from or in addition to those available to the Company, or (c) any such representation by such counsel would be precluded under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, then Indemnitee shall be entitled to retain separate counsel (but not more than one law firm plus, if applicable, local counsel in respect of any particular Indemnifiable Claim) at the Company’s expense.  The Company shall not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any threatened or pending Indemnifiable Claim effected without the Company’s prior written consent.  The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee, effect any settlement of any threatened or pending Indemnifiable Claim to which the Indemnitee is, or could have been, a party unless such settlement solely involves the payment of money and includes a complete and unconditional release of the Indemnitee from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such Indemnifiable Claim.  Neither the Company nor Indemnitee shall unreasonably withhold or delay its consent to any proposed settlement; provided that Indemnitee may withhold consent to any settlement that does not provide a complete and unconditional release of Indemnitee or which requires anything from Indemnitee beyond the mere payment of money.

 

16.                               Successors and Binding Agreement; Duration.  (a)  The Company shall require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee and his or her counsel, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor to the Company, including without limitation any person acquiring directly or indirectly all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise (and such successor will thereafter be deemed the “Company” for purposes of this Agreement), but shall not otherwise be assignable or delegatable by the Company.

 

(b)                                 This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Indemnitee’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, legatees and other successors.

 

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(c)                                  This Agreement is personal in nature and neither of the parties hereto shall, without the consent of the other, assign or delegate this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder except as expressly provided in Sections 16(a) and 16(b); and any such purported assignment shall be void and of no force or effect.  Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, Indemnitee’s right to receive payments hereunder shall not be assignable, whether by pledge, creation of a security interest or otherwise, other than by a transfer by the Indemnitee’s will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and any such purported transfer other than as so permitted shall be void and of no force or effect, but shall have no adverse impact on the Company’s obligation to pay to the Indemnitee or such permitted assigns any amount so attempted to be improperly assigned or transferred.

 

17.                               Notices.  For all purposes of this Agreement, all communications, including without limitation notices, consents, requests or approvals, required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when hand delivered or dispatched by electronic facsimile transmission (with receipt thereof orally confirmed), or five business days after having been mailed by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid or one business day after having been sent for next-day delivery by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed to the Company (to the attention of the Secretary of the Company) and to Indemnitee at the applicable address shown on the signature page hereto, or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing and in accordance herewith, except that notices of changes of address will be effective only upon receipt.

 

18.                               Governing Law.  The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws of such State.  The Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) 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.

 

19.                               Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or the application of any provision hereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected, and the provision so held to be invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal shall be reformed to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to make it enforceable, valid or legal.  In the event that any court or other adjudicative body shall decline to reform any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal as contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence, the parties thereto shall take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate to replace the provision so held to be invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal with one or more alternative provisions that effectuate the purpose and intent

 

14



 

of the original provisions of this Agreement as fully as possible without being invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal.

 

20.                               Authorization, Enforcement, Entire Agreement.

 

(a)                                  The Company represents and warrants to the Indemnitee that: the Company has been duly organized, validly exists and is in good standing in the State of Delaware; this Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and has been executed and delivered by an authorized officer on behalf of the Company; and that this Agreement represents the legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except (i) as such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, preferential transfer or similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights or debtors’ obligations generally; and (ii) that the remedies of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of relief are subject to general equitable principles, whether enforcement is sought at law or in equity, and that such enforcement may be subject to the discretion of the court before which any proceedings therefore may be brought.

 

(b)                                 The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve, or continue to serve, as a/an [director]/[officer] of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a/an [director]/[officer] of the Company.  It is the intent of the parties hereto that this Agreement protect and indemnify the Indemnitee for the entire duration of his/her service as a/an [member of the Board]/[officer of the Company], including, without limitation, periods prior to the date hereof.

 

(c)                                  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, the By-laws of the Company and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

21.                               Miscellaneous.  No provision of this Agreement may be waived, modified or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by Indemnitee and the Company.  No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto or compliance with any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.  No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, expressed or implied with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party that are not set forth expressly in this Agreement.  References to Sections are to references to Sections of this Agreement.

 

22.                               Legal Fees and Expenses.  It is the intent of the Company that Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees and or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement

 

15



 

or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to Indemnitee hereunder.  Accordingly, without limiting the generality or effect of any other provision hereof, if it should appear to Indemnitee that the Company has failed to comply with any of its obligations under this Agreement (including its obligations under Section 3) or in the event that the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder, the Company irrevocably authorizes the Indemnitee from time to time to retain counsel of Indemnitee’s choice, at the expense of the Company as hereafter provided, to advise and represent Indemnitee in connection with any such interpretation, enforcement or defense, including without limitation the initiation or defense of any litigation or other legal action, whether by or against the Company or any director, officer, stockholder or other person affiliated with the Company, in any jurisdiction.  Notwithstanding any existing or prior attorney-client relationship between the Company and such counsel, the Company irrevocably consents to Indemnitee’s entering into an attorney-client relationship with such counsel, and in that connection the Company and Indemnitee agree that a confidential relationship shall exist between Indemnitee and such counsel.  Without respect to whether Indemnitee prevails, in whole or in part, in connection with any of the foregoing, the Company will pay and be solely financially responsible for any and all attorneys’ and related fees and expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any of the foregoing; it being agreed that any and all such fees and expenses among those items referred to herein as Expenses.

 

23.                               Certain Interpretive Matters.  Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, (a) “it” or “its” or words of any gender include each other gender, (b) words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively, (c) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby” and derivative or similar words refer to this entire Agreement, (d) the terms “Article,” “Section,” “Annex” or “Exhibit” refer to the specified Article, Section, Annex or Exhibit of or to this Agreement, (e) the terms “include,” “includes” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation” (whether or not so expressed), and (f) the word “or” is disjunctive but not exclusive.  Whenever this Agreement refers to a number of days, such number will refer to calendar days unless business days are specified and whenever action must be taken (including the giving of notice or the delivery of documents) under this Agreement during a certain period of time or by a particular date that ends or occurs on a non-business day, then such period or date will be extended until the immediately following business day.  As used herein, “business day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or a United States federal holiday.  Titles of Sections hereof are solely for ease of reference, and shall not be given any substantive effect.

 

24.                               Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

[Signatures Appear On Following Page]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Indemnitee has executed and the Company has caused its duly authorized representative to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

 

 

GEORGIA GULF CORPORATION

 

115 Perimeter Center Place

 

Suite 460

 

Atlanta, Georgia 30346

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[INDEMNITEE]

 

[Address]

 

17



 

EXHIBIT A

 

UNDERTAKING

 

This Undertaking is submitted pursuant to the Indemnification Agreement, dated as of                                ,       (the “Indemnification Agreement”), between GEORGIA GULF CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the undersigned.  Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Indemnification Agreement.

 

The undersigned hereby requests [payment], [advancement], [reimbursement] by the Company of Expenses which the undersigned [has incurred] [reasonably expects to incur] in connection with                                              (the “Indemnifiable Claim”).

 

The undersigned hereby undertakes to repay the [payment], [advancement], [reimbursement] of Expenses made by the Company to or on behalf of the undersigned in response to the foregoing request if it is determined, following the final disposition of the Indemnifiable Claim and in accordance with Section 7 of the Indemnification Agreement, that the undersigned is not entitled to indemnification by the Company under the Indemnification Agreement with respect to the Indemnifiable Claim.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Undertaking as of this            day of                             ,         .

 

 

 

 

 

[Indemnitee]

 

A-1


EX-10.2 3 a10-2084_1ex10d2.htm EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

 

NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AGREEMENT

 

This AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made as of                   (the “Date of Grant”) by and between GEORGIA GULF CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (together with any Subsidiaries, as applicable, the “Company”), and                        (the “Grantee”).

 

1.             Grant of Restricted Share Units.  Subject to and upon the terms, conditions, and restrictions set forth in this Agreement and in the Company’s 2009 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Plan”), the Company hereby grants to the Grantee, as of the Date of Grant,         Restricted Share Units.  Each Restricted Share Unit shall represent the right to receive one share of Common Stock.

 

2.             Restrictions on Transfer of Restricted Share Units.  The Restricted Share Units may not be transferred, sold, pledged, exchanged, assigned or otherwise encumbered or disposed of by the Grantee, except to the Company.  Any purported transfer, encumbrance or other disposition of the Restricted Share Units that is in violation of this Section 2 shall be null and void, and the other party to any such purported transaction shall not obtain any rights to or interest in the Restricted Share Units.

 

3.             Vesting of Restricted Share Units.

 

(a)           On each of the first three (3) anniversaries of the Date of Grant, a number of Restricted Share Units equal to thirty-three and one-third percent (331/3 %) multiplied by the number of Restricted Share Units specified in Section 1 of this Agreement shall become nonforfeitable on a cumulative basis until one hundred percent (100%) of such Restricted Share Units have become nonforfeitable if the Grantee shall have remained a member of the Board during the period ending on the applicable anniversary of the Date of Grant.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3(a), but subject to earlier forfeiture as described below, all of the Restricted Share Units subject to Section 3(a) shall immediately become nonforfeitable in the event of death, disability or a Change in Control.

 

4.             Forfeiture of Restricted Share Units.  Except as the Board may determine on a case-by-case basis, any Restricted Share Units that have not theretofore become nonforfeitable shall be forfeited if the Grantee’s service as a member of the Board is terminated for any reason (including voluntary retirement) prior to the date on which such Restricted Share Units become nonforfeitable pursuant to Section 3(a).

 

5.             Payment of Restricted Share Units.  At such time as the Restricted Share Units shall become nonforfeitable as specified in this Agreement, shares of Common Stock underlying such Restricted Share Units shall be transferred to the Grantee no later than 15 days after the date on which the Restricted Share Units become nonforfeitable, unless the Grantee has made an effective election to defer receipt of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Restricted Share Units.  If the Grantee has made an effective election to defer receipt of the shares of Common

 



 

Stock underlying the Restricted Share Units, shares of Common Stock underlying the Restricted Share Units shall be transferred in accordance with the terms of such election.

 

6.             Dividend, Voting and Other Rights.  The Grantee shall have no rights of ownership in the Restricted Share Units and shall have no right to vote them until the date on which the shares of Common Stock are transferred to the Grantee pursuant to Section 5 above.  From and after the Date of Grant and until the earlier of (a) the time when the Grantee receives the shares of Common Stock underlying the Restricted Share Units in accordance with Section 5 hereof or (b) the time when the Grantee’s right to receive the Restricted Share Units is forfeited in accordance with Section 4 hereof, the Company shall pay to the Grantee, whenever a normal cash dividend is paid on shares of Common Stock, an amount of cash equal to the product of the per-share amount of the dividend paid multiplied by the number of such Restricted Share Units.

 

7.             Retention of Restricted Share Units by the Company.  The shares of Common Stock underlying the Restricted Share Units shall be released to the Grantee by the Company’s transfer agent (currently Computershare Inc.) at the direction of the Company.  At such time as the shares of Common Stock underlying the Restricted Share Units become payable in accordance with Section 5 above, the Company shall direct the transfer agent to forward all such nonforfeitable shares of Common Stock to the Grantee.

 

8.             Compliance with Law.  The Company shall make reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws; provided, however, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated to issue any Restricted Share Units or shares of Common Stock or other securities pursuant to this Agreement if the issuance thereof would, in the reasonable opinion of the Company, result in a violation of any such law.

 

9.             Relation to Other Benefits.  Any economic or other benefit to the Grantee under this Agreement shall not be taken into account in determining any benefits to which the Grantee may be entitled.

 

10.           Amendments.  Any amendment to the Plan shall be deemed to be an amendment to this Agreement to the extent that the amendment is applicable hereto; provided, however, that no amendment shall adversely affect the rights of the Grantee under this Agreement without the Grantee’s consent.

 

11.           Severability.  In the event that one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall be invalidated for any reason by a court of competent jurisdiction, any provision so invalidated shall be deemed to be separable from the other provisions hereof, and the remaining provisions hereof shall continue to be valid and fully enforceable.

 

12.           Relation to Plan.  This Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.  In the event of any inconsistent provisions between this Agreement and the Plan, the Plan shall govern.  Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Plan.  The Board, acting pursuant to the Plan shall, except as expressly provided otherwise herein, have the right to determine any questions which arise in connection with this grant.

 

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13.           Successors and Assigns.  The provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the successors, administrators, heirs, legal representatives and assigns of the Grantee, and the successors and assigns of the Company.

 

14.           Governing Law.  The interpretation, performance, and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Georgia, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws thereof.

 

15.           Notices.  Any notice to the Company provided for herein shall be in writing to the Company, marked Attention: Vice President-General Counsel and Secretary, and any notice to the Grantee shall be addressed to said Grantee at his or her address currently on file with the Company.  Except as otherwise provided herein, any written notice shall be deemed to be duly given if and when delivered personally or deposited in the United States mail, first class registered mail, postage and fees prepaid, and addressed as aforesaid.  Any party may change the address to which notices are to be given hereunder by written notice to the other party as herein specified (provided that for this purpose any mailed notice shall be deemed given on the third business day following deposit of the same in the United States mail).

 

16.           Compliance with Section 409A of the Code.  To the extent applicable, it is intended that this Agreement and the Plan comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, so that the income inclusion provisions of Section 409A(a)(1) do not apply to you.  This Agreement and the Plan shall be administered in a manner consistent with this intent.

 

17.           Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute the same instrument.

 

18.           Data Protection. By your signature below, Grantee consents that the Company may process Grantee’s personal data provided herein (the “Data”) exclusively for the purpose of performing this Agreement, in particular in connection with the exercise of Restricted Share Units awarded herein.  For this purpose the Data may also be disclosed to and processed by companies outside the Company, e.g., banks involved.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf by its duly authorized officer and Grantee has also executed this Agreement in duplicate, as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

GEORGIA GULF CORPORATION

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

GRANTEE:

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

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