Exhibit 10.29
AMENDED AND RESTATED
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED INDEMNIFICATION
AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) is made and
entered into as of __________, ____ between
ANIMAL HEALTH INTERNATIONAL, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
“ Company ”), and __________ (“
Indemnitee ”).
W I T N E S S E T H
:
WHEREAS, highly
competent persons have become more reluctant to serve or continue
to serve corporations as directors or officers or in other
capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection
through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate
risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their
service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company
(the “ Board ”) has determined that, in order to
attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt
to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability
insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its
subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the
furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread
practice among United States-based corporations and other business
enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market
conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the
future only at higher premiums and with more
exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers, and
other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises
are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming
litigation relating to, among other things, matters that
traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or
business enterprise itself. The By-laws and Certificate
of Incorporation of the Company require indemnification of the
officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may
also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“ DGCL
”). The By-laws and Certificate of Incorporation
and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions
set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that
contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of
the board of directors, officers and other persons with respect to
indemnification;
WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such
insurance and to indemnification have increased the difficulty of
attracting and retaining such persons;
WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the
increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is
detrimental to the best interests of the Company’s
stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons
that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the
future;
WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary
for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and
to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or
continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they
will not be so indemnified;
WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and
in furtherance of the By-laws and Certificate of Incorporation of
the Company and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall
not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate
any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and
WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the
protection available under the Company’s By-laws and
Certificate of Incorporation and insurance as adequate in the
present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve as an
officer or director without adequate protection, and the Company
desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee
is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional
service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that he be
so indemnified; 9
WHEREAS, Indemnitee may have certain rights to
indemnification and/or insurance, including as provided by
_________________________ (collectively, “Secondary
Indemnitors”) which Indemnitee and Secondary Indemnitors
intend to be secondary to the primary obligation of the Company to
indemnify Indemnitee as provided herein, with the Company’s
acknowledgement and agreement to the foregoing being a material
condition to Indemnitee’s willingness to serve as an officer
or director;
WHEREAS,
reference is hereby made to that certain Indemnification Agreement
dated as of _________, _____, executed by and among the Company and
the Indemnitee (the “ Original Agreement ”);
and
WHEREAS, the
Company and Indemnitee now desire to amend and restate the Original
Agreement in its entirety. Accordingly, the Original
Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to
hereafter be and read as follows:
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
Indemnitee’s agreement to continue to serve as an officer or
director from and after the date hereof, the parties hereto agree
as follows:
1. Indemnity of Indemnitee
. The Company hereby agrees to hold harmless and
indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law, as
such may be amended from time to time. In furtherance of
the foregoing indemnification, and without limiting the generality
thereof:
(a) Proceedings Other Than
Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company
. Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of
indemnification provided in this Section l(a) if, by reason
of his Corporate Status (as hereinafter defined), the Indemnitee
is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any
Proceeding (as hereinafter defined) other than a Proceeding by or
in the right of the Company. Pursuant to this Section
1(a) , Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses (as
hereinafter defined), judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid
in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him, or on his
behalf, in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or
matter therein, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a
manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed
to the best interests of the Company, and with respect to any
criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the
Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.
(b) Proceedings by or in the
Right of the Company . Indemnitee shall be entitled
to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section
1(b) if, by reason of his Corporate Status, the Indemnitee is,
or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any
Proceeding brought by or in the right of the
Company. Pursuant to this Section 1(b) ,
Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and
reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee, or on the Indemnitee’s
behalf, in connection with such Proceeding if the Indemnitee acted
in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to
be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company;
provided, however, if applicable law so provides, no
indemnification against such Expenses shall be made in respect of
any claim, issue or matter in such Proceeding as to which
Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company
unless and to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of
Delaware shall determine that such indemnification may be
made.
(c) Indemnification for
Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful
. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate
Status, a party to and is successful, on the merits or otherwise,
in any Proceeding, he shall be indemnified to the maximum extent
permitted by law, as such may be amended from time to time, against
all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his
behalf in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not
wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the
merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims,
issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify
Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by
him or on his behalf in connection with each successfully resolved
claim, issue or matter. For purposes of this Section and
without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter
in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall
be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or
matter.
2. Additional Indemnity
. In addition to, and without regard to any limitations
on, the indemnification provided for in Section 1 of this
Agreement, the Company shall and hereby does indemnify and hold
harmless Indemnitee against all Expenses, judgments, penalties,
fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by him or on his behalf if, by reason of his Corporate
Status, he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or
participant in any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the
right of the Company), including, without limitation, all liability
arising out of the negligence or active or passive wrongdoing of
Indemnitee. The only limitation that shall exist upon
the Company’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement shall be
that the Company shall not be obligated to make any payment to
Indemnitee that is finally determined (under the procedures, and
subject to the presumptions, set forth in Sections 6 and
7 hereof) to be unlawful.
(a) Whether or not the
indemnification provided in Sections 1 and 2 hereof
is available, in respect of any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit or proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable
with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or
proceeding), the Company shall pay, in the first instance, the
entire amount of any judgment or settlement of such action, suit or
proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such
payment and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of
contribution it may have against Indemnitee. The Company
shall not enter into any settlement of any action, suit or
proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee
(or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding) unless
such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims
asserted against Indemnitee.
(b) Without diminishing or
impairing the obligations of the Company set forth in the preceding
subparagraph, if, for any reason, Indemnitee shall elect or be
required to pay all or any portion of any judgment or settlement in
any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding in
which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if
joined in such action, suit or proceeding), the Company shall
contribute to the amount of Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts
paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred and paid or
payable by Indemnitee in proportion to the relative benefits
received by the Company and all officers, directors or employees of
the Company, other than Indemnitee, who are jointly liable with
Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or
proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand,
from the transaction from which such action, suit or proceeding
arose; provided, however, that the proportion determined on the
basis of relative benefit may, to the extent necessary to conform
to law, be further adjusted by reference to the relative fault of
the Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company
other than Indemnitee who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or
would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), on the one
hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, in connection with the
events that resulted in such expenses, judgments, fines or
settlement amounts, as well as any other equitable considerations
which the Law may require to be considered. The relative
fault of the Company and all officers, directors or employees of
the Company, other than Indemnitee, who are jointly liable with
Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or
proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand,
shall be determined by reference to, among other things, the degree
to which their actions were motivated by intent to gain personal
profit or advantage, the degree to which their liability is primary
or secondary and the degree to which their conduct is active or
passive.
(c) The Company hereby agrees to
fully indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless from any claims of
contribution which may be brought by officers, directors or
employees of the Company, other than Indemnitee, who may be jointly
liable with Indemnitee.
(d) To the fullest extent
permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided
for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason
whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall
contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for
judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be
paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any
claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in
such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of
the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the
relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a
result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such
Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its
directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in
connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).
4. Indemnification for
Expenses of a Witness . Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by
reason of his Corporate Status, a witness, or is made (or asked to)
respond to discovery requests, in any Proceeding to which
Indemnitee is not a party, he shall be indemnified against all
Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf
in connection therewith.
5. Advancement of Expenses
. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
the Company shall advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of
Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding by reason of
Indemnitee’s Corporate Status within thirty (30) days after
the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements from
Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time,
whether prior to or after final disposition of such
Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall
reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall
include or be preceded or accompanied by a written undertaking by
or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay any Expenses advanced if it
shall ultimately be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to
be indemnified against such Expenses. Any advances and
undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section 5 shall be
unsecured and interest free.
6. Procedures and Presumptions
for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification
. It is the intent of this Agreement to secure for
Indemnitee rights of indemnity that are as favorable as may be
permitted under the DGCL and public policy of the State of
Delaware. Accordingly, the parties agree that the
following procedures and presumptions shall apply in the event of
any question as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification under this Agreement:
(a) To obtain indemnification
under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a
written request, including therein or therewith such documentation
and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is
reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent
Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. The Secretary
of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for
indemnification, advise the Board of Directors in writing that
Indemnitee has requested
indemnification. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
failure of Indemnitee to provide such a request to the Company, or
to provide such a request in a timely fashion, shall not relieve
the Company of any liability that it may have to Indemnitee unless,
and to the extent that, such failure actually and materially
prejudices the interests of the Company.
(b) Upon written request by
Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of
Section 6(a) hereof, a determination with respect to
Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the
specific case by one of the following four methods, which shall be
at the election of the Board: (1) by a majority vote of
the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum, (2) by
a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority
vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a
quorum, (3) if there are no Disinterested Directors or if the
Disinterested Directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in
a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall
be delivered to the Indemnitee, or (4) if so directed by the Board
of Directors, by the stockholders of the Company. For
purposes hereof, Disinterested Directors are those members of Board
of Directors who are not parties to the action, suit or proceeding
in respect of which indemnification is sought by
Indemnitee.
(c) If the determination of
entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel
pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof, the Independent Counsel
shall be selected as provided in this Section 6(c)
. The Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board
of Directors. Indemnitee may, within 10 days after such
written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the
Company a written objection to such selection; provided, however,
that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the
Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of
“ Independent Counsel ” as defined in Section
13 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with
particularity the factual basis of such
assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the
person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If
a written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent
Counsel selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and
until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that
such objection is without merit. If, within 20 days
after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for
indemnification pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof, no
Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to,
either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Court of Chancery
of the State of Delaware or other court of competent jurisdiction
for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the
Indemnitee to the Company’s selection of Independent Counsel
and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person
selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall
designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are
so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent
Counsel under Section 6(b) hereof. The Company
shall pay any and all reasonable fees and expenses of Independent
Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in connection with
acting pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof, and the Company
shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the
procedures of this Section 6(c) , regardless of the manner
in which such Independent Counsel was selected or
appointed.
(d) In making a determination with
respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or
persons or entity making such determination shall presume that
Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this
Agreement. Anyone seekin
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