INDEMNIFICATION
AGREEMENT
This Indemnification Agreement ("Agreement") is
made as of ________ __, 200_ by and between Wilshire Enterprises,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and ______________
("Indemnitee").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become
more reluctant to serve publicly-held 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 Certificate of Incorporation of the
Company requires 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
(the "DGCL"). The DGCL expressly provides 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 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 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;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises
and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do
hereby covenant and agree as follows:
Section 1. Services to the Company. Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director or
officer of the Company or, at the request of the Company, as a
director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit
plan or other enterprise. Indemnitee may at any time and for any
reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual
obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which
event the Company shall have no obligation under this Agreement to
continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be
deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its
subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee
specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee's employment with the
Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), if any, is
at will, and the Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any
reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided
in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the
Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), other
applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or,
with respect to service as a director or officer of the Company, by
the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, the Company's By-laws,
and the DGCL. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall
continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as an
officer or director of the Company.
Section 2.
Definitions. As used in this Agreement:
(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) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below),
directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing
thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the combined voting power of
the Company's then outstanding securities;
ii. Change
in Board . 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 2(a)(i), 2(a)(iii) or 2(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;
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; and
v. Other
Events . There occurs any other event of a nature that would be
required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of
Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar
schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined
below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such
reporting requirement.
For purposes of
this Section 2(a), the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
(A) "Exchange
Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
(B) "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 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.
(C) "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) "Corporate
Status" describes the status of a person who is or was a director,
officer, employee or agent of the Company or of any other
corporation, limited liability company, partnership or joint
venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which
such person is or was serving at the request of the
Company.
(c)
"Disinterested Director" means a director of the Company who
is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which
indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.
(d) "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.
(e) "Expenses"
shall include all reasonable 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, and all other
disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in
connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or
defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or
otherwise participating in, a Proceeding. Expenses also shall
include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal
resulting from any Proceeding, 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 13(d) 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.
(f) "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 Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party
(other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under
this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar
indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the
Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term "Independent Counsel" shall
not include any person who, under the applicable standards of
professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of
interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an
action to determine Indemnitee's rights under this Agreement. The
Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the
Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such
counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and
damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its
engagement pursuant hereto.
(g) The term
"Proceeding" shall include any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism,
investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual,
threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of
the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal,
administrative legislative, or investigative nature, including any
appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved
as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by
reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer
of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any
action on his part while acting as director or officer of the
Company, or by reason of the fact that he is or was serving at the
request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not
serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is
incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement
of expenses can be provided under this Agreement; except one
initiated by an Indemnitee to enforce his rights under this
Agreement.
(h) Reference to
"other enterprise" shall include employee benefit plans; references
to "fines" shall include any excise tax assessed with respect to
any employee benefit plan; references to "serving at the request of
the Company" shall include any service as a director, officer,
employee or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or
involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent
with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or
beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner
he reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the
participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be
deemed to have acted in manner "not opposed to the best interests
of the Company" as referred to in this Agreement.
Section 3.
Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings. The Company shall
indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to
or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or
in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.
Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses,
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his behalf in connection
with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if
Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
Company and, in the case of a criminal proceeding had no reasonable
cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
Section 4.
Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company.
The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to
be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the
right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant
to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually
and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with
such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if
Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
Company. No indemnification for Expenses shall be made under this
Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which
Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable
to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware
Court of Chancery or any court in which the Proceeding was brought
shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of
liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case,
Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnification.
Section 5.
Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly
Successful. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to
the extent that Indemnitee is a party to (or a participant in) and
is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in
defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part,
the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith. If
Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is
successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less
than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company
shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and
reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with each
successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. If the Indemnitee is
not wholly successful in such Proceeding, the Company also shall
indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses reasonably incurred in
connection with a claim, issue or matter related to any claim,
issue, or matter on which the Indemnitee was successful. For
purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of
any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with
or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as
to such claim, issue or matter.
Section 6.
Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is,
by reason of his Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding to
which Indemnitee is not a party, he shall be indemnified against
all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his
behalf in connection therewith.
Section 7.
Additional Indemnification.
(a)
Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, the
Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted
by applicable law if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be
made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the
right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against
all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with
the Proceeding.
(b) For purposes
of Section 7(a), the meaning of the phrase "to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law" shall include, but not be limited
to:
i. to the
fullest extent permitted by the provision of the DGCL that
authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement,
or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement
of the DGCL, and
ii. to the
fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or
replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement
that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its
officers and directors.
Section 8.
Exclusions. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement,
the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any
indemnity in connection with any claim made against
Indemnitee:
(a) for which
payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under
any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with
respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance
policy or other indemnity provision; or
(b) for (i) an
accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and
purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the
meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (as defined in Section
2(a) hereof) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common
law, or (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of
any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or
of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of
securities of the Company, as required in each case under the
Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an
accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the "Sarbanes-Oxley Act"), or the
payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and
sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act), or
(c) except as
provided in Section 13(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any
Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee,
including
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