EXHIBIT 10.3
INDEMNIFICATION
AGREEMENT
SCOTT’S LIQUID
GOLD-INC.
This Agreement is made and entered
into as of May 6, 1987 between Scott’s Liquid Gold-Inc.,
a Colorado corporation (the “Corporation”), and Mark E.
Goldstein, of Denver, Colorado (“Director”).
RECITALS:
A. At the request of the
Corporation, Director currently serves as e director of the
Corporation (as defined below), as well as an officer of the
Corporation. As such, Director may be subjected to claims, suits or
proceedings.
B. Director has indicated that it is
a condition to Director’s continuing in such service that,
among other things, the Corporation agrees to indemnify Director
against liabilities, expenses and costs incurred in connection with
any such claims, suits or proceedings, in accordance with, and to
the fullest extent permitted by, the Colorado Corporation Code;
and
C. The Company’s Articles of
Incorporation and the Colorado Corporation Code contemplate that
contracts may be made between the Corporation and members of its
Board of Directors and officers with respect to
indemnification.
AGREEMENT:
Now, therefore, in consideration of
Director’s continued service as a director and officer after
the date of this Agreement, and in consideration of the mutual
covenants stated herein, the parties agree as follows:
1. Definitions . As used in
this Agreement, the following terms have the following
meanings:
(a) Code . The term
“Code” means the Colorado Corporation Code as it exists
on the date of this Agreement and as it may be hereafter amended
from time to time, but in the case of any amendment, only to the
extent that the amendment permits the Corporation to provide
broader indemnification rights than the Colorado Corporation Code
permitted the Corporation to provide at the date of this Agreement
and prior to the amendment.
(b) Director . As used in
reference to a position of Director, the term
“director” means a director of the Corporation and,
while a director or officer of the Corporation, Director’s
serving at the Corporation’s request as a director, officer,
partner, trustee, employee or agent of any corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or employee
benefit plan. The term “director” also includes, unless
the context otherwise requires, the estate or personal
representative of a director. The term
“director” shall also include any such broader
definition as may be provided in the Code with amendments after the
date of this Agreement.
(c) Proceedinq . The term
“proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit or proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative
or investigative, and whether formal or informal.
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2. Aqreement to Indemnify . The
Corporation shall indemnify, and keep indemnified, Director in
accordance with, and to the fullest extent permitted and/or
required by, the Code from and against any judgments, penalties,
fines (including but not limited to ERISA excise taxes), amounts
paid in settlement and reasonable expenses (including but not
limited to expenses of investigation and preparation and fees and
disbursements of Director’s counsel, accountants or other
experts) actually incurred by Director in connection with any
proceeding in which Director was or is made a party or was or is
involved (for example, as a witness) because Director is or was a
director or is or was an officer of the Corporation.
3. Insurance . So long as
Director may be subject to any possible proceeding by reason of the
fact that Director is or was a director or officer of the
Corporation, to the extent the Corporation maintains an insurance
policy or policies providing directors’ and officers’
liability insurance, Director shall be covered by such policy or
policies, in accordance with its or their terms, to the maximum
extent of the coverage applicable to any then current director or
officer of the Corporation.
4. Advances . In the event of
any proceeding in which Director is a party or is involved and
which may give rise to a right of indemnification from the
Corporation pursuant to this Agreement, following written request
to the Corporation by Director, the Corporation shall pay to
Director, in accordance with and to the fullest extent permitted
and/or required by the Code, amounts to cover reasonable expenses
incurred by Director in such proceeding in advance of its final
disposition upon receipt of (a) a written affirmation by
Director of Director’s good faith belief that Director has
met any applicable standard of conduct; (b) a written
undertaking executed by or on behalf of Director to repay the
advance if it shall ultimately be determined that Director did not
meet such standard of conduct; and (c) satisfactory evidence
as to the amount of such expenses.
5. Burden of Proof . If under
applicable law, the entitlement of Director to be indemnified or
advanced expenses hereunder depends upon whether a standard of
conduct has been met, the burden of proof of establishing that
Director did not act in accordance with such standard shall rest
with the Corporation. Director shall be presumed to have acted in
accordance with such standard and to be entitled to indemnification
or the advancement of expenses (as the case may be) unless, based
upon a preponderance of the evidence, it shall be determined that
Director has not met such standard. Such determination and any
evaluation as to the reasonableness of amounts claimed by Director
shall be made by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or such
other body or persons as may be permitted by the Code. For purposes
of this Agreement, unless otherwise expressly stated, the
termination of any proceeding by judgment, order, settlement
(whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a
plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not create a
presumption that Director did not meet any particular standard of
conduct or have any particular belief or that a court has
determined that indemnification is not permitted by applicable
law.
6. Notice to the Corporation
. Director shall notify the Secretary of the Corporation in writing
of any matter for which Director intends to seek indemnification
hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt
by Director of written notice thereof; provided , however,
that delay in so notifying the Corporation shall not constitute a
waiver or release by Director of rights hereunder.
7. Counsel for Proceedinq .
In the event of any proceeding in which Director is a party or is
involved and which may give rise to a right of indemnification
hereunder, the Corporation shall have the right to retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to Director to represent Director and any
others the Corporation may designate in such proceeding. In any
such proceeding, Director shall have
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the right to retain Director’s own
counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the
expense of Director unless (a) the retention of such counsel
has been specifically authorized by the Corporation,
(b) representation of Director and another party by the same
counsel would be inappropriate, in the reasonable judgment of
Director, due to actual or potential differing interests between
them (as might be the case for representation of both the
Corporation and Director in a proceeding by or in the right of the
Corporation), (c) the counsel retained by the Corporation and
satisfactory to Director has advised Director, in writing, that
such counsel’s representation of Director would be likely to
involve such counsel in representing differing interests which
could adversely affect either the judgment or loyalty of such
counsel to Director, whether it be a conflicting, inconsistent,
diverse or other interest, or (d) the Corporation shall fail
to retain counsel for Director in such proceeding. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if an insurance carrier has supplied
directors’ and officers’ liability insurance covering a
proceeding and is entitled to retain counsel for the defense of
such proceeding, then the insurance carrier shall retain counsel to
conduct the defense of such proceeding unless Director and the
Corporation concur in writing that the insurance carrier’s
doing so is undesirable. The Corporation shall not be liable under
this Agreement for any settlement of any proceeding effected
without its written consent. The Corporation shall not settle any
proceeding in any manner which would impose any penalty or
limitation on Director without Director’s written consent.
Consent to a proposed settlement of any proceeding shall not be
unreasonably withheld by either the Corporation or
Director.
8. Enforcement . The
Corporation acknowledges that Director is relying upon this
Agreement in serving as a director, as well as an officer of the
Corporation. If a claim for indemnification or advancement
‘of expenses is~ not paid in full by the Corporation within
ninety (90) days after a written claim has been received from
Director by the Corporation, Director may at any time bring suit
against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim.
If successful in whole or in part in such suit, Director shall also
be entitled to be paid all reasonable fees and expenses (including
without limitation fees of counsel) in bringing and prosecuting
such claim. Whether or not Director has met any applicable standard
of conduct, the Court in such suit may order indemnification or the
advancement of expenses as the Court deems proper (subject to any
express limitation of the Code). Further, the Corporation shall
indemnify Director from and against any and all expenses (including
attorneys’ fees) and, if requested by Director, shall (within
ten business days of such request) advance such expenses to
Director, which are incurred by Director in connection With any
claim asserted against or suit brought by Director for recovery
under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance
policies maintained by the Corporation, regardless of whether
Director is unsuccessful in whole or in part in such claim or
suit.
9. Proceedinqs by Director .
The Corporation shall indemnify Director and advance expenses to
Director in connection with any proceeding (or part thereof)
initiated by Director only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was
authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
10. Nonexclusivity . The
rights of Director for indemnification and advancement of expenses
under this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of, or in
limitation of, any rights to which Director may be entitled under
Colorado law, the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation or
Bylaws, vote of stockholders or otherwise.
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11. Miscellaneous .
(a) Effectiveness . This
Agreement is effective for, and shall apply to, (i) any claim
which is asserted or threatened before, on or after the date of
this Agreement but for which no action, suit or proceeding has
actually been brought prior to the date of this Agreement and
(ii) any action, suit or proceeding which is threatened
before, on or after the date of this Agreement but which is not
pending prior to the date of this Agreement. Thus, this Agreement
shall not apply to any action, suit or proceeding which has
actually been brought before the date of this Agreement. So long as
the foregoing standard of effectiveness has been satisfied, this
Agreement shall be effective for and shall be applied to acts or
omissions prior to, on or after the date of this
Agreement.
(b) Survival; Continuation .
The rights of Director hereunder shall inure to the benefit of the
Director (even after Director ceases to be a director or officer),
Director’s personal representative, heirs, executors,
administrators and beneficiaries; and this Agreement shall be
binding upon the Corporation, its successors and assigns. The
rights of Director under this Agreement shall continue so long as
Director may be subject to any possible proceeding because of the
fact that Director was a director or was an officer of the
Corporation. If the Corporation sells, leases, exchanges or
otherwise disposes of, in a single transaction or series of related
transactions, all or substantially all of its property and assets,
the Corporation shall, as a condition precedent to such
transaction, cause effective provision to be made so that the
person or entity acquiring such property and assets shall become
bound by and replace the Corporation under this
Agreement.
(c) Governing Law . This
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Colorado.
(d) Severability . If any
provision of this Agreement shall be held to be prohibited by or
invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be deemed
amended to accomplish the objectives of the provision as originally
written to the fullest extent permitted by law and all other
provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
(e) Amendment . No amendment,
termination or cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective
unless in writing signed by the Corporation and
Director.
(f) Other Payments . The
Corporation shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any
payment in connection with any proceeding against or involving
Director to the extent Director has otherwise actually received
payment (under any insurance policy, Bylaw or otherwise) of the
amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder. Director shall repay to
the Corporation the amount of any payment the Corporation makes to
Director under this Agreement in connection with any proceeding
against or involving Director, to the extent Director has otherwise
actually received payment (under any insurance policy, Bylaw or
otherwise) of such amount.
(g) Subrogation . In the
event of payment under this Agreement the Corporation shall be
subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of
recovery of Director, who shall execute all papers required and
shall do everything that may be necessary to secure such rights,
including the execution of such documents necessary to enable the
Corporation effectively to bring suit to enforce such
rights.
(h) Headings . The headings
in this Agreement are for convenience only and are not to be
considered in construing this Agreement.
(i) Counterparts . This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts, both of which shall be
deemed an original, and together shall constitute one
document.
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The parties have executed this
Agreement as of the day and year first above stated.
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SCOTT’S
LIQUID GOLD-INC.
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DIRECTOR
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By:
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/s/ Jerome J.
Goldstein
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/s/ Mark E.
Goldstein
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Jerome J.
Goldstein
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Mark E.
Goldstein
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5
INDEMNIFICATION
AGREEMENT
SCOTT’S LIQUID
GOLD-INC.
This Agreement is made and entered
into as of Dec. 23, 1991 between Scott’s Liquid Gold-Inc., a
Colorado corporation (the “Corporation”), and Dennis
Field of Short Hills, New Jersey
(“Director”).
RECITALS:
A. At the request of the
corporation, Director currently serves as a director of the
Corporation (as defined below). As such, Director may be subjected
to claims, suits or proceedings.
B. Director has indicated that it
was and is a condition of Director’s acceptance and
continuing in such service that, among other things, the
Corporation agrees to indemnify Director against liabilities,
expenses and costs incurred in connection with any such claims,
suite or proceedings, in accordance with, end to the fullest extent
permitted by, the Colorado Corporation Code; and
C. The Corporation’s Articles
of incorporation and the Colorado Corporation Code contemplate that
contracts may be made between the Corporation and members of its
Board o£ Directors and officers with respect to
indemnification.
AGREEMENT:
NOW, therefore, in consideration of
Director’s acceptance and continuation of service as a
director after the date of this Agreement, end in consideration of
the mutual covenants stated herein, the parties agree as
follows:
1. Definitions. As used in
this Agreement, the following terms have the following
meanings:
(a) Code . The term
“Code” means the Colorado Corporation Code as it exists
on the date of this Agreement and as it may be hereafter amended
from time to time. In the case of any amendment of the Colorado
Corporation Code after the date of this Agreement, when used in
reference to an act or omission occurring prior to effectiveness of
such amendment, the term “Code” shall include such
amendment only to extent that the amendment permits the corporation
to provide broader indemnification rights than the Colorado
Corporation Code permitted the Corporation to provide at the date
of this Agreement and prior to the amendment.
(b) Director . As used in
reference to a position of Director, the term
“director” means a director of the Corporation and,
while a director or officer of the Corporation, Director’s
serving at the Corporation’s request as a director, officer,
partner, trustee, employee or agent of any corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or employee
benefit plan. The term “director” also includes, unless
the context otherwise requires, the estate or personal
representative of a director. The term “director”,
shall also include any such broader definition as may be provided
in the Code with amendments after the date of this
Agreement,
(c) Proceeding . The term
“proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit or proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative
or investigative, and whether formal or informal.
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2. Agreement to Indemnify . The
Corporation shall indemnify, and keep indemnified, Director in
accordance with, and to the fullest extent permitted and/or
required by, the cede from and against any judgments, penalties,
fines (including but not limited to ERISA excise taxes) amounts
paid in settlement end reasonable expenses (including but not
limited to expenses of investigation and preparation and fees and
disbursements of Director’s counsel, accountants or other
experts) actually incurred by Director in connection with any
proceeding in which Director was or is made a party or was or is
involved (for example as a witness) because Director is or was a
director or is or was an officer of the Corporation.
3. Insurance . So long as
Director may be subject to any possible proceeding by reason of the
fact that Director is or was a director or officer of the
Corporation, to the extent the Corporate maintains an insurance
policy or policies providing directors’ and officers’
liability insurance, Director shall be covered by such policy or
policies, in accordance with its or their terms, to the maximum
extent of the coverage applicable to any then current director or
officer of the Corporation.
4. Advances . In the event of
any proceeding in which Director is a party or is involved and
which may give rise to a right of indemnification from the
Corporation pursuant to this Agreement, following written request
to the corporation by Director, the Corporation shall pay to
Director, in accordance with and to the fullest extent permitted
and/or required by the Code, amounts to cover reasonable expenses
incurred by Director in such proceeding in advance of its final
disposition upon receipt of (a) a written affirmation by
Director of Director’s good faith belief that Director has
met any applicable standard of conduct; (b) a written
undertaking executed by or on behalf of Director to repay the
advance if it shall ultimately be determined that Director did not
meet such standard of conduct; and (c) satisfactory evidence
as to the amount of such expenses.
5. Burden of Proof . If under
applicable law, the entitlement of Director to be indemnified or
advanced expenses hereunder depends upon whether a standard of
conduct has been met, the burden of proof of establishing that
Director did not act in accordance with such standard shall rest
with the Corporation. Director shall be presumed to have acted in
accordance with such standard and to be entitled to indemnification
or the advancement of expenses (as the case may be) unless, based
upon a preponderance of the evidence, it shall be determined that
Director has not met such standard. Such determination and any
evaluation as to the reasonableness of amounts claimed by Director
shall be made by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or such
ether body or persons as may be permitted by the Code. For purposes
of this Agreement, unless other-wise expressly stated, the
termination of any proceeding by Judgment, order, settlement
(whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a
plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not create a
presumption that Director did not meet any particular standard of
conduct or have any particular belief or that a court has
determined that indemnification is not permitted by applicable
law.
6. Notice to Corporation .
Director shall notify the Secretary of the Corporation in writing
of any matter for which Director intends to seek indemnification
hereunder as seen am reasonably practicable following the receipt
by Director of written notice thereof; provided , however,
that delay in so notifying the Corporation shall not constitute a
waiver or release by Director of rights hereunder.
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7. Counsel for Proceeding . In the event
of any proceeding in which Director is a party or is involved and
which may give rise to a right of indemnification hereunder, the
corporation shall have the right to retain counsel reasonably
satisfactory to Director to represent Director and any others the
Corporation may designate in such proceeding. In any such
proceeding, Director shall have the right to retain
Director’s own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such
counsel shall be at the expense of Director unless (a) the
retention of such counsel has been specifically authorized by the
Corporation; (b) representation of Director and another party
by the same counsel would be inappropriate, in the reasonable
judgment of Director, due to actual or potential differing
interests between them (as might be the case for representation of
both the Corporation and Director in a proceeding by or in the
right of the Corporation); (c) the counsel retained by the
Corporation and satisfactory to Director has advised Director, in
writing, that such counsel’s representation of Director would
be likely to involve such counsel in representing differing
interests which could adversely affect either the judgment or
loyalty of such counsel to Director, whether it be a conflicting,
inconsistent, diverse or other interest; or (d) the
Corporation shall fail to retain counsel for Director in such
proceeding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an insurance carrier
has supplied directors’ and officers’ liability
insurance covering a proceeding and is entitled to retain counsel
for the defense of such proceeding, then the insurance carrier
shall retain counsel to conduct the defense of such proceeding
unless Director and the Corporation concur in writing that the
insurance carrier’s doing so is undesirable. The Corporation
shall not be liable under this Agreement for any settlement of any
proceeding effected without its written consent. The Corporation
shall not settle any proceeding in any manner which would impose
any penalty or limitation on Director without Director’s
written consent. Consent to a proposed settlement of any proceeding
shall net be unreasonably withheld by either the Corporation or
Director.
8. Enforcement . The
Corporation acknowledges that Director is relying upon this
Agreement in serving as a director, as well as any serving
in the future as an officer of the Corporation. If a claim for
indemnification or advancement of expenses is not paid in full by
the Corporation within ninety (90) days after a written claim
has been received from Director by the Corporation, Director may at
any time bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid
amount of the claim, If successful in whole or in part in such
suit, Director shall also be entitled to be paid all reasonable
fees and expenses (including without limitation fees of counsel) in
bringing and prosecuting such claim. Whether or not Director has
met any applicable standard of conduct, the Court in such suit may
order indemnification or the advancement of expenses as the Court
deems proper {subject to any express limitation of the Code).
Further, the Corporation shall indemnify Director from and against
any and all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) and, if
requested by Director, shall (within ten business days of such
request) advance such expenses to Director, which are incurred by
Director in connection with any claim asserted against or suit
brought by Director for recovery under any directors’ and
officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the
Corporation, regardless of whether Director is unsuccessful in
whole or in part in such claim or suit.
9. Proceedings by Director .
The Corporation shall indemnify Director and advance expenses to
Director in connection with any proceeding (or part thereof)
initiated by Director only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was
authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
10. Nonexclusivity . The
rights of Director for indemnification and advancement of expenses
under this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of, or in
limitation of, any rights to which Director may be entitled under
Colorado law, the corporation’s Articles of Incorporation or
Bylaws, vote of stockholders or otherwise.
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11. Miscellaneous .
(a) Effectiveness . This
Agreement is effective for, and shall apply to, (i) any claim
which is asserted or threatened before, on or after the date of
this Agreement but for which no action, suit or proceeding has
actually been brought prior to the date of this Agreement and
(ii) any action, suit or proceeding which is threatened
before, after the date of this Agreement but which is not pending
prior to the date of this Agreement. Thus, this Agreement shall not
apply to any action, suit or proceeding which has actually been
brought before the date of this Agreement. So long as the foregoing
standard of effectiveness has been satisfied, this Agreement shall
be effective for and shall be applied to acts or omissions prior
to, on or after the date of this Agreement.
(b) Survival; Continuation .
The rights of Director hereunder shall inure to the benefit of the
Director (even after Director ceases to be a director or officer),
Director’s personal representative, heirs, executors,
administrators and beneficiaries: and this Agreement shall be
binding upon the Corporation, its successors and assigns. The
rights of Director under this Agreement shall continue so long as
Director may be subject to any possible proceeding because of the
fact that Director was a director or was an officer of the
Corporation. If the Corporation sells, leases, exchanges or
otherwise disposes of, in a single transaction or series of related
transactions, all or substantially all of its property and assets,
the Corporation shall, as a condition precedent to such
transaction, cause effective provision to be made so that the
person or entity acquiring such property and assets shall become
bound by and replace the Corporation under this
Agreement.
(c) Governing Law . This
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Colorado.
(d) Severability . If any
provision of this Agreement shall be held to be prohibited by or
invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be deemed
amended to accomplish the objectives of the provision as originally
written to the fullest extent permitted by law and all other
provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
(e) Amendment . No amendment,
termination or cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective
unless in writing signed by the Corporation and
Director.
(f) Other Payments . The
Corporation shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any
payment in connection with any proceeding against or involving
Director to the extent Director has otherwise actually received
payment (under any insurance policy, Bylaw or otherwise) of the
amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder. Director shall repay to
the Corporation the amount of any payment the Corporation makes to
Director under this Agreement in connection with any proceeding
against or involving Director, to the extent Director has otherwise
actually received payment (under any insurance policy, Bylaw or
otherwise) of such amount.
(g) Subrogation . In the
event of payment under this Agreement the Corporation shall be
subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of
recovery of Director, who shall execute all papers required and
shall do everything that may be necessary to secure such rights,
including the execution of such documents necessary to enable the
Corporation effectively to bring suit to enforce such
rights.
(h) Headings . The headings
in this Agreement are for convenience only and are not to be
considered in construing this Agreement.
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(i) Counterparts . This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts, both of which shall be
deemed an original, and together shall constitute one
document.
The parties have executed this
Agreement as of the day and year first above stated.
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SCOTT’S
LIQUID GOLD-INC.
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DIRECTOR
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By:
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/s/ Mark E.
Goldstein
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/s/ Dennis
Field
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Mark E.
Goldstein, President
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Dennis
Field
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5
AMENDMENT TO INDEMNIFICATION
AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDMENT TO INDEMNIFICATION
AGREEMENT (“Amendment”) is made and entered into as
of
January 17, 1992, by and between Scott’s Liquid
Gold-Inc. (the “Company”) and Dennis H. Field (the
“Indemnitee”).
RECITALS
A. The Board of Directors of the
Company has established a Special Committee to evaluate a
stockholder derivative suit, and to make a determination as to
whether the Company should pursue the claims alleged in the
litigation. Service on the Special Committee may expose the members
thereof to special legal risks in excess of those to which they are
otherwise exposed as directors of the Company.
B. The actions of the Special
Committee must, to the maximum extent possible, be independent of
the influences of the Company’s Board of
Directors.
C. Indemnitee is a party to an
Indemnification Agreement with the Company dated 12-23-91 (which as
it may be amended from time to time is called the
“Indemnification Agreement”) which provides for
indemnification by the Company to Indemnitee. Because of the
special legal risks incident to service on the Special Committee
and the desire to emphasize the independence of the Special
Committee, Indemnitee desires to amend the Indemnification
Agreement to provide certain procedural protections in respect of
litigation arising out of its activities on the Special Committee,
which supplemental indemnification will further support the
independence of the Special Committee from the Company, and the
Company agrees to provide this indemnification on the terms set
forth herein.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
%he foregoing and the covenants, terms and conditions hereinafter
set forth, the Company and Indemnitee hereby agree as
follows:
1. Definitions . For purposes
of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
(a) “Disinterested
Director” means a director of the Company who
neither is or was nor a party to (i) the Proceeding in respect
of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee or (ii) the
shareholders derivative suit that is the subject of the Special
Committee investigation.
(b) “Dispute” has
the meaning set forth in Section & of this
Agreement.
(c) “Expenses”
includes all direct and indirect costs of any type or nature
whatsoever (including, without limitation, all attorneys’
fees and related disbursements and other out-of-pocket costs
actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee either in
connection with the investigation, defense, adjudication,
settlement or appeal of a Proceeding or in connection with
establishing or enforcing a right to indemnification or advancement
of Expenses under this Agreement, the Articles of Incorporation or
Bylaws of the Company, applicable lay or otherwise; provided,
however, that Expenses shall not include judgments, fines,
penalties or amounts paid in settlement of a Proceeding.
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(d) “Good Faith”
means in good faith and (i) with respect to actions taken in
the capacity of a director of the Company, in s manner Indemnitee
reasonably believed to he in the best interests of the Company,
(ii) with respect to all other actions, in ~ manner Indemnitee
reasonably believed to be not opposed to the best interests of the
Company, and (iii) with respect to any criminal Proceeding,
with no reasonable cause to believe Indemnitee’s conduct was
unlawful. A director of the Company shall be deemed not to have
acted in Good Faith with respect to a Proceeding charging improper
personal benefit to the director if he is finally adjudged in such
Proceeding to be liable on the basis that personal benefit was
improperly received by him.
(e) “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 three years has been, retained to
represent (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material
to either such party, 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.
(f) “Proceeding”
means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or other
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative
or of any other type whatsoever to which Indemnitee is made a party
by reason, in whole or in part, of his activities on the Special
Committee.
2. Indemnification . In
connection with any Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify and
advance Expenses to Indemnitee to the fullest extant not prohibited
by applicable lay in effect on the date hereof and to such greater
extent as applicable law may hereafter from time to time permit.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company shall
indemnify and advance Expenses to Indemnitee as provided in this
Agreement.
3. Procedures for Determination
of Good Faith .
(a) Method of Determination .
When, in connection with any Proceeding, an Expense, judgment,
penalty, fine or amount paid in settlement has been incurred by
Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf, and where a
determination would be required by Paragraph 5 of the
Indemnification Agreement (as required by Colorado Revised Statutes
Section 7-3-101.5(5) or any successor statute), a
determination with respect to Indemnitee’s Good Faith and the
amount of indemnification and expense reimbursement shall he made
as follows:
(i) Unless Indemnitee shall request
in writing that such determination be made in accordance with
clause (ii) of this Section 3(a), the determination shall
be made by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a
copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee.
(ii) If so requested by Indemnitee
as provided in clause (1) above, the determination shall be
made by the Board by a majority vote of Disinterested Directors. In
the event that one or more Disinterested Directors is not
obtainable or such Disinterested Director or Directors so directs,
the determination shall be made by Independent Counsel in a written
opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall he delivered to
Indemnitee.
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(b) Selection and Payment of
Independent Counsel . In the event that the determination of
Good Faith is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to
Section 3(a), the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the
Disinterested Directors and Indemnitee’s acting together
(unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the
Board), and Indemnitee and the Disinterested Directors shall give
written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the
Independent Counsel so selected. If the Disinterested Directors and
Indemnitee are unable to agree on the selection of Independent
Counsel within 30 days of the date on which Indemnitee presents its
choice to the Disinterested Directors, the selection of Independent
Counsel shall he adjudicated in accordance with Section 4 of
this Agreement. The issue for determination by the court shall be
limited to determining whether the Independent Counsel selected by
Indemnitee meets the criteria for independence included in the
definition in Section 1(e) hereof, and the Disinterested
Directors may object to such Independent Counsel so identified by
Indemnitee solely on the grounds that such person does not meet
such requirements. The Independent Counsel selected by Indemnitee
shall be presumed to satisfy such requirements, and the
Disinterested Directors bear the burden of proving, by a
preponderance of the evidence, that such requirements are not
satisfied. The Company shall pay any and all reasonable fees and
expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by such Independent
Counsel acting pursuant to this Agreement, and the Company shall
pay all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the selection of
Independent Counsel pursuant to this Section 3(5).
(c) Authorization of
Indemnification . In the event that a determination is made by
Independent Counsel that Indemnitee acted in Good Faith, the
Disinterested Directors (or the Board of Directors, if the
provisions of Section 3(a)(ii) are applicable) shall, within
thirty (30) days after receipt of such determination,
determine the indemnification to which Indemnitee is entitled and
evaluate the reasonableness of the Expenses as to which
indemnification is sought, and shall authorize payment of such
Expenses and of all other amounts as to which indemnification is
sought. The determination as co authorized indemnification and
evaluation of Expenses shall be made in the Disinterested
Director’s (or the Board of Director’s) reasonable good
faith judgment, and shall be subject to de novo review pursuant to
Section 4(c).
4. Remedies of Indemnitee
.
(a) Application . This
Section 4 shall apply in the event of a Dispute. For purposes
of this Section 4, “Dispute” shall mean any of the
following events:
(i) a determination is made pursuant
to Section 3 of this Agreement (either by the Board of
Directors or by Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee is not
entitled to indemnification under this Agreement and Indemnitee
disagrees with such determination.
(ii) a determination is made by
Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement
that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement
and the Board of Directors of the Company disagrees with such
determination; or
(iii) any other dispute arising
under this Agreement.
(b) Adjudication . In the
event of a Dispute, Indemnitee (or the Company in the case of a
Dispute arising under Section 4(a)(ii)), shall he entitled to
an adjudication in an appropriate court of the State of
Colorado.
(c) De Novo Review . Any
Judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 4 shall
be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial on the merits, and
Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of any prior action of
the Board. In any such proceeding, the Company shall have the
burden of proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification or advancement of Expenses.
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(d) Procedures Valid . The
Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial
proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 4 that the
procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid,
binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court that
the Company is contractually bound by the provisions of this
Agreement.
5. Interpretation . The
parties hereto intend for this Amendment and the Indemnification
Agreement to be interpreted and enforced so as to provide
indemnification and advancement of Expenses to Indemnitee to the
fullest extent which is now or hereafter not prohibited by
applicable lay and, in the event that the validity, legality or
enforceability of any provision of this Agreement is in question,
such provision shall he interpreted in a manner such that the
provision will be valid, legal and enforceable to the greatest
extent possible.
6. Burden of Proof . In the
event of any Dispute under this Agreement involving the obligations
of the Company to indemnify or advance Expenses to Indemnitee, the
Company shall have the burden of proving by clear and convincing
evidence that the Company is not so obligated to indemnify or
advance Expenses to Indemnitee.
7. Indemnification Agreement in
Effect . Except as specifically amended herein, the
Indemnification Agreement shall be and remain in full force and
effect in all respects and shall apply to any indemnification and
advancement of expenses in connection with any
Proceeding.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and
Indemnitee have execu