EXHIBIT 10.8
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Indemnification Agreement ("Agreement") is made as of this ________ day of
_________ 199__ by and between SEAGATE SOFTWARE, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company") and _________________ ("Indemnitee").
WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee recognize the increasing difficulty in
obtaining directors and officers liability insurance, the significant increases
in the cost of such insurance and the general reductions in the coverage of such
insurance; and
WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee further recognize the substantial increase
in corporate litigation, in general, subjecting officers and directors to
expensive litigation risks at the same time as liability insurance has been
severely limited; and
WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the current protection available as adequate
given the present circumstances, and Indemnitee and other officers and directors
of the Company may not be willing to serve as officers and directors without
adequate protection; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to attract and retain the services of highly
qualified individuals, such as Indemnitees, to serve as officers and directors
of the Company and to indemnify its officers and directors so as to provide them
with the maximum protection permitted by law.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and Indemnitee hereby agree as follows:
1. Indemnification.
(a) Third Party Proceedings. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee
if Indemnitee is or was a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the
right of the Company) by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or any subsidiary of the
Company, by reason of any action or inaction on the part of Indemnitee while an
officer or director or by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was serving
at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
against expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, buying and amounts paid
in settlement (if such settlement is approved in advance by the Company, which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) actually and reasonably incurred by
Indemnitee in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if Indemnitee
acted in good faith in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interest of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal
action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe Indemnitee's conduct
was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit, or proceeding by judgment,
order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its
equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that Indemnitee did not
act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in
or not opposed to the best interest of the Company, and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee's
conduct was unlawful.
(b) Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Company shall
indemnify Indemnitee if Indemnitee was or is a party or is threatened to be made
a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the
right of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company to procure a judgment in
its favor by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer,
employee or agent of the Company, or any subsidiary of the Company, by reason of
any action or inaction on the part of Indemnitee while an officer or director or
by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the
Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses
(including attorneys' fees) and amounts paid in settlements actually and
reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the defense or settlement
of such action or suit if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner
Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the Company, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any
claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be
liable to the Company unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery
of the State of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought
shall determine upon application that, despite adjudication of liability but in
view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery of this
state of Delaware or such other court shall deem proper.
(c) Mandatory Payments of Expenses. To the extent that Indemnitee has
been successful on the merits were otherwise in defense of any action, suit or
proceeding referred to in Subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 1 for the
defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, Indemnitee shall be indemnified
against expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred by
Indemnitee in connection therewith.
2. Agreement to Serve. In consideration of the protection afforded by
this Agreement, if Indemnitee is a director of the Company he agrees to serve at
least for the balance of the current term as a director and not to resign
voluntarily during such period without the written consent of a majority of the
Board of Directors. If Indemnitee is an officer of the Company not serving under
an employment contract, he agrees to serve in such capacity at least for the
balance of the current fiscal year of the Company and not to resign voluntarily
during such period without the written consent of a majority of the Board of
Directors. Following the applicable period set forth above, Indemnitee agrees to
continue to serve in such capacity at the will of the Company (or under separate
agreement, if such agreement exists) so long as he is duly appointed or elected
and qualified in accordance with the applicable provisions of the bylaws of the
Company or any subsidiary of the Company until such time has he tenders his
resignation in writing. Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to
create in Indemnitee any right to continued employment.
3. Expenses; Indemnification Procedure.
(a) Advancement of Expenses. The Company shall advance all expenses
incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the investigation, defense, settlement
or appeal of any civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding referenced in
Section 1(a) or (b) hereof. Indemnitee hereby undertakes to repay such amounts
advanced only if, and to the extent that, it shall ultimately be determined that
Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized
hereby. The advances to be made hereunder shall be paid by the Company to
Indemnitee within twenty (20) days following delivery of a written request
therefore by Indemnitee to the Company.
(b) Notice/Cooperation by Indemnitee. Indemnitee shall, as a
condition precedent to his right to be indemnified under this Agreement, give
the Company notice in writing as soon as practicable than any claim made against
Indemnitee for which indemnification will or could be sought under this
Agreement. Notice to the Company shall be directed to Seagate software, Inc.,
000 Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000, Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx (or such
other address as the Company shall designate in writing to Indemnitee). Notice
shall be deemed received on the third business day after the date post marked by
domestic certified or registered mail, properly addressed; otherwise notice
shall be deemed received when notice shall actually be received by the Company.
In addition, Indemnitee shall give the Company such information and cooperation
as it may reasonably require and shall be within Indemnitee's power.
(c) Procedure. Any indemnification and advances provided for in
Section 1 and this Section 3 shall be made no later than forty five (45) days
after receipt of the written request of Indemnitee. If a claim under this
Agreement, under any statute, or under any provision of the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws providing for indemnification is not paid
in full by the Company within forty-five (45) days after a written request for
payment thereof has first been received by the Company, Indemnitee may, but need
not, at any time thereafter bring an action against the Company to recover the
unpaid
amount of the claim and, subject to Section 13 of this Agreement. Indemnitee
shall also be entitled to be paid for the expenses (including attorneys' fees)
of bringing such action. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an
action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in connection with any
action, suit or proceeding in advance of its final disposition) that Indemnitee
has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under applicable
law for the Company to indemnify Indemnitee for the amount claimed, but the
burden of providing such defense shall be on the Company and Indemnitee shall be
entitled to receive interim payments of expenses pursuant to Subsection 3(a)
unless and until such defense may be finally adjudicated by court order or
judgment from which no further right of appeal exists. It is the parties'
intention that if the Company contests Indemnitee's right to indemnification,
the question of Indemnitee's right to indemnification shall be for the court to
decide, and neither the failure of the Company (including its Board of
Directors, any committee or subgroup of the Board of Directors, independent
legal counsel, or its shareholders) to have made determination that
indemnification of Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee
has met the applicable standard of conduct required by applicable law, nor an
actual determination by the Company (including its Board of Directors, any
committee are subgroup of the Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or
its shareholders) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of
conduct, shall create a presumption that Indemnitee has or has not met the
applicable standard of conduct.
(d) Notice to Insurers. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of
a claim pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof, the Company has director and officer
liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of the
commencement of such proceedings to the insurers in accordance with procedure
set forth in respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all
necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the
Indemnitees, all amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in accordance
with the terms of such policies.
(e) Selection of Counsel. In the event the Company shall be obligated
under Section 3(a) hereof to pay the expenses of any proceeding against
Indemnitee, the Company, if appropriate, shall be entitled to assume the defense
of such proceeding, the council approved by Indemnitee, upon the delivery to
Indemnitee of written notice of its election to do so. After delivery of such
notice, approval of such counsel by Indemnitees and retention of such counsel by
the Company, the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement
for any fees of counsel subsequently incurred by Indemnitee with respect to the
same proceeding, provided that (i) Indemnitee shall have the right to employ his
counsel in any such proceeding at Indemnitee's expense; and (ii) if (A) the
employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been previously authorized by the
Company, (B) Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a
confilict of interest between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of any
such defense or (C) the Company shall not, in fact, have employed counsel to
assume the defense of such proceeding, then the fees and expenses of
Indemnitee's counsel shall be at the expense of the Company.
4. Additional Indemnification Rights; Non-Exclusivity.
(a) Scope. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
Company hereby agrees to indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by
law, notwithstanding that such indemnification is not specifically authorized by
the other provisions of this Agreement, the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation, the Company's Bylaws or by statute. In the event of any change,
after the date of this Agreement, in any applicable law, statute, or rule which
expands the right of a Delaware corporation to indemnify a member of its board
of directors or an officer, such changes shall be, ipso facto, within the
purview of Indemnitee's rights and Company's obligations, under this Agreement.
In the event in any change in any applicable law, statute or rule which narrows
the right of the Delaware corporation to indemnify a member of its board of
directors or an officer, such changes, to the extent not otherwise required by
such law, statute or rule to be applied to this Agreement shall have no effect
on this Agreement or the parties rights or obligations hereunder.
(b) Nonexclusivity. The indemnification provided by this Agreement
shall not be deemed exclusive of any rights to which an Indemnitee may be
entitled under the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation, its Bylaws, any agreement, any vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware,
or otherwise, both as to action in Indemnitee's official capacity and as to
action in another capacity while holding such office. The indemnification
provided under this Agreement shall continue as to Indemnitee for any action
taken are not taken while serving as an indemnified capacity even though he may
have ceased to serve in certain such capacity at the time of any action, suit or
other covered proceeding.
5. Partial Indemnification. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision
of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some portion of
expenses, judgments, finds or penalties actually or reasonably incurred by him
in the investigation, defense, appeal or settlement of any civil or criminal
action, suit or proceeding, but not, however, for the total amount thereof the
Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion of such
expenses, judgments, finds or penalties to which Indemnitee is entitled.
6. Mutual Technology. Both the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge that in
certain instances, Federal law or public policy may override applicable state
law and prohibit the Company from indemnifying its directors and officers under
this Agreement or otherwise. For example, the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge
that the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC.") has taken the position
that indemnification is not permissible for liabilities arising under certain
federal securities laws, and federal legislation prohibits indemnification for
certain ERISA violations. Indemnitee understands and acknowledges that the
Company has undertaken with the SEC to submit the question to a court in certain
circumstances for determination of the Company's right under public policy to
indemnify Indemnitee.
7. Officer and Director Liability Insurance. The Company shall, from time
to time, make the good faith determination whether or not it is practicable for
the company to obtain and maintain a policy or policies of insurance with
reputable insurance companies providing the officers and directors of the
Company with coverage for losses from wrongful acts or to ensure the Company's
performance of its indemnification obligations under this Agreement. Among other
considerations, the Company will weigh the cost to obtain such insurance
coverage against the protection afforded by such coverage. In all policies of
director and officer liability insurance, Indemnitee shall be named as an
insured in such a manner as to provide Indemnitee the same rights and benefits
as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the Companies directors, if
Indemnitee is a director; or of the Companies officers, if Indemnitee is not a
director of the Company but is an officer; or of the Company's key employees, if
Indemnitee is not an officer or director but a key employee. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Company shall have no obligation to obtain or maintain such
insurance if the Company determined in good faith that such insurance is not
reasonably available, if the premium cost for such insurance are
disproportionate to the amount of coverage provided, if the coverage provided by
such insurance is limited by exclusions so as to provide an insufficient
benefit, or Indemnitee is covered by similar insurance maintained by parent or
subsidiary of the Company.
8. Severability. Nothing in his Agreement is intended to require or shall
be construed as requiring the Company to do or fail to do any act in violation
of applicable law. The Company's inability, pursuant to court order, to perform
its obligations under this Agreement shall not constitute a breach of this
Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable as provided in
this Section 8. If this Agreement or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on
any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, the Company shall
nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee to the full extent permitted by any applicable
portion of this Agreement that shall have been invalidated and the balance of
this Agreement not so invalidated shall be enforceable in accordance with its
terms.
9. Exceptions. Any other provision herein to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement.
(a) Claims Initiated by Indemnitee. To indemnify or advance expenses
to Indemnitee with respect to proceedings brought voluntarily by Indemnitee and
not by way of defense, except with respect to proceedings brought to establish
or enforce a right to indemnification under this
Agreement or any other statute or law or otherwise as required under Section 145
of the Delaware General Corporation Law, but such indemnification or advancement
of such expenses may be provided by the Company in specific cases if the Board
of Directors finds it to be appropriate;
(b) Lack of Good Faith. To indemnify Indemnitee for any expenses
incurred by Indemnitee with respect to any proceeding instituted by Indemnitee
to enforce or interpret this Agreement, if a court of competent jurisdiction
determines that each of the material assertions made by the Indemnitee in such
proceeding was not made in good faith or was frivolous;
(c) Insured Claims. To indemnify Indemnitee for expenses or
liabilities of any type whatsoever (including, but not limited to, judgment,
fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties, and amounts paid in settlement) which
have been paid directly to Indemnitee by an insurance carrier under a policy of
officers' and directors' liability insurance maintained by the Company;
(d) Claims Under Section 16(b). To indemnify Indemnitee for expenses
or the payment of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of
securities in violation of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, for any similar successor statute.
10. Construction of Certain Phrases.
(a) For purposes of this Agreement, references to the "Company" shall
include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation
(including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or
merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and
authority to indemnify its directors, officers, employees or agents, so that,
Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent
corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust for other enterprise. Indemnitee shall stand in the same
position under provision of this Agreement with respect resulting or surviving
corporation as Indemnitee would have with respect to such constituent
corporation if its separate existence had continued.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, references to "other enterprises"
shall include employee benefit plans; references to "fines" shall include any
excise taxes assessed on Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan;
and references to "serving at the request of the Company" shall include any
service as a director, officer, employee for agent of the Company which imposes
duties on, or involves services by such director, officer, employee or agent
with respect to employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and
if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed
to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee
benefit plan, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in a manner "not opposed
to the best interests of the Company" as referred to in this Agreement.
11. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original.
12. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
Company and its successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of
Indemnitee and Indemnitee's estate, heirs, legal representatives and assigns.
13. Attorney's Fees. In the event any action is instituted by Indemnitee
under this Agreement to enforce or interpret any of the terms hereof, Indemnitee
shall be entitled to be paid all court costs and expenses, including reasonable
attorneys fees, incurred by Indemnitee with respect to such action unless as
part of such action, the court of competent jurisdiction determines that each of
the material assertions made by Indemnitee as a basis for such action or not
made in good faith or were frivolous. In the event of an action instituted by or
in the name of the Company under this Agreement or to enforce or interpret any
of the terms of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid all
court costs and expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by Indemnitee in
defense of such action (included with respect to
Indemnitee's counterclaims and cross claims made in such action), unless as a
part of such action the court determines that such each of Indemnitee's material
defenses to such action were made in bad faith or were frivolous
14. Notice. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under
this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (i) if
delivered by hand and receipted for by the party addressee, on the data such
receipt, or (ii) if mailed by domestic certified or registered mail with postage
prepaid on the third business day after the date postmarked. Addresses for
notice to either party are shown on the signature page of this Agreement, or as
subsequently modified by written notice.
15. Consent to Jurisdiction. The Company and Indemnitee each hereby
irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware
for all purposes in connection with any action or proceeding which arises out of
or relates to this Agreement and agree that any action instituted under this
Agreement shall be brought only in the state courts of the State of Delaware.
16. Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and its provisions
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, as applied to
contacts between Delaware residents entered into and to be performed entirely
within Delaware.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
SEAGATE SOFTWARE, INC.
By:_________________________
Title:______________________
000 Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED:
INDEMNITEE:
_________________________
Name
_______________________
Signature
_______________________
Address
_______________________
