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Exhibit 10.1
EXHIBIT D
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made and entered into this day of August, 1997 (the
"Agreement") by and between Geoworks Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and (the "Indemnitee"):
RECITALS
WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve
privately- and publicly-held corporations as directors 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, 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;
WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to
indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such
persons;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (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 such persons to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law so that they will service 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 and the Bylaws 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;
WHEREAS, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the Delaware
director indemnification statute each is nonexclusive, and therefore each
contemplates that contracts may be entered into with respect to indemnification
of directors, officers and employees;
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, 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:
AGREEMENT
1. Services by Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees to serve and/or continue to
serve as a director, officer, employee and/or agent of the Company and, at the
request of the Company, as a director, officer, employee, agent and/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
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deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries)
and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee's
employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries), if any, is at will,
and that 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), other
applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect
to service as a director of the Company, by the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation, Bylaws, and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after
Indemnitee has ceased to serve as an officer, director, employee and/or agent of
the Company or as a director, officer, employee, agent and/or fiduciary of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or
other enterprise pursuant to Section 12.
2. Indemnification -- General. The Company shall indemnify, and advance
Expenses (as hereinafter defined) to, Indemnitee (a) as provided in this
Agreement and (b) (subject to the provisions of this Agreement) to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law in effect on the date hereof and as amended
from time to time. The rights of Indemnitee provided under the preceding
sentence shall include, but shall not be limited to, the rights set forth in the
other Sections of this Agreement.
3. 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 3 if, by reason of his Corporate Status (as hereinafter
defined), he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any
threatened, pending, or completed Proceeding (as hereinafter defined), other
than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company. Pursuant to this Section 3,
Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses, judgments, penalties,
fines and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and
other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses,
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 he 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, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe his conduct was unlawful.
4. Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Indemnitee shall be
entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 4 if, by
reason of his Corporate Status, he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to
or a participant in any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding brought by
or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to
this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses (including
all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with
or in respect of such Expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by him or on
his behalf in connection with such Proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the Company; provided, however, that, 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, or the court in which such Proceeding shall
have been brought or is pending, shall determine that such indemnification may
be made.
5. Partial Indemnification. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status,
a party to, or a participant in, and is successful, on the merits or otherwise,
in defense of any Proceeding, he shall be indemnified against all Expenses
actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection
therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in defense of 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 5 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. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to
indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of the Expenses, judgments,
penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest,
assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect
of such Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement)
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actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with such
Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, but not, however, for the
total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for
the portion to which Indemnitee is entitled.
6. Indemnification for Additional Expenses.
(a) The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses
and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within twenty (20) business days of such
request) advance such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee
in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for (i) indemnification or
advance payment of Expenses by the Company under this Agreement or any other
agreement or bylaw of the Company now or hereafter in effect; or (ii) recovery
under any directors' and officers' liability insurance policies maintained by
the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be
entitled to such indemnification, advance expense payment or insurance recovery,
as the case may be.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, 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.
7. Advancement of Expenses. The Company shall advance all reasonable
Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any
Proceeding within twenty (20) 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 or
to be incurred by Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by
an 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligation
of the Company to advance Expenses pursuant to this Section 7 shall be subject
to the condition that, if, when and to the extent that the Company determines
that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law,
the Company shall be entitled to be reimbursed, within thirty (30) days of such
determination, by Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to reimburse the Company) for
all such amounts theretofore paid; provided, however, that if Indemnitee has
commenced or thereafter commences legal proceedings in a court of competent
jurisdiction to secure a determination that Indemnitee should be indemnified
under applicable law, any determination made by the Company that Indemnitee
would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law shall not be
binding and Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any
advance of Expenses until a final judicial determination is made with respect
thereto (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or
lapsed).
8. Procedure for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification.
(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 in writing that
Indemnitee has requested indemnification.
(b) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the
first sentence of Section 8(a) hereof, a determination, if required by
applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee's entitlement thereto shall be made
in the specific case: (i) if a Change in Control (as hereinafter defined) shall
have occurred, by Independent Counsel (as hereinafter defined) in a written
opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to
Indemnitee; or (ii) if a Change of Control shall not have occurred, (A) by a
majority vote of the Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter defined), even
though less than a quorum of the Board, or (B) if there are no such
Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by
Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be
delivered to Indemnitee or (C) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders
of the Company; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within seven (7) business
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days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person,
persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee's
entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or
entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is
not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably
available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any
costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements)
incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity
making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the
determination as to Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification) and the Company
hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
(c) In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to
be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 8(b) hereof, the Independent
Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 8(c). If a Change of
Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by
the Board of Directors, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee
advising him of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. If a Change
of Control shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by
Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the
Board of Directors, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and
Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity
of the Independent Counsel so selected. In either event, Indemnitee or the
Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice
of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as
the case may be, 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 17 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with
particularity the factual basis of such assertion. If such written objection is
so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as
Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has
determined that such objection is without merit. If, within twenty (20) days
after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant
to Section 8(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 for resolution of any objection which shall have been
made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other's selection of Independent
Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a 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 8(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 8(b) hereof, and the Company shall pay all reasonable fees and
expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 8(c), regardless of the
manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed. Upon the due
commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section
10(a)(iii) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and
relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the
applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).
(d) The Company shall not be required to obtain the consent of Indemnitee
to the settlement of any Proceeding which the Company has undertaken to defend
if the Company assumes full and sole responsibility for such settlement and such
settlement grants Indemnitee a complete and unqualified release in respect of
the potential liability. The Company shall not be liable for any amount paid by
Indemnitee in settlement of any Proceeding that is not defended by the Company,
unless the Company has consented in writing to such settlement, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(e) In the event the Company shall be obligated to advance the Expenses for
any Proceeding against Indemnitee, the Company, if appropriate, shall be
entitled to assume the defense of such proceeding, upon the delivery to
Indemnitee of written notice of its election to do so. After delivery of such
notice and the 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 (a)
Indemnitee shall have the right to employ his own counsel in any such Proceeding
at Indemnitee's expense; (b) Indemnitee shall have the right to employ his own
counsel in connection with any such Proceeding, at the expense of the Company,
if such counsel serves in a review, observer, advice and counseling
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capacity and does not otherwise materially control or participate in the defense
of such Proceeding; and (c) if (i) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has
been previously authorized by the Company, (ii) Indemnitee shall have reasonably
concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and
Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense or (iii) the Company shall not, in
fact, have employed counsel to assume the defense of such Proceeding, then the
reasonable fees and expenses of Indemnitee's counsel shall be at the expense of
the Company.
9. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.
(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to
indemnification or the advancement of Expenses hereunder, the person or persons
or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Agreement if Indemnitee
has submitted a request for indemnification or the advancement of Expenses in
accordance with Section 8(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the
burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by
any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption.
Neither the failure of the Company (including the Board or independent legal
counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action
pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances
because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual
determination by the Company (including the Board or Independent Counsel) that
Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense
to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable
standard of conduct.
(b) If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 8
of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification
shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the
Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to
indemnification shall be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be
entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a
material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee's
statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for
indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable
law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable
time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or
entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification
in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of
documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that
the foregoing provisions of this Section 9(b) shall not apply (i) if the
determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the
stockholders pursuant to Section 8(b) of this Agreement and if (A) within
fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such
determination the Board of Directors has resolved to submit such determination
to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be
held within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is
made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen
(15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such
meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so
called and such determination is made thereat, or (C) a written consent of
stockholders is solicited within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the
purpose of making such determination, and such consent is obtained within sixty
(60) days after such solicitation, or (ii) if the determination of entitlement
to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 8(b)
of this Agreement.
(c) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter
therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo
contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided
in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to
indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good
faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding,
that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
(d) For purposes of any determination of "good faith," Indemnitee shall be
deemed to have acted in "good faith" if Indemnitee's action is based on the
records or books of account of the Company or relevant enterprise, including
financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers
of the Company or relevant enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the
advice of legal counsel for the Company
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or relevant enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the
Company or relevant enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or
by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Company or
relevant enterprise. The provisions of this Section 9(d) shall not be deemed to
be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee
may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this
Agreement.
(e) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director,
officer, agent or employee of the Company or relevant enterprise shall not be
imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification
under this Agreement.
10. Remedies of Indemnitee.
(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 8 of
this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this
Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 7
of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification
shall have been made pursuant to Section 8(b) of this Agreement within ninety
(90) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv)
payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5 or 6 of this
Agreement within twenty (20) days after receipt by the Company of a written
request therefor, or (v) payment of indemnification is not made within seven (7)
business days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by the Court of
Chancery of the State of Delaware of his entitlement to such indemnification or
advancement of Expenses. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his option, may seek an
award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the
Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Indemnitee
shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in
arbitration within one hundred eighty (180) days following the date on which
Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this
Section 10(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply in
respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his rights under
Section 5 of this Agreement.
(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to
Section 8(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to
this Section 10 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or
arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of
that adverse determination. If a Change of Control shall have occurred, in any
judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10, the
Company shall have the burden of proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.
(c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 8(b) of
this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall
be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration
commenced pursuant to this Section 10, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee
of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make
Indemnitee's statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request
for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under
applicable law.
(d) In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 10, seeks a
judicial adjudication of or an award in arbitration to enforce his rights under,
or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be
entitled to recover from the Company, and shall be indemnified by the Company
against, any and all expenses (of the types described in the definition of
Expenses in Section 17 of this Agreement) actually and reasonably incurred by
him in such judicial adjudication or arbitration, but only if he prevails
therein. If it shall be determined in said judicial adjudication or arbitration
that Indemnitee is entitled to receive part but not all of the indemnification
or advancement of expenses sought, the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in
connection with such judicial adjudication or arbitration shall be appropriately
prorated. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses
and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within twenty (20) days after receipt by
the Company of a written request therefor) advance such Expenses to Indemnitee,
which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by
Indemnitee for indemnification or advance of Expenses from the Company under
this Agreement or under any directors' and officers' liability insurance
policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately
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is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of Expenses or
insurance recovery, as the case may be.
(e) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial
proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10 that the
procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and
enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator
that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.
11. Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.
(a) The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as
provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to
which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the
Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders
or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal
of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right
of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by
such Indemnitee in his Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or
repeal. To the extent that a change in the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater
indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently
under the Company's Bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties
hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so
afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be
exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall
be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or
now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or
employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the
concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.
(b) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or
policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or
agents of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such person serves at the
request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies
in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage
available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or
policies.
(c) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be
subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of
Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary
to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to
enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.
(d) The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any
payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the extent that
Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance
policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.
(e) The Company's obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to
Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee, agent and/or fiduciary of any other corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be reduced
by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement
of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust,
employee benefit plan or other enterprise.
12. Duration of Agreement. This Agreement shall continue until and
terminate upon the later of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee
shall have ceased to serve as a director, officer, employee and/or agent of the
Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee
benefit plan or other enterprise which Indemnitee served at the request of the
Company; or (b) the final termination of any Proceeding then pending in respect
of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of
expenses hereunder and of any proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to
Section 10 of this Agreement relating thereto. This Agreement shall be binding
upon the Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit
of Indemnitee and his heirs, executors and administrators.
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13. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be
held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this
Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this
Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not
in any way be affected or impaired thereby; (b) such provision or provisions
shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law
and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to
the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including,
without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any
such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself
invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to
the intent manifested thereby.
14. Exception to Right of Indemnification or Advancement of
Expenses. Except as provided in Section 6(a) of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall
not be entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this
Agreement with respect to any Proceeding brought by Indemnitee (other than a
proceeding by Indemnitee to enforce his rights under this Agreement), or any
claim therein prior to a Change in Control, unless the bringing of such
Proceeding or making of such claim shall have been approved by the Board of
Directors.
15. Identical Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original
but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
16. Headings. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted
for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this
Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.
17. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) "Change in Control" means a change in control of the Company occurring
after the Effective Date of a nature that would be required to be reported in
response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or in response to any
similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), whether or not the Company is then
subject to such reporting requirement; provided, however, that, without
limitation, such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if after
the Effective Date (i) any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d) of the Act) is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3
under the Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
representing twenty percent (20%) or more of the combined voting power of the
Company's then outstanding securities without the prior approval of at least
two-thirds of the members of the Board in office immediately prior to such
person attaining such percentage interest; and provided, further, that a Change
in Control shall not be deemed to occur as a result of a transfer of Company
securities from a stockholder to any direct or indirect affiliate or general or
limited partner of such stockholder; or (ii) there occurs a proxy contest, or
the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, sale of assets, plan of
liquidation or other reorganization not approved by at least two-thirds of the
members of the Board then in office, as a consequence of which members of the
Board in office immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute less
than a majority of the Board thereafter.
(b) "Corporate Status" describes the status of a person who is or was a
director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the Company or of any other
corporation, partnership, 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) "Effective Date" means August , 1997.
(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
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with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating,
being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a
Proceeding.
(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, 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 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) "Proceeding" includes 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 by or in the right of the Company or otherwise and
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which Indemnitee
was, is, may be or will be involved as a party or otherwise, by reason of the
fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee and/or agent of the
Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any inaction on his part
while acting as director, officer, employee and/or agent 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, agent or fiduciary of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise; in each case whether or
not he is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or
expense is incurred for which indemnification or advancement of expenses can be
provided under this Agreement; except one (i) initiated by an Indemnitee
pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement to enforce his rights under this
Agreement or (ii) pending on or before the Effective Date.
18. Enforcement.
(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this
Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce
Indemnitee to serve as a director, officer, employee and/or agent of the
Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this
Agreement in serving as a director, officer, employee and/or agent of the
Company.
(b) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
19. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification or amendment of
this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the
parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be
deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or
not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
20. Notice by Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company
in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint,
indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter
which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered
hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve
the Company of any obligation which it may have to Indemnitee under this
Agreement or otherwise.
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00. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (i)
delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other
communication shall have been directed, (ii) mailed by certified or registered
mail, return receipt requested, with postage prepaid, on the third business day
after the date on which it is so mailed, (iii) dispatched by recognized
overnight courier with fees prepaid, on the first business day after dispatch or
(iv) transmitted by facsimile (confirmed by first class mail), on the date of
transmission:
(a) If to Indemnitee, to the address and facsimile number listed on
the signature page hereto.
(b) If to the Company to:
Geoworks Corporation
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Jordan X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
with a copy to:
Fenwick & West LLP
Xxx Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
or to such other address or facsimile number as may have been furnished to
Indemnitee by the Company or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.
22. Contribution. 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).
23. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Appointment of Agent for
Service of Process. This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties
shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of
the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with
respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 10(a) of
this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in
connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Chancery Court of
the State of Delaware (the "Delaware Court"), and not in any other state or
federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country,
(ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for
purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this
Agreement, (iii) appoint, to the extent such party is not a resident of the
State of Delaware, irrevocably Corporation Service Company, 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, 00000 as its agent in the State of Delaware as such
party's agent for acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action
or proceeding against such party with the same legal force and validity as if
served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware, (iv) waive any
objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the
Delaware Court, and (v) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that
any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in
an improper or otherwise inconvenient forum.
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00. Miscellaneous. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include
usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the
day and year first above written.
ATTEST GEOWORKS CORPORATION
By: By:
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
INDEMNITEE
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Signature
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Print Name
Address:
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Facsimile: ( )
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