Exhibit 10.1
EYEONICS, INC.
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Indemnification Agreement ("AGREEMENT") is made as of this ___ day of
___________, 2007, by and between eyeonics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"COMPANY"), and _____________________ ("INDEMNITEE").
WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee recognize the significant cost of
directors' and officers' liability insurance and the general reductions in the
coverage of such insurance;
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 the coverage of liability
insurance has been severely limited;
WHEREAS, the Company desires to attract and retain the services of highly
qualified individuals, such as Indemnitee, 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; and
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.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration for Indemnitee's services as an officer or
director of the Company, 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 (including, in
such case, as a witness or otherwise) to any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit, proceeding or any alternative dispute resolution mechanism,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or
informal, (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, 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, fines 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 and in a manner Indemnitee
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests 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 interests 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, 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, to the fullest extent permitted by law, amounts paid in settlement 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 the 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 the State of Delaware or such other court shall deem proper.
(c) Mandatory Payment of Expenses. To the extent that Indemnitee has
been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or
proceeding referred to in Subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 1, or in
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. 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 (but not amounts actually paid in settlement of any
such action, suit or proceeding). Indemnitee shall have the right to advancement
by the Company prior to the final adjudication of any Indemnifiable Claim of any
and all Expenses relating to, arising out of or resulting from any Indemnifiable
Claim paid or incurred by Indemnitee or which Indemnitee determines are
reasonably likely to be paid or incurred by Indemnitee. Indemnitee's right to
such advancement is not subject to the satisfaction of any standard of conduct
and such advances shall be unsecured and interest free. Without limiting the
generality or effect of the foregoing, within 30 days after any request by
Indemnitee, the Company shall, in accordance with such request (but without
duplication), (a) pay such Expenses on behalf of Indemnitee, (b) advance to
Indemnitee funds in an amount sufficient to pay such Expenses, or (c) reimburse
Indemnitee for such Expenses. Advances shall be made
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without regard to Indemnitee's ability to repay the expenses and without regard
to Indemnitee's ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other
provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all reasonable
Expenses incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement,
including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company
to support the advances claimed. The Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon
the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement which shall
constitute an undertaking providing that the Indemnitee undertakes to the
fullest extent permitted by law to repay the advance (without interest) if and
to the extent that it is ultimately determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction in a final judgment, not subject to appeal, that Indemnitee is not
entitled to be indemnified by the Company. No other form of undertaking shall be
required other than the execution of this Agreement. Expenses shall include all
reasonable attorney's fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of
experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding
costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other
disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with
prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being
or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding,
including on appeal, including without limitation the premium, security for, and
other costs relating to any costs bond, supersedes bond, or other appeal bond or
its equivalent.
"Expenses" shall also mean any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on
the Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under
this Agreement.
(b) Notice/Cooperation by Indemnitee. Indemnitee shall give the
Company notice as soon as reasonably practicable of any claim made against
Indemnitee for which indemnification will or could be sought under this
Agreement, provided that the failure to of Indemnitee to so notify the Company
will not relieve the Company from any obligation hereunder. Notice to the
Company shall be directed to the President of the Company at the address shown
on the signature page of this Agreement (or such other address as the Company
shall designate in writing to Indemnitee). Notice shall be deemed received three
business days after the date postmarked if sent by domestic certified or
registered mail, properly addressed, five business days if sent by airmail to a
country outside of North America; otherwise notice shall be deemed received when
such 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 as shall be within Indemnitee's power; provided, however, that the
foregoing information and cooperation requirement will not require any action by
Indemnitee that could result in a waiver by Indemnitee of the attorney-client
privilege.
(c) Procedure. Any indemnification and advances provided for in
Section 1 and this Section 3 shall be made no later than thirty (30) 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 thirty (30) 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 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
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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.
However, 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 stockholders) to have made a
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 it Board
of Directors, any committee or subgroup of the Board of Directors, independent
legal counsel, or its stockholders) 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. The knowledge and/or actions, or failure
to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Corporation or the
Corporation itself shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of
determining any rights under this Agreement.
(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 proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the
procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter
take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf
of the Indemnitee, 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, with counsel 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 Indemnitee 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 (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 potential conflict 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.
(f) The Company shall not be required to obtain the consent of the
Indemnitee for the settlement of any Proceeding the Company has undertaken to
defend if the Company assumes full and sole responsibility for each such
settlement; provided, however, that the Company shall be required to obtain
Indemnitee's prior written approval, which may be granted or withheld in
Indemnitee's sole, reasonable discretion, before entering into any settlement
which (i) does not grant Indemnitee a complete and unqualified release of
liability; (ii) would impose any penalty or limitation on Indemnitee or (b)
would admit any liability or misconduct by Indemnitee.
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3. ADDITIONAL INDEMNIFICATION RIGHTS; NONEXCLUSIVITY.
(a) Scope. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
Company hereby agrees to indemnify the 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 of any change in any applicable law, statute or rule
which narrows the right of a 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 and obligations hereunder.
(b) Nonexclusivity. The indemnification provided by this Agreement
shall not be deemed exclusive of any rights to which 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 or not taken while serving in an indemnified capacity even
though he may have ceased to serve in such capacity at the time of any action,
suit or other covered proceeding.
4. PARTIAL INDEMNIFICATION. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision
of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of the
expenses, judgments, fines 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, fines or penalties to which Indemnitee is entitled.
5. 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 costs of obtaining 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 Company's directors, if
Indemnitee is a director; or of the Company's officers, if Indemnitee is not a
director of the Company but is an officer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for
the duration of Indemnitee's service as a director and/or officer of the Company
and thereafter for as long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any pending or
possible indemnification claim hereunder, the Company shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to maintain in effect a policy or policies of director and
officer liability insurance; provided, however, that the Company shall have no
obligation to obtain or maintain such insurance if the Company determines in
good faith that
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such insurance is not reasonably available, if the premium costs 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 if Indemnitee is covered by similar insurance
maintained by a subsidiary or parent of the Company. In the event of a change in
control of the Company, the Company shall retain in force any then existing
policy and Director and Officer insurance (or obtain a new policy with
substantially similar coverage) for a period of six years thereafter.
6. SEVERABILITY. Nothing in this 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, then the Company shall
nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee to the full extent permitted by any applicable
portion of this Agreement that shall not have been invalidated, and the balance
of this Agreement not so invalidated shall be enforceable in accordance with its
terms.
7. 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 or claims initiated or 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 against any applicable Director and Officer insurer 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 expenses may
be provided by the Company in specific cases if the Board of Directors has
approved the initiation or bringing of such suit; or
(b) Lack of Good Faith. To indemnify Indemnitee for any expenses
incurred by the 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 were frivolous; or
(c) Insured Claims. To indemnify Indemnitee for expenses or
liabilities of any type whatsoever (including, but not limited to, judgments,
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 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,
or any similar successor statute; provided, however, that the Company shall
advance expenses as heretofore provided unless the Company reasonably determines
that Indemnitee clearly violated Section 16(b) and must disgorge the profits to
the Company.
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8. 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, and employees or agents, so that
if 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 or other enterprise, Indemnitee shall stand in
the same position under the provisions of this Agreement with respect to the
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 or agent of the Company which imposes
duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent
with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries;
and 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.
9. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original.
10. 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.
11. ATTORNEYS' FEES. In the event that 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 a 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 were 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 (including with respect to Indemnitee's
counterclaims and cross-claims made in such action), unless as a part of such
action the court determines that each of Indemnitee's material defenses to such
action were made in bad faith or were frivolous.
12. 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 date of such
receipt, or (ii) if mailed by domestic
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certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day
after the date postmarked. Addresses for notice to either party are as shown on
the signature page of this Agreement, or as subsequently modified by written
notice.
13. 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.
14. 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
contracts between Delaware residents entered into and to be performed entirely
within Delaware without regard to the conflict of law principles thereof.
15. PERIOD OF LIMITATIONS. No legal action shall be brought and no cause of
action shall be asserted by or in the right of the Company against Indemnitee,
Indemnitee's estate, spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal
representatives after the expiration of two years from the date of accrual of
such cause of action, and any claim or cause of action of the Company shall be
extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal
action within such two-year period; provided, however, that if any shorter
period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of action, such
shorter period shall govern.
16. SUBROGATION. In the event of 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 documents required and shall do
all acts that may be necessary to secure such rights and to enable the Company
effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.
17. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. No amendment, modification, termination or
cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing signed
by both 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.
18. INTEGRATION AND ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement sets forth the entire
understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes and merges all previous
written and oral negotiations, commitments, understandings and agreements
relating to the subject matter hereof between the parties hereto
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the date first above written.
EYEONICS, INC.
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Signature of Authorized Signatory
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Print Name and Title
Address: _______________________________
_______________________________
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED:
INDEMNITEE:
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Signature
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Print Name and Title
Address: ____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
