FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT1
Exhibit 10.2
FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT1
This AMENDED AND RESTATED INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (hereinafter “Agreement”) is made
and executed effective as of the day of , 2008, by and between POST PROPERTIES,
INC., a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), and , an individual resident
of the State of (the “Indemnitee”), and amends, restates and supercedes the
Indemnification Agreement between the Company and Indemnitee dated ,
(the
“Original Agreement”).
WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee desire collectively to amend and restate the Original
Agreement in the form of this Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Company is aware that, in order to induce highly competent persons to serve the
Company as directors or officers or in other capacities, the Company must provide such persons with
adequate protection through exculpation of directors from personal liability (per the Company’s
Restated Articles of Incorporation), directors and officers liability insurance, advancement of
expenses and indemnification against risks of claims and actions against them, and against damage
to their professional or personal reputations resulting from allegations, claims, actions and
investigations, arising out of or relating to their service to and activities on behalf of the
Company;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has determined that it is in the best interests
of the Company’s shareholders that the Company act to assure such persons that there will be
increased certainty of such protection in the future;
WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate
itself to indemnify and advance the expenses of such persons to the fullest extent not prohibited
by applicable law and to guarantee such persons would realize the benefit of any subsequent changes
in applicable law relating to indemnification or advancement of expenses so that they will continue
to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified, thereby ensuring
that the decisions of such persons for or on behalf of the Company will be independent, objective
and in the best interests of the Company’s shareholders;
WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company to provide such persons with
the specific contractual assurance that the exculpation from personal liability for directors, the
right to directors and officers liability insurance and the rights to indemnification and
advancement of expenses provided to them remain available regardless of, among other things, any
amendment to or revocation of the indemnification or advancement of expenses provisions in the
Restated Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Company or any change in composition or
philosophy of the Company’s Board of Directors such as might occur following an acquisition or
Change of Control of the Company;
1 | For newly appointed directors and officers this agreement will be used in the future, but will not be in an amended and restated form. |
WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company to further provide that the
determination of whether such persons are entitled to indemnification and advancement of expenses
will not be made by a Board of Directors of uncertain composition, and that if court, arbitrator or
arbiter assistance to obtain such indemnity or advancement of expenses is required, such persons
can receive indemnity against, and the advancement of expenses incurred in pursuing their rights to
indemnification and/or advancement of expenses; and
WHEREAS, Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve, and take on additional service for
or on behalf of the Company on the condition that he/she be so indemnified;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual promises and covenants
contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby agree as follows:
1. Indemnification.
(a) Subject to Section 6 of this Agreement, the Company hereby agrees to hold harmless and
indemnify Indemnitee if Indemnitee is a party to a Proceeding by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate
Status to the maximum extent not prohibited by the Georgia Business Corporation Code, as amended
(“GBCC”), as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended (but only to the extent any
such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than the GBCC
permitted the Company to provide prior to such amendment); provided, however, that,
except as provided in Sections 6, 8 and 10 of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to
Indemnification or Advancement of Expenses in connection with a Proceeding initiated by Indemnitee
(other than in a Corporate Status capacity) against the Company or any director or officer of the
Company unless the Company has joined in or consented in writing to the initiation of such
Proceeding.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall
not be obligated to indemnify Indemnitee for expenses and the payment of profits by Indemnitee
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 (the “Exchange Act”), or any similar statute;
provided, however, that the Company may advance Expenses in accordance with Section
8 of this Agreement in connection with Indemnitee’s defense of a claim under Section 16(b) of the
Exchange Act, which advances shall be repaid to the Company if it is ultimately determined that
Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification of such Expenses.
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2. Indemnification for Expenses When Serving on Behalf of the Company.
To the extent that the Indemnitee has served on behalf of or at the request of the Company as
a witness or other participant in any Proceeding, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all
Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection therewith, without any
determination pursuant to Section 6.
3. Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by
reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a party to and is successful on the merits or otherwise in
any Proceeding, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against reasonable Expenses incurred by Indemnitee
in connection with the Proceeding, regardless of whether Indemnitee has met the standards set forth
in the GBCC and without any action or determination in accordance with Section 6. If Indemnitee is
not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful on the merits or otherwise as to one or
more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify
Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in
connection with each claim, issue or matter with respect to which Indemnitee was successful.
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, claims, losses and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the investigation,
defense, appeal or settlement of a Proceeding covered by Section 1, but is not entitled to
Indemnification for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee
for the portion of such Expenses, judgments, claims, losses and amounts paid in settlement actually
and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee to which Indemnitee is entitled.
5. Notification of Proceeding and Defense of Claims Against Indemnitee.
(a) Promptly after receipt by Indemnitee of notice of the commencement of any Proceeding,
Indemnitee shall, if a claim for Indemnification is to be made under this Agreement, notify the
Company in writing of the commencement of such Proceeding; but the omission to so notify the
Company will not relieve the Company from any liability that it may have to Indemnitee under this
Agreement or otherwise if the failure or delay does not materially prejudice the Company.
(b) The Company shall be entitled to participate in the defense of any Proceeding to which
Indemnitee is a party by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status or to assume the defense thereof,
with counsel reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee, provided, however, if
Indemnitee concludes in good faith that (a) the use of counsel chosen by the Company to represent
Indemnitee would present such counsel with an actual or potential conflict, (b) the named parties
in the Proceeding include both
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Indemnitee and the Company and Indemnitee concludes that there may be one or more legal
defenses available to Indemnitee that are different from or in addition to those available to the
Company, (c) any representation by such counsel would be precluded under the applicable standards
of professional conduct then prevailing, or (d) following a Change in Control, the Company fails to
engage counsel reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee, then Indemnitee shall be entitled to retain
separate counsel (but not more than one law firm plus, if applicable, local counsel) at the
Company’s expense.
(c) The Company shall not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid
in settlement of any Proceeding effected without the Company’s prior written consent, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld, provided, however that the Company shall be deemed to have
consented to any settlement if the Company does not object to such settlement within thirty (30)
days after receipt by the Company of a written request for consent to such settlement. The Company
shall be required to obtain the consent of Indemnitee to settle any Proceeding in which Indemnitee
is named as a party or has potential liability exposure, unless such settlement solely involves the
payment of money and includes a complete and unconditional release of Indemnitee from all liability
on any claims that are the subject matter of the Proceeding.
(d) As soon as practicable after the receipt of a notice of a claim for Indemnification
pursuant to this Section 5, 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 Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the
terms of the policies.
6. Procedure for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification.
The parties agree that the following procedures and presumptions shall apply in the event of
any question as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to Indemnification under this Agreement
(provided, however, in the event the procedures for determination of entitlement to indemnification
as currently set forth in the GBCC are amended to create any material inconsistency between such
procedures in the GBCC and the procedures set forth below, the procedures set forth below shall
also be deemed to be amended in the same manner to the extent necessary to remove the inconsistency
without any further action on the part of the Company or Indemnitee):
(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 Corporate Secretary of the Company (or in the
absence of the Corporate Secretary, the Chief Financial Officer of the Company) shall, promptly
upon receipt of a claim for Indemnification from the Indemnitee, advise the Board of Directors in
writing that Indemnitee has requested Indemnification. Any Expenses incurred by the
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Indemnitee in connection with the Indemnitee’s request for Indemnification hereunder shall be
borne by the Company. Subject to Section 10(c)(viii), the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to
hold the Indemnitee harmless for any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee under the immediately
preceding sentence irrespective of the outcome of the determination of the Indemnitee’s entitlement
to Indemnification.
(b) The Company shall not indemnify Indemnitee under Section 1(a) unless a determination has
been made for a specific Proceeding that indemnification of Indemnitee is permissible because
Indemnitee has met the standards set forth in Chapter 2, Article 8, Part 5 of the GBCC. Upon
written request by the Indemnitee for Indemnification, the entitlement of Indemnitee to
Indemnification pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be determined by the following person
or persons, who shall be empowered to make such determination:
(i) If there are two or more Disinterested Directors, by the Board of Directors by a majority
vote of all the Disinterested Directors (a majority of whom shall for such purpose constitute a
quorum) or by a majority of the members of a committee of two or more Disinterested Directors
appointed by such a vote;
(ii) By special legal counsel
(A) | selected in the manner prescribed in paragraph (i) of this subsection; or | |
(B) | if there are fewer than two Disinterested Directors, selected by the Board of Directors (in which selection directors who do not qualify as Disinterested Directors may participate); or |
(iii) If consented to by Indemnitee, by the shareholders, but the shares beneficially owned by
or voted under the control of the officers and directors who are at the time parties to the
Proceeding may not be voted on the determination;
provided, however, that following a Change of Control, with respect to all matters
thereafter arising out of acts, omissions or events prior to the Change of Control, upon the
request of Indemnitee, any determination concerning the rights of Indemnitee to seek
Indemnification under this Agreement shall be made by Independent Counsel. Independent Counsel
shall determine as promptly as practicable whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to
Indemnification under this Agreement and applicable law and shall render a written opinion to the
Company and to Indemnitee to such effect. The Company agrees to be bound by, and not contest,
appeal or seek reconsideration of, such opinion of Independent Counsel. The Company further agrees
to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel within twenty (20) days after
Independent Counsel’s statement for professional services rendered is submitted to the Company, and
to fully indemnify Independent Counsel against any and all expenses, claims, liabilities and
damages arising out of or relating to this Section 6 or its engagement pursuant hereto.
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(c) If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 6(b) to determine
whether Indemnitee is entitled to Indemnification shall not have made a determination within thirty
(30) 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 thirty (30) 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 documentation and/or
information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section
6(c) shall not apply if the Indemnitee consents to determination of entitlement to indemnification
by the shareholders pursuant to Section 6(b)(iii) of this Agreement.
(d) Indemnitee shall reasonably 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 such 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 Independent Counsel, members of the
Board of Directors, or shareholders of the Company shall act reasonably and in good faith in making
a determination under the Agreement of Indemnitee’s entitlement to Indemnification. Any Expenses
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.
7. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.
(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to Indemnification pursuant to
Section 6 of this Agreement, and in any Proceeding, or court application or arbitration pursuant to
Section 10 of this Agreement, the parties agree that Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to
Indemnification hereunder and the Company shall be required to make any showing necessary to the
making of any determination contrary to such presumption by the greater weight of the evidence.
(b) The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a
plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, adversely affect the rights of
Indemnitee to Indemnification, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement.
(c) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, agent or
employee of the Company shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to Indemnification under this Agreement.
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8. Advancement of Expenses.
(a) All Expenses actually incurred by Indemnitee as a party, witness or other participant by
reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status in connection with any Proceeding (including a Proceeding
by or on behalf of the Company) shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of
such Proceeding, if so requested by Indemnitee, within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the
Company of a statement or statements from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances.
Indemnitee may submit such statements from time to time.
(b) Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by
Indemnitee in connection therewith; provided, however, that following a Change of
Control or in the event of a Proceeding brought by or in the name of the Company, the Company
agrees that Indemnitee shall be required to submit to the Company only summary statements and
invoices, and that in connection with such submissions, Indemnitee shall have the right to withhold
or redact any documents or information that are protected by the attorney-client privilege or the
attorney work product doctrine.
(c) Indemnitee’s submission of statements and requests for payment of Expenses pursuant to
this Section 8 shall include or be accompanied by: (i) a written affirmation by Indemnitee of
Indemnitee’s good faith belief that Indemnitee has met the standard of conduct necessary for
indemnification under the GBCC or that the Proceeding involves conduct for which liability has been
eliminated under a provision of the Articles of Restatement of the Articles of Incorporation of the
Company (as may be amended from time to time, the “Articles”) as authorized by Section
14-2-202(b)(4) of the GBCC, and (ii) a written undertaking, executed personally or on behalf of
Indemnitee, to repay any such amounts if it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not
entitled to be indemnified by the Company pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise. Such
undertaking must be an unlimited general obligation of Indemnitee, but need not be secured and
shall be accepted without reference to the financial ability of Indemnitee to make repayment.
(d) Subject to Section 10(c)(viii), Indemnitee’s entitlement to the Advancement of Expenses
under this Agreement shall include those incurred in connection with any Proceeding by Indemnitee,
including any Proceeding, or court application or arbitration to enforce this Agreement pursuant to
Section 10 of this Agreement.
(e) Any advances or undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section 8 shall be unsecured and
interest free.
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9. The Company’s Obligation to Pay Indemnification Amounts.
The Company agrees to pay to or for the benefit of Indemnitee all amounts due and owing under
its Indemnification obligations as determined pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement within thirty
(30) days after such determination has been made and delivered to the Company. All written
opinions of Independent Counsel and all statements, invoices, judgments and/or settlement
agreements subject to the Company’s Indemnification obligations under this Agreement shall be
submitted to the Company at the address provided pursuant to Section 25 of this Agreement, and
shall be deemed received by the Company on the date of mailing or overnight delivery, the date of
transmission by electronic means, or the date of delivery by hand (as the case may be).
10. Remedies of the Indemnitee in Cases of Determination not to Indemnify or to Advance
Expenses or Failure or Refusal of Company to Pay Indemnification Amounts.
(a) In the event that a determination by the Company is made that Indemnitee is not entitled
to Indemnification hereunder, or if payment has not been timely made following a determination of
entitlement to Indemnification pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be
entitled to apply to the court conducting the Proceeding or any other court of competent
jurisdiction for an order requiring the Company to indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with this
Agreement, GBCC Section 14-2-854 (as may be amended) and the Company’s Articles and Bylaws.
Alternatively, Indemnitee may, at Indemnitee’s sole option, commence an expedited arbitration
proceeding pursuant to the provisions of Section 10(c) below.
(b) In the event that Expenses are not timely advanced pursuant to Section 8 of this
Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to a summary determination, without a jury, of the
Company’s obligation to advance Expenses by the court conducting the Proceeding or any other court
of competent jurisdiction, in accordance with the provisions of Section 14-2-854 of the GBCC (as
may be amended). Alternatively, Indemnitee may, at Indemnitee’s sole option, commence an expedited
arbitration proceeding pursuant to the provisions of Section 10(c) below.
(c) The parties hereby agree that, at Indemnitee’s sole election, any dispute or controversy
arising out of this Agreement, including but not limited to the determination of the Company’s
Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses obligations to Indemnitee, shall be finally resolved by
arbitration administered by JAMS pursuant to its Streamlined Arbitration Rules & Procedures then in
effect (hereinafter “JAMS Rules”) and the provisions of this subsection (c), without regard
to the amount in controversy (hereinafter the “Arbitration”). In the event there is a
conflict between the JAMS Rules and any provision of this subsection (c) or any other provision of
this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall govern. This clause shall not preclude the
parties from seeking provisional remedies in aid of arbitration from a court of appropriate
jurisdiction. The following provisions modify the JAMS Rules and govern an Arbitration:
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(i) | The parties agree that the dispute in any Arbitration shall be limited to the Company’s obligations to Indemnitee under this Agreement. The Company therefore shall not assert any counterclaim against Indemnitee whatsoever, and shall not assert by counterclaim, defense, avoidance or otherwise, any contractual, legal or equitable right of recoupment, setoff, contribution, indemnification, release, waiver, estoppel, repudiation or breach of any express or implied covenant of Indemnitee, provided, however, that this sentence shall not be deemed to prohibit the Company from asserting in the Arbitration that Indemnitee did not meet the standards set forth in Chapter 2, Article 8, Part 5 of the GBCC. | ||
(ii) | The Arbitration shall be conducted by a sole arbitrator selected pursuant to Rule 12 of the JAMS Rules from the then current list of former or retired federal judges on the JAMS roster of arbitrators and mediators (hereinafter the “Arbitrator”). | ||
(iii) | The Hearing (as defined in the JAMS Rules) shall be conducted in Atlanta, Georgia, except that the Arbitrator, in order to hear a third party witness, may conduct such portion of the Hearing at any location. | ||
(iv) | The Hearing shall commence within sixty (60) days of the commencement of the Arbitration pursuant to Rule 5 of the JAMS Rules. | ||
(v) | The Final Award pursuant to Rule 19 of the JAMS Rules shall be rendered within ninety (90) days of the commencement of the Arbitration pursuant to Rule 5 of the JAMS Rules. | ||
(vi) | Pursuant to Rule 19(b) of the JAMS Rules, the Arbitrator shall be guided by the law of the State of Georgia in determining the merits of the dispute. | ||
(vii) | After the commencement of the Arbitration pursuant to Rule 5 of the JAMS Rules, no party to the Arbitration may seek any interim or provisional relief in any court or collateral proceeding regarding any issue or claim that is the subject of the Arbitration. |
(viii) | The Company shall pay the fees for the Arbitration pursuant to Rule 26 of the JAMS Rules (the “Arbitration Fees”), and is solely responsible for the Arbitrator compensation, if Indemnitee prevails in the Arbitration. In the event the Company fails to pay the Arbitration Fees within seven (7) calendar days of the commencement of the Arbitration, and/or in the event the Company fails to promptly pay the Arbitrator compensation, Indemnitee may pay such amounts and such amounts shall be awarded to Indemnitee in the Final Award. In the event the Company is the prevailing party in the Arbitration, Indemnitee shall reimburse the Company for the Indemnitee’s pro-rata share of the Arbitrator’s compensation, with the Company being responsible for fifty percent (50%) of the Arbitrator’s compensation and all Indemnitees who are a party to the Arbitration being severally, and not jointly, responsible for the remaining fifty percent (50%). |
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(ix) | Judgment on the Final Award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. | ||
(x) | In the event a Final Award is rendered in favor of Indemnitee, the Company shall pay to Indemnitee the entire amount of the Final Award within twenty (20) days of the date of the Final Award, regardless of whether the Company decides to seek to vacate, overturn, appeal or seek reconsideration of all or any aspect of the Final Award, subject to an undertaking (in form and substance contemplated by Section 8(c) and 8(e) of this Agreement) by Indemnitee to repay the amount of the Final Award to the extent that the Final Award is subsequently vacated, overturned, reversed or otherwise successfully appealed or reconsidered. | ||
(xi) | In the event the Arbitration is commenced and a Final Award is rendered in favor of Indemnitee because the Company failed to abide by a determination in favor of Indemnitee pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement (in violation of Section 10(g) of this Agreement, or in the event the Company fails to timely pay the amount of the Final Award to Indemnitee in accordance with Section 10(c)(x) of this Agreement, the Company agrees to pay interest on the amount of the Final Award, compounded monthly, at the “prime rate” of interest quoted from time to time in The Wall Street Journal. |
(d) The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek court-ordered indemnification or
advancement of expenses or commence an Arbitration pursuant to Section 10(c) of this Agreement.
(e) Such court application, Arbitration or other Proceeding to enforce this Agreement
commenced by Indemnitee shall be made de novo, and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of
a prior determination under this Agreement (if so made) that Indemnitee is not entitled to
Indemnification or Advancement of Expenses.
(f) Notwithstanding any provisions of Section 14-2-854 of the GBCC to the contrary, the
parties agree that in the event that Indemnitee seeks: (i) a court order or Arbitration award
determining Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10; (ii) to recover
damages for breach of this Agreement; (iii) to recover under any directors and officers liability
insurance policies maintained by the Company as required by this Agreement; or (iv) to intervene
in, or is otherwise made subject to, any Proceeding in which the validity or enforceability of this
Agreement is at issue, the Company shall, in accordance with the provisions of Section 8 of this
Agreement, advance any and all Expenses actually incurred by Indemnitee in such Proceeding.
(g) If a determination is made or deemed to have been made pursuant to the terms of Section 6
of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to Indemnification, the Company shall be bound by
such determination and shall be precluded from asserting that such determination has not been made
or that the procedure by which such determination was made is not valid, binding and enforceable.
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(h) The Company further agrees to stipulate in any such Proceeding that the Company is bound
by all the provisions of this Agreement and is precluded from making any assertions to the
contrary.
11. Other Rights to Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses.
The rights to Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses provided by this Agreement are
cumulative, and not exclusive, and are in addition to any other rights to which Indemnitee may now
or in the future be entitled under any provision of the Bylaws (as may be amended from time to
time, the “Bylaws”) or Articles, any vote of shareholders or Disinterested Directors, any
provision of law or otherwise. Except as required by applicable law, the Company shall not adopt
any amendment to its Bylaws or Articles, the effect of which would be to deny, diminish or encumber
Indemnitee’s rights to Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses under this Agreement.
12. Director and Officer Liability Insurance.
(a) The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain a policy or
policies of liability insurance, including broad form individual non-indemnifiable loss coverage
(with difference-in-condition feature), with reputable insurance companies providing Indemnitee
with coverage for losses from wrongful acts, including Expenses, and to ensure the Company’s
performance of its Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses obligations under this Agreement.
Such coverage shall not be on terms of coverage or amounts less favorable to Indemnitee than those
of the policies in effect on the date of this Agreement, except to the extent coverage on such
terms or in such amounts cannot be obtained through the use of commercially reasonable efforts.
(b) The Company further agrees that all of the provisions of this Agreement shall remain in
effect regardless of whether liability or other insurance coverage is at any time obtained or
retained by the Company; except that any payments made to, or on behalf of, the Indemnitee under an
insurance policy shall reduce the obligations of the Company hereunder.
13. Subrogation
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. Following receipt of
indemnification payments pursuant to this Agreement, as further assurance, Indemnitee shall execute
all papers required and take all action reasonably necessary to secure such rights, including
execution of such documents as are reasonably necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to
enforce such rights.
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14. Spousal Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses.
The Company shall provide Indemnitee’s spouse to whom Indemnitee is legally married at any
time Indemnitee is covered under the Indemnification provided in this Agreement (even if Indemnitee
did not remain married to him or her during the entire period of coverage) against any Proceeding
for the same period, to the same extent and subject to the same standards, limitations, obligations
and conditions under which Indemnitee is provided Indemnification herein, if Indemnitee’s spouse
(or former spouse) becomes involved in a Proceeding solely by reason of his or her status as
Indemnitee’s spouse, including, without limitation, any Proceeding that seeks damages recoverable
from marital community property, jointly-owned property or property purported to have been
transferred from Indemnitee to his/her spouse (or former spouse). Indemnitee’s spouse or former
spouse also shall be entitled to Advancement of Expenses to the same extent that Indemnitee is
entitled to Advancement of Expenses provided under Section 8 of this Agreement. The Company may
maintain insurance to cover its obligations hereunder with respect to Indemnitee’s spouse (or
former spouse) or set aside assets in a trust or escrow fund for that purpose; provided,
however, that the Company agrees that the provisions of this Agreement shall remain in
effect regardless of whether such liability or other insurance coverage is at any time obtained or
retained by the Company; except that any payments made to, or on behalf of, Indemnitee’s spouse
under such an insurance policy shall reduce the obligations of the Company hereunder.
15. Intent.
This Agreement is intended to confer upon Indemnitee the broadest possible rights to
indemnification and advancement of expenses not prohibited by the GBCC and shall be in addition to
any other rights Indemnitee may have under the Company’s Articles, Bylaws, applicable law or
otherwise. To the extent that a change in applicable law (whether by statute or judicial decision)
or otherwise permits greater rights to indemnification and/or advancement of expenses than would be
afforded currently under the Company’s Articles, Bylaws, applicable law or this Agreement, it is
the intent of the parties that Indemnitee enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded
by such change. In addition, in the event of any change in applicable law, statute or rule which
narrows the right of a Georgia corporation to indemnify, or advance expenses to, a member of its
Board of Directors or an officer, employee, agent or fiduciary, such change, 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.
16. Effective Date.
The provisions of this Agreement shall cover claims or Proceedings whether now pending or
hereafter commenced and shall be retroactive to cover acts or omissions or alleged acts or
omissions which heretofore have taken place. The Company shall be liable under this Agreement, to
the extent specified in Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 14 of this Agreement, for all acts and omissions
of Indemnitee while serving as a director and/or officer, notwithstanding the termination of
Indemnitee’s service, if such act was performed or omitted to be performed during the term of
Indemnitee’s service to the Company.
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17. Duration of Agreement.
This Agreement shall survive and continue even though Indemnitee may have terminated his/her
service as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or as a director,
officer, partner, employee, agent or fiduciary of any other entity, including, but not limited to
another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, employee benefit plan, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise or by reason of any act or omission by Indemnitee in any such capacity.
This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns, including, without
limitation, any corporation or other entity which may have acquired all or substantially all of the
Company’s assets or business or into which the Company may be consolidated or merged, and shall
inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and his/her spouse, successors, assigns, heirs, devisees,
executors, administrators or other legal representatives. The Company shall require any successor
or assignee (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this
Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform
if no such succession or assignment had taken place.
18. Disclosure of Payments.
Except as required by any Federal or state securities laws or other Federal or state law,
neither party shall disclose any payments under this Agreement unless prior approval of the other
party is obtained.
19. Time of the Essence.
The parties expressly agree time is of the essence with respect to all provisions of this
Agreement.
20. Severability.
If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held invalid, illegal or
unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, but not limited to, all portions of any
paragraphs of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (b) to the fullest extent
possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, but not limited to, all portions of any
paragraph of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, that are not themselves invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as
to give effect to the intent manifest by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
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21. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed by 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.
22. Captions.
The captions and headings used in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall
not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.
23. Definitions.
For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) “Advancement of Expenses” shall mean the advancement of expenses obligations provided
under Sections 8 and 14 of this Agreement.
(b) “Change in Control” shall mean:
(i) a “change in control” of the Company of a nature that would be required to be reported in
response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A for a proxy statement filed under Section 14(a) of the
Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this Agreement;
(ii) a “person” (as that term is used in Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) becomes the
beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) directly or indirectly of
securities representing forty-five percent (45%) or more of the combined voting power for election
of directors of the then outstanding securities of the Company;
(iii) the individuals who at the beginning of any period of two (2) consecutive years or less
(starting on or after the date of this Agreement) constitute the Company’s Board of Directors cease
for any reason during such period to constitute at least a majority of the Company’s Board of
Directors, unless the election or nomination for election of each new member of the Board of
Directors was approved by vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members of such Board of
Directors then still in office who were members of such Board of Directors at the beginning of such
period;
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(iv) the shareholders of the Company approve any reorganization, merger, consolidation or
share exchange as a result of which the common stock of the Company shall be changed, converted or
exchanged into or for securities of another organization (other than a merger with Post Apartment
Homes, L.P., Post Services, Inc., Post GP Holdings, Inc. or a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Company), or any dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any sale or the disposition of fifty
percent (50%) or more of the assets or business of the Company;
(v) the shareholders of the Company approve any reorganization, merger, consolidation, or
share exchange with another corporation unless (A) the persons who were the beneficial owners of
the outstanding shares of the common stock of the Company immediately before the consummation of
such transaction beneficially own more than sixty percent (60%) of the outstanding shares of the
common stock of the successor or survivor corporation in such transaction immediately following the
consummation of such transaction and (B) the number of shares of the common stock of such successor
or survivor corporation beneficially owned by the persons described in Section 23(a)(iv)(A) above
immediately following the consummation of such transaction is beneficially owned by each such
person in substantially the same proportion that each such person had beneficially owned shares of
the Company common stock immediately before the consummation of such transaction, provided,
however, (C) the percentage described in Section 23(a)(iv)(A) of the beneficially owned
shares of the successor or survivor corporation and the number described in Section 23(a)(iv)(B) of
the beneficially owned shares of the successor or survivor corporation shall be determined
exclusively by reference to the shares of the successor or survivor corporation which result from
the beneficial ownership of shares of common stock of the Company by the persons described in
Section 23(a)(iv)(A) immediately before the consummation of such transaction.
(c) “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director or officer
of the Company or an individual who, while a director or officer of the Company, is or was serving
at the Company’s request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, administrator or agent
of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit
plan, entity, or other enterprise. Corporate Status also describes a person’s service in connection
with an employee benefit plan at the Company’s request if such person’s duties to the Company also
impose duties on, or otherwise involve services by, such person to the plan or to participants in
or beneficiaries of the plan. Corporate Status includes, in reference to a particular person unless
the context requires otherwise, the estate or personal representative of such person.
(d) “Disinterested Director” shall mean a director of the Company who is not or was not a
party to the Proceeding in respect of which Indemnification is being sought by the Indemnitee.
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(e) “Expenses” shall include all attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, arbitrator fees,
forum fees and costs, transcript costs, fees and expenses of experts, witness fees,
travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage,
delivery service fees, and all other disbursements or expenses incurred in connection with
prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating or being or preparing to be
a witness in any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative, arbitrative or investigative in nature, in each case to the extent reasonable.
(f) “Indemnification” shall mean the indemnification obligation provided under Paragraphs 1,
2, 3, 4 and 14 of this Agreement.
(g) “Independent Counsel” shall mean counsel selected by Indemnitee from the then current
list of “AmLaw 100” U.S. law firms who has not otherwise performed services for Indemnitee or for
the Company or any affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended) of the Company (whether or not they were affiliates when services were so
performed) within the five (5) years preceding its engagement to render a written opinion pursuant
to Section 6(b) of this Agreement following a Change in Control, except that such counsel may have
provided other indemnification opinions pursuant to this Agreement within said five (5) year
period.
(h) “Proceeding” shall mean any threatened, pending, or completed action, lawsuit, class
action, arbitration, regulatory or governmental inquiry, informal investigation or formal
investigation, or proceeding, including discovery, whether civil, criminal, administrative,
arbitrative, or investigative, whether formal or informal and including any action brought under
the federal securities laws.
24. Entire Agreement, Modification and Waiver.
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto
regarding the subject matter hereof, and no supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement
shall be binding unless executed in writing by both 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. No
supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall limit or restrict any right of
Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any act or omission of Indemnitee prior to the
effective date of such supplement, modification or amendment unless expressly provided therein.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent Indemnitee is a third party beneficiary of an
agreement entered into by the Company in connection with a Change in Control (a “Transaction
Agreement”), this Agreement shall in no way limit any additional protections afforded to the
Indemnitee as a third party beneficiary pursuant to the terms of such Transaction Agreement.
25. Notices.
All notices, requests, demands or other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall
be deemed to have been duly given if (i) delivered by hand with receipt
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acknowledged by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed
or if (ii) mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested with postage prepaid,
on the date shown on the return receipt:
(a) | If to Indemnitee to: | ||
(ADDRESS) | |||
(b) | If to the Company, to: |
Post Properties, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: __________________
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: __________________
with a copy to:
[Counsel Name]
[Counsel Address]
Attention: _________________
[Counsel Name]
[Counsel Address]
Attention: _________________
or to such other address as may be furnished to Indemnitee by the Company or to the Company by the
Indemnitee, as the case may be.
26. Governing Law.
The parties hereto agree that this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced
in accordance with, the laws of the State of Georgia, applied without giving effect to any
conflicts-of-law principles.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the day and year first
above written.
POST PROPERTIES, INC. | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
INDEMNITEE | ||||
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