EXHIBIT 10(b)
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Indemnification Agreement ("Agreement") is effective as of January
1, 2003 by and between Solvis Group, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the "Company")
and [VARIOUSLY XXXX XXXXXXXXX, XXXXX XXXXX, XXXXXXX XXXXX, XXXXXX XXXXXXXX,
XXXXXXX XXXXX, AND XXXX XXXX] ("Indenmitee").
WHEREAS, the Company desires to attract and retain the services of
highly qualified individuals, such as Indemnitee, to serve the Company and its
related entities;
WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the current protection available as
adequate under the present circumstances, and the Indemnitee and other
directors, officers, employees, agents and fiduciaries of the Company may not be
willing to continue to serve in such capacities without additional protection;
WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee recognize the continued difficulty
in obtaining liability insurance for the Company's directors, officers,
employees, agents and fiduciaries, the significant increases in the cost of such
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 directors, officers,
employees, agents and fiduciaries to expensive litigation risks at the same time
as the availability and coverage of liability insurance has been severely
limited; and
WHEREAS, in view of the considerations set forth above, the Company
desires that Indemnitee shall be indemnified by the Company as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and Indemnitee hereby agree as set forth
below.
I. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.
(a) "Change in Control" shall mean, and shall be deemed to
have occurred if, on or after the date of this Agreement, (i) any "person" (as
such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended), other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities
under an employee benefit plan of the Company acting in such capacity or a
corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company,
becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under said Act),
directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 50%
of the total voting power represented by the Company's then outstanding Voting
Securities, (ii) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at
the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of the Company
and any new director whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two
thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at
the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was
previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof,
or (iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of
the Company with any other corporation other than a merger or consolidation
which would result in the Voting Securities of the Company outstanding
immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining
outstanding or by being converted into Voting Securities of the surviving
entity) at least 80% of the total voting power represented by the Voting
Securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after
such merger or consolidation, or the stockholders of the Company approve a plan
of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or
disposition by the Company of (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) all or substantially all of the Company's assets.
(b) "Claim" shall mean any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute resolution mechanism, or any
hearing, inquiry or investigation that Indemnitee in good faith believes might
lead to the institution of any such action, suite, proceeding or alternative
dispute resolution mechanism, whether civil, criminal, administrative,
investigative or other.
(c) References to the "Company" shall include, in addition to
Solvis Group, Inc., any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a
constituent) absorbed in consolidation or merger to which Solvis Group, Inc. (or
any of its wholly owned subsidiaries) is a party which, if its separate
existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its
director, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries, so that if Indeninitee is
or was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, 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.
(d) "Expenses" shall mean any and all expenses (including
attorneys' fees and all other costs, expenses and obligations incurred in
connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in
(including on appeal), or preparing to defend, to be a witness in or to
participate in, any action, suit, proceeding, alternative dispute resolution
mechanism, hearing, inquiry or investigation), judgments, fines, penalties and
amounts paid in settlement (if such settlement is approved in advance by the
Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) of any Claim
regarding any Indemnifiable Event and 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.
(e) "Expense Advance" shall mean an advance payment of
Expenses to Indemnitee pursuant to Section 3 (a).
(f) "Indemnifiable Event" shall mean any event or occurrence
related to the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee,
agent or fiduciary of the Company, or any subsidiary of the Company, or 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 enterprises, or by reason of any action or inaction on the part of
Indemnitee while serving in such capacity.
(g) "Independent Legal Counsel" shall mean an attorney or firm
of attorneys, selected in accordance with the provisions of Section 2 (c)
hereof, who shall not have otherwise performed services for the Company or
Indemnitee within the last three years (other than with respect to matters
concerning the rights of Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other
indemnitees under similar indemnity agreements).
(h) 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, agent or fiduciary of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves
services by, such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary with respect
to an employee benefit plan, its participants or its beneficiaries; and if
Indenmitee 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.
(i) "Reviewing Party" shall mean members of the Company's
Board of Directors voting by a majority vote of a quorum of said Board, which
Board members are not a party to the particular Claim for which Indemnitee is
seeking indenmification, or Independent Legal Counsel if a majority vote of a
quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the particular Claim so
orders, or if a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the
particular Claim cannot be obtained.
(j) "Voting Securities" shall mean any securities of the
Company that vote generally in the election of directors.
2. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) INDEMNIFICATION OF EXPENSES. The Company shall indemnify
Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law if Indemnitee was or is or
becomes a party to or witness or other participant in, or is threatened to be
made a party to or witness or other participant in, any Claim by reason of (or
arising in part out of) any Indemnifiable Event against Expenses, including all
interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in
respect of such Expenses. Such payment of Expenses shall be made by the Company
as soon as practicable but in any event no later than five (5) business days
after written demand by Indemnitee therefor is presented to the Company.
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(b) REVIEWING PARTY. Notwithstanding the forgoing, (i) the
obligations of the Company under Section 2 (a) shall be subject to the condition
that the Reviewing Party shall not have determined (in a written opinion, in any
case in which the Independent Legal Counsel referred to in Section 2 (c) hereof
is involved) that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under
applicable law, and (ii) the obligation of the Company to make an Expense
Advance shall be subject to the condition that, if, when and to the extent that
the Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be so
indemnified under applicable law, the Company shall be entitled to be reimbursed
by Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to reimburse the Company) for all such amounts
theretofore paid; PROVIDE, however, that if Indeninitee 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 Reviewing Party that Indemnitee would not be
permitted to be indemnified under applicable law shall not be binding and
Indeninitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any Expense
Advance until a final judicial determination is made with respect thereto (as to
which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed).
Indemnitee's obligation to reimburse the Company for any Expense Advance shall
be unsecured and no interest shall be charged thereon. If there has not been a
Change in Control, the Reviewing Party shall be the Board of Directors, and if
there has been such a Change in Control (other than a Change in Control which
has been approved by a majority of the Company's Board of Directors who were
directors immediately prior to such Change in Control), the Reviewing Party
shall be the Independent Legal Counsel. If there has been no determination by
the Reviewing Party or if the Reviewing Party determines that Inderrmitee
substantively would not be permitted to be indemnified in whole or in part under
applicable law, Indemnitee shall have the right to commence litigation seeking
an initial determination by the court or challenging any such determination by
the Reviewing Party or any aspect thereof, including the legal or factual bases
therefor, and the Company hereby consents to service of process and to appear in
any such proceedings. Absent such litigation, any determination by the Reviewing
Party shall be conclusive and biding on the Company and Indemnitee.
(c) CHANGE IN CONTROL. The Company agrees that if there is a
Change in Control of the Company (other than a Change in Control which has been
approved by a majority of the Company's Board of Directors who were directors
immediately prior to such Change in Control), then with respect to all matters
thereafter arising concerning the rights of Indemnitee to payments of Expenses
and Expense Advances under this Agreement or any other agreement or under the
Company's Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws as now or hereafter in effect and
to the extent consistent with Nevada law, Independent Legal Counsel, if desired
by Indemnitee, shall be selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company
(which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld). Such counsel, among other
things, shall render its written opinion to the Company and Indemnitee as to
whether and to what extent Indem-xxxxx would be permitted to be indemnified
under applicable law and the Company agrees to abide by such opinion. The
Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Legal Counsel
referred to above and to indemnify fully such counsel against any and all
expenses (including attorneys' fees), claims, liabilities and damages arising
out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall not be
required to pay Expenses of more than one Independent Legal Counsel in
connection with all matters concerning a single Indemnitee, and such Independent
Legal Counsel shall be the Independent Legal Counsel for any or all other
Indemnitees unless (i) the Company otherwise determines or (ii) any Indemnitee
shall provide a written statement setting forth in detail a reasonable objection
to such Independent Legal Counsel representing other indenmitees.
(d) MANDATORY PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. Notwithstanding any other
provisions of this Agreement other than Section 10 hereof, to the extent that
Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise, including, without
limitation, the dismissal of an action without prejudice, in defense of any
claim regarding any Indemnifiable Event, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against
all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection therewith.
(3) EXPENSES: INDEMNIFICATION PROCEDURE.
(a) ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES. The Company shall advance all
Expenses incurred by Indemnitee. The Advances to be made hereunder shall be paid
by the Company to Indemnitee as soon as practicable but in any event no later
than five (5) business days after written demand by Indemnitee therefor to the
Company. Expenses incurred in defending any proceeding may be advanced by the
Company prior to the final disposition of the proceeding upon receipt of an
undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay the Expenses incurred, if it
shall be determined ultimately that Indenmitee is not entitled to be
indemnified.
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(b) NOTICE/COOPERATION BY INDEMNITEE. Indemnitee shall, as a
condition precedent to Indemnitee's right to be indemnified under this
Agreement, give the company notice in writing as soon as practicable of any
Claim made against Indemnitee for which indemnification will or could be sought
under this Agreement. Notice to the Company shall be directed to the Chief
Executive Officer 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). In addition, Indemnitee shall give the Company such information
and cooperation as it may reasonably require and as shall be within
Indemnitee's's powers.
(c) NO PRESUMPTIONS, BURDEN OF PROOF. For purposes of this
Agreement, the termination of any Claim by judgment, order, settlement (whether
with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of NOLO
CONTENDERE, or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption that Indemnitee
did not meet any particular standard of conduct or have any particular belief or
that a court has determined that indemnification is not permitted by applicable
law. In addition, neither the failure of the Reviewing Party to have made a
determination as to whether Indemnitee has met any particular standard of
conduct or had any particular belief, nor an actual determination by the
Reviewing Party that Indemnitee has not met such standard of conduct or did not
have such belief, prior to the commencement of legal proceedings by Indemnitee
to secure a judicial determination that Indemnitee should be indemnified under
applicable law, shall be a defense to Indemnitee's claim or create a presumption
that Indemnitee has not met any particular standard of conduct or did not have
any particular belief.
(d) NOTICE TO INSURERS. If, at the time of the receipt by the
Company of a notice of a Claim pursuant to Section 3 (b) hereof, the Company has
liability insurance in effect which may cover such Claim, the Company shall give
prompt notice of the commencement of such Claim 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 Claim in
accordance with the terms of such policies.
(e) SELECTION OF Counsel. In the event the Company shall be
obligated hereunder to pay the Expenses of any Claim, the Company, if
appropriate, shall be entitled to assume the defense of such Claim with counsel
approved by Indemnitee (not to be unreasonably withheld) upon the delivery to
Indemnitee of written notice of the Company's election so to do. 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 the same Claim; provided that, (i) Indemnitee shall have the right to
employ Indemnitee's separate counsel in any such Claim at Indemnitee's expense
and (ii) if (A) the employment of separate counsel by Indenmitee has been
previously authorized by the Company, (B) 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 (C) the Company shall not
continue to retain such counsel to defend such Claim, then the fees and expenses
of Indemnitee's separate counsel shall be at the expense of the Company.
4. ADDITIONAL INDEMNIFICATION RIGHTS: NONEXCLUSIVITY
(a) SCOPE. 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 Articles 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 Nevada corporation
to indemnify a member of its board of directors or an officer, employee, agent
or fiduciary, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy
by this Agreement the greater benefits afforded by such change. In the event of
any change in any applicable law, statute or rule which narrows the right of a
Nevada corporation to indemnify 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 except as set forth in Section 9 (a) hereof.
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(b) NONEXLCUSIVITY. The indenirlification provided by this
Agreement shall be in addition to any rights to which Indenmitee may be entitled
under the Company's Articles of Incorporation, its Bylaws, any other agreement,
any vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, the Nevada Revised Statutes
or otherwise. The indemnification provided under this Agreement shall continue
as to the Indemnitee for any action taken or not taken while serving in an
indemnified capacity even though Indemnitee may have ceased to serve in such
capacity.
5. NO DUPLICATION OF PAYMENTS. The Company shall not be liable under
this Agreement to make any payment in connection with any Claim made against
Indernnitee to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment
(under any insurance policy, provision of the Company's Articles of
Incorporation, bylaw or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable
hereunder.
6. PARTIAL INDEMNIFICATION. If Indemnitee is entitled under any
provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a
portion of Expenses incurred in connection with any Claim, but not, however, for
all of the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify
Indemnitee for the portion of such Expenses to which Indemnitee is entitled.
7. MUTUAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Both the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge
that in certain instances, federal law or applicable public policy may prohibit
the Company from indemnifying its directors, officers, employees, agents or
fiduciaries under this Agreement or otherwise. Indemnitee understands and
acknowledges that the Company has undertaken or may be required in the future to
undertake with the Securities and Exchange Commission to submit the question of
indemnification to a court in certain circumstances for a determination of the
Company's right under public policy to indemnify Indemnitee.
8. LIABILIJY INSURANCE. To the extent the Company maintains liability
insurance applicable to directors, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries,
Indemnitee shall be covered by such policies in such a manner as to provide
Indemnitee the same rights and benefits as are provided 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 any
officer ; or of the Company's key employees, agents or fiduciaries, if
Indemnitee is not an officer or director but is a key employee, agent or
fiduciary.
9. EXCEPTIONS. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement:
(a) EXCLUDED ACTION OR OMISSIONS. To indemnify Indemnitee for
acts, omissions or transactions from which Indemnitee may not be relieved of
liability under applicable law.
(b) CLAIMS INITIATED BY INDEMNITEE. To indemnify or advance
expenses to Indemnitee with respect to Claims initiated or brought voluntarily
by Indemnitee and not by way of defense, except (i) with respect to actions or
proceedings brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification under
this Agreement or any other agreement or insurance policy or under the Company's
Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws now or hereafter in effect relating to
Claims for Indemnifiable Events, (ii) in specific cases if the Board of
Directors has approved the initiation or bringing of such Claim, or (iii) as
otherwise required under Section 78.751 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, Title 7,
Business Associations, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined
to be entitled to such indemnification, advance expense payment or insurance
recovery, as the case my be.
(c) 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
Indenmitee in such proceeding was not made in good faith or was frivolous.
(d) CLAIMS UNDER SECTION 16(B). To indemnify Indemnitee for
expenses and the payment of profits arising from the purchase and sale by
Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 16 (b) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar successor statute.
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10. 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; PROVIDE , HOWEVER, that if any shorter
period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of action, such
shorter period shall govern.
11. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original.
12. BINDING EFFECTS, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties
hereto and their respective successors, assigns (including any direct or
indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or
substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), spouses, heirs and
personal and legal representatives. The Company shall require and cause any
successor (whether direct or indirect, and whether by purchase, merger,
consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all, or a substantial part of,
the business or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and
substance satisfactory to Indenmitee, 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 had taken place. This Agreement
shall continue in effect regardless of whether Indemnitee continues to serve as
a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary (as applicable) of the Company
or of any other enterprise at the Company's request.
13. ATTORNEY'S FEES. In the event that any action is instituted by
Indemnitee under this Agreement or under any liability insurance policies
maintained by the Company to enforce or interpret any of the terms hereof or
thereof, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid all Expenses incurred by
Indemnitee with respect to such action, regardless of whether Indemnitee is
ultimately successful in such action, unless as a part of such action a court of
competent jurisdiction over such action 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 even of an action instituted by or in the name
of the Company under this Agreement to enforce or interpret any of the terms of
this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid all Expenses incurred by
Indemnitee in defense of such action (including costs and expense incurred with
respect to Indemnitee's counterclaims and cross-claims made in such action), and
shall be entitled to the advancement of Expenses with respect to such action,
unless as a part of such action a court having jurisdiction over such action
determines that each of Indemnitee's material defenses to such transaction were
made in bad faith or were frivolous.
14. NOTICE. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (i) if
delivered by hand and signed for by the party addressed, on the date of such
delivery, or (ii) if mailed by domestic certified or registered mail with
postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date postmarked. Addresses
for notice to either party are as shown on the signature page of this Agreement,
or as subsequently modified by written notice.
15. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. The Company and Indemnitee each hereby
irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of
California, County of San Diego, for all purposes in connection with any action
or proceeding which arises out of or relates to this Agreement.
16. SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable
in the event that any of the provisions hereof (including any provisions within
a single section, paragraph or sentence) are held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, and the remaining
provisions shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Furthermore, to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement
(including, without limitation, each portion of this Agreement containing any
provision held to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, that is not
itself invalid, void or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect
to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or
unenforceable.
17. CHOICE OF LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and its
provisions construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of
Nevada as applied to contracts between Nevada residents entered into and to be
performed entirely within the State of Nevada.
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18. 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.
19. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. No amendment, modification, termination
or cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing
signed by both parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this
Agreement shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver of any other
provisions hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a
continuing waiver.
20. 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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Indemnification Agreement as of the date first above written.
SOLVIS GROUP, INC., INDEMNITEE
a Nevada corporation
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