exv10w17






Exhibit 10.17




INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT




     This Indemnification Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of [     ], 2009, by
and between rue21, inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and [     ]
(the “Indemnitee”).



RECITALS 




     A. It is reasonable, prudent and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders for
the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify persons serving as officers of the
Company to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to
serve as officers of the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified.



     B. The Indemnitee was employed to serve as an officer of the Company.



     C. To the extent permitted by law, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company and provisions of the Amended and
Restated Bylaws or resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute
therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of the Indemnitee thereunder.



     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the
Company and the Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:



     Section 1. Definitions
As used in the foregoing Recitals and in this Agreement, the following terms will have those
meanings set forth in this Section 1 unless the context dictates otherwise.



          (a) “Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to
such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), and the term “person” as used therein shall mean
any person or entity.




          (b) a “Change of Control” shall mean the happening after the date of this Agreement of
any of the following events:




               (i) if any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the
Exchange Act, or any successor provisions to either of the preceding), including any individual,
entity or group agreeing to act together for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing
of securities (as defined in Rule l3d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), becomes the “beneficial
owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of
50% or more of either (A) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
“Outstanding Company Common Stock”), or (B) the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Power”); provided, however, that
for purposes of this subsection (i) any acquisition by (A) any employee benefit plan (or related
trust)



 









 




sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (B) any
Sponsor shall not constitute a Change of Control; or




               (ii) individuals who, as of the date of this Agreement, constitute the Board of Directors (the
“Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason not to constitute at least a majority of the Board
of Directors; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent
to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was
approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board
shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding,
for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an
actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other
actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the
Board of Directors; and provided, further, that any change in the composition of
the Board of Directors instituted or approved by the holder or holders, either directly or
indirectly, of a majority of the Outstanding Company Voting Power on the date hereof shall not
constitute a Change of Control; or



               (iii) consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition
of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in
each case, unless, following such Business Combination all or substantially all of the individuals
and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock
and Outstanding Company Voting Power immediately prior to such Business Combination, or their
respective Affiliates, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively,
the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding
voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of
the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a
corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of
the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries); or



               (iv) approval by the shareholders of the Company of a liquidation or dissolution of the
Company.



          (c) “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was an officer of
the Company or is or was serving in such capacity, at the request of the Company, of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.




          (d) “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a
party to, or otherwise involved in, the Proceeding for which indemnification is sought by the
Indemnitee.




          (e) “Expenses” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs,
transcript costs, fees of experts, cost of any appeal bond, witness fees, travel expenses,
duplicating costs and 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, or being or preparing to
be a witness in a Proceeding.




2









 








          (f) “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is
experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five (5) years
has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or the Indemnitee in any matter material to either
such party, or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification
hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include
any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have
a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or the Indemnitee in an action to
determine the Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.




          (g) “Proceeding” includes any action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution
mechanism, investigation, administrative hearing or any other proceeding whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative.




          (h) “Sponsor” means Apax Partners, L.P., funds advised by Apax Partners, L.P. and
their respective Affiliates and Associates.




     Section 2. Indemnification (General). The Company shall indemnify and advance Expenses to the Indemnitee as provided in this
Agreement and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law in effect on the date hereof and to
such greater extent as applicable law may thereafter from time to time permit. The rights of the
Indemnitee provided under the preceding sentence shall include, but shall not be limited to, the
rights set forth in other sections of this Agreement.



     Section 3. Proceedings Other Than Proceeding by or in the Right of the Company. The Indemnitee shall be entitled to the right of indemnification provided in this Section 3
if, by reason of his Corporate Status, he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or
participant in any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in
the right of the Company. Under this Section 3, the Company will indemnify the Indemnitee against
Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement (as and to the extent
permitted hereunder) actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with
such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, with respect
to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe this conduct was unlawful.



     Section 4. Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section
4 if, by reason of his Corporate Status, he is, or is threatened to be made, party to or
participant in any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding brought by or in the right of the
Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 4, the Indemnitee shall be
indemnified against Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection
with such Proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or
not opposed to the best interests of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
indemnification against such Expenses shall be made in respect of any claim, issue
or matter in such Proceeding as to which the Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable
to the Company, or if applicable law prohibits such indemnification; provided,
however, that if applicable law so permits, indemnification against Expenses shall
nevertheless be made by the



3









 




Company in such event if and to the extent that the court in which such
Proceeding shall have been brought or is pending, shall determine upon application that, despite
the adjudication of liability, but in view of all the circumstances of the case, the Indemnitee is
fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper.




     Section 5. Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful.



          (a) To the extent that the Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a party to and is
successful, on the merits, in any Proceeding, the Company will indemnify the Indemnitee against all
Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith. If the
Indemnitee is not wholly successful in defense of any Proceeding but is successful on the merits,
as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall
indemnify the Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his
behalf in connection with each such successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. For purposes of
this Section 5(a) and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a
Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to
such claim, issue or matter. The provisions of this Section 5(a) are subject to Section 5(b)
hereof.




          (b) In no event shall the Indemnitee be entitled to indemnification under Section 5(a) hereof
with respect to a claim, issue or matter to the extent (i) applicable law prohibits such
indemnification, or (ii) an admission is made by the Indemnitee in writing to the Company or in
such Proceeding or a determination is made in such Proceeding that the standard of conduct required
for Indemnification under this Agreement has not been met with respect to such claim, issue or
matter.




     Section 6. Indemnification for Expenses as a Witness. Notwithstanding any provisions herein to the contrary, to the extent that the Indemnitee
is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a witness (which includes depositions, interrogatories,
document production, and similar demands or requests for information that may be relevant in a
Proceeding) in any Proceeding, he shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably
incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith.



     Section 7. Advancement of Expenses
        .



          (a) The Company shall advance all reasonable Expenses incurred by or on behalf of the
Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company
of a statement or statements from the Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to
time, whether prior to or after the final disposition of such Proceeding;
provided, however, that the person or persons or entity making the
determination of the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification under Section 5 (the
“Reviewing Party”) hereof has not determined that the Indemnitee would not be permitted to
be indemnified under applicable law. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the
Expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied
by an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay any Expenses advanced if it shall
ultimately be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such
Expenses. The




4









 







Company shall accept any such undertaking without reference to the financial ability
of the Indemnitee to make repayment and without regard to the prospect of whether the Indemnitee
may ultimately be found to be entitled to indemnification under the provisions of this Agreement.




          (b) The Company’s obligation to advance Expenses pursuant to Section 7(a) hereof shall be
subject to the condition that, if, when and to the extent that the Reviewing Party determines that
the Indemnitee would not be permitted to be so indemnified under applicable law, the Company shall
be entitled to be reimbursed by the Indemnitee (who agrees to reimburse the Company) for all such
amounts theretofore paid; provided, however, that if the Indemnitee has commenced
or thereafter commences legal proceedings hereunder to secure a determination that the Indemnitee
should be indemnified under applicable law, any determination made by the Reviewing Party to the
contrary shall not be binding and the Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for
any Expenses advanced until a final judicial determination is made with respect thereto. Any
required reimbursement of Expenses by the Indemnitee shall be made by the Indemnitee to the Company
within ten (10) days following the determination that the Indemnitee would not be entitled to
indemnification.




     Section 8. Procedure for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification.



          (a) To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall submit to the Company
a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is
reasonably available to the Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what
extent the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly
upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board of Directors in writing that
the Indemnitee has requested indemnification.




          (b) Upon written request by the Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 8(a)
hereof, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to the Indemnitee’s
entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case:




               (i) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote or consent of Disinterested Directors, even
though less than a quorum; or



               (ii) by majority vote or consent of a committee of Disinterested Directors duly designated by
the Board of Directors, even though less than a quorum (in which designation of the committee, the
directors, whether or not Disinterested Directors, may participate); or



               (iii) by Independent Counsel, as selected pursuant to Section 8(c) hereof, if there are no
Disinterested Directors, or if the Disinterested Directors so direct, in a written opinion to the
Board of Directors, a copy of which opinion shall be delivered to the Indemnitee; or



               (iv) by vote or consent of the holders of a majority of the Company’s common stock that are
represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at a meeting called for such purpose.



5









 





          (c) In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by
Independent Counsel, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 8(c).
If a Change of Control has not occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board of
Directors (including a vote of a majority of the Disinterested Directors if obtainable), and the
Company shall give written notice to the Indemnitee advising him of the identity of the Independent
Counsel so selected. If a Change of Control has occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be
selected by the Indemnitee (unless the Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the
Board of Directors, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and approved by the Board
of Directors (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld). If (i) an Independent Counsel is
to make the determination of entitlement pursuant to this Section 8, and (ii) within twenty (20)
days after submission by the Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to
Section 8(a) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected, either the Company or the
Indemnitee may petition the appropriate court of the State of Delaware or another court of
competent jurisdiction (the “Court”) for the appointment of an Independent Counsel to be
selected by the Court or by such other person as the Court shall designate. The fees and expenses
incurred by the Independent Counsel in making any determination shall be borne solely by the
Company regardless of the results of any determination and, if requested by the Independent
Counsel, the Company shall give such Independent Counsel an appropriate written agreement with
respect to the payment of the fees and expenses and such other matters as may be reasonably
requested by the Independent Counsel. Furthermore, the Company shall pay all reasonable fees and
expenses in connection with the procedures set forth in this Section 8(c) regardless of the manner
in which such Independent Counsel was appointed. Upon the due commencement of any judicial
proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 10(a)(iii) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be
discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity.




     Section 9. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.



          (a) In making a determination with respect to whether the Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification hereunder, the Reviewing Party making such determination shall presume that the
Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if the Indemnitee has submitted a
request for indemnification in accordance with Section 8(a) hereof, and anyone seeking to overcome
this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion, by clear and
convincing evidence.




          (b) Subject to the terms of Section 14.4 hereof, the termination of any Proceeding or of any
claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of
nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this
Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of the Indemnitee to indemnification or create a
presumption that the Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the Company and, with respect to any
criminal Proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.




          (c) For purposes of any determination of good faith, the Indemnitee shall be deemed to have
acted in good faith, if the Indemnitee’s action is based on (i) the records or books of account of
the Company, including financial statements, (ii) information supplied to the




6









 







Indemnitee by the
officers of the Company in the course of their duties, (iii) the advice of legal or financial
counsel for the Company or the Board of Directors (or any committee thereof) or (iv) information or
records given or reports made by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or
other expert selected by the Company or the Board of Directors (or any committee thereof). The
provisions of this Section 9(c) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the
other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed or found to have met the applicable
standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement. In addition, the knowledge and/or actions, or
failure to act, of any other director, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, officer, agent
or employee of the Company shall not be imputed to the Indemnitee for purposes of determining the
right to indemnification under this Agreement.




     Section 10. Remedies of the Indemnitee.



          (a) In the event (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 8 hereof that the Indemnitee
is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely
made pursuant to Section 7 hereof, (iii) the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to
be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 8(b) or Section 8(c) hereof and such
determination shall not have been made and delivered in a written opinion within forty-five (45)
days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of
indemnification is not made pursuant hereto within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a
written request therefor, or (v) payment of indemnification is not made within ten (10) days after
a determination has been made that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or such
determination is deemed to have been made pursuant to this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall be
entitled to seek an adjudication in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware of his
entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses. Alternatively, the Indemnitee, at
his option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the
rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding
seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within one hundred eighty (180) days following
the date on which the Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this
Section 10(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply in
respect of a proceeding brought by the Indemnitee to enforce his rights hereunder.




          (b) In the event that a determination is made that the Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification hereunder, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this
Section 10 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and
the Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. In any
judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10, the Company shall have
the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of
Expenses, as the case may be, and the Company shall be precluded from referring to or offering into
evidence a determination made pursuant to Section 8 hereof that is adverse to the Indemnitee’s
right to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be. If the Indemnitee
commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this Section 10, the Indemnitee shall
not be required to reimburse the Company for any advances hereunder until a final determination is
made with respect to the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification (as to which rights of appeal
have been exhausted or lapsed).





7









 








          (c) If a determination is made or deemed to have been made hereunder that the Indemnitee is
entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial
proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10, absent (i) a misstatement by the
Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission by the Indemnitee of a material fact necessary to
make the Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for
indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.




          (d) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration
commenced pursuant to this Section 10 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are
not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such
arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.




          (e) In the event that the Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 10, seeks a judicial
adjudication or an award in arbitration to enforce his rights under, or to recover damages for
breach of, this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover from the Company, and shall
be indemnified by the Company against, any and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him
in such judicial adjudication or arbitration; provided, however, if the court or
arbitrator rules that the Indemnitee had not reasonable basis to bring the claim, the Indemnitee is
not entitled to recover any Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in the judicial adjudication or
arbitration.




          (f) Any judicial adjudication or arbitration determined under this Section 10 shall be final
and binding on the parties.




     Section 11. Non-Disclosure of Payments. Except as expressly required by the securities laws of the United States of America,
neither party shall disclose any payments under this Agreement unless prior approval of the other
party is obtained. If any payment information must be disclosed, the Company shall afford the
Indemnitee an opportunity to review all such disclosures and, if requested, to explain in such
statement any mitigating circumstances regarding the events to be reported.



     Section 12. Duration of Agreement. This Agreement shall continue for so long as the Indemnitee may have any liability or
potential liability by virtue of serving as an officer of the Company, including, without
limitation, the final termination of all pending Proceedings in respect of which the
Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any
Proceeding commenced by the Indemnitee pursuant to Section 10 hereof relating thereto. This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties
hereto and their respective successors (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), assigns, spouses, heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives.



     Section 13. Maintenance of Insurance. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain in effect
during the entire period for which the Company is obligated to indemnify the Indemnitee under this
Agreement, one or more policies of insurance with reputable insurance companies to provide the
officers of the Company with



8









 




coverage for losses from wrongful acts and omissions and to ensure the
Company’s performance of its indemnification obligations under this Agreement. The Indemnitee
shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum
extent of the coverage available for any such director or officer under such policy or policies.
In all such insurance policies, the Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to
provide the Indemnitee with the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably
insured of the Company’s directors and officers.




     Section 14. Miscellaneous .



     Section 14.1 Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.



          (a) The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this
Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the Indemnitee may at any time
be entitled under applicable law, the certificate of incorporation, the bylaws, any agreement, a
vote of stockholders or resolutions of directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal
of this Agreement or any provision hereof shall be effective as to the Indemnitee with respect to
any action taken or omitted by the Indemnitee in his Corporate Status prior to such amendment,
alteration or repeal.




          (b) 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 the Indemnitee, who shall execute all
papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such
documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.




          (c) The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts
otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the extent that the Indemnitee has otherwise actually
received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.




     Section 14.2 Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any section
of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall
not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; (b) such provision or provisions will be deemed
reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give maximum effect to the
intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this
Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing
any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid,
illegal or enforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the
provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.



     Section 14.3 Exception to Right of Indemnification or Advancement of Expenses. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall not be entitled
to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Agreement with respect to any



9









 




Proceeding,
or any claim therein, brought or made by him against the Company except for any claim or Proceeding
in respect of this Agreement and/or the Indemnitee’s rights hereunder.




     Section 14.4 Settlement of Claims. The Company shall not be liable to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement for any
amounts paid in settlement of any Proceeding effected without the Company’s written consent. The
Company will not unreasonably withhold its consent to any proposed settlement. The Company shall
furthermore not be liable to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement with regard to any
judicial award if the Company was not given a reasonable and timely opportunity, at its expense, to
participate in the defense of such action.



     Section 14.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (whether by original, photocopy
or facsimile signature), 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. Only one such counterpart executed
by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence
of this Agreement.



     Section 14.6 Headings. The headings of the sections or paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience
only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part of this Agreement or to affect the construction
thereof.



     Section 14.7 Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed
in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement
shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not
similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.



     Section 14.8 Notice by Indemnitee. The Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any
summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any
Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered
hereunder.



     Section 14.9 Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given if (i) delivered by hand and received for by the party to
whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, or (ii) mailed by U.S. certified
or registered mail with postage prepaid by overnight courier: (a) if to the Company: 2101 91st
Street, North Bergen, New Jersey 07047, Attention: General Counsel; and (b) if to any other party
hereto, including the Indemnitee, to the address of such party set forth on the signature page
hereof; or to such other address as may have been furnished by any party to the other(s), in
accordance with this Section 14.9.



     Section 14.10 Governing Law; Venue, Etc.



          (a) THE PARTIES AGREE THAT THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE.





10









 








          (b) ANY “ACTION OR PROCEEDING” (AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED BELOW) ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE FILED IN AND LITIGATED SOLELY BEFORE THE COURT OF CHANCERY
LOCATED IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT: (1) GENERALLY AND
UNCONDITIONALLY ACCEPTS THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS AND VENUE THEREIN, AND
WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PROVIDED BY LAW ANY DEFENSE OR OBJECTION TO SUCH JURISDICTION AND
VENUE BASED UPON THE DOCTRINE OF “FORUM NON CONVENIENS”; AND (2) GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY
CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY DELIVERY OF CERTIFIED OR
REGISTERED MAILING OF THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NOTICE PROVISIONS OF THIS
AGREEMENT. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION 15.1, THE TERM “ACTION OR PROCEEDING” IS DEFINED AS ANY
AND ALL CLAIMS, SUITS, ACTIONS, HEARINGS, ARBITRATIONS OR OTHER SIMILAR PROCEEDINGS, INCLUDING
APPEALS AND PETITIONS THEREFROM, WHETHER FORMAL OR INFORMAL, GOVERNMENTAL OR NON-GOVERNMENTAL, OR
CIVIL OR CRIMINAL. THE FOREGOING CONSENT TO JURISDICTION SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE GENERAL CONSENT TO
SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE STATE FOR ANY PURPOSE EXCEPT AS PROVIDED ABOVE, AND SHALL NOT BE DEEMED
TO CONFER RIGHTS ON ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT.




          (c) The Company acknowledges that the Indemnitee may, as a result of the Company’s breach of
its covenants and obligations under this Agreement, sustain immediate and long-term substantial and
irreparable injury and damage, which cannot be reasonably or adequately compensated by damages at
law. Consequently, the Company agrees that the Indemnitee shall be entitled, in the event of the
Company’s breach or threatened breach of its covenants and obligations hereunder, to obtain
equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction, including enforcement of each provision of
this Agreement by specific performance and/or temporary, preliminary and/or permanent injunctions
enforcing any of the Indemnitee’s rights, requiring performance by the Company, or enjoining any
breach by the Company, all without proof of any actual damages that have been or may be caused by
the Indemnitee by such breach or threatened breach and without the posting of bond or other
security in connection therewith. The Company waives the claim or defense therein that the
Indemnitee has an adequate remedy at law, and the Company shall not allege or otherwise assert the
legal position that any such remedy at law exists. The Company agrees and acknowledges that: (i)
the terms of this Section 15.1(c) are fair, reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate
interests of the Indemnitee; (ii) this waiver is a material inducement to the Indemnitee to enter
into the transactions contemplated hereby; (iii) the Indemnitee relied upon this waiver in entering
into this Agreement; and will continue to rely on this waiver in its future dealings with the
Company. The Company warrants and represents that it has reviewed this provision with its legal
counsel, and that it has knowingly and voluntarily waived its rights referenced in this Section
15.1(c) following consultation with such legal counsel.




     Section 14.11 Usage of Pronouns. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where
appropriate.



11









 





[Signatures on Following Page]




12









 





     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement effective as of the day
and year first above written.



	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ATTEST:	 	rue21, inc.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	 	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	Name:

	 	 

	 	Name:
	 	 

	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Title:

	 	 	 	Title:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	INDEMNITEE:	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Name:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Address: