Exhibit 10.15

 

FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of                     , 2014, between State National Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and                      (“Indemnitee”).

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board” or “Board of Directors”) has concluded that to retain and attract talented and experienced individuals to serve as directors and officers of the Company, it is necessary for the Company to contractually indemnify its directors and certain of its officers and to assume liability for expenses and damages in connection with claims against such directors and officers in connection with their service to the Company, to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law;

 

WHEREAS, Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) permits the Company to indemnify by agreement its directors, officers, employees and agents, and persons who serve, at the request of the Company, as directors, officers, employees or agents of other corporations or enterprises, and expressly provides that the indemnification provided by, or granted pursuant to, the DGCL is not exclusive;

 

WHEREAS, the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) authorizes the Company to provide indemnification and to advance expenses to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law;

 

WHEREAS, Indemnitee is currently serving, or has been nominated to serve, as a director and/or officer of the Company and the Company wishes to secure Indemnitee’s service in such capacity without concern of unwarranted personal liability arising out of or related to such services to the Company; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company wishes to provide Indemnitee with an independent contractual right to indemnification and advancement of expenses in addition to those rights provided by the DGCL and the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and Indemnitee, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

1.                                      Indemnity of Indemnitee.  The Company hereby agrees to hold harmless and indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as such may be amended from time to time.  In furtherance of the foregoing, and without limiting the generality thereof:

 

(a)                                 Proceedings Other Than Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company.  Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section l(a) if, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status (as defined below), Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding (as defined below) other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company.  Pursuant to this Section 1(a), Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses (as defined below), judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee, or on Indemnitee’s behalf, in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to

 











 

the best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

 

(b)                                 Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company.  Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 1(b) if, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company.  Pursuant to this Section 1(b), Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee, or on Indemnitee’s behalf, in connection with such Proceeding if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company; provided, however, no indemnification against such Expenses shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter in such Proceeding as to which Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and to the extent that the Delaware Court (as defined below) shall determine that such indemnification may be made.

 

(c)                                  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 any Proceeding and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in such Proceeding, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as such may be amended from time to time, against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.  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 Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter.  For purposes of this Section 1(c) 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.

 

2.                                      Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.

 

3.                                      Advancement of Expenses.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding.  Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by an undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay any Expenses advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses.  Any advances and undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section 3 shall be unsecured and interest free.

 

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4.                                      Procedures and Presumptions for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification.  It is the intent of this Agreement to secure for Indemnitee rights of indemnification that are as favorable as may be permitted under the DGCL and public policy of the State of Delaware.  Accordingly, 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:

 

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

 

(b)                                 Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of Section 4(a) hereof, a determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case:  (i) if a Change in Control (as defined below) shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel (as defined below) in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, unless Indemnitee shall request that such determination be made by the Board of Directors or the stockholders in which case the decision shall be made by the individuals as provided for in clause (ii) of this Section 4(b); or (ii) by one of the following three methods, which shall be at the election of the Board:  (1) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors (as defined below), even though less than a quorum, or by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum, (2) if there are no Disinterested Directors or if the Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (3) if so directed by the Board of Directors, by the stockholders of the Company.

 

(c)                                  If the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 4(c).  The Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board of Directors.  Indemnitee may, within 10 days after such written notice of selection shall have been given to Indemnitee, deliver to the Company, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 10 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion.  Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel.  If a written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or the Delaware Court determines that such objection is without merit.  If, within 20 days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by Indemnitee to the Company’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 4(b)

 

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hereof.  The Company shall pay reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in connection with acting pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof, and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 4(c), regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed.

 

(d)                                 Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise (as defined below), including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Enterprise.  In addition, the knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.  Whether or not the foregoing provisions of this Section 4(d) are satisfied, it shall in any event be presumed that Indemnitee has at all times acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.  Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by a preponderance of the evidence.

 

(e)                                  Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination.  Any Independent Counsel, member of the Board of Directors or stockholder of the Company shall act reasonably and in good faith in making a determination regarding Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

(f)                                   The Company acknowledges that a settlement or other disposition short of final judgment may be successful if it permits a party to avoid expense, delay, distraction, disruption or uncertainty.  In the event that any action, claim or proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party is resolved in any manner other than by adverse judgment against Indemnitee (including, without limitation, settlement of such action, claim or proceeding with or without payment of money or other consideration) it shall be presumed that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in such action, suit or proceeding.  Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by a preponderance of the evidence.

 

(g)                                  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, create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

 

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5.                                      Remedies of Indemnitee.

 

(a)                                 In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 4 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification is made pursuant to Section 4(b) of this Agreement within 90 days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification or (iv) payment of indemnification is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or such determination is deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 4 of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in the Delaware Court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification.  Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 5(a).  The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication.

 

(b)                                 In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 5, seeks a judicial adjudication of Indemnitee’s rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, or to recover under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, the Company shall pay on Indemnitee’s behalf, in advance, any and all expenses (of the types described in the definition of Expenses in Section 10 of this Agreement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in such judicial adjudication, but only if Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of expenses or insurance recovery.  If it shall be determined in said judicial adjudication that Indemnitee is entitled to receive part, but not all, of the indemnification or advancement of expenses sought, the expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such judicial adjudication shall be appropriately prorated.

 

(c)                                  The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 5 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.

 

6.                                      Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.

 

(a)                                 The rights of indemnification as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”), any agreement, a vote of stockholders, a resolution of directors or otherwise.  No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal.  To the extent that a change in the DGCL, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification than would be afforded currently under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change.  No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion or

 

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employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

(b)                                 To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage provided under such policy or policies for any director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary.  If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such proceeding to the insurer(s) 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 such policies.

 

(c)                                  In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

(d)                                 The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise.

 

7.                                      Exception to Right of Indemnification. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnity in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:

 

(a)                                 for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy, other indemnity provision, contract, agreement or otherwise, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy, other indemnity provision, contract, agreement or otherwise;

 

(b)                                 for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law;

 

(c)                                  in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under the DGCL; or

 

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(d)                                 if a final decision by a court of law having jurisdiction in the matter shall determine that such indemnification is not lawful.

 

8.                                      Duration of Agreement.

 

(a)                                 All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee is an officer or director 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, employee benefit plan or other enterprise) and shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any Proceeding (or any proceeding commenced under Section 5 hereof) by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, whether or not Indemnitee is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement.

 

(b)                                 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.

 

9.                                      Enforcement.

 

(a)                                 The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumes the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as an officer or director of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as an officer or director of the Company.

 

(b)                                 This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

10.                               Definitions.  For purposes of this Agreement:

 

(a)                                 “Change in Control” means a change in control of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred if after the Effective Date (i) any “person” other than principal shareholders or an affiliate thereof as of the Effective Date is or becomes the “beneficial owner” directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; or (ii) the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, sale of assets or other reorganization, as a consequence of which members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such a transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board of Directors thereafter.

 

(b)                                 “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person is or was serving at the express written request of the Company.

 

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(c)                                  “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(d)                                 “Effective Date” means the date first set forth above.

 

(e)                                  “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that Indemnitee is or was serving at the express written request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary.

 

(f)                                   “Expenses” shall include reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees and other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily paid or incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, participating, or being or preparing to be a witness in a Proceeding.  Expenses also shall include Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersede as bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent.

 

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

 

(h)                                 “Proceeding” includes any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party or otherwise, by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was an officer or director of the Company, by reason of the fact that Indemnitee 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, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, or by reason of any action taken by Indemnitee or of any inaction on Indemnitee’s part while acting in any such capacity; in each case whether or not Indemnitee is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement; including one pending on or before the date of this Agreement, but excluding one initiated by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 5 of this Agreement to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

 

11.                               Severability.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision.  Without limiting the

 

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generality of the foregoing, this Agreement is intended to confer upon Indemnitee indemnification rights to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.  In the event any provision hereof conflicts with any applicable law, such provision shall be deemed modified, consistent with the aforementioned intent, to the extent necessary to resolve such conflict.

 

12.                               Modification and Waiver.  No supplement, modification, termination 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.

 

13.                               Notice By Indemnitee.  Indemnitee agrees to notify the Company in writing within ten (10) days of being served with or otherwise receiving any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification covered hereunder.  The failure to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise unless and only to the extent that such failure or delay materially prejudices the Company.

 

14.                               Notices.  All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered only via personal delivery, electronic mail or facsimile or via nationally recognized overnight courier.  Such notice shall be deemed effectively given:  (a) upon personal delivery to the party to be notified, (b) when sent by confirmed electronic mail or facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and if not so confirmed, then on the next business day, or (c) one (1) day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt.  All communications shall be sent:

 

(a)                                 To Indemnitee as set forth below Indemnitee’s signature.

 

(b)                                 To the Company at:

 

State National Companies, Inc.
 1900 L. Don Dodson Drive
 Bedford, Texas 76021
 Attn: General Counsel

 

or to such other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.

 

15.                               Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.  This Agreement may also be executed and delivered by facsimile signature and in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

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

 

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17.                               Governing Law and Consent to Jurisdiction.  This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. The Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

Signature Page Follows

 

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

 

 

	
 
    	
STATE NATIONAL   COMPANIES, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
INDEMNITEE
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Address:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
					


 

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