Document:

Unassociated Document

 

Exhibit 10.3

NOTICE OF GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD

ZST DIGITAL NETWORKS, INC.

2010 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

FOR GOOD AND VALUABLE CONSIDERATION, ZST Digital Networks, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby grants, pursuant to the provisions of the Company’s 2010 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), to the Participant designated in this Notice of Grant of Restricted Stock Award (the “Notice”) the number of shares of the common stock of the Company set forth in the Notice, subject to certain restrictions as outlined below in this Notice and the additional provisions set forth in the attached Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock Award (the “Agreement”).  Also enclosed is a copy of the information statement describing important provisions of the Plan.

	
Participant:

	
Henry H. Ngan

	
Grant Date:

	
March 18, 2011

	
# of Shares of Restricted Stock:

	
90,000

Purchase Price:  Subject to the withholding provisions of Section 5 of the Terms and Conditions, this Restricted Stock Award does not require the Participant to pay any purchase price or other cash consideration in connection with the issuance or delivery of the Restricted Stock.

Vesting Schedule:  Subject to the provisions contained in Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the Terms and Conditions, this Restricted Stock Award shall vest, and the applicable Restrictions set forth in the Terms and Conditions shall lapse, in accordance with the following schedule in the event the Participant does not have a Termination of Service prior to the applicable vesting date:

7,500 of the shares of the Restricted Stock covered by this Award shall vest over a three-year period on each of the twelve (12) quarterly anniversaries of the Date of Grant.

Change in Control:  All Restricted Stock outstanding on the date of a Change of Control that have not previously vested or terminated under the terms of this Notice shall be immediately and fully vested upon the date of a Change of Control, except if the in the Change in Control results from such the Participant’s beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Common Stock.

Forfeiture:  The Participant’s rights in the Restricted Stock Award on which the Restrictions have not lapsed pursuant to the vesting schedule provisions above shall be forfeited in full in the event of the Participant’s Termination of Service for any reason.

By signing below, the Participant agrees that this Restricted Stock Award is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Company’s 2010 Omnibus Incentive Plan and the attached Terms and Conditions.

	
Henry H. Ngan

	  	
ZST Digital Networks, Inc.

	  	  	  
	
/s/ Henry Ngan

	  	
/s/ Zhong Bo

	  	  	
By: Zhong Bo

	  	  	
Title: Chief Executive Officer

	  	  	  
	
Date:

	
March 18, 2010

	
  

	
Date:

	
March 18, 2010

 

  

  

  

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD

These Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock Award relates to the Notice of Grant of Restricted Stock Award (the “Notice”) attached hereto, by and between ZST Digital Networks, Inc. (the “Company”), and the person identified in the Notice (the “Participant”).

The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and approved the 2010 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), which has been approved by the stockholders of the Company.  The Committee has approved an award to the Participant of a number of shares of the Company’s common stock, conditioned upon the Participant’s acceptance of the provisions set forth in the Notice and these Terms and Conditions within 60 days after the Notice and these Terms and Conditions are presented to the Participant for review.  For purposes of the Notice and these Terms and Conditions, any reference to the Company shall include a reference to any Affiliate.

1.           Grant of Restricted Stock.

(a)           Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, as of the Grant Date, the Company grants to the Participant the number of shares of Common Stock set forth in the Notice (the “Restricted Shares”), subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 2 of these Terms and Conditions, the provisions of the Plan and the other provisions contained in these Terms and Conditions.  If and when the restrictions set forth in Section 2 expire in accordance with these Terms and Conditions without forfeiture of the Restricted Shares, and upon the satisfaction of all other applicable conditions as to the Restricted Shares, such shares shall no longer be considered Restricted Shares for purposes of these Terms and Conditions.

(b)           As soon as practicable after the Grant Date, the Company shall direct that a stock certificate or certificates representing the applicable Restricted Shares be registered in the name of and issued to the Participant.  Such certificate or certificates shall be held in the custody of the Company or its designee until the expiration of the applicable Restricted Period (as defined in Section 3).  On or before the date of execution of the Notice, the Participant has delivered to the Company one or more stock powers endorsed in blank relating to the Restricted Shares.

(c)           Except as provided in Section 1(d), in the event that a certificate for the Restricted Shares is delivered to the Participant, such certificate shall bear the following legend (the “Legend”):

The ownership and transferability of this certificate and the shares of stock represented hereby are subject to the terms and conditions (including forfeiture) of the ZST Digital Networks, Inc. 2010 Omnibus Incentive Plan and a Restricted Stock Award Notice entered into between the registered owner and ZST Digital Networks, Inc.  Copies of such Plan and Notice are on file in the executive offices of ZST Digital Networks, Inc.

In addition, the stock certificate or certificates for the Restricted Shares shall be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Company may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is then listed, and any applicable federal or state securities law, and the Company may cause a legend or legends to be placed on such certificate or certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

(d)           As soon as administratively practicable following the expiration of the Restricted Period without a forfeiture of the Restricted Shares, and upon the satisfaction of all other applicable conditions as to the Restricted Shares, including, but not limited to, the payment by the Participant of all applicable withholding taxes, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Participant a certificate or certificates for the applicable Restricted Shares which shall not bear the Legend.

 

  

1

  

2.           Restrictions.

(a)         The Participant shall have all rights and privileges of a stockholder as to the Restricted Shares, including the right to vote and receive dividends or other distributions with respect to the Restricted Shares, except that the following restrictions shall apply:

(i)           the Participant shall not be entitled to delivery of the certificate or certificates for the Restricted Shares until the expiration of the Restricted Period without a forfeiture of the Restricted Shares and upon the satisfaction of all other applicable conditions;

(ii)          none of the Restricted Shares may be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of during the Restricted Period applicable to such shares, except as provided in Section 7.02(c) of the Plan or as otherwise permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion or pursuant to rules adopted by the Committee in accordance with the Plan; and

(iii)         all of the Restricted Shares shall be forfeited and returned to the Company and all rights of the Participant with respect to the Restricted Shares shall terminate in their entirety on the terms and conditions set forth in Section 4.

(b)         Any attempt to dispose of Restricted Shares or any interest in the Restricted Shares in a manner contrary to the restrictions set forth in these Terms and Conditions shall be void and of no effect.

3.           Restricted Period and Vesting.  The “Restricted Period” is the period beginning on the Grant Date and ending on the date the Restricted Shares, or such applicable portion of the Restricted Shares, are deemed vested under the schedule set forth in the Notice.  The Restricted Shares shall be deemed vested and no longer subject to forfeiture under Section 4 in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in the Notice or earlier, if specified in the Notice, in the event of a Change in Control.

4.           Forfeiture.

(a)           Subject to Section 6 below, if during the Restricted Period (i) the Participant incurs a Termination of Service, (ii) there occurs a material breach of the Notice or these Terms and Conditions by the Participant or (iii) the Participant fails to meet the tax withholding obligations described in Section 5(b), all rights of the Participant to the Restricted Shares that have not vested in accordance with Section 3 as of the date of such termination shall terminate immediately and be forfeited in their entirety.

(b)           In the event of any forfeiture under this Section 4, the certificate or certificates representing the forfeited Restricted Shares shall be canceled to the extent of any Restricted Shares that were forfeited.

5.           Withholding.

(a)           The Committee shall determine the amount of any withholding or other tax required by law to be withheld or paid by the Company with respect to any income recognized by the Participant with respect to the Restricted Shares.

(b)           The Participant shall be required to meet any applicable tax withholding obligation in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.05 of the Plan.

(c)           Subject to any rules prescribed by the Committee, the Participant shall have the right to elect to meet any withholding requirement (i) by having withheld from this Award at the appropriate time that number of whole shares of common stock whose fair market value is equal to the amount of any taxes required to be withheld with respect to such Award, (ii) by direct payment to the Company in cash of the amount of any taxes required to be withheld with respect to such Award or (iii) by a combination of shares and cash.

 

  

2

  

6.           Committee Discretion.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Notice or these Terms and Conditions to the contrary, the Committee shall have discretion under the Plan to waive any forfeiture of the Restricted Shares as set forth in Section 4, the Restricted Period and any other conditions set forth in the Notice or these Terms and Conditions.

7.           Defined Terms.  Capitalized terms used but not defined in the Notice and Agreement shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan, unless such term is defined in any Employment Agreement between the Participant and the Company or an Affiliate.  Any terms used in the Notice and Agreement, but defined in the Participant’s Employment Agreement are incorporated herein by reference and shall be effective for purposes of the Notice and these Terms and Conditions without regard to the continued effectiveness of the Employment Agreement.

8.           Nonassignability.  The Restricted Shares may not be sold, assigned, transferred (other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or to an inter vivos trust with respect to which the Participant is treated as the owner under Sections 671 through 677 of the Code), pledged, hypothecated, or otherwise encumbered or disposed of until the restrictions on such Shares, as set forth in the Notice and Agreement, have lapsed or been removed.

9.           Participant Representations.  The Participant hereby represents to the Company that the Participant has read and fully understands the provisions of the Notice, these Terms and Conditions and the Plan and the Participant’s decision to participate in the Plan is completely voluntary.  Further, the Participant acknowledges that the Participant is relying solely on his or her own advisors with respect to the tax consequences of this restricted stock award.

10.         Regulatory Restrictions on the Restricted Shares.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the obligation of the Company to issue Restricted Shares under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations and such approval by any regulatory body as may be required.  The Company reserves the right to restrict, in whole or in part, the delivery of the Restricted Shares pursuant to these Terms and Conditions prior to the satisfaction of all legal requirements relating to the issuance of such shares, to their registration, qualification or listing or to an exemption from registration, qualification or listing.

11.         Miscellaneous.

(a)           Notices.  All notices, requests, deliveries, payments, demands and other communications which are required or permitted to be given under these Terms and Conditions shall be in writing and shall be either delivered personally or sent by registered or certified mail, or by private courier, return receipt requested, postage prepaid to the parties at their respective addresses set forth herein, or to such other address as either shall have specified by notice in writing to the other.  Notice shall be deemed duly given hereunder when delivered or mailed as provided herein.

(b)           Waiver.  The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision of the Notice or these Terms and Conditions shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.

(c)           Entire Agreement.  These Terms and Conditions, the Notice and the Plan constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

(d)           Binding Effect; Successors.  These Terms and Conditions shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and to the extent not prohibited herein, their respective heirs, successors, assigns and representatives.  Nothing in these Terms and Conditions, express or implied, is intended to confer on any person other than the parties hereto and as provided above, their respective heirs, successors, assigns and representatives any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities.

 

  

3

  

(e)           Governing Law.  The Notice and these Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

(f)            Headings.  The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of these Terms and Conditions.

(g)           Conflicts; Amendment.  The provisions of the Plan are incorporated in these Terms and Conditions in their entirety.  In the event of any conflict between the provisions of these Terms and Conditions and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control.  The Agreement may be amended at any time by written agreement of the parties hereto.

(h)           No Right to Continued Employment.  Nothing in the Notice or these Terms and Conditions shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or affect the right of the Company to terminate the Participant’s employment or service at any time.

(i)            Further Assurances.  The Participant agrees, upon demand of the Company or the Committee, to do all acts and execute, deliver and perform all additional documents, instruments and agreements which may be reasonably required by the Company or the Committee, as the case may be, to implement the provisions and purposes of the Notice and these Terms and Conditions and the Plan.

 

  

4Exhibit 10.4

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Indemnification Agreement, dated as of March 18, 2011, is made by and between ZST Digital Networks, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”) and Henry H. Ngan (the “Indemnitee”).

RECITALS

A.          The Corporation recognizes that competent and experienced persons are increasingly reluctant to serve or to continue to serve as directors or officers of corporations unless they are protected by comprehensive liability insurance or indemnification, or both, due to increased exposure to litigation costs and risks resulting from their service to such corporations, and due to the fact  that the exposure frequently bears no reasonable relationship to the compensation of such directors and officers;

 

B.           The statutes and judicial decisions regarding the duties of directors and officers are often difficult to apply, ambiguous, or conflicting, and therefore fail to provide such directors and officers with adequate, reliable knowledge of legal risks to which they are exposed or information regarding the proper course of action to take;

 

C.           The Corporation and Indemnitee recognize that plaintiffs often seek damages in such large amounts and the costs of litigation may be so enormous (whether or not the case is meritorious), that the defense and/or settlement of such litigation is often beyond the personal resources of directors and officers;

 

D.           The Corporation believes that it is unfair for its directors and officers to assume the risk of huge judgments and other expenses which may occur in cases in which the director or officer received no personal profit and in cases where the director or officer was not culpable;

 

E.           The Corporation, after reasonable investigation, has determined that the liability insurance coverage presently available to the Corporation may be inadequate in certain circumstances to cover all possible exposure for which Indemnitee should be protected.  The Corporation believes that the interests of the Corporation and its stockholders would best be served by a combination of such insurance and the indemnification by the Corporation of the directors and officers of the Corporation;

 

F.           The Corporation’s ByLaws require the Corporation to indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). The ByLaws expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Corporation and its directors and officers with respect to indemnification;

 

G.           Section 145 of the DGCL (“Section 145”), under which the Corporation is organized, empowers the Corporation to indemnify its officers, directors, employees and agents by agreement and to indemnify persons who serve, at the request of the Corporation, as the directors, officers, employees or agents of other corporations or enterprises, and expressly provides that the indemnification provided by Section 145 is not exclusive;

 

  

 

  

H.           Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL allows a corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a provision limiting or eliminating the personal liability of a director for monetary damages in respect of claims by shareholders and corporations for breach of certain fiduciary duties, and the Corporation has so provided in its Certificate of Incorporation that each Director shall be exculpated from such liability to the maximum extent permitted by law;

 

I.            The Board of Directors has determined that contractual indemnification as set forth herein is not only reasonable and prudent but also promotes the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders;

 

J.            The Corporation desires and has requested Indemnitee to serve as the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation free from undue concern for unwarranted claims for damages arising out of or related to such services to the Corporation; and

 

K.           Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve or to provide additional service for or on behalf of the Corporation on the condition that he is furnished the indemnity provided for herein.

 

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth below, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

Section 1. Generally.

To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware:

(a) The Corporation shall indemnify Indemnitee if Indemnitee was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or while serving as a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent (which, for purposes hereof, shall include a trustee, partner or manager or similar capacity) of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity.  For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing indemnification obligation includes, without limitation, claims for monetary damages against Indemnitee in respect of an alleged breach of fiduciary duties, to the fullest extent permitted under Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL as in existence on the date hereof.

(b) The indemnification provided by this Section 1 shall be from and against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom, but shall only be provided 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 Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action, suit or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

 

  

2

  

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1, in the case of any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or while serving as a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless, and only to the extent
that, the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

(d) The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

Section 2. Successful Defense; Partial Indemnification. To the extent that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section 1 hereof or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith. For purposes of  this Agreement and without limiting the foregoing, if any action, suit or proceeding is disposed of, on the merits or otherwise (including a disposition without prejudice), without (i) the disposition being adverse to Indemnitee, (ii) an adjudication that Indemnitee was liable to
the Corporation, (iii) a plea of guilty or nolo contendere by Indemnitee, (iv) an adjudication that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and (v) with respect to any criminal proceeding, an adjudication that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful, Indemnitee shall be considered for the purposes hereof to have been wholly successful with respect thereto.

If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Corporation for some or a portion of the expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any action, suit, proceeding or investigation, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, and any appeal therefrom but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion of such expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement to which Indemnitee is entitled.

 

  

3

  

Section 3. Determination That Indemnification Is Proper. Any indemnification hereunder shall (unless otherwise ordered by a court) be made by the Corporation unless a determination is made that indemnification of such person is not proper in the circumstances because he or she has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 1(b) hereof. Any such determination shall be made (i) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to the action, suit or proceeding in question (“disinterested directors”), even if less than a quorum, (ii) by a majority vote of a committee of disinterested directors designated by majority vote of disinterested directors, even if less than a

quorum, (iii) by a majority vote of a quorum of the outstanding shares of stock of all classes entitled to vote on the matter, voting as a single class, which quorum shall consist of stockholders who are not at that time parties to the action, suit or proceeding in question, (iv) by independent legal counsel, or (v) by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Section 4. Advance Payment of Expenses; Notification and Defense of Claim.

(a) Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by Indemnitee in defending a threatened or pending civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with an enforcement action pursuant to Section 5(b), shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Corporation of (i) a statement or statements from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, and (ii) an undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay such amount or amounts, only if, and to the extent that, it shall ultimately be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized by this Agreement

or otherwise.  Such undertaking shall be accepted without reference to the financial ability of Indemnitee to make such repayment. Advances shall be unsecured and interest-free.

(b) Promptly after receipt by Indemnitee of notice of the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, Indemnitee shall, if a claim thereof is to be made against the Corporation hereunder, notify the Corporation of the commencement thereof.  The failure to promptly notify the Corporation of the commencement of the action, suit or proceeding, or Indemnitee’s request for indemnification, will not relieve the Corporation from any liability that it may have to Indemnitee hereunder, except to the extent the Corporation is prejudiced in its defense of such action, suit or proceeding as a result of such failure.

(c) In the event the Corporation shall be obligated to pay the expenses of Indemnitee with respect to an action, suit or proceeding, as provided in this Agreement, the Corporation, if appropriate, shall be entitled to assume the defense of such action, suit or proceeding, with counsel reasonably acceptable to Indemnitee, upon the delivery to Indemnitee of written notice of its election to do so.  After delivery of such notice, approval of such counsel by Indemnitee and the retention of such counsel by the Corporation, the Corporation will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any fees of counsel subsequently incurred by Indemnitee with respect to the same action, suit or proceeding, provided that (1) Indemnitee shall have the right to employ
Indemnitee’s own counsel in such action, suit or proceeding at Indemnitee’s expense and (2) if (i) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been previously authorized in writing by the Corporation, (ii) counsel to the Corporation or Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest or position, or reasonably believes that a conflict is likely to arise, on any significant issue between the Corporation and Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense or (iii) the Corporation shall not, in fact, have employed counsel to assume the defense of such action, suit or proceeding, then the fees and expenses of Indemnitee’s counsel shall be at the expense of the Corporation, except as otherwise expressly provided by this Agreement.  The Corporation shall not be entitled, without the consent of Indemnitee, to assume the defense of any claim brought by or in the right of the Corporation or as to which counsel for the Corporation or
Indemnitee shall have reasonably made the conclusion provided for in clause (ii) above.

 

  

4

  

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s corporate status with respect to the Corporation or any corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which Indemnitee is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation, a witness or otherwise participates in any action, suit or proceeding at a time when Indemnitee is not a party in the action, suit or proceeding, the Corporation shall indemnify Indemnitee against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.

Section 5. Procedure for Indemnification

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

(b) The Corporation’s determination whether to grant Indemnitee’s indemnification request shall be made promptly, and in any event within 60 days following receipt of a request for indemnification pursuant to Section 5(a). The right to indemnification as granted by Section 1 of this Agreement shall be enforceable by Indemnitee in any court of competent jurisdiction if the Corporation denies such request, in whole or in part, or fails to respond within such 60-day period.  It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for the advance of costs, charges and expenses under Section 4 hereof where the required undertaking, if any, has been received by the Corporation) that Indemnitee has not met the standard

of conduct set forth in Section 1 hereof, but the burden of proving such defense by clear and convincing evidence shall be on the Corporation. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors or one of its committees, its independent legal counsel, and its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 1 hereof, nor the fact that there has been an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors or one of its committees, its independent legal counsel, and its stockholders) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has or has not met the applicable standard of conduct.  The Indemnitee’s expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in
connection with successfully establishing Indemnitee’s right to indemnification, in whole or in part, in any such proceeding or otherwise shall also be indemnified by the Corporation.

 

  

5

  

(c) The Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification under this Agreement upon submission of a request for indemnification pursuant to this Section 5, and the Corporation shall have the burden of proof in overcoming that presumption in reaching a determination contrary to that presumption.  Such presumption shall be used as a basis for a determination of entitlement to indemnification unless the Corporation overcomes such presumption by clear and convincing evidence.

Section 6. Insurance and Subrogation.

(a) The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of Indemnitee who is or was or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise against any liability asserted against, and incurred by, Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in any such capacity, or arising out of Indemnitee’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify Indemnitee against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement. If the Corporation has such insurance in effect at the time the
Corporation receives from Indemnitee any notice of the commencement of a proceeding, the Corporation shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the policy.  The Corporation shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policy.

(b) In the event of any payment by the Corporation under this Agreement, the Corporation shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee with respect to any insurance policy, 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 Corporation to bring suit to enforce such rights in accordance with the terms of such insurance policy. The Corporation shall pay or reimburse all expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such subrogation.

(c) The Corporation shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (including, but not limited to, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties, and amounts paid in settlement) if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under this Agreement or any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

 

Section 7. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) The term “action, suit or proceeding” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, the investigation, preparation, prosecution, defense, settlement, arbitration and appeal of, and the giving of testimony in, any threatened, pending or completed claim, action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative.

(b) The term “by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or while serving as a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, any actual or alleged act or omission to act.

 

  

6

  

(c) The term “expenses” shall be broadly and reasonably construed and shall include, without limitation, all direct and indirect costs of any type or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, all attorneys’ fees and related disbursements, appeal bonds, other out-of-pocket costs and reasonable compensation for time spent by Indemnitee for which Indemnitee is not otherwise compensated by the Corporation or any third party, provided that the rate of compensation and estimated time involved is approved by the Board, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with either the investigation, defense or appeal of a proceeding or establishing or enforcing a right to indemnification

under this Agreement, Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or otherwise.

(d) The term “judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, all direct and indirect payments of any type or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, all penalties and amounts required to be forfeited or reimbursed to the Corporation), as well as any penalties or excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan).

(e) The term “Corporation” shall include, without limitation and in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Agreement with respect

to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

(f) The term “other enterprises” shall include, without limitation, employee benefit plans.

(g) The term “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include, without limitation, any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries.

(h) A person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this Agreement.

Section 8. Limitation on Indemnification.  Notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, the Corporation shall not be obligated pursuant to this Agreement:

 

  

7

  

(a) Claims Initiated by Indemnitee. To indemnify or advance expenses to Indemnitee with respect to an action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by Indemnitee, except with respect to an action, suit or proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification (which shall be governed by the provisions of Section 8(b) of this Agreement), unless such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

(b) Action for Indemnification. To indemnify Indemnitee for any expenses incurred by Indemnitee with respect to any action, suit or proceeding instituted by Indemnitee to enforce or interpret this Agreement, unless Indemnitee is successful in establishing Indemnitee’s right to indemnification in such action, suit or proceeding, in whole or in part, or unless and to the extent that the court in such action, suit or proceeding shall determine that, despite Indemnitee’s failure to establish their right to indemnification, Indemnitee is entitled to indemnity for such expenses; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 8(b) is intended to limit the Corporation’s obligation with respect

to the advancement of expenses to Indemnitee in connection with any such action, suit or proceeding instituted by Indemnitee to enforce or interpret this Agreement, as provided in Section 4 hereof.

(c) Section 16 Violations. To indemnify Indemnitee on account of any proceeding with respect to which final judgment is rendered against Indemnitee for payment or an accounting of profits arising from the purchase or 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.

(d) Non-compete and Non-disclosure.  To indemnify Indemnitee in connection with proceedings or claims involving the enforcement of non-compete and/or non-disclosure agreements or the non-compete and/or non-disclosure provisions of employment, consulting or similar agreements the Indemnitee may be a party to with the Corporation, or any subsidiary of the Corporation or any other applicable foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, if any.

Section 9.  Certain Settlement Provisions.  The Corporation shall have no obligation to indemnify Indemnitee under this Agreement for amounts paid in settlement of any action, suit or proceeding without the Corporation’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.  The Corporation shall not settle any action, suit or proceeding in any manner that would impose any fine or other obligation on Indemnitee without Indemnitee’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

Section 10. Savings Clause. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee as to costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including an action by or in the right of the Corporation, to the full extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Agreement that shall not have been invalidated and to the full extent permitted by applicable law.

 

  

8

  

Section 11. Contribution.  In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for herein is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to Indemnitee in whole or in part, it is agreed that, in such event, the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, contribute to the payment of Indemnitee’s costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in an amount that is just and equitable in the circumstances, taking into account, among other

things, contributions by other directors and officers of the Corporation or others pursuant to indemnification agreements or otherwise; provided, that, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such contribution shall not be required where such holding by the court is due to (i) the failure of Indemnitee to meet the standard of conduct set forth in Section 1 hereof, or (ii) any limitation on indemnification set forth in Section 6(c), 8 or 9 hereof.

Section 12. Form and Delivery of Communications.  Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given to the parties under this Agreement shall be in writing and either delivered in person or sent by telecopy, telex, telegram, overnight mail or courier service, or certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other addresses for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

If to the Corporation:

Attn:

Facsimile:

If to Indemnitee:

Section 13. Subsequent Legislation. If the General Corporation Law of Delaware is amended after adoption of this Agreement to expand further the indemnification permitted to directors or officers, then the Corporation shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, as so amended.

Section 14. Nonexclusivity.  The provisions for indemnification and advancement of expenses set forth in this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights which Indemnitee may have under any provision of law, the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or ByLaws, in any court in which a proceeding is brought, the vote of the Corporation’s stockholders or disinterested directors, other agreements or otherwise, and Indemnitee’s rights hereunder shall continue after Indemnitee has ceased acting as an agent of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of Indemnitee.  However, no amendment or alteration of

the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or ByLaws or any other agreement shall adversely affect the rights provided to Indemnitee under this Agreement

 

  

9

  

Section 15. Enforcement.  The Corporation shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable. The Corporation agrees that its execution of this Agreement shall constitute a stipulation by which it shall be irrevocably bound in any court of competent jurisdiction in which a proceeding by Indemnitee for enforcement of his rights hereunder shall have been commenced, continued or appealed, that its obligations set forth in this Agreement are unique and special, and that failure of the Corporation to comply with the provisions of this Agreement will cause irreparable and irremediable injury to
Indemnitee, for which a remedy at law will be inadequate. As a result, in addition to any other right or remedy Indemnitee may have at law or in equity with respect to breach of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to injunctive or mandatory relief directing specific performance by the Corporation of its obligations under this Agreement.

Section 16. Interpretation of Agreement.  It is understood that the parties hereto intend this Agreement to be interpreted and enforced so as to provide indemnification to Indemnitee to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by law.

Section 17. Entire Agreement.  This Agreement and the documents expressly referred to herein constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the matters covered hereby, and any other prior or contemporaneous oral or written understandings or agreements with respect to the matters covered hereby are expressly superceded by this Agreement.

Section 18. 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 provision hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

Section 19. Successor and Assigns.  All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives. The Corporation shall require and cause any direct or indirect successor (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Corporation, by written agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation would be

required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

Section 20. Service of Process and Venue.  For purposes of any claims or proceedings to enforce this agreement, the Corporation consents to the jurisdiction and venue of any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction in the states of Delaware and Missouri, and waives and agrees not to raise any defense that any such court is an inconvenient forum or any similar claim.

Section 21. Supercedes Prior Agreement.  This Agreement supercedes any prior indemnification agreement between Indemnitee and the Corporation or its predecessors.

Section 22. Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed exclusively by and construed according to the laws of the State of Delaware, as applied to contracts between Delaware residents entered into and to be performed entirely within Delaware.  If a court of competent jurisdiction shall make a final determination that the provisions of the law of any state other than Delaware govern indemnification by the Corporation of its officers and directors, then the indemnification provided under this Agreement shall in all instances be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted under such law, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary.

 

  

10

  

Section 23. Employment Rights. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to create in Indemnitee any right to employment or continued employment.

Section 24. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument, notwithstanding that both parties are not signatories to the original or same counterpart.

Section 25.  Headings. The section and subsection headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW]

 

  

11

  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered to be effective as of the date first above written.

	  	
ZST DIGITAL NETWORKS, INC.

	  	  	  
	  	
By

	
/s/ Zhong Bo

	  	
Name:  Zhong Bo

	  	
Title:  Chief Executive Officer

	  	  
	  	
INDEMNITEE:

	  	  
	  	
By

	
/s/ Henry H. Ngan

	  	
Name:  Henry H. Ngan

 

  

12

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00186-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00186-of-00352.parquet"}]]