Document:

Exhibit 10.7

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of            , 2015 by and between Associated Capital Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and                (“Indemnitee”).  This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all previous Agreements between the Company and Indemnitee covering the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve corporations as [directors] [officers] or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities.  Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions.  At the same time, directors, officers, and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself.  The bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”) and the certificate of incorporation of the Company (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company.  Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).  The Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the Board, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification;

 

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

 

WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Bylaws and the Certificate of Incorporation and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and

 

 

WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Bylaws and the Certificate of Incorporation and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve or continue to serve as an officer or director without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve in such capacity.  Indemnitee is willing to serve or continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that [he][she] be so indemnified;

 

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

 

Section 1.                                           Services to the Company.  Indemnitee agrees to serve [as a [director] [officer] [employee] [agent] of the Company] [, at the request of the Company, as a [director] [officer] [employee] [agent] [fiduciary] of [another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise].  Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Company shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position.  This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee.  Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), if any, is at will, and the Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Company, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, and the DGCL.  The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve [as an [officer] [director] [agent] [employee] of the Company] [, at the request of the Company, as a [director] [officer] [employee] [agent] [fiduciary] of [another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise], as provided in Section 16 hereof.

 

Section 2.                                           Definitions.  As used in this Agreement:

 

(a)                                 References to “agent” shall mean any person who is or was a director, officer, or employee, consultant, fiduciary, or other official of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or other person authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such person serving in any such capacity with respect to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.

 

(b)                                 A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

 

i.                                          Acquisition of Stock by Third Party.  Any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities unless the change in relative Beneficial Ownership of the Company’s securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the 

 

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aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;

 

ii.                                       Change in Board of Directors.  During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 2(b)(i), 2(b)(iii) or 2(b)(iv)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;

 

iii.                                    Corporate Transactions.  The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such surviving entity;

 

iv.                                   Liquidation.  The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; and

 

v.                                      Other Events.  There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

 

For purposes of this Section 2(b), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(A)                               “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

(B)                               “Person” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person shall exclude (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

 

(C)                               “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner shall exclude any Person otherwise becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the 

 

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stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity.

 

(c)                                  “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership or joint venture, trust or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

 

(d)                                 “Disinterested Director” shall mean 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.

 

(e)                                  “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, employee, consultant, agent or fiduciary.

 

(f)                                   “Expenses” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts and other professionals, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, fax transmission charges, overtime secretarial services, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with, or as a result of, prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a deponent or witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding.  Expenses also shall include (i) 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, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, (ii) expenses incurred in connection with recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company and (iii) for purposes of Section 14(d) only, Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, by litigation or otherwise.  The parties agree that for the purposes of any advancement of Expenses for which Indemnitee has made written demand to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses included in such demand that are certified by affidavit of Indemnitee’s counsel as being reasonable in the good faith judgment of such counsel shall be presumed conclusively to be reasonable.  Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

 

(g)                                  “Independent Counsel” shall mean 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 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 the 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 

 

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representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.  The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

(h)                                 A “Potential Change in Control Event” will be deemed to have occurred if:

 

i.                                          the Company enters into an agreement or arrangement that would constitute a Change in Control if consummated;

 

ii.                                       any person (including the Company) publicly announces an intention to take or to consider taking actions that would constitute a Change in Control if consummated; or

 

iii.                                    the Board of Directors adopts a resolution to the effect that, for purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control Event has occurred.

 

(i)                                     The term “Proceeding” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, counterclaim, cross claim, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory, legislative, or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by [him][her] (or a failure to take action by [him][her]) or of any action (or failure to act) on [his][her] part while acting pursuant to [his][her] Corporate Status, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement.  If the Indemnitee believes in good faith that a given situation may lead to or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding, this shall be considered a Proceeding under this paragraph.

 

(j)                                    Reference to “other enterprise” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company 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; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner [he][she] reasonably believed to be in the best interests 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 Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

 

Section 3.                                           Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings.  The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate 

 

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Status.  Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on [his][her] behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein.  The parties hereto intend that this Agreement shall provide to the fullest extent permitted by law for indemnification in excess of that expressly permitted by statute, including, without limitation, any indemnification provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, vote of its stockholders or disinterested directors or applicable law.

 

Section 4.                                           Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company.  The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status.  Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by [him][her] or on [his][her] behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein.  No indemnification for Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court (as hereinafter defined) or any court in which the Proceeding 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 indemnification.

 

Section 5.                                           Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by [him][her] or on [his][her] 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, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by [him][her] or on [his][her] behalf in connection with or related to each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter to the 

 

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fullest extent permitted by law.  For purposes of this Section 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.

 

Section 6.                                           Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of [his][her] Corporate Status, a witness or otherwise asked to participate in any aspect of a Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, [he][she] shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by [him][her] or on [his][her] behalf in connection therewith.

 

Section 7.                                           Partial Indemnification.  If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of Expenses, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.

 

Section 8.                                           Additional Indemnification.

 

(a)                                 Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to or a participant in any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status) against all Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding.

 

(b)                                 For purposes of this Agreement, the meaning of the phrase “to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to:

 

i.                                          to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the DGCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL, and

 

ii.                                       to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

 

Section 9.                                           Exclusions.  Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification payment in connection with any claim involving Indemnitee:

 

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

 

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(b)                                 for (i) 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 Exchange Act (as defined in Section 2(b) hereof), or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law, (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act) or (iii) any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any compensation pursuant to any compensation recoupment or clawback policy adopted by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board, including but not limited to any such policy adopted to comply with stock exchange listing requirements implementing Section 10D of the Exchange Act; or

 

(c)                                  except as provided in Section 14(d) of this Agreement, 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 authorizes the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) such payment arises in connection with any mandatory counterclaim or cross-claim or affirmative defense brought or raised by Indemnitee in any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding), (iii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law, or (iv) such Proceeding is brought to establish or enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, or any other statute or law, or otherwise as required under applicable law.

 

Section 10.                                    Advances of Expenses.

 

(a)                                 Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary (other than Section 14(d)), the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by law or excluded from the Company’s indemnification obligations by Section 9, the Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding), and such advancement shall be made within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time (which shall include invoices received by the Indemnitee in connection with such Expenses but, in the case of invoices in connection with legal services, any references to legal work performed or to expenditures made that would cause Indemnitee to waive any privilege accorded by applicable law shall not be so included), whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding.  Advances shall be unsecured and interest free.  Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement.  In accordance with Section 14(d), advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed.  The Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which 

 

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shall constitute an undertaking providing that the Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced (without interest) to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company under this Agreement, applicable law, the Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, or otherwise.  No other form of undertaking shall be required other than the execution of this Agreement.  This Section 10 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 9.

 

(b)                                 If a claim under this Agreement is not paid, or caused to be paid, by the Company within 30 days of receipt of written notice, the right to indemnification as provided by this Agreement will be enforceable by the Indemnitee in any court of competent jurisdiction, and all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such enforcement will be paid promptly by the Company in advance of the final disposition by such court at the written request of the Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law; provided that Indemnitee will reimburse the Company for all such costs and expenses paid by the Company or any of its subsidiaries if and only to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction ultimately determines that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company for such costs and expenses under the provisions of applicable law, the Bylaws, Certificate of Incorporation, this Agreement, or otherwise.

 

(c)                                  The Indemnitee will promptly repay to the Company any amounts paid to the Indemnitee pursuant to other rights of indemnification or under any insurance policy, to the extent those payments are duplicative of payments made to the Indemnitee under this Agreement.

 

Section 11.                                    Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim.

 

(a)                                 Indemnitee shall notify the Company in writing of any matter with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof or Indemnitee’s becoming aware thereof.  The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding, in each case to the extent known to Indemnitee.  To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding.  The failure by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement, except to the extent (solely with respect to the indemnity hereunder) that such failure or delay materially prejudices the Company.  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)                                 The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.

 

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(c)                                  The Company shall not settle any Proceeding (in whole or in part) if such settlement would impose any Expense, judgment, liability, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee which Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder without the Indemnitee’s prior written consent.

 

Section 12.                                    Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification.

 

(a)                                 Upon written request by an Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a):

 

i.                                          if a Change in Control or Potential Change in Control Event shall have occurred, a determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee;

 

ii.                                       if the Indemnitee is an outside director and no Change in Control or Potential Change in Control Event shall have occurred, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification and advancement of Expenses under this Agreement on submission of the written request;

 

iii.                                    if the Indemnitee is not an outside director and no Change in Control or Potential Change in Control Event shall have occurred a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination.

 

In the case of a determination to be made pursuant to Section 12(a)(i) or 12(a)(iii), 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 upon reasonable advance request 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 costs or Expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.  The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied.

 

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(b)                                 In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 12(b).  If no Change in Control or Potential Change in Control Event shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising [him][her] of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  If a Change in Control or Potential Change in Control Event shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, 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 2 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 such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or the Delaware Court has determined that such objection is without merit.  If, within twenty (20) days after the later of submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof and the final disposition of the Proceeding, 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 the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the Delaware Court or by such other person as the Delaware 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 12(a) hereof.  Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

Section 13.                                    Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

 

(a)                                 In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption, and such presumption shall be used as a basis for a determination of entitlement to indemnification and advancement of expenses unless the Company overcomes such presumption by clear and convincing evidence.  Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because 

 

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Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

(b)                                 Subject to Section 14(e), if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the

 

determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 13(b) shall not apply (i) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 12(a)(iii) of this Agreement and if (A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination the Board has resolved to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a)(i) or 12(a)(iii) of this Agreement.

 

(c)                                  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 of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet the applicable standard or conduct or have a particular belief.

 

(d)                                 The Indemnitee shall be presumed to have at all times acted in good faith and in a manner [he][she] reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption, and such presumption shall be used as a basis for a determination of entitlement to indemnification and advancement of expenses unless the Company overcomes such presumption by clear and convincing evidence.  For purposes of any determination of good faith, 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, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors or 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, financial advisor or other expert selected with the reasonable care 

 

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by or on behalf of the Enterprise.  The provisions of this Section 13(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

 

(e)                                  The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

Section 14.                                    Remedies of Indemnitee.

 

(a)                                 Subject to Section 14(e), in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ninety (90) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5, 6 or 7 or the second to last sentence of Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3, 4 or 8 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) the Company or any other person or entity takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of [his][her] entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses.  Alternatively, Indemnitee, at [his][her] option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the JAMS Employment Arbitration Rules.  Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 14(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce [his][her] rights under Section 5 of this Agreement.  The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

 

(b)                                 In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.  In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be by clear and convincing evidence.

 

(c)                                  If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such 

 

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determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(d)                                 The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 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.  It is the intent of the Company that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Indemnitee hereunder.  The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company if, in the case of indemnification, Indemnitee is wholly successful on the underlying claims; if Indemnitee is not wholly successful on the underlying claims, then such indemnification shall be only to the extent Indemnitee is successful on such underlying claims or otherwise as permitted by law, whichever is greater.

 

(e)                                  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement of Indemnitee to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.

 

Section 15.                                    Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.

 

(a)                                 The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement (i) shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise and (ii) shall be interpreted independently of, and without reference to, any other such rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled.  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 [his][her] Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal.  To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation 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 employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

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(b)                                 To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents of the Enterprise, Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in a manner that provides 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, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies.  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 such claim or of the commencement of a Proceeding, as the case may be, to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.  The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

 

(c)                                  In the event any payment is made by the Company under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated (except as provided in Section 15(e)) to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee against third parties, 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 shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable (or for which advancement is provided hereunder) hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

 

(e)                                  The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or other agent of any other corporation, limited liability company, 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, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) from such other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.

 

Section 16.                                    Duration of Agreement.  This Agreement shall continue as to the Indemnitee even though [he][she] may have ceased to serve [as a [director] [officer] [employee] [agent] of the Company] or ,at the request of the Company, as a director, officer, employee, agent, or fiduciary of another corporation, a partnership, a joint venture, a trust or other enterprise.  The indemnification and advancement of expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee 

 

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or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and [his][her] spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives.  The Company shall require and shall cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company to, by written agreement, expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

Section 17.                                    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, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the 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 unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

 

Section 18.                                    Savings.  If this Agreement or any portion of it is invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Company will nevertheless indemnify the Indemnitee as to judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) with respect to any Proceeding to the full extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Agreement that is not invalidated, or by any applicable law.

 

Section 19.                                    Enforcement.

 

(a)                                 The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a [director] [officer] [employee] [agent] of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving or continuing to serve as a [director] [officer] [employee] [agent] 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; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any directors and officers insurance maintained by the Company and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

(c)                                  Each party acknowledges that it has been given an opportunity to be represented by counsel in connection with this Agreement.  Any rule of law or any legal decision 

 

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that would require interpretation of any claimed ambiguities in this Agreement against the party that drafted it, has no application and is expressly waived.

 

Section 20.                                    Modification and Waiver.  No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by 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 of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.  This Agreement shall not be terminated without the Indemnitee’s prior written consent.

 

Section 21.                                    Notice by Indemnitee.  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 Indemnitee reasonably believes to be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder.  The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

Section 22.                                    Notices.  All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (c) mailed by reputable overnight courier and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed or (d) sent by facsimile transmission, with receipt of oral confirmation that such transmission has been received:

 

(a)                                 If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

(b)                                 If to the Company to:

 

[Spinco], Inc.
 Onc Corporate Center

Rye, NY 10543
 Attn:  [General Counsel]

 

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.

 

Section 23.                                    Contribution.  To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding.

 

Section 24.                                    Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction.  This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance 

 

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with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.  Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, 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) appoint, to the extent such party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, irrevocably Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19808, as its agent in the State of Delaware as such party’s agent for acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action or proceeding against such party with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware, (iv) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (v) 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.

 

Section 25.                                    Time of the Essence.  Time is of the essence in the performance of each provision of this Agreement.

 

Section 26.                                    Identical Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.  Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

Section 27.                                    Miscellaneous.  The headings 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.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

	
Associated Capital GROUP, INC.
    	
 
    	
INDEMNITEE
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
Office:
    	
 
    	
Address:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
					

 

18Exhibit 10.8

 

PROMISSORY NOTE

 

	
$250,000,000.00
    	
[·], 2015
    

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, GAMCO Investors, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Maker”), hereby promises to pay to Associated Capital Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Holder”), the Outstanding Principal Amount (as defined herein) of this Promissory Note (this “Note”), in lawful money of the United States of America, in accordance with the terms, and on the dates, set forth herein.  This Note has been executed by the Maker and delivered to and accepted by the Holder on the date set forth above (the “Effective Date”).

 

1.                                      Definitions.  For purposes of this Note, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

(a)                                 “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11 of the United States Code (11 U.S.C. 101 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute, or if the context so requires, any similar federal or state law.

 

(b)                                 “Business Day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday or any day on which banking institutions in The City of New York, New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.

 

(c)                                  “Effective Date” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

(d)                                 “Event of Default” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.

 

(e)                                  “Holder” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

(f)                                   “Interest Payment Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.

 

(g)                                  “Interest Rate” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.

 

(h)                                 “Maker” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

(i)                                     “Material Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that meets either of the following conditions:  (1) the Maker’s and its Subsidiaries’ investments in and advances to such Subsidiary exceed 10% of the Maker’s and its Subsidiaries’ total assets consolidated (determined in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles) as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter; or (2) the Maker’s and its Subsidiaries’ proportionate share of the total assets (after intercompany eliminations) of such Subsidiary exceeds 10% of the Maker’s and its Subsidiaries’ total assets consolidated (determined in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles) as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter.

 

(j)                                    “Note” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

 

(k)                                 “Original Principal Amount” means two hundred and fifty million dollars ($250,000,000.00), which is the original aggregate principal amount of this Note on the Effective Date.

 

(l)                                     “Original Principal Amount Maturity Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.

 

(m)                             “Original Principal Payment Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.

 

(n)                                 “Outstanding Principal Amount” means principal amount of this Note that is outstanding from time to time, which, for the avoidance of doubt shall be the Original Principal Amount, plus any PIK Amounts that at such time has been added thereto, less any payments or prepayments of principal made in cash pursuant to the terms hereof, including, without limitation, Sections 5 and 6 hereof.

 

(o)                                 “Person” means a corporation, an association, a partnership, a limited liability company, an individual, a joint venture, a joint stock company, a trust, an unincorporated organization or a government or an agency or a political subdivision thereof.

 

(p)                                 “PIK Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.

 

(q)                                 “PIK Amount Maturity Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.

 

(r)                                    “Subsidiary” means, with respect to the Maker, any Person (excluding an individual) a majority of the outstanding voting stock, partnership interests, membership interests or other equity interest, as the case may be, of which is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Maker or by one or more other Subsidiaries of the Maker.  For the purposes of this definition, (i) “voting stock” means stock having voting power for the election of directors, trustees or managers, as the case may be, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency and (ii) in the case of a partnership, such partnership shall only be deemed to be a Subsidiary of the Maker if (A) the Maker or a Subsidiary of the Maker is the sole general partner or the managing general partner of such partnership or (B) the only general partners of such partnership are the Maker or one or more Subsidiaries of the Maker (or a combination thereof).

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, all references to “principal” or “principal amount” in this Note shall include principal in the form of any PIK Amount that at such time has been added to the Outstanding Principal Amount of this Note.

 

2.                                      Spin-off Transaction.  This Note is being issued to partially capitalize Holder in connection with the spin-off of the Maker’s alternative investment management business, its institutional research services business and certain cash and other assets to Holder.

 

3.                                      Interest Rate.  Interest shall accrue on the Outstanding Principal Amount of this Note from and including the Effective Date until the date all of the Outstanding Principal Amount is paid in full, in cash, at the rate of four percent (4.0%) per annum (the “Interest Rate”).  Interest on the Outstanding Principal Amount of this Note shall not accrue on such Outstanding Principal Amount, or any portion thereof, for the day on which such Outstanding Principal Amount or such portion is paid.  The Maker shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal, if any, at the rate equal to 2.0% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest rate on the Note to the extent lawful.  The Maker shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.  Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

4.                                      Payment of Interest.  The Maker agrees to make annual interest payments at the Interest Rate in cash to the Holder on the Outstanding Principal Amount in arrears on each anniversary of the Effective Date (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”).  Interest on this Note will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the Effective Date; provided, however, at the election of the Maker, payments of this Note may, in lieu of being paid in cash, be paid, in whole or in part, in kind (each such in kind interest, a “PIK Amount”) on the then-Outstanding Principal Amount (which shall thereby increase the then-Outstanding Principal Amount by adding such PIK Amount due on such Interest Payment Date to the then-Outstanding Principal Amount).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any interest be paid in kind pursuant to 

 

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the preceding sentence with respect to any Interest Payment Date subsequent to [•], 2019.(1)

 

5.                                      Payment of Principal.  Subject to Section 6(d) hereof, the Maker agrees to repay the Original Principal Amount of this Note to the Holder, in cash, in five equal annual installments of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000.00) on each Interest Payment Date (each, an “Original Principal Payment Date”) up to and including [•], 2020 (the “Original Principal Amount Maturity Date”) and shall repay all PIK Amounts added to the Outstanding Principal Amount of this Note to the Holder, in cash, on the fifth anniversary of the date on which each such PIK Amount was added to the Outstanding Principal Amount of this Note (such fifth anniversary date with respect to any PIK Amount, a “PIK Amount Maturity Date”), with all PIK Amounts to be paid by Holder no later than [•], 2024.(2)

 

6.                                      Application of Payments; Prepayment.

 

(a)                                 All cash payments in respect of this Note shall be applied as follows: (i) first, to the payment in full of the accrued and unpaid interest hereunder that is not paid in kind in the form of PIK Amounts pursuant to the proviso in the second sentence of Section 4 hereof, and (ii) second, to the payment of the Outstanding Principal Amount, including the PIK Amounts included therein, in accordance with Section 5.

 

(b)                                 Upon payment in full of the entire Outstanding Principal Amount, including all PIK Amounts included therein, in cash, and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon to such date in cash pursuant to the proviso in the second sentence of Section 4 hereof, this Note shall be deemed cancelled and the Holder shall cause this Note to be marked “Paid in Full” and promptly returned to the Maker.

 

(c)                                  If any payment under this Note (interest, principal or otherwise) would otherwise be due on a day other than Business Day, then such payment shall instead be due on the next succeeding Business Day and no adjustment shall be made to the amount of such payment as a result of such deferral.

 

(d)                                 The Maker may prepay all or any portion of the then- Outstanding Principal Amount, including all PIK Amounts included therein, of this Note at any time without penalty or premium.  Prepayments on such Outstanding Principal Amount of this Note shall be applied to the Original Principal Amount and any or all PIK Amounts included in the Outstanding Principal Amount as directed by the Maker.  In the case of a partial prepayment of the Original Principal Amount of this Note, the remaining Original Principal Amount shall be paid ratably over the remaining Original Principal Payment Dates until the Original Principal Amount Maturity Date.

 

(1)  This date would be the fourth Interest Payment Date.

 

(2)  This date is five years from the last interest date on which interest may be paid in kind.

 

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7.                                      Events of Default.

 

(a)                                 Each of the following events shall constitute an event of default (an “Event of Default”):

 

(i)                                     Failure of the Maker to pay any interest when due in accordance with the terms of this Note and such failure is not cured within 30 days;

 

(ii)                                  Failure of the Maker to pay any principal amounts when due in accordance with the terms of this Note, including the Original Principal Amounts payable on each Original Principal Payment Date and on the Original Principal Amount Maturity Date and any PIK Amounts payable on each PIK Amount Maturity Date;

 

(iii)                               The Maker or any of its Material Subsidiaries (as defined below) pursuant to or under or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law (as defined below):

 

(1)                                 commences a voluntary case or proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to the Maker or any of its Material Subsidiaries or their debts or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of the Maker or any of its Material Subsidiaries or any substantial part of the property of the Maker or any of its Material Subsidiaries; or

 

(2)                                 consents to any such relief or to the appointment of or taking possession by any such official in an involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against the Maker or any of its Material Subsidiaries; or

 

(3)                                 consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property; or

 

(4)                                 makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or

 

(iv)                              an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced against the Maker or any of its Material Subsidiaries seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to the Maker or any of its Material Subsidiaries or their debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of the Maker or any of its Material Subsidiaries or any substantial part of the property of the Maker or any of its Material Subsidiaries, and such involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of thirty (30) calendar days; or

 

(v)                                 a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

 

(1)                                 is for relief against the Maker or any of its Material Subsidiaries in an involuntary case or proceeding; or

 

5

 

(2)                                 appoints a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of the Maker or any of its Material Subsidiaries or any substantial part of the property of the Maker or any of its Material Subsidiaries; or

 

(3)                                 orders the liquidation of the Maker or any of its Material Subsidiaries;

 

and, in each case in this clause (v), the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for thirty (30) calendar days,

 

(b)                                 Acceleration.  Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default set forth in Sections 7(a)(i) or 7(a)(ii) hereof, the Holder may, by written notice to the Maker, declare this Note to be due and payable, whereupon the Outstanding Principal Amount, including all PIK Amounts included therein, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon and any and all other amounts payable hereunder, shall become immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, anything contained herein or in the documents evidencing the same to the contrary notwithstanding.  If an Event of Default specified in Sections 7(a)(iii), 7(a)(iv) or 7(a)(v) occurs, the Outstanding Principal Amount, including all PIK Amounts included therein, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon and any and all other amounts payable hereunder, shall become immediately automatically due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, anything contained herein or in the documents evidencing the same to the contrary notwithstanding.

 

8.                                      Miscellaneous.

 

(a)                                 Successors and Assigns.  The terms and conditions of this Note shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective executors, administrators, heirs, successors and permitted assigns of the Maker and the Holder.  The Holder may not assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the written consent of the Maker.  The Maker may assign its rights and obligations hereunder to any affiliate of Maker, so long as the Maker continues to remain obligated for its responsibilities, liabilities and obligations hereunder.

 

(b)                                 Loss or Mutilation of Note.  Upon receipt by the Maker of evidence satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Note (together with indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Maker), the Maker shall, in the case of loss, theft, destruction or mutilation, or the surrender and cancellation of this Note, execute and deliver to the Holder a new promissory note of like tenor and denomination as this Note to replace this Note.

 

(c)                                  Place of Payment.  All payments due hereunder shall be made by checks or by wire transfer of United States Dollars and in immediately available funds to one or more accounts designated by the Holder to the Maker in writing.

 

(d)                                 GOVERNING LAW.  THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES OF SUCH STATE.

 

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(e)                                  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH OF THE MAKER AND THE HOLDER, BY ACCEPTING THIS NOTE, AGREES THAT IT HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT TO JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION, OR CAUSE OF ACTION (I) ARISING UNDER THIS NOTE OR (II) IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS IN RESPECT OF THIS NOTE, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY, OR OTHERWISE.  EACH OF THE MAKER AND THE HOLDER, BY ACCEPTING THIS NOTE, HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION, OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT EACH OF THE HOLDER AND THE MAKER MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF A COPY OF THIS NOTE WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE HOLDER OR THE MAKER TO THE WAIVER OF SUCH PERSON’S RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

 

(f)                                   Waiver and Amendment.  Any term of this Note may be amended, waived or modified only with the written consent of the Maker and the Holder.  The Maker hereby waives presentment for payment, demand, notice of demand, notice of non-payment or dishonor, protest and notice of protest of this Note and agrees that the Holder shall not be required first to institute any suit, or to exhaust its remedies against the Maker in order to enforce the payment of this Note.  No failure or delay on the part of the Holder in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder or under this Note shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder or thereunder preclude or require any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.

 

(g)                                  Headings; Interpretation.  Section and subsection headings in this Note are included for convenience purposes only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of any term or provision of this Note.

 

(h)                                 Unsecured.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Maker and the Holder acknowledge that this Note and all obligations, liabilities and indebtedness evidenced hereby and/or incurred by the Maker hereunder are not secured by any collateral and represent general unsecured obligations of the Maker.

 

(i)                                     Tax Matters.  The Maker shall be entitled to withhold from any payment to Holder under this Note (and any such withheld amounts shall be deemed paid to such Holder for the purposes of this Note) if such withholding is otherwise required by applicable law.

 

*                                         *                                         *                                         *                                         *

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Maker has caused this Note to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

 

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Maker:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
GAMCO INVESTORS, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Its:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ACCEPTED   AND AGREED:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
HoLder:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Associated Capital group, inc.
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Kieran   Caterina
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Chief   Financial Officer
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

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