Document:

exv10w23

Exhibit 10.23

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of [_______ __], 20[__] is by
and between The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc., a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business
at 100 East Ridge Road, Ridgefield, Connecticut (together with its subsidiaries, the
“Company”), and John Pappas, a resident of Upper Brookville, New York (the
“Executive”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive are parties to an Employment Letter, as amended by that
certain First Amendment to Employment Letter, dated as of December 12, 2008, (as amended, the
“Employment Letter”); and

     WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive now desire to enter into this Agreement, which
supersedes and replaces the Letter Agreement and sets forth the terms and conditions of the
Executive’s continuing employment with the Company.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals, the mutual promises and covenants
set forth below and other good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged,
the Company and the Executive do hereby agree as follows:

     1. Employment. The Company hereby continues to employ the Executive and the Executive
hereby accepts continued employment with the Company, upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth herein. The Executive shall continue to serve as Vice Chairman of the Company and such
other office or offices to which Executive may be appointed or elected by the Board of Directors of
the Company (the “Board of Directors”). Subject to the direction and supervision of the
Board of Directors, the Executive shall perform such duties as are customarily associated with the
office of Vice Chairman and such other offices to which Executive may be appointed or elected by
the Board of Directors and such additional duties as the Board of Directors may determine. The
Executive will report directly to the Board of Directors. During the term of employment, the
Executive will devote the Executive’s best efforts and full time and attention during normal
business hours to the business and affairs of the Company. The Executive agrees to serve, without
any additional compensation, as a director of the Company and as a member of the board of directors
and/or as an officer of any subsidiary or affiliated entity of the Company. If the Executive’s
employment terminates for any reason, whether such termination is voluntary or involuntary, the
Executive will resign as a director of the Company (and as a director and/or officer of any of the
Company’s subsidiaries or affiliated entities), such resignation to be effective no later than the
date of termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company.

     2. Term. Subject to the provisions of termination as hereinafter provided, the initial
term of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall begin on the date hereof and shall
terminate on the third anniversary of the date hereof (the “Initial Term”). Unless the
Company notifies the Executive that his employment under this Agreement will not be extended or the
Executive notifies the Company that he is not willing to extend his employment, the term of his
employment under this Agreement shall automatically be extended for additional one (1) year periods
on the same terms and conditions as set forth herein (individually and collectively,

 

 

the “Renewal Term”). The Initial Term and the Renewal Term are sometimes referred to
collectively herein as the “Term.”

     3. Notice of Non-Renewal. If the Company or the Executive elects not to extend the
Executive’s employment under this Agreement, the electing party shall do so by notifying the other
party in writing not less than sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or any
Renewal Term.

     4. Compensation.

     4.1 Base Salary. Until termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company
pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall pay the Executive a base salary (“Base
Salary”) of four hundred fifty thousand dollars ($450,000.00) per annum, which shall be
payable to the Executive in regular installments in accordance with the Company’s general payroll
policies and practices. The Executive’s compensation will be reviewed periodically by the Board of
Directors of the Company, or a committee or subcommittee thereof to which compensation matters have
been delegated, and after taking into consideration both the performance of the Company and the
personal performance of the Executive, the Board of Directors of the Company, or any such committee
or subcommittee, in their sole discretion, may increase the Executive’s compensation to any amount
it may deem appropriate.

     4.2 Bonus. In the event either the Company or the Executive, or both, respectively
achieve certain financial performance and personal performance targets of the Company (as
established by the Board of Directors, or a committee or subcommittee thereof to which compensation
matters have been delegated) pursuant to a cash compensation incentive plan or similar plan or
arrangement established by the Company, the Company shall pay to the Executive an annual cash bonus
during the Term of this Agreement pursuant to the terms of such plan or arrangement. This bonus, if
any, shall be paid to the Executive by March 15 of the year following the year in which the
services which gave rise to the bonus were performed. The Board of Directors of the Company (or
applicable committee or subcommittee) may review and revise the terms of the cash compensation
incentive plan or similar plan referenced above at any time, after taking into consideration both
the performance of the Company and the personal performance of the Executive, among other factors,
and may, in their sole discretion, amend the cash compensation incentive or similar plan or
arrangement in any manner it may deem appropriate; provided, however, that any such amendment to
the plan or arrangement shall not affect the Executive’s right to participate in such amended plan
or plans.

     4.3 Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of paid vacation
annually. In addition, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all compensation or
employee benefit plans or programs and receive all benefits and perquisites for which any salaried
employees are eligible under any existing or future plan or program established by the Company for
salaried employees. The Executive will participate to the extent permissible under the terms and
provisions of such plans or programs in accordance with program provisions. These may include group
hospitalization, health, dental care, life or other insurance, tax qualified pension, savings,
thrift and profit sharing plans, termination pay programs, sick leave plans, travel or accident
insurance, disability insurance, and equity-based incentive plans. Nothing in this Agreement shall
preclude the Company from amending or terminating any of the plans or

2

 

programs applicable to salaried or senior executives as long as such amendment or termination
is applicable to all salaried employees or senior executives. In addition, the Executive shall be
reimbursed by the Company up to two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) per month for a leased motor
vehicle for the Executive’s use in connection with the Executive’s duties as an executive officer
of the Company.

     4.4 Expenses Incurred in Performance of Duties. The Company shall pay or promptly
reimburse the Executive for all reasonable travel and other business expenses incurred by the
Executive in the performance of the Executive’s duties under this Agreement in accordance with the
Company’s policies in effect from time to time with respect to business expenses. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Section 4.4, the Executive shall be reimbursed for such
expenses no later than December 31 of the year following the year in which such expenses were
incurred.

     4.5 Withholdings. All compensation payable hereunder shall be subject to withholding
for federal income taxes, FICA and all other applicable federal, state and local withholding
requirements.

     4.6 Recoupment. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, any amounts paid
or payable to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise by the Company, including any
equity compensation granted to the Executive, may be subject to forfeiture or repayment to the
Company pursuant to any clawback policy as adopted by the Board of Directors from time to time and
applicable to senior executives of the Company, and Executive hereby agrees to be bound by any such
policy.

     5. Termination of Agreement.

     5.1 General. During the term of this Agreement, the Company may, at any time and in
its sole discretion, terminate this Agreement with or without Cause, effective as of the date of
provision of written notice to the Executive thereof.

     5.2 Effect of Termination with Cause. If the Executive’s employment with the Company
shall be terminated with Cause during the Term of this Agreement: (i) the Company shall pay to the
Executive the Base Salary earned through the date of termination of the Executive’s employment with
the Company (the “Termination Date”); and (ii) the Company shall not have any further
obligations to the Executive under this Agreement except those required to be provided by law or
under the terms of any other agreement between the Company and the Executive. For purposes of this
Agreement, “Cause” shall mean: (i) the engaging by the Executive in willful misconduct that
is injurious to the Company or its affiliates, or (ii) the embezzlement or misappropriation of
funds or property of the Company or its affiliates by the Executive; provided that, no act, or
failure to act, on the Executive’s part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be
done, by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the Executive’s action
or omission was in the best interest of the Company.

     5.3 Effect of Termination without Cause. If the Executive’s employment with the
Company shall be terminated by the Company without Cause during the Term of this Agreement: (i) the
Company shall pay to the Executive the Base Salary earned through the

3

 

Termination Date; and (ii) the Company shall pay to the Executive an amount equal to the
Executive’s Base Salary, as in effect on the Termination Date, payable for a period of one (1) year
from the Termination Date and on the same terms and with the same frequency as the Executive’s Base
Salary was paid prior to such termination. In addition to such Base Salary continuation, if the
Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without Cause, then Executive
shall be entitled to receive any bonus payment described in Section 4.2 previously earned
by the Executive (but not paid), payable as provided in Section 4.2. For the avoidance of
doubt, no bonus payment shall be “earned” within the meaning of the previous sentence unless the
performance period applicable to such bonus has fully elapsed.

     5.4 Resignation by the Executive. The Executive shall be entitled to resign the
Executive’s employment with the Company at any time during the Term of this Agreement. If the
Executive resigns during the Term of this Agreement: (i) the Company shall pay to the Executive the
Base Salary earned through the Termination Date; and (ii) the Company shall not have any further
obligations to the Executive under this Agreement except those required to be provided by law or
under the terms of any other agreement between the Company and the Executive.

     5.5 Section 409A. It is intended that (1) each installment of the payments provided
under this Agreement is a separate “payment” for purposes of Section 409A of the United States
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”) and (2) that the payments satisfy, to the
greatest extent possible, the exemptions from the application of Section 409A of the Code provided
under Treasury Regulations 1.409A-1(b)(4), 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), and 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if the Company determines (i) that on
the date Executive’s employment with the Company terminates or at such other time that the Company
determines to be relevant, the Executive is a “specified employee” (as such term is defined under
Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(i)(1)) of the Company and (ii) that any payments to be provided to the
Executive pursuant to this Agreement are or may become subject to the additional tax under Section
409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code or any other taxes or penalties imposed under Section 409A of the Code
(“Section 409A Taxes”) if provided at the time otherwise required under this Agreement then
(A) such payments shall be delayed until the date that is six months after the date of Executive’s
“separation from service” (as such term is defined under Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(h)) with the
Company, or such shorter period that, as determined by the Company, is sufficient to avoid the
imposition of Section 409A Taxes (the “Payment Delay Period”) and (B) such payments shall
be increased by an amount equal to interest on such payments for the Payment Delay Period at a rate
equal to the prime rate in effect as of the date the payment was first due (for this purpose, the
prime rate will be based on the rate published from time to time in The Wall Street Journal). Any
payments delayed pursuant to this Section 5.5 shall be made in a lump sum on the first day
of the seventh month following the Executive’s “separation from service” (as such term is defined
under Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(h)), or such earlier date that, as determined by the Committee,
is sufficient to avoid the imposition of any Section 409A Taxes.

4

 

     6. Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation, Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure.

     6.1 Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation. The Executive hereby covenants and agrees
that during the Term of the Executive’s employment hereunder and for a period of one (1) year
thereafter, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly: (i) own any interest in, operate, join,
control or participate as a partner, director, principal, officer or agent of, enter into the
employment of, act as a consultant to, or perform any services for any entity (each a
“Competing Entity”) which has material operations which compete with any business in which
the Company or any of its subsidiaries is then engaged or, to the then existing knowledge of the
Executive, proposes to engage; (ii) solicit any customer or client of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries (other than on behalf of the Company) with respect to any business in which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is then engaged or, to the then existing knowledge of the
Executive, proposes to engage; or (iii) induce or encourage any employee of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries or affiliated entities to leave the employ of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or affiliated entities; provided, that the Executive may, solely as an investment,
hold equity securities of the Company and not more than five percent (5%) of the combined voting
securities of any publicly-traded corporation or other business entity. The foregoing covenants and
agreements of the Executive are referred to herein as the “Restrictive Covenant.” The
Executive acknowledges that he has carefully read and considered the provisions of the Restrictive
Covenant and, having done so, agrees that the restrictions set forth in this Section 6.1,
including without limitation the time period of restriction set forth above, are fair and
reasonable and are reasonably required for the protection of the legitimate business and economic
interests of the Company. The Executive further acknowledges that the Company would not have
entered into this Agreement absent Executive’s agreement to the foregoing.

          In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any of the provisions of this Section
6.1 or any parts hereof shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions
or parts hereof shall nevertheless continue to be valid and enforceable as though the invalid or
unenforceable portions or parts had not been included herein. In the event that any provision of
this Section 6.1 relating to the time period and/or the area of restriction and/or related
aspects shall be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to exceed the maximum
restrictiveness such court deems reasonable and enforceable, the time period and/or area of
restriction and/or related aspects deemed reasonable and enforceable by such court shall become and
thereafter be the maximum restrictions in such regard, and the provisions of the Restrictive
Covenant shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent deemed reasonable by such court.

     6.2 Confidential Information.

          (a) Obligation to Maintain Confidentiality. The Executive acknowledges that the
continued success of the Company depends upon the use and protection of a large body of
confidential and proprietary information, including confidential and proprietary information now
existing or to be developed in the future. “Confidential Information” will be defined as
all information of any sort (whether merely remembered or embodied in a tangible or intangible
form) that is (i) related to the Company’s prior, current or potential business and (ii) not
generally or publicly known. Therefore, the Executive agrees not to disclose or use for the
Executive’s own account any of such Confidential Information, except as reasonably necessary for
the performance of the Executive’s duties as an employee or director of the Company,

5

 

without prior
written consent of the Board of Directors, unless and to the extent that any Confidential
Information (i) becomes generally known to and available for use by the public
other than as a result of the Executive’s improper acts or omissions to act or (ii) is
required to be disclosed pursuant to any applicable law, regulatory action or court order;
provided, however, that the Executive must give the Company prompt written notice of any such legal
requirement, disclose no more information than is so required, and cooperate fully with all efforts
by the Company (at the Company’s sole expense) to obtain a protective order or similar
confidentiality treatment for such information. Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment
with the Company, the Executive agrees to deliver to the Company, upon request, all memoranda,
notes, plans, records, reports and other documents (including copies thereof and electronic media)
relating to the business of the Company (including, without limitation, all Confidential
Information) that the Executive may then possess or have under the Executive’s control, other than
such documents as are generally or publicly known (provided, that such documents are not known as a
result of the Executive’s breach or actions in violation of this Agreement); and at any time
thereafter, if any such materials are brought to the Executive’s attention or the Executive
discovers them in the Executive’s possession, the Executive shall deliver such materials to the
Company immediately upon such notice or discovery.

          (b) Ownership of Intellectual Property. If the Executive creates, invents, designs,
develops, contributes to or improves any works of authorship, inventions, materials, documents or
other work product or other intellectual property, either alone or in conjunction with third
parties, at any time during the time that the Executive is employed by the Company
(“Works”), to the extent that such Works were created, invented, designed, developed,
contributed to, or improved with the use of any Company resources and/or within the scope of such
employment (collectively, the “Company Works”), the Executive shall promptly and fully
disclose such Company Works to the Company. Any copyrightable work falling within the definition of
Company Works shall be deemed a “work made for hire” as such term is defined in 17 U.S.C. § 101.
The Executive hereby (i) irrevocably assigns, transfers and conveys, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, all right, title and interest in and to the Company Works on a worldwide basis
(including, without limitation, rights under patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret, unfair
competition and related laws) to the Company or such other entity as the Company shall designate,
to the extent ownership of any such rights does not automatically vest in the Company under
applicable law, and (ii) waives any moral rights therein to the fullest extent permitted under
applicable law. The Executive agrees not to use any Company Works for the Executive’s personal
benefit, the benefit of a competitor, or for the benefit of any person or entity other than the
Company. The Executive agrees to execute any further documents and take any further reasonable
actions requested by the Company to assist it in validating, effectuating, maintaining, protecting,
enforcing, perfecting, recording, patenting or registering any of its rights hereunder, all at the
Company’s sole expense.

          (c) Third Party Information. The Executive understands that the Company will receive
from third parties confidential or proprietary information (“Third Party Information”)
subject to a duty on the Company’s part to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to
use it only for certain limited purposes. During the time that the Executive is employed by the
Company or serves on the Company’s Board of Directors and at all times thereafter, the Executive
will hold information which the Executive knows, or reasonably should know, to be Third Party
Information in the strictest confidence and will not disclose to anyone

6

 

(other than personnel of
the Company who need to know such information in connection with their work for the Company) or
use, except in connection with the Executive’s work for the
Company, Third Party Information unless expressly authorized in writing by the Board of
Directors or the information (i) becomes generally known to and available for use by the public
other than as a result of the Executive’s improper acts or omissions or (ii) is required to be
disclosed pursuant to any applicable law, regulatory action or court order.

          (d) Use of Information of Prior Employers. During the Term, the Executive shall not
use or disclose any Confidential Information including trade secrets, if any, of any former
employers or any other person to whom the Executive has an obligation of confidentiality, and shall
not bring onto the premises of the Company any unpublished documents or any property belonging to
any former employer or any other person to whom the Executive has an obligation of confidentiality
unless consented to in writing by the former employer or person. The Executive shall use in the
performance of the Executive’s duties only information that is (i) generally known and used by
persons with training and experience comparable to the Executive’s and that is (x) common knowledge
in the industry or (y) is otherwise legally in the public domain, (ii) otherwise provided or
developed by the Company or (iii) in the case of materials, property or information belonging to
any former employer or other person to whom the Executive has an obligation of confidentiality,
approved for such use in writing by such former employer or person.

          (e) Disparaging Statements. During the time that the Executive is employed by the
Company or serves on the Company’s Board of Directors and at all times thereafter, the Executive
shall not disparage the Company or any of its officers, directors, employees, agents or
representatives, or any of such entities’ products or services; provided, that the foregoing shall
not prohibit the Executive from making any general competitive statements or communications about
the Company or their businesses in the ordinary course of competition. The Company agrees that (i)
it shall not issue any public statements disparaging the Executive and (ii) it shall take
reasonable steps to ensure that the senior executive officers of the Company shall not disparage
the Executive. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 6.2(e) shall prevent
the Executive or the Company from enforcing any rights under this Agreement or any other agreement
to which the Executive and the Company are party, or otherwise limit such enforcement.

     6.3 Enforcement. The parties hereto agree that money damages would not be an adequate
remedy for any breach of Section 6.1 or 6.2 by the Executive or any breach of
Section 6.2(e) by the Company, and any breach of the terms of Section 6.1 or
6.2 by the Executive or Section 6.2(e) by the Company would result in irreparable
injury and damage to the other party for which such party would have no adequate remedy at law.
Therefore, in the event of a breach or threatened breach of Section 6.1 or 6.2 by
the Executive or of Section 6.2(e) by the Company, the Company or its successors or assigns
or the Executive, as applicable, in addition to other rights and remedies existing in their or the
Executive’s favor, shall be entitled to specific performance and/or immediate injunctive or other
equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction in order to enforce, or prevent any
violations of, the provisions of Section 6.1 or 6.2 (in the case of a breach by the
Executive) or Section 6.2(e) (in the case of a breach by the Company) (without posting a
bond or other security), without having to prove damages, and to the payment by the breaching party
of all of the other party’s costs and expenses, including

7

 

reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, in
addition to any other remedies to which the other party may be entitled at law or in equity. The
terms of this Section shall not prevent either party from
pursuing any other available remedies for any breach or threatened breach hereof, including
but not limited to the recovery of damages from the other party.

     7. Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify the Executive to the fullest extent
that would be permitted by law (including a payment of expenses in advance of final disposition of
a proceeding) as in effect at the time of the subject act or omission, or by the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company as in effect at such time, or by the terms of any indemnification
agreement between the Company and the Executive, whichever affords greatest protection to the
Executive, and the Executive shall be entitled to the protection of any insurance policies the
Company may elect to maintain generally for the benefit of its officers or, during the Executive’s
service in such capacity, directors (and to the extent the Company maintains such an insurance
policy or policies, in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage
available for any company officer or director), against all costs, charges and expenses whatsoever
incurred or sustained by the Executive (including but not limited to any judgment entered by a
court of law) at the time such costs, charges and expenses are incurred or sustained, in connection
with any action, suit or proceeding to which the Executive may be made a party by reason of his
being or having been an officer or employee of the Company, or serving as an officer or employee of
an affiliate of the Company, at the request of the Company, other than any action, suit or
proceeding brought against the Executive by or on account of his breach of the provisions of any
employment agreement with a third party that has not been disclosed by the Executive to the
Company. The provisions of this Section 7 shall specifically survive the expiration or
earlier termination of this Agreement.

     8. Notices. Any notice required or desired to be given under this Agreement shall be
in writing and shall be delivered personally, transmitted by facsimile or mailed by registered
mail, return receipt requested, or delivered by overnight courier service and shall be deemed to
have been given on the date of its delivery, if delivered, and on the third (3rd) full business day
following the date of the mailing, if mailed, to each of the parties thereto at the following
respective addresses or such other address as may be specified in any notice delivered or mailed as
above provided:

	 	(i)	 	If to the Executive, to:
	 
	 	 	 	[                                        ]

[                                        ]

[                                        ]
	 
	 	(ii)	 	If to the Company, to:
	 
	 	 	 	The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc.

100 East Ridge Road

Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877

Attention: [                    ]

Facsimile: [                    ]

8

 

     9. Waiver of Breach. The waiver by either party of any provision of this Agreement
shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach by the other party. No
waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be implied from any course of dealing between
the parties hereto or from any failure by either party hereto to assert any rights hereunder on any
occasion or series of occasions.

     10. Assignment. The rights and obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of the Company. The
Executive acknowledges that the services to be rendered by him are unique and personal, and the
Executive may not assign any of his rights or delegate any of his duties or obligations under this
Agreement.

     11. Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the
parties relating to the subject matter herein and supersedes in full and in all respects any prior
oral or written agreement, arrangement or understanding between the parties with respect to
Executive’s employment with the Company, including without limitation the Letter Agreement. For the
avoidance of doubt, the covenants contained herein are separate and apart from any covenants not to
compete or solicit set forth in any non-competition and non-solicitation agreement between the
Executive and the Company. This Agreement may not be amended or changed orally but only by an
agreement in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of any waiver, change,
modification, extension or discharge is sought.

     12. Controlling Law. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity,
enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of
law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would
cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

     13. Jurisdiction and Venue. This Agreement will be deemed performable by all parties
in, and venue will exclusively be in the state or federal courts located in the State of
Connecticut. The Executive and the Company hereby consent to the personal jurisdiction of these
courts and waive any objections that such venue is objectionable or improper.

     14. Waiver of Jury Trial. AS A SPECIFICALLY BARGAINED FOR INDUCEMENT FOR EACH OF THE
PARTIES HERETO TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT (AFTER HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL),
EACH PARTY HERETO EXPRESSLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LAWSUIT OR PROCEEDING RELATING
TO OR ARISING IN ANY WAY FROM THIS AGREEMENT OR THE MATTERS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. The losing party
in any lawsuit or proceeding relating to or arising in any way from this Agreement or the matters
contemplated hereby shall pay the reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of the prevailing party in
such lawsuit or proceeding.

     15. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the application of any such
provision to any party or circumstances will be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction
to be invalid and unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement or the application
of such provision to such person or circumstances other than those to which it is so

9

 

determined to
be invalid and unenforceable, will not be affected thereby, and each provision hereof will be
validated and will be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law.

     16. Headings. The sections, subjects and headings in this Agreement are inserted for
convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

[signature page to follow]

10

 

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

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

	 	 	EXECUTIVE:	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	JOHN PAPPAS	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	COMPANY:	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Name:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Title:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

11exv10w24

Exhibit 10.24

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

     THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of                     , 2011 by
and between The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), and
                                         (“Indemnitee”).

RECITALS

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

     WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to directors’ and officers’ insurance and to
indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;

     WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining
such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders and that
the Corporation should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such
protection in the future and attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense,
liability insurance to protect persons serving the Corporation from certain liabilities;

     WHEREAS, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as the same may be amended
and/or restated from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) authorizes, and the
Bylaws of the Corporation (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time, the
“Bylaws”) require, indemnification of the directors and officers of the Corporation, and
Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware (the “DGCL”);

     WHEREAS, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws 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 Corporation and its directors and officers with respect
to indemnification;

     WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Corporation contractually to obligate
itself to indemnify, and to advance Expenses on behalf of, such persons so that they will serve or
continue to serve the Corporation free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;

     WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of
Incorporation and the Bylaws 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 Corporation’s
Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and
may not be willing to serve as a director or officer without adequate protection, and the

 

 

Corporation desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacit(y)(ies).

     WHEREAS, Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve or to take on additional service
for or on behalf of the Corporation on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified; and

     WHEREAS, Indemnitee is or was serving, or may be requested to serve, at the request of the
Corporation as a director or officer, employee, manager, partner, trustee or fiduciary or agent of
any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other
enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans (each, an
“Other Enterprise”) and, as such, may have certain rights to indemnification and/or
insurance provided by such Other Enterprise(s) which Indemnitee and the Corporation intend to be
primary to the obligation of the Corporation to indemnify Indemnitee as provided herein.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and agreements set forth below, and for
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. Definitions. As used in this Agreement:

          (a) “Affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

          (b) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

          (c) “Bylaws” means the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation, as the same
may be further amended and/or restated from time-to-time.

          (d) “Change in Control” means the happening of one of the following:

               (i) any person or entity, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange
Act, other than the Corporation or a wholly-owned subsidiary thereof or any employee benefit plan
of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, becomes the beneficial owner of the Corporation’s
securities having 35% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of
the Corporation that may be cast for the election of directors of the Corporation (other than as a
result of an issuance of securities initiated by the Corporation in the ordinary course of
business); or

               (ii) as the result of, or in connection with, any cash tender or exchange offer, merger or
other business combination, sale of assets or contested election, or any combination of the
foregoing transactions, less than a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding
securities of the Corporation or any successor corporation or entity entitled to vote generally in
the election of the directors of the Corporation or such other corporation or entity after such
transaction are held in the aggregate by the holders of the Corporation’s securities entitled to
vote generally in the election of directors of the Corporation immediately prior to such
transaction; or

               (iii) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of any such
period constitute the Board cease for any reason to constitute at least a

-2-

 

majority thereof, unless the election, or the nomination for election by the Corporation’s
stockholders, of each director of the Corporation first elected during such period was approved by
a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors of the Corporation then still in office who were
directors of the Corporation at the beginning of any such period.

          (e) “Constituent Documents” means the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws.

          (f) “Corporate Status” describes (i) the status of a person who (A) is or was a
director, officer or member of a committee of the Board of the Corporation or, (B) if at the time
when such person was a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of
the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, manager, partner, trustee or fiduciary or agent
of any Other Enterprise, and (ii) any action by or omission of such person in connection with such
status. As a clarification and without limiting the circumstances in which Indemnitee may be
serving at the request of the Corporation, service by Indemnitee shall be deemed to be at the
request of the Corporation if Indemnitee serves or served (a) as a director, trustee, officer,
partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise of which (i) a majority of the
voting power or equity interest is owned directly or indirectly by the Corporation or (ii) the
management is otherwise controlled directly or indirectly by the Corporation or (b) as a fiduciary
of any employee benefit plan of the Corporation or any enterprise referred to in clause (a).

          (g) “Delaware Court” means the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware.

          (h) “Disinterested Directors” means those members of the Board who are not at that
time parties to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

          (i) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to
time.

          (j) “Expenses” means all reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs, disbursements or expenses
of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to
prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, settlement of or
otherwise participating in, any Proceeding (including by furnishing, or preparing to furnish,
documents in response to a subpoena or otherwise in connection with any Proceeding), as well as
any expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including the
premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other
appeal bond or its equivalent. Expenses shall also include (i) 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, including all interest, assessments, and other charges paid or payable with
respect to such payments, (ii) subject to Section 4(a), any reasonable expenses incurred
in connection with seeking recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance
policies maintained by the Corporation, regardless of whether Indemnitee is ultimately determined
to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or Expenses or insurance recovery, as the case
may be, and (iii) for purposes of Section 8(d) only,

-3-

 

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 term “Expenses,” however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee (other
than fees and expenses of plaintiff’s counsel) or the amount of judgments, fines or penalties
against Indemnitee.

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

          (l) “Proceeding” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit,
arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative
hearing or other proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Corporation 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, or is
threatened to be involved as a party or otherwise by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status,
whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which
indemnification, reimbursement or advancement can be provided under this Agreement, including any
such matter pending or threatened on or before the date of this Agreement, but excluding any such
matter initiated by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement to enforce
[his/her] rights hereunder.

     Section 2. Indemnity. The Corporation agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
Indemnitee, in connection with Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, as such may be amended from time to time. In furtherance of the foregoing
indemnification, and without limiting the generality thereof:

          (a) For Third-Party Proceedings. The Corporation shall indemnify Indemnitee in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 2(a) if Indemnitee, by reason of
Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, was, 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 Corporation. Indemnitee
shall be indemnified against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
(including all interest thereon) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s
behalf in connection with such Proceeding (or part thereof), 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 or its Affiliates and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause
to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. 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.

-4-

 

          (b) For Proceedings by or in the Right of the Corporation. The Corporation shall
indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2(b) if Indemnitee,
by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a
participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation. Indemnitee shall be
indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s
behalf in connection with such Proceeding (or part thereof), 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 or its Affiliates; provided, however, that no indemnification for
Expenses shall be made under this Section 2(b) 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 Corporation,
unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court 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.

          (c) For Expenses Where Indemnitee 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, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, was, is or is threatened
to be made a party to (or participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in
defense of any Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the
Corporation shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses (including fees and expenses of
plaintiff’s counsel) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in
connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. The Corporation shall not,
however, be obligated under this Section 2(c) to indemnify Indemnitee for any such amount
if and to the extent that payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any
insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise (including, without limitation, any payment
made by or on behalf of an Other Enterprise). In that event, the Corporation shall be obligated
to indemnify Indemnitee with respect to any excess beyond such amount actually paid to or on
behalf of Indemnitee. For purposes of this Section 2(c) and without limitation, the
termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding other than by adverse judgment
against Indemnitee (including, without limitation, by settlement or by dismissal, with or without
prejudice) shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

          (d) For Expenses When Indemnitee Serves as a Witness. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation
shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2(d) if
Indemnitee, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, is or prepares to serve as a witness in
any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, for all Expenses actually and reasonably
incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith; it being understood,
however, that the Corporation shall have no obligation under this Section 2(d) to
compensate Indemnitee for Indemnitee’s time or efforts so expended.

     For purposes of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not
opposed to the best interests of the Corporation or its Affiliates” if Indemnitee acted in good
faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the interest of the Corporation or
its Affiliates.

-5-

 

     Section 3. Exceptions to Right to Indemnification. Notwithstanding any provision in
this Agreement, the Corporation shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnity
in connection with:

          (a) any amount paid in settlement absent prior written consent to such settlement by the
Corporation (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld);

          (b) any amount otherwise indemnifiable (or for which advancement is provided hereunder) if
and to the extent that payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any
insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise, except with respect to any excess beyond the
amount paid under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise, including, without
limitation, any such payment made by or on behalf of an Other Enterprise, it being understood
that, consistent with Section 9(h), if applicable, such Other Enterprise shall be
primarily responsible for Jointly Indemnifiable Proceedings;

          (c) any Proceeding in which a final judgment is rendered against Indemnitee for (i) an
accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of
securities of the Corporation within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or similar
provisions of state statutory law or common law, or (ii) any reimbursement of the Corporation by
Indemnitee [of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or] of any profits
realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Corporation, as required [in each case]
under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from [an accounting
restatement of the Corporation pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the
“Sarbanes-Oxley Act”)), or] the payment to the Corporation of profits arising from the
purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act; and [bracketed provisions for CEO/CFO only]

          (d) except as provided in Section 8(d), 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 Corporation, any of its Affiliates or any Other Enterprise, or
any such entity’s directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board
authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) following
a Change in Control of the Corporation, such payments arise in connection with any counterclaim
that the Corporation or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees assert against
Indemnitee or any affirmative defense that the Corporation or its directors, officers, employees
or other indemnitees raise, which, by any doctrine of issue or claim preclusion, could result in
liability to Indemnitee, (iii) the Corporation provides the indemnification, in its sole
discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Corporation under applicable law, (iv) the
Proceeding initiated by Indemnitee seeks the issuance of a declaratory judgment or comparable
ruling and is initiated in response to the existence of a threat that the Indemnitee will be made
a party to or participant in a Proceeding of the type described in Section 2(a) or
2(b) hereof, or (v) following a Change in Control of the Corporation, the Proceeding is a
counterclaim asserted by Indemnitee.

-6-

 

     Section 4. Advancement of Expenses.

          (a) This Section 4 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which
indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 3(a), (b) or (d). The Corporation shall pay or
reimburse, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, Expenses incurred by or on behalf of
Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding), within thirty (30)
days after the receipt by the Corporation of a statement or statements requesting such advances
from time to time, prior to the final disposition of any Proceeding; provided, that any
request for advancement of attorneys’ and other experts’ fees and costs must be accompanied by a
detailed billing statement, redacted only as necessary to preserve any applicable attorney-client
or other legally recognized privilege. Such statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses
incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf and shall include reasonable backup for all costs
and disbursements in excess of $250.00. With respect to any attempt to secure recovery under any
applicable directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Corporation,
the Corporation shall be entitled (absent a conflict of interest with Indemnitee) to secure such
recovery on behalf of Indemnitee, and Indemnitee shall be entitled to advancement of Expenses if,
and only if, the actions of Indemnitee and its attorneys and other advisors in such regard are not
duplicative of those of the Corporation or (absent a conflict of interest) any other person or
entity seeking recovery thereunder.

          (b) Any advancement of Expenses pursuant to this Section 4 shall be made only upon
delivery to the Corporation of an instrument, by or on behalf of Indemnitee, in substantially the
form attached hereto as Exhibit A (each such instrument, an “Undertaking”) to
repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from
which there is no further right to appeal or otherwise in accordance with Delaware law that
Indemnitee is not entitled to be so indemnified for such Expenses. No security shall be required
in connection with any Undertaking and any Undertaking shall be accepted without reference to
Indemnitee’s ability to make repayment.

          (c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall the Corporation be
required to advance any Expenses to Indemnitee if the Corporation directly brings a Proceeding
alleging that Indemnitee (i) committed an act or omission not in good faith or (ii) committed an
act of intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law.

     Section 5. Procedure for Requesting Indemnification. To obtain indemnification under
this Agreement, Indemnitee shall 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. In addition, Indemnitee shall promptly notify the Corporation in writing upon
being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other
document relating to any Proceeding or matter which Indemnitee may seek indemnification or
advancement of Expenses hereunder. The omission or delay by Indemnitee to request indemnification
hereunder or provide the notice required by the immediately preceding sentence will not relieve the
Corporation from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise, except to
the extent that the Corporation is materially prejudiced by the delay, and any such delay shall not
constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement.

-7-

 

     Section 6. Procedures for Determining Entitlement to Indemnification.

          (a) Determination to be Made by the Board. Upon written request by Indemnitee for
indemnification pursuant to Section 5, a determination with respect to Indemnitee’s
entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case by one of the following four methods, which
shall be at the election of the Board: (1) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even
though less than a quorum, (2) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority
vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum, (3) if there are no
Disinterested Directors or if the Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a
written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to the Indemnitee, or (4) if so
directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
following a Change in Control of the Corporation, the determination shall be made by Independent
Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to the Indemnitee.
The determination of Indemnitee’s right to indemnification shall be made within the following time
frames:

          (i) if there has been a final disposition of the Proceeding that was the basis for
Indemnitee’s claim for indemnification, the determination with respect to Indemnitee’s
entitlement to indemnification shall be made within the later of thirty (30) days after
receipt by the Corporation of the request therefor and thirty (30) days after the Indemnitee
provides the Corporation with written notice of the final disposition of the applicable
Proceeding; and

          (ii) if there has not been a final disposition of the Proceeding that was the basis for
Indemnitee’s claim for indemnification and the Corporation decides not to wait until the
final disposition of that Proceeding to make a determination with respect to Indemnitee’s
entitlement to indemnification, the determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement
to indemnification shall be made within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Corporation of
the request therefor; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be
extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the party
making the determination in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or
evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto.

          Any such determination shall be promptly communicated to Indemnitee by written notice, which
notice shall include (if applicable) a description of the reason(s) why Indemnitee’s request for
indemnification hereunder was denied. In making any such determination, the party making the
determination shall act in good faith and provide Indemnitee with a reasonable opportunity to
appear before it and present Indemnitee’s case.

          (b) Determination Made by Independent Counsel. In the event the determination of
entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section
6(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section
6(b). If a Change in Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be
selected by the Board. If a Change in Control shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall
be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the
Board), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Corporation advising it of the identity of
the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying that the Independent Counsel so selected

-8-

 

meets the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 1 of this
Agreement. If the Independent Counsel is selected by the Board, within ten (10) days of receipt of
Indemnitee’s request for indemnification, the Corporation shall give written notice to Indemnitee
advising him or her of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying that the
Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in
Section 1 of this Agreement. In either event, Indemnitee or the Corporation, as the case
may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been received,
deliver to the Corporation 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 1 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with
particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the
person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If a written objection is made and
substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and
until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit.
If, within twenty (20) days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for
indemnification pursuant to Section 5 hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been
selected and not objected to, either the Corporation or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court
or other court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been
made to the Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person
selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall designate, and the person with
respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent
Counsel under Section 6(a) hereof. The Corporation shall pay any and all reasonable fees
and expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in connection with acting
pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof, and the Corporation shall pay all reasonable fees and
expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 6(b), regardless of the manner in
which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed.

          (c) Duty to Cooperate. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the party making the
determination with respect to its determination as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification, including providing to the party making the determination and its representatives
and advisors, upon reasonable advance request, that part of any documentation or information which
is not subject to any legally recognized privilege or otherwise protected from disclosure and
which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably pertinent to such determination. Any
Independent Counsel, member of the Board or stockholder shall act reasonably and in good faith in
making a determination regarding the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification under this
Agreement. Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in providing such cooperation shall be borne by the
Corporation (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification)
and the Corporation hereby agrees to indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

          (d) Presumptions. In making a determination with respect to entitlement to
indemnification hereunder, the party making the determination shall, to the fullest extent not
prohibited by applicable law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this
Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section
5. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and

-9-

 

the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence. Neither the failure of the
Corporation (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 Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual
determination by the Corporation (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.

          (e) Effect of Proceeding. The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue
or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere
or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself
adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or 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 or its Affiliates or, with respect to any
criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was
unlawful.

          (f) Reliance as Safe Harbor. 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 Corporation or Other Enterprise, including financial
statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Corporation or Other
Enterprise on matters that Indemnitee reasonably believes are within such officers’ duties, or on
the advice of legal counsel for the Corporation or Other Enterprise or on information or records
given or reports made to the Corporation or Other Enterprise by an independent certified public
accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Corporation or
Other Enterprise. The provisions of this Section 6(f) shall not be deemed to be exclusive
or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement. Whether or not the foregoing
provisions of this Section 6(f) are satisfied, it shall in any event be presumed (subject
to such presumption being rebutted) that Indemnitee has at all times acted in good faith and in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation.

          (g) Partial Disputes. If the Corporation reasonably disputes a portion of the
amounts for which indemnification is requested, the undisputed portion shall be paid and only the
reasonably disputed portion withheld pending resolution of any such dispute.

          (h) No Imputed Knowledge, Actions or Omissions. The knowledge and/or actions, or
failure to act, of any director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, agent or
employee of the Corporation, any of its Affiliates or any Other Enterprise shall not be imputed to
Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

          (i) No Determination Required Prior to Final Disposition. Notwithstanding anything
in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement of Indemnitee to

-10-

 

indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final
disposition of the applicable Proceeding.

          (j) Deemed Determination. Subject to Section 6(i), if the person, persons or
entity empowered to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this
Agreement shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the
Corporation of the request therefore (or, if Independent Counsel is making the determination,
within sixty (60) days after the appointment of Independent Counsel), the requisite determination
of entitlement to indemnification shall be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be
entitled to such indemnification absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an
omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in
connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a final judicial determination that such
indemnification is expressly prohibited 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 such determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification
in good faith requires such additional time to obtain or evaluate documentation and/or information
relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section
6(j) shall not apply if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by
the stockholders pursuant to Section 6(a) of this Agreement and if (A) within fifteen (15)
days after receipt by the Corporation of the request for such determination, the Board or the
Disinterested Directors, if appropriate, resolve 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.

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

     Section 7. Defense of Proceedings.

          (a) The Corporation will be entitled to participate at its own expense, and/or, subject to
the provisions of the last sentence of this Section 7(a) and of Section 7(b)
below, assume the defense of Indemnitee in any Proceeding in which he or she is involved and for
which Indemnitee may make a claim for indemnification, contribution or advancement of Expenses
with counsel reasonably acceptable to Indemnitee; provided, however, that the
Corporation shall notify Indemnitee of any such decision to defend within fifteen (15) days
following receipt of notice of such Proceeding from Indemnitee. After delivery of such notice,

-11-

 

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 Proceeding. The Corporation shall
not, without the prior written consent of Indemnitee, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed, consent to the entry of any judgment against Indemnitee or enter into any settlement or
compromise which (i) includes an admission of fault of Indemnitee, (ii) does not include, as an
unconditional term thereof, the full release of Indemnitee from all liability in respect of such
Proceeding, which release shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee or
(iii) would impose any Expense, judgment, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee. This
Section 7(a) shall not apply to a Proceeding initiated by Indemnitee.

          (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7(a) above, if in a Proceeding to which
Indemnitee is a party, (i) Indemnitee reasonably concludes, based upon an opinion of counsel
approved by the Corporation, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, that he or she may
have separate defenses or counterclaims to assert with respect to any issue which may not be
consistent with other defendants in such Proceeding, (ii) Indemnitee reasonably concludes, based
upon an opinion of counsel approved by the Corporation, which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld, that an actual or apparent conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest exists
between Indemnitee and the Corporation, or (iii) if the Corporation fails to assume the defense of
such Proceeding in a timely manner, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be represented by separate
legal counsel of Indemnitee’s choice, at the expense of the Corporation. 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 Indemnitee shall have reasonably made
the conclusion provided for in clause (ii) above.

     Section 8. Remedies of Indemnitee.

          (a) Subject to Section 8(e), in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant
to Section 6(a) that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement,
(ii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made by the Board pursuant
to Section 6(a) within the applicable time period (or any extension thereof) set forth in
Section 6(a), (iii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section
4 or Section 8(d), (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section
2(c), Section 2(d) or the last sentence of Section 6(c) within thirty (30)
days after receipt by the Corporation of a written request therefor which includes a statement of
fees that reasonably evidences the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf and
which includes reasonable backup for all Expenses in excess of $250.00 (including, with respect to
attorneys’ and other experts’ fees and costs, a detailed billing statement, redacted only as
necessary to preserve any applicable attorney-client other legally recognized privilege), (v) a
contribution payment is not made in a timely manner pursuant to Section 10 of this
Agreement, (vi) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 2 (other than Section
2(c) and Section 2(d) thereof which are covered above) is not made within thirty (30)
days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or
subject to Section 6(i), such determination is deemed to have been made pursuant to
Section 6(j), or (vii) the Corporation or any other person takes or threatens to take any
action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or

-12-

 

institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from,
the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder,
Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by the Delaware Court of Indemnitee’s entitlement
to such indemnification, contribution or advancement of Expenses. Indemnitee shall commence such
proceeding seeking an adjudication within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first
has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 8(a). The Corporation
shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication.

          (b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(a)
that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any proceeding commenced pursuant to this
Section 8 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial on the merits and
Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of the adverse determination pursuant to Section
6(a) that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification. In any proceeding commenced pursuant
to this Section 8, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification,
contribution and to receive advances of Expenses hereunder and the Corporation shall have the
burden of proving, by clear and convincing evidence, that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification, contribution or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be, and the Corporation
may not refer to or introduce into evidence any determination pursuant to Section 6(a) of
this Agreement adverse to Indemnitee for any purpose. If Indemnitee commences a judicial
proceeding pursuant to this Section 8, Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the
Corporation for any advances of Expenses until a final determination is made with respect to
Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification (as to which all rights of appeal have been exhausted
or lapsed).

          (c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(a) that Indemnitee
is entitled to indemnification, the Corporation shall be bound by such determination in any
Proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 8, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee
of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not
materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition
of such indemnification under applicable law.

          (d) The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee to the fullest extent
permitted by law against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within
thirty (30) days after receipt by the Corporation of a written request therefor) advance, to the
extent not prohibited by applicable law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are reasonably
incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding brought by
Indemnitee (i) in connection with, to enforce his or her rights under, or to recover damages for
breach of this Agreement or any other applicable indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration,
advancement or contribution agreement or provision of the Constituent Documents now or hereafter
in effect; or (ii) for recovery or advances under any directors’ and officers’ liability or
fiduciary insurance policy maintained by any person for the benefit of Indemnitee;
provided, however, with respect to the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), 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. To the extent that it is ultimately determined by a court of final
jurisdiction that Indemnitee is not wholly successful on the underlying claims, the execution and
delivery to the Corporation of this Agreement shall constitute an undertaking of the

-13-

 

Indemnitee to repay, if required by law, the amounts advanced (without interest) to the
extent the Indemnitee is not successful on such underlying claims.

          (e) The Corporation shall be precluded from asserting in any Proceeding, including, without
limitation, a Proceeding under this Section 8, that the provisions of this Agreement are
not valid, binding and enforceable or that there is insufficient consideration for this Agreement
and shall stipulate in court that the Corporation is bound by all the provisions of this
Agreement.

          (f) Interest shall be paid by the Corporation to Indemnitee at the maximum legal rate under
Delaware law for amounts which the Corporation indemnifies, or is obliged to indemnify for the
period commencing with the date of his or her request for indemnification, or request for
contribution, reimbursement or advancement of any Expenses and ending with the date on which such
payment is made to Indemnitee by the Corporation.

     Section 9. Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.

          (a) The rights of indemnification, contribution and advancement 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 (as amended from time to time), the Constituent Documents, any
agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise, 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 and (ii) shall be
interpreted independently of, and without reference to, any other such rights (or limitations
thereon, whether procedural, substantive or otherwise) to which Indemnitee may at any time be
entitled. 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.

          (b) No supplement, modification, amendment or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision
hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any
action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to such
supplement, modification, amendment or repeal.

          (c) To the extent that a change in applicable law, whether by statute or judicial decision,
permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under
the Constituent Documents or 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;
provided, however, that no change in Delaware law shall have the effect of
reducing the benefits available to Indemnitee hereunder based on Delaware law as in effect on the
date hereof or as such benefits may improve as a result of amendments to Delaware law after the
date hereof.

          (d) To the extent that there is a conflict or inconsistency between the terms of this
Agreement and the Constituent Documents, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee
shall enjoy the greater benefits regardless of whether contained herein or in the Constituent
Documents.

-14-

 

          (e) The Corporation shall use its reasonable efforts to maintain in effect at all times
(subject to appropriate cost considerations) an insurance policy or policies providing directors’
and officers’ liability insurance for directors and officers of the Corporation. The Corporation
shall advise Indemnitee as to the general terms of, and the amounts of coverage provided by, any
such directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy and shall promptly notify Indemnitee if,
at any time, any such insurance policy will no longer be maintained or the amount of coverage
under any such insurance policy will be decreased. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of
a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Corporation has directors’ and officers’ liability
insurance in effect, the Corporation 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 Corporation shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable
action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of
such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies. The provisions of this Section
9(e) shall not (i) restrict the Corporation’s right to purchase any type of directors’ and
officers’ liability coverage (or any other insurance coverage that is reserved to or benefits
solely or primarily independent or non-executive directors) or (ii) afford any officer or
non-executive director who is not insured under any such insurance policy a claim against the
Corporation, Indemnitee or any other entity arising from the purchase or existence of such
insurance coverage.

          (f) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Corporation shall be subrogated to
the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all
papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such
documents as are necessary to enable the Corporation to bring a proceeding to enforce such rights,
except to the extent such subrogation would impair the subrogation rights of an insurance company
under the directors’ and officers’ liability insurance or fiduciary insurance program.

          (g) The Corporation’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who
is or was serving in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has
actually received as indemnification or advancement of Expenses from another person or entity. In
the event that the Corporation makes any payment to Indemnitee under this Agreement and Indemnitee
subsequently otherwise receives such payments under any insurance policy maintained by the
Corporation, contract, agreement or otherwise (including a payment from an Other Enterprise),
Indemnitee shall promptly refund such amounts to the Corporation.

          (h) Given that certain Proceedings may arise for which Indemnitee shall be entitled to
indemnification or advancement of Expenses from both an Other Enterprise and the Corporation
(“Jointly Indemnifiable Proceedings”) due to the relationship between any such Other
Enterprise and the Corporation and the service of Indemnitee as a director or officer, employee or
agent of such Other Enterprise at the request of the Corporation, Indemnitee agrees that the
indemnification provided hereunder shall be secondary to any and all indemnification to which
Indemnitee is entitled from such Other Enterprise(s), and will only be paid to the extent the
primary indemnification is not promptly paid by such Other Enterprise(s) and Indemnitee is
otherwise entitled to indemnification under this Agreement. Under no circumstance shall any Other
Enterprise be entitled to any right of contribution, subrogation or

-15-

 

any other recovery of any kind by the Corporation in respect of such Other Enterprise’s
indemnification obligations, and any right of recovery Indemnitee may have from any such Other
Enterprise shall reduce the rights of Indemnitee and the obligations of the Corporation hereunder.
In the event that the Corporation shall make any payment to Indemnitee in respect of
indemnification or advancement with respect to any Jointly Indemnifiable Proceeding, the
Corporation shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of
Indemnitee against such Other Enterprise(s), and Indemnitee shall execute all papers reasonably
required and shall do all things that may be reasonably necessary to secure such rights, including
the execution of such documents as may be necessary to enable the Corporation to bring a
Proceeding to enforce such rights.

     Section 10. Contribution.

          (a) Whether or not the indemnification provided in Section 2 is available, in respect
of any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding in which the Corporation is
jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), the
Corporation shall pay the entire amount of any judgment or settlement of such action, suit or
proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment and the Corporation hereby
waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have against Indemnitee. The Corporation
shall not enter into any settlement of any action, suit or proceeding in which the Corporation is
jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding) unless
such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee.
The Corporation shall not seek or agree to a bar order that extinguishes Indemnitee’s rights to
indemnification or advancement under this Agreement.

          (b) Without diminishing or impairing the obligations of the Corporation set forth in the
preceding subparagraph, if, for any reason, Indemnitee shall elect or be required to pay all or
any portion of any judgment or settlement in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding in which the Corporation is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in
such action, suit or proceeding), the Corporation shall contribute to the amount of Expenses
(including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred and paid or payable by Indemnitee in proportion to the relative benefits
received by the Corporation and all officers, directors or employees of the Corporation, other
than Indemnitee, who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action,
suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, from the transaction from
which such action, suit or proceeding arose; provided, however, that the
proportion determined on the basis of relative benefit may, to the extent necessary to conform to
law, be further adjusted by reference to the relative fault of the Corporation and all officers,
directors or employees of the Corporation, other than Indemnitee, who are jointly liable with
Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and
Indemnitee, on the other hand, in connection with the events that resulted in such expenses,
judgments, fines or settlement amounts, as well as any other equitable considerations which the
law may require to be considered. The relative fault of the Corporation and all officers,
directors or employees of the Corporation, other than Indemnitee, who are jointly liable with
Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and
Indemnitee, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, the degree
to which their actions were motivated by intent to gain personal profit or

-16-

 

advantage, the degree to which their liability is primary or secondary and the degree to
which their conduct is active or passive.

          (c) The Corporation hereby agrees to fully indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless from any
claims of contribution which may be brought by officers, directors or employees of the
Corporation, other than Indemnitee, who may be jointly liable with Indemnitee.

          (d) Unless precluded by Section 3 or as a result of an adverse determination pursuant
to Section 6(a), 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 Corporation, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount
incurred by 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 in order to reflect (a) the relative benefits
received by the Corporation and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s)
giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (b) the relative fault of the Corporation (and its
directors, officers, employees and agents other than Indemnitee) and Indemnitee in connection with
such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

     Section 11. Duration of Agreement. All agreements and obligations of the Corporation
contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee is a director or officer of the
Corporation (or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer,
manager, trustee, partner, managing member, employee, fiduciary or agent of an Other Enterprise)
and shall continue thereafter until the later of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that he or she
ceases to serve as a director or officer of the Corporation, or at the request of the Corporation,
as a director, officer, manager, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of
an Other Enterprise, or (b) one (1) year after the final termination of any Proceeding by reason of
his or her Corporate Status (or any proceeding commenced under Section 8 hereof), whether
or not he or she is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is
incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement.

     Section 12. Enforcement and Binding Effect.

          (a) The Corporation expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and
assumes the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve and/or
continue to serve as a director or officer of the Corporation and/or as a director, officer,
trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of an Other Enterprise,
and the Corporation acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving in such
capacit(y)(ies).

          (b) The Corporation shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by
purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial part of
the business and/or assets of the Corporation, by written agreement in form and substance
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

-17-

 

to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement and the rights provided
hereby shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto
and their respective successors (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger,
consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the
Corporation), assigns, spouses, heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives.

          (c) The Corporation and Indemnitee agree that a monetary remedy for breach of this Agreement,
at some later date, may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult of proof, and further agree
that such breach may cause Indemnitee irreparable harm. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that
Indemnitee may enforce this Agreement by seeking, among other things, injunctive relief and/or
specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable harm
and that by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance Indemnitee shall not be
precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which he or she may be entitled. The
Corporation and Indemnitee further agree that Indemnitee shall be entitled to such specific
performance and injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions
and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bonds or other undertaking in
connection therewith. The Corporation acknowledges that in the absence of a waiver, a bond or
undertaking may be required of Indemnitee by the court, and the Corporation hereby waives any such
requirement of such a bond or undertaking.

          (d) The rights to be indemnified and to receive contribution and advancement of Expenses
provided by or granted Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement shall apply to Proceedings arising
from Indemnitee’s service as an officer, director, employee or agent of the Corporation or as a
director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of an
Other Enterprise prior to the effective date of this Agreement.

     Section 13. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof
(including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such
provision held to be invalid or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid or unenforceable) shall
in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. This Agreement is intended
to confer upon Indemnitee indemnification and advancement rights to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law. In the event any provision hereof conflicts with any applicable law, such
provision shall be deemed modified, consistent with the aforementioned intent, to the extent
necessary to resolve such conflict. 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 14. Integration. 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 Constituent Documents, any employment agreement between Indemnitee and the
Corporation or any of its subsidiaries and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute
therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

-18-

 

     Section 15. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification or amendment of this
Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties thereto. 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.

     Section 16. 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, upon receipt 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, one day
after deposit with such courier and with written verification of receipt, (d) sent by facsimile
transmission, upon receipt by the sender of a printed confirmation of transmittal, or (e) sent by
e-mail transmission, upon receipt by the sender of electronic confirmation of such transmittal:

	 	 	 	 	 

	 

	 	(a)
	 	If to Indemnitee:
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	[NAME]
	 

	 	 	 	[ADDRESS]
	 

	 	 	 	Facsimile: [Ÿ]
	 

	 	 	 	E-mail: [Ÿ]
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

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

	 	(b)
	 	If to the Corporation to:
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc.

100 East Ridge Road

Ridgefield, CT 06877

Attn: Corporate Secretary

Facsimile: (203) 894-9108

E-mail: kclark@chefswarehouse.com

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

     Section 17. Governing Law and Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to
its conflict of laws rules which would require the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other
than the State of Delaware. The Corporation and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
(a) agree that any Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought
only in 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, (b) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of
the Delaware Court for purposes of any Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this
Agreement, (c) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such Proceeding in the Delaware
Court, (d) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such Proceeding brought in
the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum, and (e) agree to accept
service of any summons, complaint or other pleading

-19-

 

which is made in the manner provided in Section 16, provided that nothing in this
Section 17shall affect the right of a party hereto to serve such summons, complaint or
other pleading in any other manner permitted by applicable law.

     Section 18. Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or
implied, is intended or shall be construed to confer any right, remedy or claim upon any person
other than the parties, the Corporation’s successors and permitted assigns, and Indemnitee’s
personal representatives, heirs, executors, administrators and beneficiaries.

     Section 19. Interpretation. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include
usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate. 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. The word “including” means “including but not limited to” or “including
without limitation.” Unless the context expressly indicates otherwise, reference to any Section
means such Section of this Agreement.

     Section 20. No Construction as Employment
Agreement. Nothing contained in
this Agreement will be construed as giving Indemnitee any right to be retained in the employ of the
Corporation or any of its Affiliates.

     Section 21. Execution. This Agreement may be executed in one 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. Each counterpart may be delivered by facsimile transmission or e-mail (as a
 .pdf, .tif or similar un-editable attachment), which transmission shall be deemed delivery of an
originally executed counterpart hereof.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE BLANK, SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

-20-

 

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

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC. 	 
	 
	 
	 	By:  	 	 
	 	 	Name:  	 	 
	 	 	Title:  	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	INDEMNITEE: 	 

	 
	 
	 	Name: 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 

-21-

(Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement)

 

EXHIBIT A — GENERAL FORM OF UNDERTAKING FOR ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES

     1. This instrument (this “Undertaking”) is being executed by the undersigned in
favor of The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), pursuant
to that certain Indemnification Agreement, made as of ___________, 2011 (the “Indemnification
Agreement”), by and between the Corporation and the undersigned. Capitalized terms used but
not defined in this Undertaking shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the
Indemnification Agreement.

     2. I am requesting advancement of Expenses which have been or will be actually and reasonably
incurred by me or on my behalf in connection with a Proceeding to which I am a party or am
threatened to be made a party, or in which I am or may be participating, by reason of my Corporate
Status.

     3. With respect to all matters related to such Proceeding, I believe I acted in good faith and
in a manner I reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation
or its Affiliates, and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, I had no reasonable cause to
believe that my conduct was unlawful.

     4. I hereby undertake to repay any advancement of Expenses if it shall ultimately be
determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal or otherwise
in accordance with Delaware law that I am not entitled to be so indemnified for such Expenses.

     5. I am requesting advancement of Expenses in connection with the following matter: [PROVIDE
DETAILS]

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	Name of Indemnitee: 	 

	 	Dated: 	 
	 

-22-

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00191-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00191-of-00352.parquet"}]]