Holdco’s Bylaws
The amended and restated bylaws of Holdco that will become effective upon the consummation of the mergers provide that Holdco will indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, including the DGCL as described above, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed legal proceeding, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of Holdco, or, while serving as a director or officer of Holdco, is or was serving at the request of Holdco as a director, officer, employee or agent of another entity, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred or suffered. However, except with respect to certain proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification as described below, Holdco will indemnify any such officer or director in connection with a proceeding initiated by that officer or director only if the proceeding was authorized by the Holdco board of directors.
This right to indemnification also includes the right to be paid in advance expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending any such proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. However, if the DGCL requires an advancement of expenses incurred by an officer or director in his or her capacity as such (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered), Holdco will advance expenses only upon delivery to Holdco of an undertaking by or on behalf of the officer or director, to repay all amounts advanced if it is ultimately determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that the officer or director is not entitled to be indemnified for expenses incurred.
In any suit brought by an officer or director to enforce a right to indemnification or in any suit brought by Holdco to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, as described in the paragraph above, if the officer or director is successful, in whole or in part, he or she is entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting or defending the suit.
The amended and restated bylaws of Holdco further provide that Holdco may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (whether or not an action by or in right of Holdco) by reason of the fact that the person is or was an employee (other than an officer) or agent of Holdco, or, while serving as an employee (other than an officer) or agent of Holdco, is or was serving at the request of Holdco as a director, officer, employee or agent of another entity, to the extent (i) permitted by Delaware law, and (ii) authorized in the sole discretion of the Chief Executive Officer of Holdco and at least one other of the following officers of Holdco: the President, the Chief Financial Officer, or the General Counsel. Holdco may, to the extent permitted by Delaware law and authorized as described in (ii) of the preceding sentence, pay expenses (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred by any employee or agent of Holdco in defending any proceeding in advance of the final disposition, upon terms and conditions that the officer authorizing such expense advancement may determine in their sole discretion.
The rights and authority relating to indemnification conferred by the Holdco bylaws are not exclusive of any other right that any person seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses from Holdco may have or acquire.
Merger Agreement
Each of the parties to the merger agreement has agreed that, for six years after the consummation of the mergers, Holdco will indemnify and hold harmless and advance expenses to, to the greatest extent permitted by law, the individuals who at or prior to the consummation of the mergers were officers and directors of IKONICS with respect to all acts or omissions by them in their capacities as such or taken at the request of TeraWulf, Holdco, IKONICS or any of their respective subsidiaries at any time prior to consummation of the mergers. Holdco will honor all indemnification agreements, expense advancement and exculpation provisions with the indemnitees identified in the preceding sentence (including under Holdco’s or IKONICS’ certificate of incorporation or by-laws) in effect as of June 24, 2021, the date of merger agreement, in accordance with the terms thereof.
The merger agreement also provides that for a period of six years after the consummation of the mergers, Holdco shall cause to be maintained officers’ and directors’ liability insurance covering all officers