In accordance with Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, the Charter provides that no director shall be personally liable to the Registrant or any of its stockholders for monetary damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, except to the extent such limitation on or exemption from liability is not permitted under the DGCL. The effect of this provision of the Charter is to eliminate the Registrant’s rights and those of the Registrant’s stockholders (through stockholders’ derivative suits on the Registrant’s behalf) to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of the fiduciary duty of care as a director, including breaches resulting from negligent or grossly negligent behavior, except, as restricted by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL. However, this provision does not limit or eliminate the Registrant’s rights or the rights of any stockholder to seek non-monetary relief, such as an injunction or rescission, in the event of a breach of a director’s duty of care.
If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the liability of directors, then, in accordance with the Charter, the liability of the Registrant’s directors to the Registrant or its stockholders will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as so amended. Any repeal or amendment of provisions of the Charter limiting or eliminating the liability of directors, whether by the Registrant’s stockholders or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits the Registrant to further limit or eliminate the liability of directors on a retroactive basis.
The Charter also provides that the Registrant will, to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by applicable law, indemnify its current and former officers and directors, as well as those persons who, while directors or officers of the Registrant, are or were serving as directors, officers, employees or agents of another entity, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, in connection with any threatened, pending or completed proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, against all expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorney’s fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by any such person in connection with any such proceeding.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person eligible for indemnification pursuant to the Charter will be indemnified by the Registrant in connection with a proceeding initiated by such person only if such proceeding was authorized by the Registrant’s board of directors, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification.
The right to indemnification which will be conferred by the Charter is a contract right that includes the right to be paid by the Registrant the expenses incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding referenced above in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an officer or director of the Registrant (solely in the capacity as an officer or director of the Registrant) will be made only upon delivery to the Registrant of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such officer or director, to repay all amounts so advanced if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under the Charter or otherwise.
The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses will not be deemed exclusive of any other rights which any person covered by the Charter may have or hereafter acquire under law, the Charter, the Registrant’s second amended and restated bylaws (the “Bylaws”), an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
Any repeal or amendment of provisions of the Charter affecting indemnification rights, whether by the Registrant’s stockholders or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits the Registrant to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis, and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision. The Charter also permits the Registrant, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other that those specifically covered by the Charter.
The Bylaws include the provisions relating to advancement of expenses and indemnification rights consistent with those which are set forth in the Charter. In addition, the Bylaws provide for a right of indemnity to bring a suit in the event a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses is not paid in full by the Registrant within a specified period of time. The Bylaws also permit the Registrant to purchase and maintain insurance, at the Registrant’s expense, to protect it and/or any director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant or another entity, trust, or other enterprise against any expense, liability, or loss, whether or not the Registrant would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability, or loss under the DGCL.
