Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Section 145 (“Section 145”) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as may be amended from time to time (the “DGCL”), provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any of its directors or officers who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any third party proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the corporation, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reason to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful. In a derivative action, (i.e., one by or in the right of a corporation) the corporation is permitted to indemnify directors and officers against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with the defense or settlement of an action or suit if they acted in good faith and in a manner that they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made if such person shall have been adjudged liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that the defendant directors or officers are fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses despite such adjudication of liability.
Pursuant to the DGCL, if a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding, such person must be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
Any indemnification under Section 145 shall be made by the corporation only if it has been determined that the person has met the applicable standard of conduct. Such determination shall be made (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.
Expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by any such person in defending any such action, suit or proceeding may be paid or reimbursed by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt by it of an undertaking of such person to repay such expenses if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation.
Section 145 further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the power to indemnify him or her under Section 145.
The Registrant’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, the Registrant shall indemnify any officer or director of the Registrant, and may, pursuant to resolutions adopted from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Registrant, indemnify such other persons whom it shall have power to indemnify, from and against any and all of the expenses, liabilities or other losses of any nature.
The Registrant’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation also provides that to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, no director of the Registrant shall be personally liable to the Registrant or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.
Article V of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that the Registrant shall indemnify and hold harmless for any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative by reason of the fact that he or she or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative is or was a director or officer of the Registrant, or, while a director or officer of the Registrant, is or was serving at the request of the Registrant as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise (including service with respect to employee benefit plans), against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her.