EXHIBIT 10.10
THERMEDICS DETECTION INC.
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Agreement, made and entered into this _____ day of __________, 1996,
("Agreement"), by and between Thermedics Detection Inc., a Massachusetts
corporation (the "Company"), and ________________ ("Indemnitee").
WHEREAS, highly competent persons are becoming more reluctant to serve
publicly-held corporations as directors or officers or in other capacities
unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate
indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them
arising out of their service to, and activities on behalf of, the corporation;
and
WHEREAS, uncertainties relating to the continued availability of adequate
directors and officers liability insurance ("D&O Insurance") and the
uncertainties relating to indemnification have increased the difficulty of
attracting and retaining such persons; and
WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company
contractually to obligate itself to indemnify such persons to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the
Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified; and
WHEREAS, Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and/or to take
on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that he
be so indemnified and that such indemnification be so guaranteed;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants
contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as
follows:
1. SERVICES BY INDEMNITEE. Indemnitee agrees to serve or continue to
serve as an executive officer of the Company. This Agreement shall not impose
any obligation on the Indemnitee or the Company to continue the Indemnitee's
position with the Company beyond any period otherwise applicable.
2. GENERAL. The Company shall indemnify, and shall advance Expenses (as
hereinafter defined) to, Indemnitee as provided in this Agreement and to the
fullest extent permitted by law.
3. PROCEEDINGS OTHER THAN PROCEEDINGS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY.
Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this
Section 3 if, by reason of his Corporate Status (as hereinafter defined), he is,
or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending, or completed
action, suit, arbitration, alternative
dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, administrative hearing or any other
proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative. Pursuant to
this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against Expenses, judgments,
penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement incurred by him or on his behalf
in connection with such action, suit, arbitration, alternative dispute
resolution mechanism, investigation, administrative hearing or any other
proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative or any
claim, issue or matter therein; provided, however, that no indemnification shall
be made hereunder (a) with respect to Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and
amounts paid in settlement incurred in relation to any claim, issue or matter as
to which he shall be finally adjudged in such action, suit, arbitration,
alternative dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, administrative hearing
or any other proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
not to have acted in good faith and in the reasonable belief that his action was
in the interests of the Company or (b) if otherwise prohibited by law.
4. INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A PARTY WHO IS WHOLLY OR PARTLY
SUCCESSFUL. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the
extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a party to and is
successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any action, suit, arbitration,
alternative dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, administrative hearing
or any other proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, he shall be indemnified against all Expenses incurred by him or
on his behalf in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful
but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than
all claims, issues or matters, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against
all Expenses incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with each
successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. For purposes of this Section and
without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter by dismissal,
or withdrawal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful
result as to such claim, issue or matter.
5. ADVANCE OF EXPENSES. The Company shall advance all reasonable Expenses
incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any action, suit,
arbitration, alternative dispute resolution mechanism, investigation,
administrative hearing or any other proceeding whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative within twenty days after the receipt by the
Company of a statement or statements from Indemnitee requesting such advance or
advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such
action, suit, arbitration, alternative dispute resolution mechanism,
investigation, administrative hearing or any other proceeding whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative. Such statement or statements shall
reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall include or be
preceded or accompanied by an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to
repay any Expenses advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that Indemnitee
is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses.
6. PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINATION OF ENTITLEMENT TO INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall
submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such
documentation and information as
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is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine
whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. The Clerk
of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for
indemnification, advise the Board of Directors in writing that Indemnitee has
requested indemnification.
(b) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to
Section 6(a) hereof, a determination, if required by applicable law, with
respect to Indemnitee's entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case:
(i) if a Change in Control (as hereinafter defined) shall have occurred, by
Independent Counsel (as hereinafter defined) in a written opinion to the Board
of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee (unless
Indemnitee shall request that such determination be made in the manner provided
below in clauses (ii) or (iii)); (ii) if a Change of Control shall not have
occurred, (A) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum
consisting of Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter defined), or (B) if a
quorum of the Board of Directors consisting of Disinterested Directors is not
obtainable or, even if obtainable, such quorum of Disinterested Directors so
directs, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Directors,
a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (C) by the stockholders of
the Company; or (iii) as provided in Section 7(b) of this Agreement; and, if it
is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to
Indemnitee shall be made ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee
shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination
with respect to Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification, including providing
to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any
documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from
disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonable
necessary to such determination. Any costs or expenses (including attorneys'
fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating shall be borne
by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee's entitlement
to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold
Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
(c) In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to
be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement, the
Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 6(c). If a
Change of Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be
selected by the Board of Directors, and the Company shall give written notice to
Indemnitee advising him of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.
If a Change of Control shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be
selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be
made by the Board of Directors, in which event the preceding sentence shall
apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of
the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. In either event,
Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within 7 days after such
written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to
Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection. 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 13 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with
particularity the factual basis of such assertion. If such written objection is
made, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel
unless and until a court has determined that such objection is without merit.
If, within 20 days after submission by Indemnitee
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of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof, no
Independent Counsel shall have been selected or, if selected, shall have been
objected to, in accordance with this Section 6(c), either the Company or
Indemnitee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of
any objection made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other's selection of
Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a
person selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall
designate, and the person with respect to whom an objection is favorably
resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under
Section 6(b) hereof. The Company shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses of
Independent Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in connection with
acting pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof, and the Company shall pay all reasonable
fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 6(c), regardless of
the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed. Upon the
due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section
8(a)(iii) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and
relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the
applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).
7. PRESUMPTIONS AND EFFECT OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS.
(a) If a Change of Control shall have occurred, in making a determination
with respect to entitlement of indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or
entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for
indemnification in accordance with Section 6(a) of this Agreement, and the
Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in
connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination
contrary to that presumption.
(b) If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 6
of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification
shall not have made such determination within 60 days after receipt by the
company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to
indemnification shall be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall 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 prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided,
however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time not to
exceed an additional 30 days, if the person, persons or entity making the
determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith
requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation
and/or information relating thereto; and, provided, further, that the foregoing
provisions of this Section 7(b) shall not apply (i) if the determination of
entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to
Section 6(b) of this Agreement and if (A) within 15 days after receipt by the
Company of the request for such determination the Board of Directors has
resolved to submit such determination to the stockholders for their
consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within 75 days after such
receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of
stockholders is called within 15 days after such receipt for the purpose of
making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within 60 days
after having been so called
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and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of
entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to
Section 6(b) of this Agreement.
(c) The termination of any action, suit, arbitration, alternative dispute
resolution mechanism, investigation, administrative hearing or any other
proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative or of any
claim, issue or matter therein by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or
upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise
expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of
Indemnitee to indemnification or be deemed to constitute an adjudication that
Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in the reasonable belief that his
action was in the best interests of the Company.
8. REMEDIES OF INDEMNITEE.
(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 6 of
this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this
Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 5
of this Agreement, (iii) the determination of entitlement to indemnification is
to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement and
such determination shall not have been made and delivered in a written opinion
within 90 days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification,
(iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 4 of this
Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request
therefor, or (v) payment of indemnification is not made within ten (10) days
after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification or such determination is deemed to have been made pursuant to
Section 7 of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in
any court of competent jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, of his
entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses. Alternatively,
Indemnitee, at his option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by
a single arbitrator pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration
Association. Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication
or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which
Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this
Section 8(a). The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee's right to seek any such
adjudication or award in arbitration.
(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to
Section 6 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification,
any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 8
shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the
merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse
determination. If a Change of Control shall have occurred, in any judicial
proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 8, the Company
shall have the burden of proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.
(c) If a determination shall have been made or deemed to have been made
pursuant to Section 6 or 7 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any
judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 8, absent
(i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a
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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 Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial
proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 8 that the
procedures and presumptions of the Agreement are not valid, binding and
enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator
that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.
(e) In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 8, seeks a
judicial adjudication of or an award in arbitration to enforce his right under,
or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be
entitled to recover from the Company, and shall be indemnified by the Company
against, any and all expenses (of the types described in the definition of
Expenses in Section 13 of this Agreement) actually and reasonably incurred by
him in such judicial adjudication or arbitration, but only if he prevails
therein. If it shall be determined in said judicial adjudication or arbitration
that Indemnitee is entitled to receive part but not all of the indemnification
or advancement of expenses sought, the expenses incurred by Indemnitee in
connection with such judicial adjudication or arbitration shall be appropriately
prorated.
9. SECURITY. To the extent requested by the Indemnitee and approved by
the Board of Directors, the Company may at any time and from time to time
provide security to the Indemnitee for the Company's obligations hereunder
through an irrevocable bank line of credit, funded trust or other collateral.
Any such security, once provided to the Indemnitee, may not be revoked or
released without the prior written consent of Indemnitee.
10. NON-EXCLUSIVITY; DURATION OF AGREEMENT; INSURANCE; SUBROGATION.
(a) The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses
as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights
to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the
Company's articles of organization or by-laws, any other agreement, a vote of
stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. This Agreement shall
continue until and terminate upon the later of: (a) 10 years after the date that
Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or
fiduciary of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee
benefit plan or other enterprise which Indemnitee served at the request of the
Company; or (b) the final termination of all pending actions, suits,
arbitrations, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, investigations,
administrative hearings or any other proceedings whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights
of indemnification or advancement of expenses hereunder and of any proceeding
commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 8 of the Agreement relating thereto.
This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns
and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and his heirs, executors and
administrators.
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(b) To the extent that the Company or any other person maintains D&O
Insurance providing liability insurance for directors or officers of the Company
or fiduciaries of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust,
employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such person serves at the
request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies
in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage
available for any such director or officer under such policy or policies.
(c) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company 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 Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.
(d) The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any
payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the extent that
Indemnitee had otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance
policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.
11. SEVERABILITY. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall
be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a)
the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this
Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this
Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not
in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (b) to the fullest extent
possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, in
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
by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
12. EXCEPTION TO RIGHT OF INDEMNIFICATION OR ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall not be
entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Agreement with
respect to any action, suit or proceeding, or any claim therein, initiated,
brought or made by him (i) against the Company, unless a Change in Control shall
have occurred, or (ii) against any person other than the Company, unless
approved in advance by the Board of Directors.
13. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement.
(a) "Change in Control" means a change in control of the Company of a
nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 5(f) of
Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or in response to any similar item on any
similar schedule of form) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the "Act"), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting
requirement; provided, however, that, without limitation, such a Change in
Control shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any "person" (as such term is
used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Act) is or becomes the "beneficial
owner" (as defined in rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or indirectly, of
securities of the Company representing 20% or more of the combined voting power
of the Company's then
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outstanding securities without the prior approval of at least two-thirds of the
members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such person
attaining such percentage interest; (ii) the Company is a party to a merger,
consolidation, sale of assets or other reorganization, or a proxy contest, as a
consequence of which members of the Board of Directors in office immediately
prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board
of Directors thereafter; or (iii) during any period of two consecutive years,
individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of
Directors (including for this purpose any new director whose election or
nomination for election by the Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of
at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at
the beginning of such period) cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board of Directors.
(b) "Corporate Status" describes the status of a person who is or was or has
agreed to become a director of the Company, or is or was an officer or fiduciary
of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust,
employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at
the request of the Company.
(c) "Disinterested Director" means a director of the Company who is not and was
not a party to the action, suit, arbitration, alternative dispute resolution
mechanism, investigation, administrative hearing or any other proceeding whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative in respect of which
indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.
(d) "Expenses" shall include all reasonable attorneys' fees, retainers, court
costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, travel expenses, duplicating costs,
printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees,
and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in
connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend or
investigating an action, suit, arbitration, alternative dispute resolution
mechanism, investigation, administrative hearing or any other proceeding whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative.
(e) "Independent Counsel" means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is
experienced in matters of corporation law and neither currently is, nor in the
past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee
in any matter material to either such party, or (ii) any other party to the
action, suit, arbitration, alternative dispute resolution mechanism,
investigation, administrative hearing or any other proceeding whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative 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 Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine
Indemnitee's rights under this Agreement, arising on or after the date of this
Agreement, regardless of when the Indemnitee's act or failure to act occurred.
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14. HEADINGS. The headings of the paragraphs 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.
15. MODIFICATION AND WAIVER. This Agreement may be amended from time to
time to reflect changes in Massachusetts law or for other reasons. No
supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless
executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the
provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any
other provision hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute
a continuing waiver.
16. NOTICE BY INDEMNITEE. Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the
Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena,
complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any matter
which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered
hereunder, provided, however, that the failure to give any such notice shall not
disqualify the Indemnitee from indemnification hereunder.
17. NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (i)
delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other
communication shall have been directed, or (ii) mailed by certified or
registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date
on which it is so mailed:
(a) If to Indemnitee, to: The address shown beneath
his or her signature on the
last page hereof.
(b) If to the Company to: Thermedics Detection Inc.
c/o Thermo Electron Corporation
81 Wyman Street
P.O. Box 9046
Waltham, MA 02254-9046
Attn: Clerk
or to such other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company
or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.
18. GOVERNING LAW. The parties agree that this Agreement shall be
governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the
day and year first above written.
Attest: THERMEDICS DETECTION INC.
By: By:
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Sandra L. Lambert John W. Wood Jr.
Clerk Chief Executive Officer
INDEMNITEE
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Address:
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