EXHIBIT 10.62
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, effective as of October 31, 2005, between Belden CDT
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and John Stroup (the
"Indemnitee").
WHEREAS, it is essential to the Company to retain and attract as
directors and officers the most capable persons available;
WHEREAS, Indemnitee is a director or officer of the Company;
WHEREAS, both the Company and Indemnitee recognize the increased
risk of litigation and other claims being asserted against directors and
officers of public companies in today's environment;
WHEREAS, the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company require the
Company to indemnify and advance expenses to its directors and officers to the
full extent permitted by law and the Indemnitee has been serving and continues
to serve as a director or officer of the Company in part in reliance on such
Bylaws;
WHEREAS, the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company and the
Delaware General Corporation Law each provide that the indemnification provided
herein shall not be exclusive;
WHEREAS, in recognition of Indemnitee's need for substantial
protection against personal liability in order to enhance Indemnitee's continued
service to the Company in an effective manner, the Company wishes to provide in
this Agreement for the indemnification of and the advancing of expenses to
Indemnitee to the fullest extent (whether partial or complete) permitted by law
and as set forth in this Agreement, and, to the extent insurance is maintained,
for the continued coverage of Indemnitee under the Company's directors' and
officers' liability insurance policies;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of Indemnitee
continuing to serve the Company directly or, at its request, another enterprise,
and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Certain Definitions:
(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
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), other than a trustee
or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan
of the Company or a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the
stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as
their ownership of stock of the Company, is or becomes the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under said Act),
directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
representing 20% or more of the total voting power represented by
the Company's then outstanding Voting Securities, or (ii) during any
period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of
such period constitute the Board of Directors of the Company and any
new director whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination
for election by the Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of
at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who
either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose
election or nomination for election was previously so approved,
cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof, or (iii) the
stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the
Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or
consolidation which would result in the Voting Securities of the
Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to
represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted
into Voting Securities of the surviving entity) at least 80% of the
total voting power represented by the Voting Securities of the
Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such
merger or consolidation, or the stockholders of the Company approve
a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for
the sale or disposition by the Company of (in one transaction or a
series of transactions) all or substantially all the Company's
assets.
(b) Claim: any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding, or any inquiry or investigation, whether instituted by
the Company or any other party, that Indemnitee in good faith
believes might lead to the institution of any such action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative
or other.
(c) Expenses: include attorneys' fees and all other costs, expenses and
obligations paid or incurred in connection with investigating,
defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on
appeal), or preparing to defend, be a witness in or participate in,
any Claim relating to any Indemnifiable Event.
(d) Indemnifiable Event: any event or occurrence related to the fact
that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or
fiduciary of the Company, or Belden Inc., or is or was serving at
the request of the Company or Belden Inc. as a director, officer,
employee, trustee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or other
enterprise, or by reason of anything done or not done by Indemnitee
in any such capacity.
(e) Independent Legal Counsel: an attorney or firm of attorneys,
selected in accordance with the provisions of Section 3, who shall
not have otherwise performed services for the Company or Indemnitee
within the last five years (other than with respect to matters
concerning the rights of
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Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under
similar indemnity agreements).
(f) Potential Change in Control: shall be deemed to have occurred if (i)
the Company enters into an agreement, the consummation of which
would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control; (ii) any
person (including the Company) publicly announces an intention to
take or to consider taking actions which if consummated would
constitute a Change in Control; (iii) any person, other than a
trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee
benefit plan of the Company or a corporation owned, directly or
indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the
same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, who is
or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of
securities of the Company representing 9.5% or more of the combined
voting power of the Company's then outstanding Voting Securities,
increases his beneficial ownership of such securities by five
percentage points (5%) or more over the percentage so owned by such
person; or (iv) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that,
for purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control has
occurred.
(g) Reviewing Party: any appropriate person or body consisting of a
member or members of the Company's Board of Directors or any other
person or body appointed by the Board who is not a party to the
particular Claim for which Indemnitee is seeking indemnification, or
Independent Legal Counsel.
(h) Voting Securities: any securities of the Company which vote
generally in the election of directors.
2. Basic Indemnification Arrangement.
(a) In the event Indemnitee was, is or becomes a party to or witness or
other participant in, or is threatened to be made a party to or
witness or other participant in, a Claim by reason of (or arising in
part out of) an Indemnifiable Event, the Company shall indemnify
Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law as soon as
practicable but in any event no later than thirty days after written
demand is presented to the Company, against any and all Expenses,
judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement
(including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or
payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses,
judgments, fines, penalties or amounts paid in settlement) arising
from or relating to such Claim. If so requested by Indemnitee, the
Company shall advance (within two business days of such request) any
and all Expenses to Indemnitee (an "Expense Advance").
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the obligations of the Company
under Section 2(a) shall be subject to the condition that the
Reviewing Party
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shall not have determined (in a written opinion, in any case in
which the Independent Legal Counsel referred to in Section 3 hereof
is involved) that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be
indemnified under applicable law, and (ii) the obligation of the
Company to make an Expense Advance pursuant to Section 2(a) shall be
subject to the condition that, if, when and to the extent that the
Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee would not be permitted to
be so indemnified under applicable law, the Company shall be
entitled to be reimbursed by Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to
reimburse the Company) for all such amounts theretofore paid;
provided, however, that if Indemnitee has commenced or thereafter
commences legal proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to
secure a determination that Indemnitee should be indemnified under
applicable law, any determination made by the Reviewing Party that
Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable
law shall not be binding and Indemnitee shall not be required to
reimburse the Company for any Expense Advance until a final judicial
determination is made with respect thereto (as to which all rights
of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed). If there has not
been a Change in Control, the Reviewing Party shall be selected by
the Board of Directors, and if there has been such a Change in
Control (other than a Change in Control which has been approved by a
majority of the Company's Board of Directors who were directors
immediately prior to such Change in Control), the Reviewing Party
shall be the Independent Legal Counsel referred to in Section 3
hereof. If there has been no determination by the Reviewing Party or
if the Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee substantively
would not be permitted to be indemnified in whole or in part under
applicable law, Indemnitee shall have the right to commence
litigation in any court in the State of Delaware having subject
matter jurisdiction thereof and in which venue is proper seeking an
initial determination by the court or challenging any such
determination by the Reviewing Party or any aspect thereof,
including the legal or factual bases therefor, and the Company
hereby consents to service of process and to appear in any such
proceeding. Any determination by the Reviewing Party otherwise shall
be conclusive and binding on the Company and Indemnitee.
3. Change in Control. The Company agrees that if there is a Change in Control
of the Company (other than a Change in Control which has been approved by
a majority of the Company's Board of Directors who were directors
immediately prior to such Change in Control) then with respect to all
matters thereafter arising concerning the rights of Indemnitee to
indemnity payments and Expense Advances under this Agreement or any other
agreement or Company Bylaw now or hereafter in effect relating to Claims
for Indemnifiable Events, the Company shall seek legal advice only from
Independent Legal Counsel selected by Indemnitee and approved by the
Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld). Such counsel,
among other things, shall render its written opinion to the Company and
Indemnitee as to whether and to what extent the Indemnitee would be
permitted to be indemnified under applicable law. The
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Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Legal Counsel
referred to above and to indemnify fully such counsel against any and all
expenses (including attorneys' fees), claims, liabilities and damages
arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant
hereto.
4. Establishment of Trust. In the event of a Potential Change in Control, the
Company shall, upon written request by Indemnitee, create a trust for the
benefit of Indemnitee and from time to time upon written request of
Indemnitee shall fund such trust in an amount sufficient to satisfy any
and all Expenses reasonably anticipated at the time of each such request
to be incurred in connection with investigating, preparing for and
defending any Claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event, and any and all
judgments, fines, penalties and settlement amounts of any and all Claims
relating to an Indemnifiable Event from time to time actually paid or
claimed, reasonably anticipated or proposed to be paid. The amount or
amounts to be deposited in the trust pursuant to the foregoing funding
obligation shall be determined by the Reviewing Party, in any case in
which the Independent Legal Counsel referred to above is involved. The
terms of the trust shall provide that (i) the trust shall not be revoked
or the principal thereof invaded, without the written consent of the
Indemnitee, (ii) the trustee shall advance, within two business days of a
request by the Indemnitee, any and all Expenses to the Indemnitee (and the
Indemnitee hereby agrees to reimburse the trust under the circumstances
under which the Indemnitee would be required to reimburse the Company
under Section 2(b) of this Agreement), (iii) the trust shall continue to
be funded by the Company in accordance with the funding obligation set
forth above, (iv) the trustee shall promptly pay to Indemnitee all amounts
for which Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this
Agreement or otherwise, and (v) all unexpended funds in such trust shall
revert to the Company upon a final determination by the Reviewing Party or
a court of competent jurisdiction, as the case may be, that Indemnitee has
been fully indemnified under the terms of this Agreement. The trustee
shall be chosen by Indemnitee. Nothing in this Section 4 shall relieve the
Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement.
5. Indemnification for Additional Expenses. The Company shall indemnify
Indemnitee against any and all expenses (including attorneys' fees) and,
if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within two business days of such
request) advance such expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by
Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for (i)
indemnification or advance payment of Expenses by the Company under this
Agreement or any other agreement or Company Bylaw now or hereafter in
effect relating to Claims for Indemnifiable Events and/or (ii) recovery
under any directors' and officers' liability insurance policies maintained
by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined
to be entitled to such indemnification, advance expense payment or
insurance recovery, as the case may be.
6. Partial Indemnity, Etc. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of
this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of
the
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Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement
arising from or relating to a Claim but not, however, for all of the total
amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for
the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled. Moreover,
notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that
Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of
any or all Claims relating in whole or in part to an Indemnifiable Event
or in defense of any issue or matter therein, including dismissal without
prejudice, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses incurred
in connection therewith.
7. Burden of Proof. In connection with any determination by the Reviewing
Party or otherwise as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified
hereunder the burden of proof shall be on the Company to establish that
Indemnitee is not so entitled.
8. No Presumptions. For purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any
claim, action, suit or proceeding, by judgment, order, settlement (whether
with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo
contendere, or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption that
Indemnitee did not meet any particular standard of conduct or have any
particular belief or that a court has determined that indemnification is
not permitted by applicable law. In addition, neither the failure of the
Reviewing Party to have made a determination as to whether Indemnitee has
met any particular standard of conduct or had any particular belief, nor
an actual determination by the Reviewing Party that Indemnitee has not met
such standard of conduct or did not have such belief, prior to the
commencement of legal proceedings by Indemnitee to secure a judicial
determination that Indemnitee should be indemnified under applicable law
shall be a defense to Indemnitee's claim or create a presumption that
Indemnitee has not met any particular standard of conduct or did not have
any particular belief.
9. Nonexclusivity, Etc. The rights of the Indemnitee hereunder shall be in
addition to any other rights Indemnitee may have under the Company's
Amended and Restated Bylaws or the Delaware General Corporation Law or
otherwise. To the extent that a change in the Delaware General Corporation
Law (whether by statute or judicial decision) permits greater
indemnification by agreement than would be afforded currently under the
Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws and 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.
10. Liability Insurance. To the extent the Company maintains an insurance
policy or policies providing directors' and officers' liability insurance,
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 Company director or officer.
11. Period of Limitations. No legal action shall be brought and no cause of
action shall be asserted by or in the right of the Company against
Indemnitee, Indemnitee's spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal
representatives after the
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expiration of two years from the date of accrual of such cause of action,
and any claim or cause of action of the Company shall be extinguished and
deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action
within such two-year period; provided, however, that if any shorter period
of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of action such
shorter period shall govern.
12. Amendments, Etc. 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 provisions hereof
(whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing
waiver.
13. Subrogation. In the event of 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 shall do
everything that may be necessary to secure such rights, including the
execution of such documents necessary to enable the Company effectively to
bring suit to enforce such rights.
14. No Duplication of Payments. The Company shall not be liable under this
Agreement to make any payment in connection with any Claim made against
Indemnitee to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise actually received
payment (under any insurance policy, Bylaw or otherwise) of the amounts
otherwise indemnifiable hereunder.
15. Binding Effect, Etc. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective
successors, assigns, including any direct or indirect successor by
purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all
of the business and/or assets of the Company, spouses, heirs, executors
and personal and legal representatives. This Agreement shall continue in
effect regardless of whether Indemnitee continues to serve as an officer
or director of the Company or of any other enterprise at the Company's
request.
16. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable in the
event that any of the provisions hereof (including any provision within a
single section, paragraph or sentence) are held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable in any
respect, and the validity and enforceability of any such provision in
every other respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in
any way impaired and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent
permitted by law.
17. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable
to contracts made and to be performed in such state without giving effect
to the principles of conflicts of laws.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement
as of the 31st day of October, 2005.
By /s/ GLENN KALNASY
---------------------------------
Glenn Kalnasy
Title: On Behalf of The Board of Directors
of Belden CDT Inc.
/s/ JOHN STROUP
---------------------------------
John Stroup
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