Exhibit 10.16
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into
as of the ____ day of _____________, 2003 by and between CONN'S, INC., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and _______________________ (the
"Indemnitee").
WITNESSETH:
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WHEREAS, the interpretation of ambiguous statutes, regulations and bylaws
regarding indemnification of directors and officers may be too uncertain to
provide such directors and officers with adequate notice of the legal, financial
and other risks to which they may be exposed by virtue of their service as such;
and
WHEREAS, damages sought against directors and officers in stockholder or
similar litigation by class action plaintiffs may be substantial, and the costs
of defending such actions and of judgments in favor of plaintiffs or of
settlement therewith may be prohibitive for individual directors and officers,
without regard to the merits of a particular action and without regard to the
culpability of, or the receipt of improper personal benefit by, any named
director or officer to the detriment of the corporation; and
WHEREAS, the issues in controversy in such litigation usually relate to the
knowledge, motives and intent of the director or officer, who may be the only
person with firsthand knowledge of essential facts or exculpating circumstances
who is qualified to testify in such person's defense regarding matters of such a
subjective nature, and the long period of time which may elapse before final
disposition of such litigation may impose undue hardship and burden on a
director or officer or on such person's estate in launching and maintaining a
proper and adequate defense for a director or officer or for such person's
estate against claims for damages; and
WHEREAS, the Company is organized under the Delaware General Corporation
Law (the "DGCL") and Section 145 of the DGCL empowers corporations to indemnify
and advance expenses to a person serving as a director, officer, employee or
agent of a corporation and to a person serving at the request of the corporation
as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or employee
benefit plan, and further provides that the indemnification and advancement of
expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, said section "shall not be deemed
exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or
advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of
stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such
person's official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding
such office"; and
WHEREAS, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (as it may be
amended or amended and restated from time to time, the "Certificate of
Incorporation") provides that the Company shall indemnify certain persons to the
fullest extent permitted by the DGCL; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors and stockholders of the Company (the
"Board") have concluded that it is reasonable and prudent for the Company
contractually to obligate itself
to indemnify in a reasonable and adequate manner the Indemnitee and to assume
for itself maximum liability for expenses and damages in connection with claims
lodged against the Indemnitee for such person's decisions and actions as a
director, officer, employee or agent of the Company and its subsidiaries.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and of other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged by
each of the parties hereto, the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings
set forth below:
1.1 "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
1.2 "Change in Control" shall mean a change in the possession, direct or
indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of the Company, whether through the ownership of Voting Securities, by
contract, or otherwise.
1.3 "Corporate Status" shall mean the status of a person who is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was a member of
any committee of the Board, and the status of a person who is or was serving at
the request of the Company as a director, officer, partner (including service as
a general partner of any limited partnership), member, trustee, employee, or
agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, joint venture, trust, other incorporated or unincorporated entity or
enterprise or employee benefit plan. For the purposes of this Agreement, any
person serving as a director, officer, partner, member, trustee, employee, or
agent of any subsidiary of the Company or any employee benefit plan of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries shall be deemed to be so serving at the
request of the Company, and no corporate or other action shall be or be deemed
to be required to evidence any such request.
1.4 "Disinterested Director" shall mean a director of the Company who is
not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is being
sought by the Indemnitee.
1.5 "Expenses" shall mean any and all expenses actually and reasonably
incurred directly or indirectly in connection with a Proceeding, including,
without limitation, all attorneys' fees, retainers, court costs, transcript
costs, fees of experts, investigation fees and expenses, accounting and witness
fees, 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, investigating or being or preparing to be a
witness in a Proceeding.
1.6 "Good Faith" shall mean, when used with reference to an act or
omission of the Indemnitee, an act or omission other than (i) an act or omission
committed in bad faith and in a manner the Indemnitee believed to be opposed to
the best interests of the Company; (ii) an act or omission that was the result
of intentional misconduct involving active or deliberate dishonesty;
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(iii) an act or omission from which the Indemnitee actually received an improper
personal benefit in money, property or services; or (iv) in the case of a
criminal Proceeding, an act or omission which involves a knowing violation of
law.
1.7 "Liabilities" shall mean liabilities of any type whatsoever,
including, without limitation, any judgments, fines, excise taxes and penalties
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest,
assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect
of such judgments, fines, penalties or amounts paid in settlement) actually and
reasonably incurred directly or indirectly in connection with the investigation,
defense, settlement or appeal of any Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter
therein.
1.8 "Proceeding" shall mean any threatened, pending or completed action,
suit, proceeding, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism,
investigation, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or
completed proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or
investigative, any appeal or appeals therefrom, and any inquiry or investigation
that could lead to any of the foregoing.
1.9 "Voting Securities" shall mean any securities of the Company that
are entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.
ARTICLE 2
TERM OF AGREEMENT
This Agreement shall continue until, and terminate upon the later to occur
of (i) the death of the Indemnitee; or (ii) the final termination of all
Proceedings (including possible Proceedings) in respect of which the Indemnitee
is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of
any Proceeding commenced by the Indemnitee regarding the interpretation or
enforcement of this Agreement. This Agreement shall govern the indemnification
rights of the Indemnitee for all Liabilities and Expenses in connection with any
Proceeding instituted or commenced on or after the date hereof notwithstanding
that any alleged act or omission of the Indemnitee occurred prior to the date
hereof.
ARTICLE 3
NOTICE OF PROCEEDINGS; DEFENSE OF CLAIMS
3.1 Notice of Proceedings. The Indemnitee will notify the Company
promptly in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena,
complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding
or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses
covered hereunder, but the Indemnitee's failure to so notify the Company shall
not relieve the Company from any liability to the Indemnitee under this
Agreement, except to the extent that the Company suffers actual prejudice as a
result of such failure.
3.2 Defense of Claims. The Company will be entitled to participate, at
the expense of the Company, in any Proceeding of which the Company has notice.
The Company jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified of any
Proceeding will be entitled to assume
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the defense of the Indemnitee therein, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to
the Indemnitee; provided, however, that the Company shall not be entitled to
assume the defense of the Indemnitee in any Proceeding if there has been a
Change in Control or if the Indemnitee has reasonably concluded that there may
be a conflict of interest between the Company and the Indemnitee with respect to
such Proceeding. The Company will not be liable to the Indemnitee under this
Agreement for any Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the
defense of any Proceeding, other than reasonable costs of investigation or as
otherwise provided below, after notice from the Company to the Indemnitee of its
election to assume the defense of the Indemnitee therein. The Indemnitee shall
have the right to employ his or her own counsel in any such Proceeding, but the
fees and expenses of such counsel incurred after notice from the Company of its
assumption of the defense thereof shall be at the expense of the Indemnitee
unless (i) the employment of counsel by the Indemnitee has been authorized by
the Company; (ii) the Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that counsel
employed by the Company may not adequately represent the Indemnitee and shall
have so informed the Company; or (iii) the Company shall not in fact have
employed counsel to assume the defense of the Indemnitee in such Proceeding or
such counsel shall not, in fact, have assumed such defense or such counsel shall
not be acting, in connection therewith, with reasonable diligence; and in each
such case the fees and expenses of the Indemnitee's counsel shall be advanced by
the Company.
3.3 Settlement of Claims. The Company shall not settle any Proceeding in
any manner which would impose any Liability, penalty or limitation on the
Indemnitee, or cause the Indemnitee to become subject to or bound by any
injunction, order, judgment or decree, without the written consent of the
Indemnitee, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The
Company shall not be liable to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement or
otherwise for any amounts paid in settlement of any Proceeding effected by the
Indemnitee without the Company's written consent, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed.
ARTICLE 4
INDEMNIFICATION
4.1 In General. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement, the Company shall hold harmless and indemnify the Indemnitee
against any and all Liabilities and Expenses actually incurred by or for the
Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (whether the Indemnitee is or
becomes a party, a witness or otherwise is a participant in any role) to the
fullest extent required or permitted by applicable law in effect on the date
hereof and to such greater extent as applicable law may hereafter from time to
time require or permit. To the extent that the Indemnitee has at any time
heretofore served or at any time hereafter serves as a director, officer,
employee, partner, trustee or agent of, for, or on behalf of any subsidiary of
the Company, the Company expressly agrees and acknowledges that Indemnitee was
or is serving in each such capacity at the request of the Company.
4.2 Proceeding other Than a Proceeding by or in the Right of the
Company. Without limiting the generality of Section 4.1, if the Indemnitee was
or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (whether the
Indemnitee is or becomes a party, a witness or otherwise is a participant in any
role) (other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company) by reason of
the Indemnitee's Corporate Status, or by reason of any alleged act or omission
by
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the Indemnitee in any such capacity, the Company shall, subject to the
limitations set forth in Section 4.6 below, hold harmless and indemnify the
Indemnitee against any and all Liabilities and Expenses of the Indemnitee in
connection with the Proceeding if the Indemnitee acted in Good Faith.
4.3 Proceeding by or in the Right of the Company. Without limiting the
generality of Section 4.1, if the Indemnitee was or is a party or is threatened
to be made a party to any Proceeding (whether the Indemnitee is or becomes a
party, a witness or otherwise is a participant in any role) by or in the right
of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the Indemnitee's
Corporate Status, or by reason of any alleged act or omission by the Indemnitee
in any such capacity, the Company shall, subject to the limitations set forth in
Section 4.6 below, hold harmless and indemnify the Indemnitee against any and
all Expenses of the Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding if the
Indemnitee acted in Good Faith; except that no indemnification under this
Section 4.3 shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which
the Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged, pursuant to a judgment or other
adjudication which is final and has become nonappealable, to be liable to the
Company, unless a court of appropriate jurisdiction (including, but not limited
to, the court in which such Proceeding was brought) shall determine upon
application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the
circumstances of the case, the Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnification for such Expenses which such court shall deem proper.
4.4 Indemnification of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that the
Indemnitee is or has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of
any Proceeding, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified by the Company to the
maximum extent consistent with law against all Expenses of the Indemnitee in
connection therewith. If the Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such
Proceeding but is or has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense
of one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding,
the Company shall hold harmless and indemnify the Indemnitee to the maximum
extent consistent with law against all Expenses of the Indemnitee in connection
with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter in such Proceeding.
Resolution of a claim, issue or matter by dismissal, with or without prejudice,
shall be deemed a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.
4.5 Indemnification for Expenses of Witness. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, to the extent that the Indemnitee, by reason of the
Indemnitee's Corporate Status, has prepared to serve or has served as a witness
in any Proceeding, or has participated in discovery proceedings or other trial
preparation, the Indemnitee shall be held harmless and indemnified against all
Expenses of the Indemnitee in connection therewith.
4.6 Specific Limitations on Indemnification. In addition to the other
limitations set forth in this Article IV, and notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not be obligated under this
Agreement to make any payment to the Indemnitee for indemnification of
Liabilities or Expenses, or both, in connection with any Proceeding:
(a) To the extent that payment of any of the Liabilities or
Expenses of the Indemnitee is actually made to the Indemnitee under any
insurance policy or is made on
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behalf of the Indemnitee by or on behalf of the Company otherwise than
pursuant to this Agreement; or
(b) For an accounting of profits made from the purchase or sale by
the Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of section
16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or similar
provisions of any federal, state or local statute or regulation.
ARTICLE 5
ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in Article VI hereof, the
Company shall pay or reimburse all Expenses of the Indemnitee incurred by or for
the Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding in advance of the final
disposition of such Proceeding, provided that the Company receives an
undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amounts if it shall
ultimately be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified
by the Company under applicable law (the "Undertaking"). The Undertaking shall
reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by or for the Indemnitee. The Company
shall pay all such Expenses within five (5) business days after the receipt by
the Company of the Undertaking. The Undertaking shall be unsecured and interest
free, and shall be made and accepted by the Company without reference to the
Indemnitee's financial ability to make repayment.
ARTICLE 6
PROCEDURE FOR PAYMENT;
DETERMINATION OF RIGHT TO INDEMNIFICATION
6.1 Procedure for Payment. To obtain indemnification for Liabilities
under this Agreement, and to obtain indemnification for Expenses not paid in
advance of the final disposition of any Proceeding pursuant to Article V, the
Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request for payment, including
with such request such documentation as is reasonably available to the
Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to determine whether, and to what extent,
the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification and payment hereunder. The
Secretary of the Company, or such other person as shall be designated by the
Board of Directors, promptly upon receipt of a request for indemnification shall
advise the Board of Directors, in writing, of such request. Any indemnification
payment due hereunder shall be paid by the Company no later than five (5)
business days following the determination, pursuant to this Article VI, that
such indemnification payment is proper hereunder.
6.2 No Determination Necessary when the Indemnitee was Successful. To
the extent the Indemnitee is or has been successful on the merits or otherwise
in defense of any Proceeding, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter
therein, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee against Expenses of the
Indemnitee in connection with any such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter
therein as provided in Section 4.4.
6.3 Determination of Good Faith Act or Omission. In the event that
Section 6.2 is inapplicable with respect to any Proceeding, or any claim, issue
or matter therein, the Company shall hold harmless and indemnify the Indemnitee
as provided herein unless the Company shall
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prove by clear and convincing evidence to a forum listed in Section 6.4 that the
Indemnitee did not act in Good Faith.
6.4 Forum for Determination. If the Indemnitee is serving as a director
or officer of the Company at the time the determination is to be made, the
Indemnitee shall be entitled to select from among the following the forum in
which the validity of the Company's claim under Section 6.3 that the Indemnitee
is not entitled to indemnification will be heard:
(a) A majority vote of the directors who are Disinterested
Directors, even though less than a quorum;
(b) By a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a
majority vote of the directors who are Disinterested Directors, even though
less than a quorum;
(c) If there are no Disinterested Directors, or if such directors
so direct, independent legal counsel selected by the Indemnitee, subject to
the approval of the Board, which approval shall not be unreasonably delayed
or denied, which counsel shall make such determination in a written
opinion; or
(d) The stockholders of the Company, by the affirmative vote of the
majority of the Voting Securities present in person or by proxy and
entitled to vote on the subject matter.
If the Indemnitee is not serving as a director or officer at the time the
determination is to be made, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to select from
among the forums set forth above, or to select any other person or persons
having corporate authority to act on the matter, including, without limitation,
the Board or any committee thereof or those persons who are authorized by
statute to determine whether to indemnify directors and officers.
As soon as practicable, and in no event later than thirty (30) days after
written notice of the Indemnitee's choice of forum pursuant to this Section 6.4,
the Company shall, at the expense of the Company, submit to the selected forum,
in such manner as the Indemnitee or the Indemnitee's counsel may reasonably
request, its claim that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, and
the Company shall act in the utmost good faith to assure the Indemnitee a
complete opportunity to defend against such claim. The fees and expenses of the
selected forum in connection with making the determination contemplated
hereunder shall be paid by the Company. If the Company shall fail to submit the
matter to the selected forum within thirty (30) days after the Indemnitee's
written notice, or if the forum so empowered to make the determination shall
have failed to make the requested determination within thirty (30) days after
the matter has been submitted to it by the Company, the requisite determination
that the Indemnitee has the right to indemnification hereunder shall be deemed
to have been made by a majority vote of the directors who are Disinterested
Directors, even though less than a quorum.
6.5 Right to Appeal. Notwithstanding a determination by any forum
listed in Section 6.4 that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification
with respect to a specific Proceeding, or any claim, issue or matter therein,
the Indemnitee shall have the right to apply to the court in which that
Proceeding is or was pending, or to any other court of competent jurisdiction,
for the purpose of enforcing the Indemnitee's right to indemnification pursuant
to
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this Agreement. Such enforcement action shall consider the Indemnitee's
entitlement to indemnification de novo, and the Indemnitee shall not be
prejudiced by reason of a prior determination that the Indemnitee is not
entitled to indemnification. The Company shall be precluded from asserting that
the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and
enforceable. The Company further agrees to stipulate in any such judicial
proceeding that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement and
is precluded from making any assertion to the contrary.
6.6 Right to Seek Judicial Determination. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement to the contrary, at any time after sixty (60) days
after a request for indemnification has been made to the Company (or upon
earlier receipt of written notice that a request for indemnification has been
rejected or the expiration of time within which any such payment must be made
hereunder) and before the third (3rd) anniversary of the making of such
indemnification request, the Indemnitee may petition a court of competent
jurisdiction, whether or not such court has jurisdiction over, or is the forum
in which is pending, the Proceeding, to determine whether the Indemnitee is
entitled to indemnification hereunder, and such court thereupon shall have the
exclusive authority to make such determination, unless and until such court
dismisses or otherwise terminates the Indemnitee's action without having made
such determination. The court, as petitioned, shall make an independent
determination of whether the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification
hereunder, without regard to any prior determination in any other forum as
provided hereby.
6.7 Expenses under this Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision
in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee
against all Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with any hearing,
action, suit or proceeding under this Article VI involving the Indemnitee and
against all Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with any other
hearing, action, suit or proceeding between the Company and the Indemnitee
involving the interpretation or enforcement of the rights of the Indemnitee
under this Agreement, even if it is finally determined that the Indemnitee is
not entitled to indemnification in whole or in part hereunder.
ARTICLE 7
PRESUMPTIONS AND EFFECT OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS
7.1 Burden of Proof. In making a determination with respect to
entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons, entity or
entities making such determination shall presume that the Indemnitee is entitled
to indemnification under this Agreement and the Company shall have the burden of
proof to overcome that presumption.
7.2 Standards for Determining if Expenses Reasonably Incurred. It is a
purpose of this Agreement to induce the most highly qualified individuals to
accept positions of responsibility with the Company and, in so doing, to serve
as directors, officers, employees and agents of the Company. Accordingly, the
Company desires to provide the Indemnitee with the highest quality professional
services available if the Indemnitee becomes a party to or is otherwise involved
in a Proceeding because of the Indemnitee's Corporate Status without the
Indemnitee's incurring any personal Expense in connection therewith. The Company
therefore agrees that, subject to the provisions of Section 3.2, the Indemnitee
may retain attorneys,
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accountants, investment bankers, and other professionals and experts anywhere
within the United States to represent the Indemnitee in any Proceeding in the
United States, that the Indemnitee may retain attorneys, accountants, investment
bankers, and other professionals without regard to location if the Proceeding is
not in the United States, and that the Company will not deny any request for
indemnification hereunder on the basis that the Expenses of any such attorneys,
accountants, investment bankers, or other professionals and experts are not or
have not been reasonably incurred because of the location of any such attorneys,
accountants, investment bankers, or other professionals and experts. The Company
further agrees that, for the purpose of determining if an Expense for
professional services, including, without limitation, fees of attorneys,
accountants, investment bankers, and other professionals and experts, is or has
been reasonably incurred, or for the purpose of determining the reasonableness
of any such Expense, the standard to be used shall be the highest rates per hour
or fees charged by attorneys specializing in the defense of individuals in
Proceedings similar to the Proceeding to which the Indemnitee is a party or
otherwise involved in the city or cities in which such attorneys are located,
and the highest rates per hour or fees charged by accountants, investment
bankers, and other professionals and experts assisting or participating in the
defense of individuals in Proceedings similar to the Proceeding to which the
Indemnitee is a party or otherwise involved in the city or cities in which such
accountants, investment bankers, and other professionals and experts are
located. In addition to the foregoing, the Company has determined that it is in
the Company's best interests that any director, officer, employee or agent of
Company who is involved in any Proceeding because of such person's Corporate
Status maintain to the greatest extent possible the confidentiality of matters
pertaining to such Proceeding, and that such person's participation in such
Proceeding be on conditions as similar as reasonably possible to conditions as
if such person were participating in the city of such person's personal
residence. Due to the continuing deterioration in commercial travel conditions,
however, it is increasingly more difficult to achieve this result, and,
accordingly, the Company desires to provide the Indemnitee with travel
arrangements that come most closely to achieving this result. The Company
therefore agrees that, for the purpose of determining whether any Expense
hereunder for travel related items is or has been reasonably incurred, or for
the purpose of determining the reasonableness of any such Expense, the standards
to be used shall be the non-stop first class airfare between destinations and
the daily non-discounted room rates charged by the highest rated hotel in the
destination city. Any Expense actually incurred for or on behalf of the
Indemnitee by any firm providing professional services, including, without
limitation, attorneys, accountants, investment bankers, and other professionals
and experts, to the Indemnitee in any Proceeding shall be deemed to be
reasonably incurred and reasonable. In determining whether any other Expense is
or has been reasonably incurred, or whether any such other Expense is
reasonable, the standard to be used shall be commensurate with the foregoing. In
the event the Company determines not to indemnify the Indemnitee hereunder for
any Expense on the basis that any such Expense was or has not been reasonably
incurred, the Company agrees that it must prove by clear and convincing evidence
that the professional or other services rendered for and on behalf of the
Indemnitee, or the goods or services received by or provided for or on behalf of
the Indemnitee, provided (i) no value whatsoever; and (ii) bore no reasonable
relationship whatsoever, to the defense of the Indemnitee in the Proceeding. In
the event the Company determines not to indemnify the Indemnitee hereunder for
any Expense on the basis that any such Expense is or was not reasonable, the
Company agrees that it must prove by clear and
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convincing evidence that the challenged Expense is so grossly in excess of the
fair market value for the same or similar Expense as to be manifestly unfair.
7.3 Effect of other Proceedings. The termination of any Proceeding or
of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement,
conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of
itself, create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not act in Good Faith.
7.4 Reliance as Safe Harbor. For purposes of any determination of
whether any act or omission of the Indemnitee was done or made in Good Faith,
each act or omission of the Indemnitee shall be deemed to be in Good Faith if
the Indemnitee's act or omission is based on the records or books of accounts of
the Company, including financial statements, or on information supplied to the
Indemnitee by the officers of the Company in the course of their duties, or on
the advice of legal counsel for the Company, or on information or records given
or reports made to the Company by an independent certified public accountant or
by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Company.
The provisions of this Section 7.4 shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to
limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed
to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement or
under applicable law.
7.5 Actions of Others. The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act,
of any other director, officer, agent or employee of the Company shall not be
imputed to the Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to
indemnification under this Agreement.
ARTICLE 8
INSURANCE; OTHER INDEMNIFICATION ARRANGEMENTS
8.1 Insurance. In the event that the Company maintains officers' and
directors' or similar liability insurance to protect itself or any director or
officer of the Company against any expense, liability or loss, such insurance
shall cover the Indemnitee to at least the same degree as each other director
and/or officer of the Company.
8.2 Other Arrangements. The Bylaws of the Company and the DGCL permit
the Company to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of the Indemnitee
against any Liability asserted against or incurred by him or any Expenses
incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with actions taken or omissions
by the Indemnitee in his Corporate Status, whether or not the Company would have
the power to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement or under the DGCL, as
they may be in effect from time to time. The purchase of any such insurance
shall in no way affect or limit the rights and obligations of the Indemnitee and
the Company hereunder, except as expressly provided herein, and the execution
and delivery of this Agreement by the Indemnitee and the Company shall in no way
affect or limit the rights and obligations of such parties under or with respect
to any other such Indemnification Arrangement (as defined in Section 10.1).
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ARTICLE 9
OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY UPON A CHANGE IN CONTROL
In the event of a Change in Control, upon written request of the Indemnitee
the Company shall establish a trust for the benefit of the Indemnitee hereunder
(a "Trust") and from time to time, upon written request from the Indemnitee,
shall fund the Trust in an amount sufficient to satisfy all amounts that may
from time to time be payable to the Indemnitee hereunder as indemnification for
Liabilities or Expenses (including those that are required to be paid in advance
hereunder). The amount or amounts to be deposited in the Trust shall be
determined by legal counsel selected by the Indemnitee and approved by the
Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. The terms of the
Trust shall provide that (i) the Trust shall not be dissolved or the principal
thereof invaded without the written consent of the Indemnitee; (ii) the trustee
of the Trust (the "Trustee") shall be selected by the Indemnitee; (iii) the
Trustee shall make advances to the Indemnitee for Expenses within five (5)
business days following receipt of a written request therefor and the
Undertaking; (iv) the Company shall continue to fund the Trust from time to time
in accordance with its funding obligations hereunder; (v) the Trustee promptly
shall pay to the Indemnitee all amounts as to which indemnification is due under
this Agreement; (vi) unless the Indemnitee agrees otherwise in writing, the
Trust for the Indemnitee shall be kept separate from any other trust established
for any other person to whom indemnification might be due by the Company; and
(vii) all unexpended funds in the Trust shall revert to the Company upon final,
nonappealable determination by a court of competent jurisdiction that the
Indemnitee has been indemnified to the full extent required under this
Agreement.
ARTICLE 10
NON-EXCLUSIVITY, SUBROGATION AND MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 Non-Exclusivity. The rights of the Indemnitee hereunder shall not be
deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the Indemnitee may at any time be
entitled under any provision of law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the
Bylaws of the Company, as the same may be in effect from time to time, any other
agreement, a vote of stockholders of the Company or a resolution of directors of
the Company or otherwise (each an "Indemnification Arrangement"), and to the
extent that during the term of this Agreement the rights of the then-existing
directors and officers of the Company are more favorable to such directors or
officers than the rights currently provided to the Indemnitee under this
Agreement, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to the full benefits of such more
favorable rights. No amendment, alteration, rescission or replacement of this
Agreement or any provision hereof which would in any way limit the benefits and
protections afforded to an Indemnitee hereby shall be effective as to such
Indemnitee with respect to any act or omission by such Indemnitee in the
Indemnitee's Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration, rescission or
replacement.
10.2 Subrogation. 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 the Indemnitee, who shall execute all documents 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.
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10.3 Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) if
delivered by hand, by courier or by telegram and receipted for by the party to
whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed at the time
indicated on such receipt; (ii) if by facsimile, at the time shown on the
confirmation of such facsimile transmission; or (iii) if by U.S. certified or
registered mail, with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date
on which it is so mailed: if to the Indemnitee, to the address shown with the
Indemnitee's signature below; if to the Company to:
Conn's, Inc.
3925 College Street
Beaumont, Texas 77701
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Facsimile No. (409) 212-9521
With a copy to: Winstead Sechrest & Minick P.C.
1201 Elm Street
5400 Renaissance Tower
Dallas, TX 75270
Attn: Thomas W. Hughes, Esq.
Fax No: (214) 745-5390
or to such other address as may have been furnished to the Indemnitee by the
Company or to the Company by the Indemnitee, as the case may be.
10.4 Governing Law. The parties agree that this Agreement shall be
governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the substantive laws
of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of choice of laws
thereof.
10.5 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators,
legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement cannot
be assigned by the Company, either directly or indirectly, by purchase, merger,
consolidation or otherwise, without the express written consent of the
Indemnitee unless the Company shall have received, prior to such assignment,
from any successor or assignee (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger,
consolidation or otherwise) a written agreement, in form, scope and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to be
bound by and to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent
as the Company would be required to perform absent such succession or
assignment.
10.6 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or
unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of
this Agreement will remain in full force and effect. Any provision of this
Agreement held invalid or unenforceable only in part or degree will remain in
full force and effect to the extent not held invalid or unenforceable. It is the
express intention and agreement of the Company and the Indemnitee that any court
of competent jurisdiction that interprets or enforces this Agreement have full
power and authority to reform any provision of this Agreement to modify the
invalid or unenforceable provision to achieve the parties' intent to provide the
Indemnitee with indemnification for Liabilities and Expenses to the maximum
extent permitted by applicable law.
10.7 Waiver. No termination, cancellation, modification, amendment,
deletion, addition or other change in this Agreement, or any provision hereof,
or waiver of any right or remedy herein, shall be effective for any purpose
unless specifically set forth in a writing signed by the party or parties to be
bound thereby. The waiver of any right or remedy with respect to any occurrence
on one occasion shall not be deemed a waiver of such right or remedy with
respect to such occurrence on any other occasion.
10.8 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
and understanding among the parties hereto in reference to the subject matter
hereof; provided, however, that the parties acknowledge and agree that the DGCL
and the Certificate of
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Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company and each of its subsidiaries contain
provisions on the subject matter hereof and that this Agreement is not intended
to, and does not, limit the rights or obligations of the parties hereto pursuant
to the DGCL or such instruments, or under any other contract, agreement,
insurance policy or other instrument or document heretofore or hereafter
existing which provides to the Indemnitee any right of indemnification or
reimbursement of any nature whatsoever or requirement that the Company carry any
directors and officers insurance.
10.9 Titles. The titles to the articles and sections of this Agreement
are inserted for convenience of reference only and should not be deemed a part
hereof or affect the construction or interpretation of any provisions hereof.
10.10 Pronouns and Plurals. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun
used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or
neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include
the plural and vice versa.
10.11 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together constitute one agreement binding on all the parties hereto.
[Remainder of This Page Intentionally Left Blank. Signature Page Follows.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the day and year first above written.
CONN'S, INC.
By:
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Name:
--------------------------------
Title:
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INDEMNITEE
By:
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Name:
--------------------------------
Title:
-------------------------------
Address:
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