Indemnification Agreement between BJ Services Company and Director/Officer
This agreement is between BJ Services Company and an individual serving as a director or officer. It ensures that the company will cover legal expenses and liabilities the individual may face while performing their duties, as long as they act in good faith and in the company's best interests. The agreement also provides for the advancement of expenses and applies to various legal proceedings, except in cases where the individual is found liable to the company or prohibited by law. The agreement supplements, but does not replace, the company's existing bylaws and certificate of incorporation.
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is effective as of _____________________, 2004, by and among BJ Services Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and ___________________________ (the "Indemnitee").
WHEREAS, the Indemnitee has been asked to serve on the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") [and/or] has been elected an officer of the Company;
WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify persons serving as officers and/or directors of the Company to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve as officers and/or directors of the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;
WHEREAS, the Indemnitee is willing to serve and continue to serve as an officer [and/or] a director of the Company on the condition that he be so indemnified; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by law, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the "Certificate") and the provisions of the Bylaws of the Company (the "Bylaws") or resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of the Indemnitee thereunder;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and the Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
- Services by the Indemnitee . The Indemnitee agrees to continue to serve at the request of the Company as an officer [and/or] director of the Company (including, without limitation, service on one or more committees of the Board). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from any such position.
- Indemnification - General . The Company shall indemnify, and advance Expenses (as hereinafter defined) to, the Indemnitee as provided in this Agreement and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law in effect on the date hereof and to such greater extent as applicable law may thereafter from time to time permit. The rights of the Indemnitee provided under the preceding sentence shall include, but shall not be limited to, the rights set forth in the other Sections of this Agreement.
- Proceedings Other Than Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company . The 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 or participant in any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding (as hereinafter defined), other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company. Pursuant to this Section 3, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee against Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement (as and to the extent permitted hereunder) actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, if he also had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
- Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company . The Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 4 if, by reason of his Corporate Status, he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 4, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee against Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no indemnification against such Expenses shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter in such Proceeding as to which the Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company or if applicable law prohibits such indemnification; provided, however, that if applicable law so permits, indemnification against Expenses shall nevertheless be made by the Company in such event if and to the extent that the court in which such Proceeding shall have been brought or is pending, shall so determine.
- Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful .
- Indemnification for Expenses as a Witness . Notwithstanding any provisions herein to the contrary, to the extent that the Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in connection therewith.
- Advancement of Expenses . The Company shall advance all reasonable Expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding within 10 days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements from the Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after the final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee. The Indemnitee hereby expressly undertakes to repay such amounts advanced only if, and to the extent that, it shall ultimately be determined by a final, non-appealable adjudication or arbitration decision that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses. All amounts advanced to the Indemnitee by the Company pursuant to this Section 7 shall be without interest. The Company shall make all advances pursuant to this Section 7 without regard to the financial abili ty of the Indemnitee to make repayment, without bond or other security and without regard to the prospect of whether the Indemnitee may ultimately be found to be entitled to indemnification under the provisions of this Agreement. Any required reimbursement of Expenses by the Indemnitee shall be made by the Indemnitee to the Company within 10 days following the entry of the final, non-appealable adjudication or arbitration decision pursuant to which it is determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses.
- Procedure for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification.
- To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request therefor, along with such documentation and information as is reasonably available to the Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that the Indemnitee has requested indemnification.
- Upon written request by the Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of Section 8(a) hereof, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to the Indemnitee's entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case: (i) by the Board by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter defined); or (ii) if a quorum of the Board consisting of Disinterested Directors is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, such quorum of Disinterested Directors so directs, by Independent Counsel (as hereinafter defined), as selected pursuant to Section 8(d), in a written opinion to the Board (which opinion may be a "more likely than not" opinion), a copy of which shall be delivered to the Indemnitee. If it is so determined that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall make payment to the Indemnitee within 10 days after such determination. The Indemnitee shall cooperate with the Person or Persons making such determination with respect to the Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such Person or Persons upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to the Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Subject to the provisions of Section 10 hereof, any costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements) incurred by the Indemnitee in so cooperating with the Person or Persons making such determination shall be borne by the Company, and the Company hereby agrees to indemnify and hold the Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
- Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change of Control has occurred, the Indemnitee may require a determination with respect to the Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification to be made by Independent Counsel, as selected pursuant to Section 8(d), in a written opinion to the Board (which opinion may be a "more likely than not" opinion), a copy of which shall be delivered to the Indemnitee.
- In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 8(b) or (c) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 8(d). If a Change of Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board (including a vote of a majority of the Disinterested Directors if obtainable), and the Company shall give written notice to the 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 the Indemnitee (unless the Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and approved by the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld). If (i) an Independent Counsel is to make the determination of entitlement pursuant to Section 8(b) or (c) hereof, and (ii) within 20 days after submission by the Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 8(a) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected, either the Company or the Indemnitee may petition the appropriate court of the State (as hereafter defined) or other court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a Person selected by such court or by such other Person as such court shall designate. The Company shall pay any and all reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in connection with acting pursuant to Section 8(b) or (c) hereof, and the Company shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 8(d), 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 10(a)(iv) of this Agreement, Independen t Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).
- Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings; Construction of Certain Phrases.
- In making a determination with respect to whether the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, the Reviewing Party making such determination shall presume that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if the Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 8(a) of this Agreement, and anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion, by clear and convincing evidence.
- Subject to the terms of Section 16 below, the termination of any Proceeding 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 the Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
- For purposes of any determination of the Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement or otherwise, the Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believe to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to a criminal Proceeding, to have also had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, if the Indemnitee's action is based on the records or books of account of the Company or another enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to the Indemnitee by the officers of the Company or another enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal or financial counsel for the Company or the Board (or any committee thereof) or for another enterprise or its board of directors (or any committee thereof), or on information or records given or reports made by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected by the Co mpany or the Board (or any committee thereof) or by another enterprise or its board of directors (or any committee thereof). For purposes of this Section 9(c), the term "another enterprise" means any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which the Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent. The provisions of this Section 9(c) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed or found to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement. In addition, the knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, 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. Whether or not the foregoing provisions of this Section 9(c) are satisfied, it shall in any event be presumed that the Indemnitee has acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to a criminal Proceeding, that he also had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion, by clear and convincing evidence.
- For purposes of this Agreement, references to "fines" shall include any excise taxes assessed on the Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan; references to "serving at the request of the Company" shall include, but shall not be limited to, any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, the Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or its beneficiaries; and if the Indemnitee has acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan, he shall be deemed to have acted in a manner "not opposed to the best interests of the Company" as used in this Agreement. The provisions of this Section 9(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed or found to have met the applicable stand ard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.
(a) To the extent that the Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a party to and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith. If the Indemnitee is not wholly successful in defense of any Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with each such claim, issue or matter as to which the Indemnitee is successful, on the merits or otherwise. For purposes of this Section 5(a), the term "successful, on the merits or otherwise," shall include, but shall not be limited to, (i) the termination of any claim, issue or matter in a Proceeding by withdrawal or dismissal, with or withou t prejudice, (ii) termination of any claim, issue or matter in a Proceeding by any other means without any express finding of liability or guilt against the Indemnitee, with or without prejudice, (iii) the expiration of 120 days after the making of a claim or threat of a Proceeding without the institution of the same and without any promise or payment made to induce a settlement or (iv) the settlement of any claim, issue or matter in a Proceeding pursuant to which the Indemnitee pays less than $200,000. The provisions of this Section 5(a) are subject to Section 5(b) below.
(b) In no event shall the Indemnitee be entitled to indemnification under Section 5(a) above with respect to a claim, issue or matter to the extent (i) applicable law prohibits such indemnification, or (ii) an admission is made by the Indemnitee in writing to the Company or in such Proceeding or a final, nonappealable determination is made in such Proceeding that the standard of conduct required for indemnification under this Agreement has not been met with respect to such claim, issue or matter.
- In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement, (iii) the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the Board pursuant to Section 8(b) of this Agreement and such determination shall not have been made and delivered to the Indemnitee in writing within twenty (20) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 8(b) or (c) of this Agreement and such determination shall not have been made in a written opinion to the Board and a copy delivered to the Indemnitee within forty-five (45) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (v) payment of indemnification i s not made pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement within 10 days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor or (vi) payment of indemnification is not made within 10 days after a determination has been made that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or such determination is deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 8 or 9 of this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate court of the State of his entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses. Alternatively, the Indemnitee, at his sole option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Indemnitee shall commence such Proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which the Indemnitee first has the right to commence such Proceeding pursuant to this Section 10(a); provided, however, tha t the foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a Proceeding brought by the Indemnitee to enforce his rights under Section 5 of this Agreement.
- In the event that a determination is made pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial or a de novo arbitration (as applicable) on the merits, and the Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10, the Company shall have the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, and the Company shall be precluded from referring to or offering into evidence a determination made pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement that is adverse to the Indemnitee's right to indemnification. If the Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this Section 10, the Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advances pursuant to Section 7 until a final determination is made with respect to the Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification (as to which rights of appeal have been exhausted or lapsed).
- If a determination is made or deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 8 or 9 of this Agreement that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10, absent (i) a misstatement by the Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission by the Indemnitee of a material fact necessary to make the Indemnitee's statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.
- The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10 that the procedures and presumptions of this 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 of the provisions of this Agreement.
- In the event that the Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 10, seeks a judicial adjudication or an award in arbitration to enforce his rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover from the Company, and shall be indemnified by the Company against, any and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him in such judicial adjudication or arbitration, unless the court or arbitrator determines that each of the Indemnitee's claims in such Proceeding were made in bad faith or were frivolous. In the event that a Proceeding is commenced by or in the right of the Company against the Indemnitee to enforce or interpret any of the terms of this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover from the Company, and shall be indemnified by the Company against, any and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him in such Proceeding (including with respect to any counter-claims or cross-claims made by the Indemn itee against the Company in such Proceeding), unless the court or arbitrator determines that each of the Indemnitee's material defenses in such Proceeding were made in bad faith or were frivolous.
- Any judicial adjudication or arbitration determined under this Section 10 shall be final and binding on the parties.
- the Company, except for (i) any claim or Proceeding in respect of this Agreement and/or the Indemnitee's rights hereunder, (ii) any claim or Proceeding to establish or enforce a right to indemnification under any statute or law and (iii) any counter-claim or cross-claim brought or made by him against the Company in any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company against him; or
- any other Person, except for Proceedings or claims approved by the Board.
- The Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain in effect during the entire period for which the Company is obligated to indemnify the Indemnitee under this Agreement, one or more policies of insurance with reputable insurance companies to provide the directors and officers of the Company with coverage for losses from wrongful acts and omissions and to ensure the Company's performance of its indemnification obligations under this Agreement. In all such insurance policies, the Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide the Indemnitee with the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the Company's directors and officers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no obligation to obtain or maintain such insurance if the Company determines in good faith that the Indemnitee is covered by such insurance maintained by a subsidiary or parent of the Company.
- To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors or officers of any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which the Indemnitee serves at the request of the Company, the Indemnitee shall be named as an insured under and shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for the most favorably insured director or officer under such policy or policies.
- In the event that the Company is a named insured under any policy or policies of insurance referenced in either Section 14(a) or (b) above, the Company hereby covenants and agrees that it will not settle any claims or Proceedings that may be covered by such policy or policies of insurance and in which the Indemnitee has or may incur Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines or amounts paid in settlement without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee.
- "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person. For purposes hereof, "control" (including, with correlative meaning, the terms "controlling", "controlled by" and "under common control with") means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management and policies of such Person, by contract or otherwise.
- "Change of Control" shall mean a change in control of the Company occurring after the date of this Agreement of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or in response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act, whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement. Without limiting the foregoing, such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if, after the date of this Agreement, (i) any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 20% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors without the prior approval of at least tw o-thirds of the members of the Board 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 in office immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board thereafter; (iii) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board (including for this purpose any new director whose election or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders 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; or (iv) approval by the shareholders of the Company of a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
- "Company" means BJ Services Company, a Delaware corporation.
- "Corporate Status" describes the status of an individual who is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of the Company or any of the Company's Affiliates, or is or was serving at the request of the Company or any of its Affiliates as an officer, director, employee, agent or trustee of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise.
- "Disinterested Director" means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to, or otherwise involved in, the Proceeding for which indemnification is sought by the Indemnitee.
- "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
- "Expenses" shall include all reasonable attorneys' fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, 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.
- "Independent Counsel" means a law firm or a member of a law firm that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five (5) years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or the Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding 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 the Indemnitee in an action to determine the Indemnitee's rights under this Agreement.
- "Person" means a natural person, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation, company, limited liability company, trust, business trust, estate or other entity.
- "Proceeding" includes any action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, administrative hearing or any other proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative.
- "State" means the State of Texas.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement effective as of the day and year first above written.
ATTEST: BJ SERVICES COMPANY
By:___________________________ By:
Name: ________________________ Name:
Title: ________________________ Title:
INDEMNITEE
Name:_________________________________
Address: