FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

EX-10.1 6 a06-2033_1ex10d1.htm MATERIAL CONTRACTS

Exhibit 10.1

 

FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

THIS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into this        day of November, 2005 between ValueClick, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and              (“Indemnitee”).

 

WITNESSETH THAT:

 

WHEREAS, Indemnitee performs a valuable service for the Company; and

 

WHEREAS, the Bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”) require indemnification of its directors (the “Directors”) and executive officers (the “Officers”) to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law and provide that those indemnification rights are not exclusive; and

 

WHEREAS, the Bylaws specifically authorize the Company to enter into individual contracts with any or all of its directors, officers, employees or agents regarding indemnification and advancement of expenses; and

 

WHEREAS, Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (“Law”), by its nonexclusive nature permits contracts between the Company and the Officers and Directors of the Company with respect to indemnification of such Officers and Directors; and

 

WHEREAS, in accordance with the authorization as provided by the Law, the Company may purchase and maintain a policy or policies of Directors’ and Officers’ liability insurance (“D & O Insurance”), covering certain liabilities which may be incurred by its Officers and Directors in the performance of their obligations as Officers and Directors of the Company; and

 

WHEREAS, as a result of recent developments affecting the terms, scope and availability of D & O Insurance there exists general uncertainty as to the extent of protection afforded the Company’s Officers and Directors by such D & O Insurance and said uncertainty also exists under statutory and bylaw indemnification provisions; and

 

WHEREAS, in recognition of past services and in order to induce Indemnitee to continue to serve as an officer and/or a director of the Company, the Company has determined and agreed to enter into this contract with Indemnitee;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of Indemnitee’s continued service as an officer and/or a director after the date hereof, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.         Indemnity of Indemnitee. The Company hereby agrees to hold harmless and indemnify to the full extent authorized or permitted by the provisions of the Law, as such may be amended from time to time, and Article VIII of the Certificate, as such may be amended. In furtherance of the foregoing indemnification, and without limiting the generality thereof:

 



 

(a)        Proceedings Other Than Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 1(a) 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 Proceeding (as hereinafter defined) other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company. Pursuant to this Section 1(a), Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses (as hereinafter defined), judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement 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, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

 

(b)       Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 1(b) if, by reason of his Corporate Status, he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 1(b), Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all 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; provided, however, that, if applicable law so provides, no indemnification against such Expenses shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter in such Proceeding as to which Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or the court in which such Proceeding shall have been brought or is pending, shall determine that such indemnification may be made.

 

(c)        Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a party to and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, he shall be indemnified to the maximum extent permitted by law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such 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 Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

2.         Additional Indemnity.

 

(a)        Subject only to the exclusions set forth in Section 2(b) hereof, the Company hereby further agrees to hold harmless and indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses, judgments, decisions of arbitrators, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (including an action by or on behalf of the Company) to which Indemnitee is, was or at any time becomes a party, or is threatened to be made a party, by reason of his Corporate Status; provided, however, that with respect to actions by or on behalf of the Company, indemnification of Indemnitee against any judgments shall be made by the Company only as authorized in the specific case upon a

 

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determination that Indemnitee 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

 

(b)       No indemnity pursuant to this Section 2 shall be paid by the Company:

 

(i)        In respect to remuneration paid to Indemnitee if it shall be determined by a final judgment or other final adjudication that such remuneration was in violation of law;

 

(ii)       On account of any suit in which judgment is rendered against Indemnitee for an accounting of profits made from the purchase or sale by Indemnitee of securities of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and amendments thereto or similar provisions of any federal, state or local statutory law;

 

(iii)      On account of Indemnitee’s conduct which is finally adjudged to have been knowingly fraudulent or deliberately dishonest, or to constitute willful misconduct; or

 

(iv)      If a final decision by a court having jurisdiction in the matter shall determine that such indemnification is not lawful.

 

3.         Contribution.

 

(a)        If the indemnification provided in Sections 1 and 2 is unavailable in whole or in part and may not be paid to Indemnitee for any reason other than those set forth in paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) of Section 2(b), then in respect to any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), to the fullest extent permissible under applicable law,  the Company, in lieu of indemnifying and holding harmless Indemnitee, shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for Expenses, judgments, decisions of arbitrators, fines, penalties, and/or amounts paid or to be paid in settlement, in connection with any Proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment, and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have at any time against Indemnitee.

 

(b)       Without Indemnitee’s prior written consent, the Company shall not enter into any settlement of any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding) unless such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee.

 

(c)        The Company hereby agrees to fully indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee from any claims for contribution which may be brought by Officers, Directors or employees of the Company (other than Indemnitee) who may be jointly liable with Indemnitee.

 

4.         Indemnification For Expenses Of A Witness. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, he shall be indemnified and held

 

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harmless against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith.

 

5.         Advancement Of Expenses. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall advance all reasonable Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status within ten days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by an undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay any Expenses advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses. Any advances and undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section 5 shall be unsecured and interest free. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligation of the Company to advance Expenses pursuant to this Section 5 shall be subject to the condition that, if, when and to the extent that the Company determines that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law, the Company shall be entitled to be reimbursed, within thirty (30) days of such determination, 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 Company 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 advance of Expenses until a final judicial determination is made with respect thereto (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed).

 

6.         Procedure For Determination Of Entitlement To Indemnification.

 

(a)        To obtain indemnification (including, but not limited to, the advancement of Expenses and contribution by the Company) under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company, in a written request directed to Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. The Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon the Company’s receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board of Directors in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

 

(b)       Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of Section 6(a) hereof, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case:  (i) if a Change in Control (as hereinafter defined) shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel (as hereinafter defined) in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such determination be made by the Board of Directors or the stockholders, in which case the determination shall be made in the manner provided in Clause (ii) below), or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (A) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter defined), or (B) if a quorum of the Board of Directors consisting of Disinterested Directors is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, said Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel

 

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in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (C) if so directed by said Disinterested Directors, by the stockholders of the Company; and, if it is determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Independent Counsel, member of the Board of Directors, or stockholder of the Company shall act reasonably and in good faith in making a determination under the Agreement of the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification. Any costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

 

(c)        If the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 6(c). If a Change in Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board of Directors, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising him of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. If a Change in Control shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board of Directors, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within 10 days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 15 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If a written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within 20 days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or other court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 6(b) hereof. 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 6(b) hereof, and the Company shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses of Indemnitee incident to the procedures of this Section 6(c), regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to

 

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Section 9(a)(iii) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

7.         Defense by the Company.

 

(a)        With respect to any Proceeding (other than a Proceedings by or in the rights of the Company) to which Indemnitee is or becomes a party, the Company may, in its sole discretion and except as otherwise provided below, assume the defense of such Proceeding using counsel selected by the Company, but subject to Indemnitee’s reasonable approval. Any defense so assumed by the Company may be conducted jointly with any other indemnifying party. In the event the Company elects to assume the defense of a Proceeding, the Company shall provide notice of the same to Indemnitee and, after Indemnitee’s receipt of such notice, Indemnitee shall have the right to employ separate legal counsel, but any legal fees and expenses thereafter incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the defense of such Proceeding shall not be subject to indemnification by the Company (except for reasonable costs of transitioning the defense to the Company’s counsel and reasonable costs of investigation) unless:  (i) the Company has authorized, in writing, such separate counsel; (ii) there exists an actual conflict of interest between the Company and Indemnitee; or (iii) the Company has not in fact employed or ceases to employ counsel in such defense. In addition, if, under applicable laws and rules of attorney professional conduct, there exists a potential, but not actual, conflict of interest between the Company and Indemnitee, the Company’s indemnification and Expense advancement obligations to Indemnitee under this Agreement shall include reasonable legal fees and reasonable costs incurred by Indemnitee for separate counsel retained by Indemnitee to monitor the litigation (so that such separate counsel may assume Indemnitee’s defense if the conflict of interest between the Company and Indemnitee becomes an actual conflict of interest). The existence of an actual or potential conflict, and whether any such conflict may be waived, shall be determined pursuant to the rules of attorney professional conduct and applicable law.

 

(b)       The Company shall not be required to obtain the consent of the Indemnitee for the settlement of any Proceeding the Company has undertaken to defend if the Company assumes full and sole responsibility for each such settlement; provided, however, that the Company shall be required to obtain Indemnitee’s prior written approval, which may be granted or withheld in Indemnitee’s sole, reasonable discretion, before entering into any settlement which (i) does not grant Indemnitee a complete and unqualified release of liability; (ii) would impose any penalty or limitation on Indemnitee or (b) would admit any liability or misconduct by Indemnitee.

 

8.         Presumptions And Effect Of Certain Proceedings.

 

(a)        In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 6(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption.

 

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(b)       If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 6 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 30 day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional fifteen (15) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 7(b) shall not apply (i) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement and if (A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination the Board of Directors or the Disinterested Directors, if appropriate, resolve to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within seventy five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement, in which case the determination of entitlement shall be made within thirty (30) days after the earlier of the date on which (a) the non-selecting party has agreed to the selection of Independent Counsel; (b) the time for objection to the selection of Independent Counsel has expired; or (c) any objection to the selection of Independent Counsel has been resolved.

 

(c)        The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement (with or without court approval), conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that 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 and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

 

(d)       For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have 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 action or proceeding, to have had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful, if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise (as hereinafter defined), including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the Officers and Directors of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Enterprise. In addition, the knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to

 

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Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement. The provisions of this Section 8(d) 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.

 

(e)        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the parties acknowledge and agree that the entry of a guilty plea by Indemnitee in a criminal Proceeding shall, for purposes of this Agreement, be deemed to be a final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal, irrespective of whether a sentence has been entered on such guilty plea, and an ultimate determination of Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Agreement may be made on the basis of such plea.

 

9.         Remedies Of Indemnitee.

 

(a)        In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 5 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement within 90 days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, or (v) payment of indemnification is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or such determination is deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 6 or 8 of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate court of the State of Delaware, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, of his entitlement to such indemnification. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single neutral arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 8(a); provided, however, that no failure to commence such proceeding within 180 days shall be deemed to reduce or limit the Company’s obligations under this Agreement unless (and only to the extent) such failure materially prejudices the Company. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

 

(b)       In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 9 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.

 

(c)        If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 9, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

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(d)       In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 9, seeks a judicial adjudication of or an award in arbitration to enforce his rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, the Company shall indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless against any and all expenses (of the type described in the definition of Expenses in Section 15 of this Agreement) and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefore) advance such expenses to Indemnitee, actually and reasonably incurred by him in such judicial adjudication or arbitration, unless the court (in a judicial adjudication) or the arbitrator determines that one or more of the material assertions made by Indemnitee as the basis for each claim to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement in such action were not made in good faith or were frivolous. If it shall be determined in such judicial proceeding or arbitration that fewer than all of such claims were based on one or more material assertions not made in good faith or that were frivolous, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be indemnified and held harmless by the Company on a pro rated basis for any claim the court or arbitrator determines was based entirely on material assertions made in good faith and not frivolous. The Company shall indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless against any and all expenses (of the types described in the definition of Expenses in Section 15 of this Agreement) and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance such expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee to recover 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, advancement of expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

 

(e)        The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 9 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 the provisions of this Agreement.

 

10.       Nonexclusivity; Survival Of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.

 

(a)        The rights of indemnification as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of Directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in the Law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification than would be afforded currently under the Certificate 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. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

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(b)       To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for Directors, Officers, employees, or agents or fiduciaries of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies. If, at the time the Company receives notice from any source of a Proceeding as to which Indemnitee is a party or a participant and the Company has one or more director and officer liability insurance policies in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of the Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter use its best efforts to cause the insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of the Proceeding in accordance with the terms of the policies.

 

(c)        In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

(d)       The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

 

(e)        The Company and Indemnitee agree that a monetary remedy for breach of this Agreement may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult of proof, and further agree that such breach may cause Indemnitee irreparable harm. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that Indemnitee may enforce this Agreement by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable harm and that by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance, Indemnitee shall not be precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which he may be entitled. The Company and Indemnitee further agree that Indemnitee shall be entitled to such specific performance and injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bonds or other undertaking in connection therewith. The Company acknowledges that in the absence of a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be required of Indemnitee by the Court, and the Company hereby waives any such requirement of a bond or undertaking.

 

11.       Exception To Right Of Indemnification. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification under this Agreement with respect to any Proceeding brought by Indemnitee, or any claim therein, unless (a) the bringing of such Proceeding or making of such claim shall have been approved by the Board of Directors or (b) such Proceeding is being brought by the Indemnitee to assert his rights under this Agreement.

 

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12.       Duration Of Agreement. All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee is an officer and/or a director of the Company (or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise) and shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee may be subject to any Proceeding (including any rights of appeal and any proceeding commenced under Section 9 hereof) by reason of his Corporate Status, whether or not he is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), assigns, spouses, heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. This Agreement shall continue in effect regardless of whether Indemnitee continues to serve as an officer and/or a director of the Company or any other enterprise at the Company’s request.

 

13.       Security. To the extent requested by the Indemnitee and approved by the Board of Directors, the Company may at any time and from time to time provide security to the Indemnitee for the Company’s obligations hereunder through an irrevocable bank line of credit, funded trust or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to the Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee.

 

14.       Enforcement.

 

(a)        The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as an officer and/or a director of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as an officer and/or a director of the Company.

 

(b)       This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

15.       Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:

 

(a)        “Change In Control” means 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement; provided, however, that, without limitation, such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if after the date of this Agreement (i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Act, 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 the Act),

 

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directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 15% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities (other than any such person or any affiliate thereof that is such a 15% beneficial owner as of the date hereof) without the prior approval of at least two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such person attaining such percentage interest; (ii) there occurs a proxy contest, or the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, sale of assets, plan of liquidation or other reorganization, as a consequence of which members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board of Directors thereafter; or (iii) during any period of two consecutive years, other than as a result of an event described in clause (a)(ii) of this Section 16, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors (including for this purpose any new director whose election or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Directors then still in office who were Directors at the beginning of such period) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors. A Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred under item (i) above if the “person” described under item (i) is entitled to report its ownership on Schedule 13G promulgated under the Act and such person is able to represent that it acquired such securities in the ordinary course of its business and not with the purpose nor with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the Company, nor in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect. If the “person” referred to in the previous sentence would at any time not be entitled to continue to report such ownership on Schedule 13G pursuant to Rule 13d1(b)(3)(i)(B) of the Act, then a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred at such time.

 

(b)       “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the express written request of the Company.

 

(c)        “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(d)       “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the express written request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary.

 

(e)        “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, participating, or being or preparing to be a witness in a Proceeding. Expenses also shall include Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent.

 

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(f)        “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 years has been, retained to represent:  (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), 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 Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

(g)       “Proceeding” includes any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which Indemnitee was, is or may be involved as a party or otherwise, by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was an officer and/or a director of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any inaction on his part while acting as an officer and/or a director of the Company, or by reason of the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise; in each case whether or not he is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement; including one pending on or before the date of this Agreement; and excluding one initiated by an Indemnitee pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement to enforce his rights under this Agreement.

 

16.       Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void, illegal or otherwise unenforceable for any reason whatsoever:  (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

 

17.       Modification And Waiver. No supplement, modification, termination 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.

 

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18.       Notice By Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification covered hereunder. The failure to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

19.       Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (i) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, or (ii) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed:

 

(a)        If to Indemnitee, to:

 

 

 

(b)       If to the Company, to:

 

ValueClick, Inc.
30699 Russell Ranch Road, Suite 250
Westlake Village, CA 91362
Attention:  James R. Zarley

 

or to such other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.

 

20.       Identical Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

21.       Headings. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

22.       Governing Law. The parties agree that this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware without application of the conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

23.       Gender. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on and as of the day and year first above written.

 

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VALUECLICK, INC.,

 

a Delaware corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

Name:

James R. Zarley

 

Title:

Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indemnitee

 

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