INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

EX-10.8 6 dex108.htm EXHIBIT 10.8 EXHIBIT 10.8

Exhibit 10.8

 

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made and entered into this 30th day of June, 2003 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Educate, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and R. Christopher Hoehn-Saric (“Indemnitee”).

 

WHEREAS, at the request of the Company, Indemnitee currently serves as an officer and director of the Company and its subsidiaries and may, therefore, be subjected to claims, suits or proceedings arising as a result of his service; and

 

WHEREAS, as an inducement to Indemnitee to continue to serve as such officer and director, the Company has agreed to indemnify and to advance expenses and costs incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any such claims, suits or proceedings, to the fullest extent permitted by law; and

 

WHEREAS, the parties by this Agreement desire to set forth their agreement regarding indemnification;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

Section 1.    Definitions.    For purposes of this Agreement:

 

(a)    “Change in Control” means a change in control of the Company occurring after the Effective Date 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 Effective Date (i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Act) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities without the prior approval of at least a majority 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 not approved by at least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors then in office, 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 1, 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 a majority of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of such period) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors.

 

(b)    “Corporate Status” means the status of a person who is or was a director, trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture,


trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

 

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

 

(d)    “Effective Date” means the date set forth in the preamble.

 

(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, or being or preparing to be a witness in a Proceeding.

 

(f)    “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, selected by the Board of Directors by vote as set forth in Section 8(b), that is experienced in matters of corporate 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, 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.

 

(g)    “Proceeding” includes any action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, administrative hearing or any other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, except one initiated by an Indemnitee (i) pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement to enforce his rights under this Agreement or (ii) in violation of Section 14 of this Agreement.

 

Section 2.     Services by Indemnitee.    Indemnitee agrees to serve as an officer and director of the Company and its subsidiaries and may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Company shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position.

 

Section 3.    Indemnification – General.    The Company shall indemnify, and advance Expenses to, Indemnitee (a) as provided in this Agreement and (b) to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law in effect on the date hereof and as amended from time to time. The rights of Indemnitee provided in this Section 3 shall include, but shall not be limited to, the rights set forth in the other sections of this Agreement.

 

Section 4.    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 4 if, by reason of his Corporate Status, he is, or is threatened to be, made a party or witness to any threatened, pending, or completed Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company. Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with

 

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a Proceeding by reason of his Corporate Status unless it is established that (i) Indemnitee failed to act in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, or (ii) in the case of any criminal Proceeding, Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe or should have believed that his conduct was unlawful.

 

Section 5.     Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company.    Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 5 if, by reason of his Corporate Status, he is made a party or witness to 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 5, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all amounts paid in settlement and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with any such Proceeding unless it is established that (i) Indemnitee failed to act in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, or (ii) with respect to any claim, issue or matter, Indemnitee is adjudged liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

Section 6.     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, made a party to and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any Proceeding, he shall be indemnified 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 under this Section 6 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.

 

Section 7.     Advancement of Expenses.    To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall advance all reasonable Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be, made a party, 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, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by a written affirmation by the Indemnitee of the Indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Company as authorized by law and by this Agreement has been met and a written undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay any Expenses advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such standard of conduct has not been met or as required by Section 6 if Indemnitee is actually or partly unsuccessful.

 

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Section 8.    Procedure for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification.

 

(a)    To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board of Directors in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

 

(b)    Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of Section 8(a) hereof, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall promptly be made in the specific case:

 

(i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; or

 

(ii) if a Change of Control shall not have occurred,

 

(A) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of Disinterested Directors, or

 

(B) if there are no such directors or if such directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or

 

(C) if so directed by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, by the stockholders of the Company.

 

If it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten 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 costs or Expenses (including reasonable 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.

 

Section 9.    Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

 

(a)    If a Change of Control shall have occurred, in making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making

 

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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 8(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making of any determination contrary to that presumption.

 

(b)    The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, or settlement conviction, or a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, does not create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not meet the requisite standard of conduct described herein for indemnification.

 

Section 10.    Remedies of Indemnitee.

 

(a)    If (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 8(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 6 of this Agreement within ten days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, or (v) payment of indemnification is not made within ten days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, then Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, of his entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the 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 10(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his rights under Section 6 of this Agreement.

 

(b)    If a Change of Control shall have occurred, in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10 the Company shall have the burden of proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.

 

(c)    If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 8(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 10, absent 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.

 

(d)    In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 10, seeks a judicial adjudication of or an award in arbitration to enforce his rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover from the Company, and

 

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shall be indemnified by the Company against, any and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him in such judicial adjudication or arbitration, but only if he prevails therein. If it shall be determined in such judicial adjudication or arbitration that Indemnitee is entitled to receive part but not all of the indemnification or advancement of Expenses sought, the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such judicial adjudication or arbitration shall be appropriately prorated.

 

Section 11.    Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.

 

(a)    The rights of indemnification and advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the charter or Bylaws of the Company, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of the board of directors, or otherwise.

 

(b)    To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for, officers, directors, employees, or agents 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, officer, director, employee or agent under such policy or policies.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 12.    Duration of Agreement.    This Agreement shall continue until and terminate ten years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director, trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which Indemnitee served at the request of the Company; provided, that the rights of Indemnitee hereunder shall continue until the final termination of any Proceeding then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement relating thereto. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and his heirs, executors and administrators.

 

Section 13.    Severability.    If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or

 

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impaired thereby; 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.

 

Section 14.    Exception to Right of Indemnification or Advancement of Expenses.    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Agreement with respect to any Proceeding brought by Indemnitee, unless the bringing of such Proceeding or making of such claim shall have been approved by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 15.    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.

 

Section 16.    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.

 

Section 17.    Modification and Waiver.    No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

Section 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 or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder.

 

Section 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: The address set forth in the signature pages hereto.

 

(b)     If to the Company to:

 

Educate, Inc.

1001 Fleet Street, 9th Floor

Baltimore, MD 21202

Attn: Board of Directors

 

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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.

 

Section 20.    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.

 

Section 21.     Miscellaneous.    Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.

 

(Signatures Follow)

 

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

 

ATTEST:

     

EDUCATE, INC.

/s/


      By:  

/s/  Kevin Shaffer


Secretary      

Name: Kevin Shaffer

Title:    Vice President

 

 

 

WITNESS:

     

INDEMNITEE

/s/


     

/s/  R. Christopher Hoehn-Saric


       

R. Christopher Hoehn-Saric

c/o Educate, Inc.

1001 Fleet Street, 9th Floor

Baltimore, MD 21202