INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
EX-10.4 2 idti-3292015xex104.htm EXHIBIT 10.4 IDTI-3.29.2015-Ex 10.4
Exhibit 10.4
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Indemnification Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of this ___ day of _______, 20__, by and between INTEGRATED DEVICE TECHNOLOGY, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and ______________ (“Indemnitee”).
WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee recognize the increasing difficulty in obtaining directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, the significant increases in the cost of such insurance, and the general reductions in the coverage of such insurance;
WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee further recognize the substantial increase in corporate litigation in general, subjecting officers and directors to expensive litigation risks at the same time as the availability and coverage of liability insurance has been severely limited;
WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the current protection available as adequate under the present circumstances, and Indemnitee and other officers and directors of the Company may not be willing to continue to serve as officers and directors without additional protection;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that the difficulty of attracting and retaining highly competent persons to serve the Company is detrimental to the best interest of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be an increased certainty of financial protection for them in the future;
WHEREAS, Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and/or take on additional service for, or on behalf of, the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified and that such indemnification be guaranteed; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to attract and retain the services of highly qualified individuals, such as Indemnitee, to serve as officers and directors of the Company and to indemnify its officers and directors, such action being reasonable, prudent and necessary, so as to provide them with the maximum protection permitted by law.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the Indemnitee’s service as an officer or director of the Company, the Company and Indemnitee hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1.1. Third Party Proceedings. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee if Indemnitee is or was a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or otherwise becomes involved in, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, formal or informal (other than an action by or in the right of the Company) by reason of any action or inaction on the part of Indemnitee by reason of the fact that
Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Company, or any subsidiary of the Company, or, while a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Company, that Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent, or trustee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise (collectively “Agent”), against expenses (including attorneys’ fees, court costs, and the cost of appeal, attachment, and similar bonds), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement (if such settlement is approved in advance by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such action, suit, or proceeding if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
Section 1.2. Proceedings By or in the Right of the Company. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee if Indemnitee was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or otherwise becomes involved in, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was an Agent against expenses (including attorneys’ fees, court costs, and the cost of appeal, attachment, and similar bonds) and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, amounts paid in settlement, in each case to the extent actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware 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 of the relevant circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or such other court shall deem proper.
Section 1.3. Mandatory Payment of Expenses. To the extent that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit, or proceeding referred to in Sections 1.1 and 1.2 or the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection therewith. Dismissal without prejudice of any action, claim, issue or matter shall entitle Indemnitee to be indemnified for expenses incurred in defending such action, claim, issue, or matter. For purposes of this Section 1.3 and without limitation, the termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself create a presumption (i) 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, or (ii) with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
ARTICLE 2
EXPENSES; INDEMNIFICATION PROCEDURE
Section 2.1. Advancement of Expenses. The Company shall advance all expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the investigation, defense, settlement, or appeal of any civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding referenced in Section 1.1 or 1.2 (but not amounts actually paid in settlement of any such action, suit, or proceeding). Indemnitee hereby undertakes to repay such amounts advanced only if, and to the extent that, it shall ultimately be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized hereby. The advances to be made hereunder shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee within forty-five (45) days following receipt of a written request therefor by Indemnitee to the Company. Indemnitee shall submit with each request for advancement of expenses such statement or statements which shall reasonably evidence or document the expenses incurred by Indemnitee.
Section 2.2. Notice. Indemnitee shall, as a condition precedent to his right to be indemnified under this Agreement, give the Company notice in writing as soon as practicable of any claim made against Indemnitee for which indemnification will or could be sought under this Agreement. Notice to the Company shall be directed to the President of the Company at the address shown on the signature page of this Agreement (or such other address as the Company shall designate in writing to Indemnitee). Notice shall be deemed duly given (i) if delivered by hand and receipted for by the party addressee, on the date of such receipt, or (ii) if mailed by domestic certified or express mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date postmarked.
Section 2.3. Procedure.
2.3.1. Any indemnification and advances provided for in Article 1 and Section 2.1 shall be made no later than forty-five (45) days following receipt of a written request thereof by Indemnitee to the Company unless a determination is made within said forty-five (45) day period by (i) the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such proceeding (“Disinterested Directors”); (ii) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, a quorum of Disinterested Directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or (iii) by the Company’s stockholders, that the Indemnitee has not met the relevant standards for indemnification set forth in Section 1.1 or Section 1.2 hereof, as the case may be. Indemnitee may contest a determination that Indemnitee has not met the relevant standard of conduct for indemnification by petitioning a court to make an independent determination respecting the right of indemnification in accordance with the terms of Subsection 2.3.2 hereof.
2.3.2. If a claim under this Agreement, under any statute, or under any provision of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws providing for indemnification, is not paid in full by the Company within forty-five (45) days after a written request for payment thereof has first been received by the Company, Indemnitee may, but need not, at any time thereafter, bring an action against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, subject to Section 10.3 of this
Agreement, Indemnitee shall also be entitled to be paid for the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) of bringing such action. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in connection with any action, suit, or proceeding in advance of its final disposition) that Indemnitee has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under applicable law for the Company to indemnify Indemnitee for the amount claimed, and Indemnitee shall be entitled to receive interim payments of expenses pursuant to Section 2.1 unless and until such defense may be finally adjudicated by court order or judgment from which no further right of appeal exists. It is the parties’ intention that if the Company contests Indemnitee’s right to indemnification, the question of Indemnitee’s right to indemnification shall be for the court to decide, and neither the failure of the Company (including its Board of Directors, any committee or subgroup of the Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination that indemnification of Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct required by applicable law, nor an actual determination by the Company (including its Board of Directors, any committee or subgroup of the Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that Indemnitee has or has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
Section 2.4. Notice to Insurers. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.
Section 2.5. Selection of Counsel. In the event the Company shall be obligated under Section 2.1 hereof to pay the expenses of any proceeding against Indemnitee, the Company, if appropriate, shall be entitled to assume the defense of such proceeding, with counsel approved by Indemnitee, upon the delivery to Indemnitee of written notice of its election to do so. After delivery of such notice, approval of such counsel by Indemnitee, and the retention of such counsel by the Company, the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any fees of counsel subsequently incurred by Indemnitee with respect to the same proceeding, provided that (i) Indemnitee shall have the right to employ his counsel in any such proceeding at Indemnitee’s expense; and (ii) if (A) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been previously authorized by the Company, (B) Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense, or (C) the Company shall not, in fact, have employed counsel to assume the defense of such proceeding, then the fees and expenses of Indemnitee’s counsel shall be at the expense of the Company.
ARTICLE 3
ADDITIONAL INDEMNIFICATION
RIGHTS; NONEXCLUSIVITY
Section 3.1. Scope. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company hereby agrees to indemnify the Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law, notwithstanding that such indemnification is not specifically authorized by the other provisions of this Agreement, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, the Company’s Bylaws, or by statute. In the event of any change, after the date of this Agreement, in any applicable law, statute, or rule which expands the right of a Delaware corporation to indemnify a member of its board of directors or an officer, such changes shall be, ipso facto, within the purview of Indemnitee’s rights and Company’s obligations, under this Agreement.
Section 3.2. Nonexclusivity. The indemnification provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any rights to which Indemnitee may be entitled under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, its Bylaws, any agreement, any vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or otherwise, both as to action in Indemnitee’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. The indemnification provided under this Agreement shall continue as to Indemnitee for any action taken or not taken while serving in an indemnified capacity even though he may have ceased to serve in such capacity at the time of any action, suit, or other covered proceeding.
ARTICLE 4
PARTIAL INDEMNIFICATION
If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of the expenses, judgments, fines, or penalties actually or reasonably incurred by him in the investigation, defense, appeal, or settlement of any civil or criminal action, suit, or proceeding, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion of such expenses, judgments, fines, or penalties to which Indemnitee is entitled.
ARTICLE 5
MUTUAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Both the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge that in certain instances, Federal law or applicable public policy may prohibit the Company from indemnifying its directors and officers under this Agreement or otherwise. Indemnitee understands and acknowledges that the Company has undertaken or may be required in the future to undertake with the Securities and Exchange Commission to submit the question of indemnification to a court in certain circumstances for a determination of the Company’s right under public policy to indemnify Indemnitee.
ARTICLE 6
OFFICER AND DIRECTOR
LIABILITY INSURANCE
The Company shall, from time to time, make the good faith determination whether or not it is practicable for the Company to obtain and maintain a policy or policies of insurance with reputable insurance companies providing the officers and directors of the Company with coverage for losses from wrongful acts, or to ensure the Company’s performance of its indemnification obligations under this Agreement. Among other considerations, the Company will weigh the costs of obtaining such insurance coverage against the protection afforded by such coverage. In all policies of director and officer liability insurance, Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide Indemnitee the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the Company’s directors, if Indemnitee is a director; or of the Company’s officers, if Indemnitee is not a director of the Company but is an officer; or of the Company’s key employees, if Indemnitee is not an officer or director but is a key employee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no obligation to obtain or maintain such insurance if the Company determines in good faith that such insurance is not reasonably available, if the premium costs for such insurance are disproportionate to the amount of coverage provided, if the coverage provided by such insurance is limited by exclusions so as to provide an insufficient benefit, or if Indemnitee is covered by similar insurance maintained by a subsidiary or parent of the Company.
ARTICLE 7
SEVERABILITY
Nothing in this Agreement is intended to require or shall be construed as requiring the Company to do or fail to do any act in violation of applicable law. The Company’s inability, pursuant to court order, to perform its obligations under this Agreement shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable as provided in this Article 7. If this Agreement or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee to the full extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Agreement that shall not have been invalidated, and the balance of this Agreement not so invalidated shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms.
ARTICLE 8
EXCEPTIONS
Any other provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement:
(a) Claims Initiated by Indemnitee. To indemnify or advance expenses to Indemnitee with respect to proceedings or claims initiated or brought voluntarily by Indemnitee and not by way of defense, except with respect to proceedings brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification under this Agreement or any other statute or law or otherwise as required under Section 145(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (which Section provides mandatory indemnification to the
extent that a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Company has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of certain actions, suits, or proceedings, or in defense of any claim, actions, suits, or proceedings, or in defense of any claim, issue, or matter therein), but such indemnification or advancement of expenses may be provided by the Company in specific cases if the Board of Directors has approved the initiation or bringing of such suit; or
(b) Lack of Good Faith. To indemnify Indemnitee for any expenses incurred by the Indemnitee with respect to any proceeding initiated by Indemnitee to enforce or interpret this Agreement, if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that each of the material assertions made by the Indemnitee in such proceeding was not made in good faith or was frivolous; or
(c) Insured Claims. To indemnify Indemnitee for expenses or liabilities of any type whatsoever (including, but not limited to, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties, and amounts paid in settlement) which have been paid directly to Indemnitee by an insurance carrier under a policy of officers’ and directors’ liability insurance maintained by the Company.
(d) Claims Under Section 16(b). To indemnify Indemnitee for expenses and the payment of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar successor statute.
ARTICLE 9
CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN PHRASES
Section 9.1. The Company. For purposes of this Agreement, references to the “Company” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, employees or agents, so that if Indemnitee is or was an Agent of the Company or such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, Indemnitee shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Agreement with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as Indemnitee would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
Section 9.2 Employee Benefit Plans. For purposes of this Agreement, reference to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.
ARTICLE 10
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original.
Section 10.2. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s estate, heirs, legal representatives, and assigns.
Section 10.3. Attorneys’ Fees. In the event that any action is instituted by Indemnitee under this Agreement to enforce or interpret any of the terms hereof, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid all court costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by Indemnitee with respect to such action, unless as a part of such action, the court of competent jurisdiction determines that each of the material assertions made by Indemnitee as a basis for such action was not made in good faith or was frivolous. In the event of an action instituted by or in the name of the Company under this Agreement or to enforce or interpret any of the terms of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid all court costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by Indemnitee in defense of such action (including with respect to Indemnitee’s counterclaims and cross-claims made in such action), unless as a part of such action the court determines that each of Indemnitee’s material defenses to such action was in bad faith or was frivolous.
Section 10.4. Notice. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (i) if delivered by hand and receipted for by the party addressee, on the date of such receipt, or (ii) if mailed by domestic certified or express mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date postmarked. Addresses for notice to either party are as shown on the signature page of this Agreement, or as subsequently modified by written notice.
Section 10.5. Consent to Jurisdiction. The Company and Indemnitee each hereby irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware for all purposes in connection with any action or proceeding which arises out of or relates to this Agreement and agree that any action instituted under this Agreement shall be brought only in the state courts of the State of Delaware.
Section 10.6. Amendment and Termination. No amendment, modification, termination, or cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing signed by both parties hereto.
Section 10.7. Subrogation. In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights or recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all documents required and shall do all acts that may be necessary to secure such rights and to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.
Section 10.8 Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and its provisions construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, as applied to contracts between Delaware residents entered into and to be performed entirely within Delaware.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
INTEGRATED DEVICE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
By__________________________________
Its:__________________________________
Address: 6024 Silver Creek Valley Road
San Jose, CA 95138
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED:
INDEMNITEE:
__________________________
(signature)