SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 29, 2008
BEAZER HOMES USA, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
         
DELAWARE
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  001-12822
(Commission
File Number)
  54-2086934
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
1000 Abernathy Road, Suite 1200
Atlanta Georgia 30328

(Address of Principal
Executive Offices)
(770) 829-3700
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
None
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o     Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o     Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
 

 


 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
     On June 30, 2008, the Board of Directors of Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (the “Company”) approved a form of Indemnification Agreement (the “Indemnification Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company will agree to provide for the indemnification of and the advancement of expenses to each person party to the Indemnification Agreement and for the continued coverage of such person under the Company’s directors’ and officers’ insurance programs. The Board has authorized and directed the Company to enter into these agreements with each of the Company’s executive officers and directors.
     The form of Indemnification Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
     In addition, on June 30, 2008, we extended the waiver period under our Revolving Credit Facility which continues the waiver we received on May 13, 2008 (the “Waiver”). This Waiver relaxes, through August 15, 2008, our minimum consolidated tangible net worth and maximum leverage ratio requirements under our Revolving Credit Facility. During the term of the Waiver, the minimum consolidated tangible net worth shall not be less than $700 million and the leverage ratio shall not exceed 2.50 to 1.00. No payments were made in consideration for this extension of the Waiver. We are currently negotiating an amended covenant package with our bank group and expect to enter into an amendment prior to finalizing our financial statements for the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2008.
     The Wavier is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.02   Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
     (b) Katie J. Bayne, presently a member of the Board of Directors of the Company, informed the Company on June 29, 2008 that she will not stand for re-election at the annual meeting of stockholders so that she may focus her full attention to the additional responsibilities arising from her recent promotion to Chief Marketing Officer, Coca-Cola North America for The Coca-Cola Company. Mrs. Bayne will continue as a member of the Board of Directors until August 5, 2008, the date of the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders. We wish to express our gratitude to Mrs. Bayne for her valuable service to the Company. As a result of Mrs. Bayne not seeking re-election, the size of the board will be reduced to six members effective August 5, 2008.
Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year
     (a) On June 30, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Company amended Article XIV of the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Bylaws. The amendment, which is now reflected in the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, updated various provisions in the bylaws relating to indemnification and advancement of expenses. The most significant change was to provide for mandatory advancement of expenses for directors and executive officers of the Company. Previously, such advancement of expenses was at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
     The Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company are attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and are incorporated herein by reference.

 


 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
     (d) Exhibits
  3.1   Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company.
 
  10.1   Form of Indemnification Agreement.
 
  10.2   Second Limited Waiver, dated as of June 30, 2008, to and under the Credit Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2007, among the Company, the lenders thereto and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Agent.

 


 

SIGNATURES
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
         
  BEAZER HOMES USA, INC.
 
 
Date: July 1, 2008  By:   /s/ Allan P. Merrill    
    Allan P. Merrill   
    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer   
 

 

Exhibit 3.1
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS
OF
BEAZER HOMES USA, INC.
(a Delaware corporation)
Approved June 30, 2008
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
      SECTION 1. Annual Meetings.
          (a) All meetings of the Stockholders for the election of directors shall be held in the County of New Castle, State of Delaware, at such place as may be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors, or at such other place either within or without the State of Delaware as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting. Meetings of Stockholders for any other purpose may be held at such time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof.
          (b) Annual meetings of Stockholders shall be held on such date and at such time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting, at which they shall elect a Board of Directors in accordance with Article I, Section 5 of these By-Laws, and transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.
          (c) Written notice of the annual meeting stating the place, date, and hour of the meeting shall be given to each Stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten days nor more than sixty days prior to the date of the meeting.
          (d) The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten days before every meeting of Stockholders, a complete list of the Stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each Stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each Stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any Stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be

 


 

held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any Stockholder who is present. The stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to the Stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list required by this section or the books of the Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of Stockholders.
      SECTION 2. Special Meetings.
          (a) Special meetings of the Stockholders, unless otherwise prescribed by statute, may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the President or by resolution of the Board of Directors. Notice of each special meeting shall be given in accordance with Subsection (b) of Section 2 of this Article I. Unless otherwise required by law, business transacted at any special meeting of Stockholders shall be limited to the purpose stated in the notice.
          (b) Written notice of a special meeting stating the place, date, and hour of the meeting and, in general terms, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given not less than ten days nor more than sixty days prior to the date of the meeting, to each Stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. Whenever the directors shall fail to fix such place, the meeting shall be held at the principal executive offices of the Corporation.
      SECTION 3. Quorums . The holders of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the Stockholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation. Where a separate vote by class or classes is required, a majority of the outstanding shares of such class or classes, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to vote on the matter. If, however, any such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the Stockholders, the Stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting, at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified. If the adjournment is for more than thirty days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each Stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. When a quorum is once present it is not broken by the subsequent withdrawal of any Stockholder.

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      SECTION 4. Organization. Meetings of Stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman, if any, or if none or in the Chairman’s absence the President, if any, or if none or in the President’s absence, by a Chairman to be chosen by the Stockholders entitled to vote who are present in person or by proxy at the meeting. The Secretary of the Corporation, or in the Secretary’s absence an Assistant Secretary, shall act as Secretary of every meeting, but if neither the Secretary nor an Assistant Secretary is present, the presiding officer of the meeting shall appoint any person present to act as Secretary of the meeting.
      SECTION 5. Voting; Proxies; Required Vote.
          (a) At each meeting of Stockholders, every Stockholder shall be entitled to vote in person or by proxy appointed by an instrument in writing, subscribed by such Stockholder or by such Stockholder’s duly authorized attorney-in-fact (but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period), and, unless the Certificate of Incorporation provides otherwise, shall have one vote for each share of stock entitled to vote registered in the name of such Stockholder on the books of the Corporation on the applicable record date fixed pursuant to these By-Laws. At all elections of directors the voting may but need not be by ballot and, when a quorum is present, each director shall be elected if the votes cast for such director exceed the votes cast against such director; provided, however, that directors shall be elected by the affirmative vote of holders of a plurality of the stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on such election in connection with any Contested Election, as defined herein. For purposes of this Section 5, a “Contested Election” is any election of directors in connection with which (a)(i) the Secretary of the Corporation receives notice, in compliance with the advance notice requirements for Stockholder nominees for director set forth in Article II, Section 14 of these By-Laws, that a Stockholder has nominated one or more persons to compete with the persons nominated by the Board of Directors for election to the Board of Directors and (ii) such nomination has not been withdrawn by such Stockholder on or prior to the fifth day preceding the date the Corporation first mails its notice of meeting for such meeting to the Stockholders or (b) one or more directors has been presented for election by a Stockholder or Stockholders pursuant to a solicitation of written consents pursuant to Section 5(b) of this Article I. If directors are to be elected by a plurality of the votes cast, Stockholders shall not be permitted to vote against a nominee. When a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock having voting power present in person or represented by proxy shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one on which by express provision of applicable law (including the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware), the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, a different

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vote is required in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.
          (b) Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of Stockholders may, except as otherwise required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted, and the writing or writings are filed with the permanent records of the Corporation. Prompt notice of the taking of corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those Stockholders who have not consented in writing.
          (c) Where a separate vote by a class or classes is required, the affirmative vote of the majority of shares of such class or classes present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting shall be the act of such class, unless otherwise provided by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or in the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation.
      SECTION 6. Inspector of Election . The Board of Directors, in advance of any meeting, may, but need not, appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If an inspector or inspectors are not so appointed, the person presiding at the meeting may, but need not, appoint one or more inspectors. In case any person who may be appointed as an inspector fails to appear or act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment made by the Board of Directors in advance of the meeting or at the meeting by the person presiding thereat. Each inspector, if any, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector at such meeting with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability. The inspectors, if any, shall determine the number of shares of stock outstanding and the voting power of each, the shares of stock represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, and the validity and effect of proxies, and shall receive votes, ballots or consents, hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote, count and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents, determine the result, and do such acts as are proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all Stockholders. On request of the person presiding at the meeting, the inspector or inspectors, if any, shall make a report in writing of any challenge, question or matter determined by such inspector or inspectors and execute a certificate of any fact found by such inspector or inspectors.

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      SECTION 7. Notice Of Stockholder Business .
          (a) At an annual meeting of the Stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting; (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors; or (iii) by any Stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of the notice provided for in this Section 7, who shall be entitled to vote at such meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 7.
          (b) For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a Stockholder pursuant to clause (a) (iii) of this Section 7, the Stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a Stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 120 days nor more than 150 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the Company’s notice of annual meeting for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the meeting is changed by more than 30 days from the anniversary date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the Stockholder to be timely must be received no later than the close of business on the 10th day following the earlier of the day on which notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or public disclosure was made. A Stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter the Stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting; (ii) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, of the Stockholder proposing such business, and the name and address of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; (iii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such Stockholder of record and by the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (iv) any material interest of such Stockholder of record and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made in such business.
          (c) Notwithstanding anything in these By-laws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 7. The Chairman of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting and in accordance with the procedures prescribed by these By-laws, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and such business shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7, a Stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities

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Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 7.
      SECTION 8. Stockholder Request For Action By Written Consent . Any Stockholder of record seeking to have the Stockholders authorize or take corporate action by written consent shall, by written notice to the Secretary, request the Board of Directors to fix a record date in accordance with Section 3(b) of Article VI hereof. The Board of Directors shall promptly, but in all events within ten days after the date on which such a request is received, adopt a resolution fixing the record date (unless a record date has previously been fixed by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 3(b) of Article VI hereof). If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors within such ten-day period, the record date shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(b) of Article VI hereof.
ARTICLE II
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
      SECTION 1. General Powers. The business, property and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the direction of, the Board of Directors.
      SECTION 2. Qualification; Number; Term; Remuneration.
          (a) Each director shall be at least 18 years of age. A director need not be a Stockholder, a citizen of the United States, or a resident of the State of Delaware. The number of directors constituting the entire Board shall be one or such other number as may be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors. One of the directors may be selected by the Board of Directors to be its Chairman, who shall preside at meetings of the Stockholders and the Board of Directors and shall have such other duties, if any, as may from time to time be assigned by the Board of Directors. In the absence of formal selection, the President of the Corporation shall serve as Chairman. The use of the phrase “entire Board” herein refers to the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies.
          (b) Directors who are elected at an annual meeting of Stockholders, and directors who are elected in the interim to fill vacancies and newly created directorships, shall hold office until the next annual meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal.
          (c) Directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a stated salary for serving as director. No such

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payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing Committees may be allowed like compensation for attending Committee meetings.
      SECTION 3. Quorum and Manner of Voting. Except as otherwise provided by law, a majority of the entire Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum. A majority of the directors present, whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn a meeting from time to time to another time and place without notice. The vote of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
      SECTION 4. Places of Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any place within or without the State of Delaware, as may from time to time be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors, or as may be specified in the notice of meeting.
      SECTION 5. Annual Meeting. Following the annual meeting of Stockholders, the newly elected Board of Directors shall meet for the purpose of the election of officers and the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting. Such meeting may be held without notice immediately after the annual meeting of Stockholders at the same place at which such Stockholders’ meeting is held.
      SECTION 6. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times and places as the Board of Directors shall from time to time by resolution determine.
      SECTION 7. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held whenever called by the Chairman of the Board, President, or by a majority of the directors then in office.
      SECTION 8. Notice of Meetings. A notice of the place, date and time and the purpose or purposes of each meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director by mailing the same at least two days before the meeting, or by telephoning or faxing the same or by delivering the same personally not later than the day before the day of the meeting.
      SECTION 9. Organization. At all meetings of the Board of Directors, the Chairman or in the Chairman’s absence or inability to act, the President, or in the President’s absence, a Chairman chosen by the directors, shall preside. The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as secretary at all meetings of the Board of Directors when present, and, in the Secretary’s absence, the presiding officer may appoint any person to act as Secretary.

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      SECTION 10. Resignation. Any director may resign at any time upon written notice to the Corporation and such resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the President or Secretary, unless otherwise specified in the resignation. Any or all of the directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares of stock outstanding and entitled to vote for the election of directors.
      SECTION 11. Vacancies. Unless otherwise provided in these By-Laws, vacancies on the Board of Directors, whether caused by resignation, death, disqualification, removal, an increase in the authorized number of directors or otherwise, may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, or at a special meeting of the Stockholders, by vote of the Stockholders required for the election of directors generally.
      SECTION 12. Action by Written Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if all the directors consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.
      SECTION 13. Electronic Communication. Any member or members of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear and speak to each other.
      SECTION 14. Nomination Of Directors .
          (a) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in these By-laws shall be eligible to serve as directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be made at a meeting of Stockholders (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any Stockholder of the Corporation who is a Stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in Section 14(b) below, who shall be entitled to vote for the election of directors at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in Section 14(b) below.
          (b) Nominations by Stockholders shall be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a Stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (i) in the case of an annual meeting, not less than 120 days nor more than 150 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the Company’s notice of annual meeting for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is changed by more than 30 days from the

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anniversary date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the Stockholder to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the 10 th day following the earlier of the day on which notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or public disclosure was made and (ii) in the case of a special meeting at which directors are to be elected, not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the earlier of the day on which notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or public disclosure was made. Such Stockholder’s notice shall set forth (i) as to each person whom the Stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director (x) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected) and (y) a statement whether such person, if elected, intends to tender, promptly following such person’s election or re-election, an irrevocable resignation effective only upon (A) such person’s failure to receive the required vote for re-election at the next meeting at which such person would face re-election and (B) acceptance of such resignation by the Board of Directors; (ii) as to the Stockholder giving the notice (x) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, of such Stockholder, (y) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by such Stockholder and also which are owned of record by such Stockholder; and (iii) as to the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, (x) the name and address of such person, and (y) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by such person. At the request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated by the Board of Directors for election as a director shall furnish to the Secretary of the Corporation that information required to be set forth in a Stockholder’s notice of nomination which pertains to the nominee.
          (c) No person shall be eligible to serve as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 14(b) above. The Chairman of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by these By-laws, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 14, a Stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 14.

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ARTICLE III
COMMITTEES
      SECTION 1. Appointment. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole board, designate one or more Committees, each Committee to consist of two or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any Committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the Committee. Any such Committee, to the extent provided in the resolution, shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. Such Committee or Committees shall have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.
      SECTION 2. Procedures; Quorum and Manner of Acting. Each Committee shall fix its own rules of procedure, and shall meet where and as provided by such rules or by resolution of the Board of Directors. Except as otherwise provided by law, the presence of a majority of the then appointed members of a Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by that Committee, and in every case where a quorum is present the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Committee present shall be the act of the Committee. Each Committee shall keep minutes of its proceedings, and actions taken by a Committee shall be reported to the Board of Directors.
      SECTION 3. Action by Written Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of any Committee of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if all the members of the Committee consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Committee.
      SECTION 4. Electronic Communication. Any member or members of a Committee of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of a Committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear and speak to each other.
      SECTION 5. Termination. In the event any person shall cease to be a director of the Corporation, such person shall simultaneously therewith cease to be a member of any Committee appointed by the Board of Directors.

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ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
      SECTION 1. Election and Qualifications . The Board of Directors at its first meeting held after each annual meeting of Stockholders shall elect the officers of the Corporation, which shall include a President and a Secretary, and may include, by election or appointment, one or more Vice-Presidents (any one or more of whom may be given an additional designation of rank or function), a Treasurer and such Assistant Secretaries, such Assistant Treasurers, and such other officers as the Board of Directors may from time to time deem proper. Each officer shall have such powers and duties as may be prescribed by these By-Laws and as may be assigned by the Board of Directors or the President. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.
      SECTION 2. Term of Office and Remuneration. The term of office of all officers shall be one year and until their respective successors have been elected and qualified, but any officer may be removed from office, either with or without cause, at any time by the Board of Directors. Any vacancy in any office arising from any cause may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Board of Directors. The remuneration of all officers of the Corporation may be fixed by the Board of Directors or in such manner as the Board of Directors shall provide.
      SECTION 3. Resignation; Removal. Any officer may resign at any time upon written notice to the Corporation and such resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the President or Secretary, unless otherwise specified in the resignation. Any officer shall be subject to removal, with or without cause, at any time by the Board of Directors.
      SECTION 4. Powers and Duties of Officers.
          (a) The Chairman of the Board of Directors, if there be one, shall preside at all meetings of the Stockholders and the Board of Directors and shall have such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned by the Board of Directors.
          (b) The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation and, in the absence of the Chairman or if there is no Chairman, shall preside at all meetings of the Stockholders and of the Board of Directors. The President shall have general management of and supervisory authority over the property, business and affairs of the Corporation and its other officers. The President may execute and deliver in the name of the Corporation powers of attorney, contracts, bonds and other

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obligations and instruments, and shall have such other authority and perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the Board of Directors. The President shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect and shall perform such additional duties that usually pertain to this office.
          (c) A Vice President may execute and deliver in the name of the Corporation powers of attorney, contracts, bonds and other obligations and instruments pertaining to the regular course of such Vice President’s duties, and shall have such other authority and perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the Board of Directors or the President.
          (d) The Treasurer shall in general have all duties and authority incident to the position of Treasurer and such other duties and authority as may be assigned by the Board of Directors or the President. The Treasurer shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursement in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by or at the direction of the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors or the President, and shall render, upon request, an account of all such transactions.
          (e) The Secretary shall in general have all the duties and authority incident to the position of Secretary and such other duties and authority as may be assigned by the Board of Directors or the President. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and all meetings of Stockholders and record all the proceedings thereat in a book or books to be kept for that purpose. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the Stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall have custody of the seal of the Corporation and any officer of the Corporation shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by the signature of the Secretary or any other officer.
          (f) Any assistant officer shall have such duties and authority as the officer such assistant officer assists and, in addition, such other duties and authority as the Board of Directors or President shall from time to time assign.

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ARTICLE V
CONTRACTS, ETC.
      SECTION 1. Contracts. The Board of Directors may authorize any person or persons, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, to enter into or execute and deliver any and all deeds, bonds, mortgages, contracts and other obligations or instruments, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
      SECTION 2. Proxies; Powers of Attorney; Other Instruments.
          (a) The Chairman, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or any other person designated by any of them shall have the power and authority to execute and deliver proxies, powers of attorney and other instruments on behalf of the Corporation in connection with the execution of contracts, the purchase of real or personal property, the rights and powers incident to the ownership of stock by the Corporation and such other situations as the Chairman, the President, such Vice President or the Treasurer shall approve, such approval to be conclusively evidenced by the execution of such proxy, power of attorney or other instrument on behalf of the Corporation.
          (b) The Chairman, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or any other person authorized by proxy or power of attorney executed and delivered by any of them on behalf of the Corporation may attend and vote at any meeting of stockholders of any company in which the Corporation may hold stock, and may exercise on behalf of the Corporation any and all of the rights and powers incident to the ownership of such stock at any such meeting, or otherwise as specified in the proxy or power of attorney so authorizing any such person. The Board of Directors, from time to time, may confer like powers upon any other person.
ARTICLE VI
BOOKS AND RECORDS
      SECTION 1. Location. The books and records of the Corporation may be kept at such place or places within or outside the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors or the respective officers in charge thereof may from time to time determine. The record books containing the names and addresses of all Stockholders, the number and class of shares of stock held by each and the dates when they respectively became the owners of record thereof shall be kept by the Secretary as prescribed in the By-Laws or by such officer or agent as shall be designated by the Board of Directors.

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      SECTION 2. Addresses of Stockholders. Notices of meetings and all other corporate notices may be delivered personally or mailed to each Stockholder at the Stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.
      SECTION 3. Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.
          (a) In order that the Corporation may determine the Stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of Stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and which record date shall not be more than sixty days nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining Stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of Stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
          (b) In order that the Corporation may determine the Stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and which date shall not be more than ten days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining Stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of Stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for determining Stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

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          (c) In order that the Corporation may determine the Stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the Stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action not contemplated by paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 3, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which record date shall be not more than sixty days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining Stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
ARTICLE VII
CERTIFICATES REPRESENTING STOCK
      SECTION 1. Certificates; Signatures. The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors of the Corporation may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Notwithstanding the adoption of such a resolution by the Board of Directors, every holder of stock represented by certificates and upon request every holder of uncertificated shares shall be entitled to have a certificate, signed by or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the President or Vice-President, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. Any and all signatures on any such certificate may be facsimiles. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue. The name of the holder of record of the shares represented thereby, with the number of such shares and the date of issue, shall be entered on the books of the Corporation. The Board of Directors shall have power and authority to make all such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates representing shares of the Corporation.
      SECTION 2. Transfers of Stock . Upon compliance with provisions restricting the transfer or registration of transfer of shares of stock, if any, shares of capital stock shall be transferable on the books of the Corporation only by the holder of record thereof in person, or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender and cancellation of certificates

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for a like number of shares, properly endorsed, and the payment of all taxes due thereon.
      SECTION 3. Fractional Shares. The Corporation may, but shall not be required to, issue certificates for fractions of a share where necessary to effect authorized transactions, or the Corporation may pay in cash the fair value of fractions of a share as of the time when those entitled to receive such fractions are determined, or it may issue scrip in registered or bearer form over the manual or facsimile signature of an officer of the Corporation or of its agent, exchangeable as therein provided for full shares, but such scrip shall not entitle the holder to any rights of a Stockholder except as therein provided.
      SECTION 4. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in place of any certificate, theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Board of Directors may require the owner of any lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of any such new certificate.
ARTICLE VIII
DIVIDENDS
          Subject to the provisions of applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall have full power to determine whether any, and, if any, what part of any, funds legally available for the payment of dividends shall be declared as dividends and paid to Stockholders; the division of the whole or any part of such funds of the Corporation shall rest wholly within the lawful discretion of the Board of Directors, and it shall not be required at any time, against such discretion, to divide or pay any part of such funds among or to the Stockholders as dividends or otherwise; and before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in its absolute discretion, deems proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for any proper purpose, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve. Stockholders shall receive dividends pro rata in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock respectively held by them. A holder of Common Stock shall be deemed to share pro rata in all dividends declared by the Board of Directors within the meaning of the preceding sentence if such Stockholder receives assets (whether consisting of cash, securities, real property, equipment, inventory or other assets) the fair market value of which is in the same proportion to the

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fair market value of the total assets of the Corporation distributed as a dividend as the number of shares of Common Stock held by such holder of Common Stock is to the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Corporation. A Stockholder shall not have the right to receive a pro rata share of each or any such asset distributed as a dividend, however, the Corporation shall not be prohibited hereby from making a pro rata distribution of each or any such asset available for distribution as a dividend. The fair market value of any and all assets of the Corporation distributed as a dividend shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Corporation’s Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IX
RATIFICATION
          Any transaction, questioned in any lawsuit on the ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest of any director, officer or Stockholder, non disclosure, miscomputation, or the application of improper principles or practices of accounting, may be ratified before or after judgment, by the Board of Directors or by the Stockholders, as appropriate, and if so ratified shall have the same force and effect as if the questioned transaction had been originally duly authorized. Such ratification shall be binding upon the Corporation and its Stockholders and shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned transaction.
ARTICLE X
CORPORATE SEAL
          The corporate seal shall contain the words “Corporate Seal” and such additional information as the officer inscribing such seal shall determine in such officer’s sole discretion. The corporate seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise displayed or it may be manually inscribed.
ARTICLE XI
FISCAL YEAR
          The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed, and shall be subject to change, by the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise fixed by the Board of Directors, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on September 30.

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ARTICLE XII
WAIVER OF NOTICE
          Whenever notice is required to be given by these By-Laws or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by law, a written waiver thereof, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENTS
          The Board of Directors shall have power to adopt, amend or repeal By-Laws. By-Laws adopted by the Board of Directors may be repealed or changed, and new By-Laws made, by the Stockholders, and the Stockholders may prescribe that any By-Law made by them shall not be altered, amended or repealed by the Board of Directors.

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ARTICLE XIV
Indemnification
SECTION 1. Power to Indemnify in Action, Suits or Proceedings. The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law, as the same exists or may hereinafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), or by other applicable law as then in effect, any person who was or is a party to or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in (including, without limitation, as a witness) any proceeding, by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is an Eligible Person (hereinafter, an “Indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee, agent or manager or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee, agent or manager, against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ and other professionals’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA taxes or penalties and amounts to be paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith.
SECTION 2. Expenses Payable In Advance. To the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law, the Corporation shall, from time to time, advance (or if previously paid by the Class 1 Indemnitee, reimburse) to any Class 1 Indemnitee funds sufficient for the payment of all expenses (including attorneys’ and other professionals’ fees and disbursements and court costs) actually and reasonably incurred by such Class 1 Indemnitee in connection with the investigation of, response to, defense (including any appeal) of or settlement of any proceeding, in the case of each such proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Class 1 Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such Class 1 Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation against such expenses. No collateral securing or other assurance of performance of such undertaking shall be required of such Class 1 Indemnitee by the Corporation.
SECTION 3. Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses to Certain Other Persons. The Corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, from time to time grant rights to advancement of expenses to any Indemnitee who is not a Class 1 Indemnitee and rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses to any agents of the Corporation with the same scope and effect as the provisions of this Article with respect to the indemnification of and advancement of expenses to Class 1 Indemnitees. By resolution adopted by affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors may delegate to the appropriate officers of the Corporation the decision to grant from time to time rights to advancement of expenses to any Indemnitee who is not a Class 1 Indemnitee and rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses to any agents of the Corporation pursuant to this Section 3.
SECTION 4. Exclusion of Claims Against the Corporation. No Indemnitee shall be entitled to any advance or reimbursement by the Corporation of expenses, or to indemnification from or to be held harmless by the Corporation against expenses, incurred by him or her in asserting any claim or commencing or prosecuting any suit, action or proceeding (or part thereof) against the

 


 

Corporation (except as provided in Section 5 of this Article) or any subsidiary of the Corporation or any current or former director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or of any subsidiary of the Corporation, but such advancement (or reimbursement) and indemnification and hold harmless rights may be provided by the Corporation in any specific instance as permitted by Sections 7 or 9 of this Article, or in any specific instance in which the Board shall first authorize the commencement or prosecution of such a suit, action or proceeding (or part thereof) or the assertion of such a claim.
SECTION 5. Indemnification By A Court. Notwithstanding Section 4 of this Article, if a claim under Section 1 of this Article XIV is not paid in full by the Corporation within forty (40) days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation or if a claim under Section 2 of this Article XIV is not paid in full by the Corporation within ten (10) days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, an Indemnitee or Class 1 Indemnitee (as appropriate) may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, to the extent successful in whole or in part, the Indemnitee or Class 1 Indemnitee (as appropriate) shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such suit. The Indemnitee or Class 1 Indemnitee (as appropriate) shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification and advancement of expenses under this Article XIV upon submission of a written claim (and, in an action brought to enforce a claim for an advancement of expenses where the required undertaking, if any is required, has been tendered to the Corporation), and thereafter the Corporation shall have the burden of proof to overcome the presumption that the Indemnitee or Class 1 Indemnitee (as appropriate) is not so entitled. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification shall be a defense to the suit or create a presumption that the Indemnitee is not so entitled. The rights to indemnification and advancement (or reimbursement) of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article shall be enforceable by any person entitled to such indemnification or advancement (or reimbursement) of expenses in any court of competent jurisdiction. Notice of any application to a court by an Indemnitee pursuant to this Section 5 shall be given to the Corporation promptly upon the filing of such application; provided , however , that such notice shall not be a requirement for an award of or a determination of entitlement to indemnification or advancement (or reimbursement) of expenses.
SECTION 6. Certain Definitions . For purposes of this Article XIV, a “proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative. For purposes of this Article XIV, an “Eligible Person” is any person who is or was a director, officer, or employee of the Corporation or, while a director, officer, or employee of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, agent or manager of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan. For purposes of this Article XIV, a “Class 1 Indemnitee” is any Indemnitee who serves or served as a director or executive officer of the Corporation (such executive officers to be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors, subject to the limitations in Sections 7 and 8 of this Article XIV) on or after June 30, 2008.

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SECTION 7. Non-Exclusivity and Survival of Indemnification. The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to this Article XIV shall be deemed independent of, and shall not be deemed exclusive of or a limitation on, any other rights to which any person seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, By-Law, agreement, vote of Stockholders or of disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, it being the intent of the Corporation that indemnification of Indemnitees and advancement of expenses to Class 1 Indemnitees shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law, including as a result of any amendment of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware expanding the right of corporations to indemnify and advance expenses. The Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify, to hold harmless, or to advance or reimburse expenses to any Indemnitee who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee, agent or manager of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or nonprofit entity shall be reduced by any amount such Indemnitee may collect as indemnification, holding harmless, or advancement or reimbursement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise nonprofit entity. The rights to indemnification and advancement (or reimbursement) of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article XIV shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation (or in the case of any other person entitled to indemnity hereunder, has ceased to serve the Corporation) and shall inure to the benefit of the estate, heirs, legatees, distributes, executors, administrators and other comparable legal representatives of such person.
SECTION 8. Contractual Rights. The provisions of this Article XIV shall constitute a contract between the Corporation, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, each individual who serves or has served as a director, officer or employee of the Corporation (whether before or after the adoption of this Section 8), in consideration of such person’s performance of services for the Corporation, and also between the Corporation and any other person entitled to indemnity hereunder, and pursuant to this Article XIV the Corporation intends to be legally bound to each such current or former director, officer, or employee of the Corporation or other person. With respect to current directors, officers or employees of the Corporation, the rights conferred under this Article XIV are present contractual rights and such rights are fully vested, and shall be deemed to have vested fully, immediately upon adoption of this By-law. With respect to any directors, officers or employees of the Corporation who commence service following adoption of this By-law, the rights conferred under this provision shall be present contractual rights and such rights shall fully vest, and be deemed to have vested fully, immediately upon such director, officer or employee commencing service as a director, officer or employee of the Corporation. Neither amendment nor repeal of any provision of this Article XIV nor the adoption of any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws of the Corporation inconsistent with this Article XIV nor a decision by the Board of Directors that an individual designated an executive officer pursuant to Section 6 of this Article XIV shall no longer be designated an executive officer shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article XIV in respect of any act or omission occurring, or any cause of action or claim that accrues or arises or any state of facts existing, at the time of or before such amendment, repeal, modification, adoption of an inconsistent

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provision or decision of the Board of Directors (even in the case of a proceeding based on such a state of facts that is commenced after such time).
SECTION 9. Insurance. The Corporation may, but shall not be required to, purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, on behalf of itself and any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or manager of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power or the obligation to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under Delaware law. Nothing contained in this Article XIV shall prevent the Corporation from entering into with any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or who is or was serving any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or nonprofit entity in which the Corporation has any direct or indirect interest as a director, officer, partner, member, trustee, employee, agent or manager or in any like capacity any agreement that provides independent indemnification, hold harmless and/or exoneration rights to such person or further regulates the terms on which indemnification, hold harmless and/or exoneration rights are to be provided to such person or provides independent assurance of the Corporation’s obligation to indemnify, hold harmless and/or exonerate such person, whether or not such indemnification, hold harmless and/or exoneration rights are on the same or different terms than provided for by this Article XIV or is in respect of such person acting in any other capacity, and nothing contained herein shall be exclusive of, or a limitation on, any right to indemnification, to be held harmless, to exoneration or to advancement or reimbursement of expenses to which any person is otherwise entitled. The Corporation may create a trust fund, grant a security interest or use other means (including, without limitation, a letter of credit) to ensure the payment of such amounts as may be necessary to effect indemnification and the advancement of expenses as provided in this Article XIV.

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EXHIBIT 10.1
INDEMNITY AGREEMENT
      THIS INDEMNITY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of                       , 2008, by and between Beazer Homes USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and                       (“Indemnitee”).
RECITALS
      WHEREAS , highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors, officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation.
      WHEREAS , the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among U.S.-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. The By-Laws (the “Bylaws”) of the Company require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”). The Bylaws and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the board of directors, officers and other persons in order to protect such persons against claims and expenses arising from their services on behalf of the Company.
      WHEREAS , the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons.
      WHEREAS , the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company’s stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future.
      WHEREAS , it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, hold harmless, exonerate and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so

 


 

that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so protected against liabilities.
      WHEREAS , this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Bylaws and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.
      WHEREAS , Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Bylaws and liability insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve as an employee or director without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity.
      NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. SERVICES TO THE COMPANY . Indemnitee will agree to serve or to continue to serve as an employee or director of the Company for so long as Indemnitee is duly elected or appointed or until Indemnitee tenders his resignation. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as giving Indemnitee any right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliated entities.
2. DEFINITIONS . As used in this Agreement:
     (a) References to “agent” shall mean any individual who is or was a director, officer, or employee of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company or other individual authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such individual serving in such capacity as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or other official of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other Enterprise (as defined below) at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of, the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.
     (b) The terms “Beneficial Owner” and “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meanings set forth in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below) as in effect on the date hereof.
     (c) A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:
     (i) Acquisition of Stock by Third Party. Any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, unless (1) the change in the relative Beneficial Ownership of the Company’s securities by any Person results solely from a

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reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, or (2) such acquisition was approved in advance by the Continuing Directors (as defined below) and such acquisition would not constitute a Change in Control under part (iii) of this definition;
     (ii) Change in Board of Directors. Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board, and any new director whose election by the Board 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 on the date hereof or whose nomination for election was previously so approved (collectively, the “Continuing Directors”), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;
     (iii) Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, immediately following such Business Combination: (1) all or substantially all of the Persons who were the Beneficial Owners of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 51% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more Subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; (2) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination) is the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 15% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to such Business Combination; and (3) at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were Continuing Directors at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board of Directors, providing for such Business Combination;
     (iv) Liquidation. The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement or series of agreements for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (or, if such approval is not required, the decision by the Board to proceed with such a liquidation, sale, or disposition in one transaction or a series of related transactions); or
     (v) Other Events. There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form)

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promulgated under the Exchange Act, whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.
     (d) “Corporate Status” describes the status of an individual who is or was a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise which such individual is or was serving at the request of the Company.
     (e) “Delaware Court” shall mean the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware.
     (f) “Disinterested Director” shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding (as defined below) in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.
     (g) “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries) is a party, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent.
     (h) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
     (i) “Expenses” shall include all direct and indirect costs, fees and expenses of any type or nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, all attorneys’ fees and costs, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, fees of private investigators and professional advisors, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, fax transmission charges, secretarial services and all other disbursements, obligations or expenses in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, settlement or appeal of, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding, including, without limitation reasonable compensation for time spent by the Indemnitee for which he or she is not otherwise compensated by the Company or any third party. Expenses also shall include Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including, without limitation, the principal, premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.
     (j) “Independent Counsel” shall mean a law firm or a member of a law firm with significant experience 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

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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.
     (k) References to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed on Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary 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 best interests 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.
     (l) The term “Person” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof; provided, however, that “Person” shall exclude: (i) the Company; (ii) any Subsidiary of the Company; (iii) any employment benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary of the Company or of any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company; and (iv) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary of the Company or of 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.
     (m) A “Potential Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if: (i) the Company enters into an agreement or arrangement, the consummation of which would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control; (ii) any Person or the Company publicly announces an intention to take or consider taking actions which, if consummated, would constitute a Change in Control; (iii) any Person who is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing five percent (5%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors increases his Beneficial Ownership of such securities by five percent (5%) or more over the percentage so owned by such Person on the date hereof unless such acquisition was approved in advance by the Board; or (iv) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that, for purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control has occurred.
     (n) The term “Proceeding” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil (including intentional or unintentional tort claims), criminal, administrative or investigative nature, in which Indemnitee was, is, will or might be involved as a party or

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otherwise by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, by reason of any action (or failure to act) taken by him or of any action (or failure to act) on his part while acting as a director, officer, employee or agent 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, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.
     (o) The term “Subsidiary,” with respect to any Person, shall mean any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by that Person.
     (p) In connection with any merger or consolidation, references to the “Company” shall include not only the resulting or surviving company, but also any constituent company or constituent of a constituent company, which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, employees or agents. The intent of this provision is that a person who is or was a director of such constituent company after the date hereof or is or was serving at the request of such constituent company as a director, officer, employee, trustee or agent of another company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other Enterprise after the date hereof, shall stand in the same position under this Agreement with respect to the resulting or surviving company as the person would have under this Agreement with respect to such constituent company if its separate existence had continued.
3. INDEMNITY IN THIRD-PARTY PROCEEDINGS . The Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as a witness or otherwise) in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including, without limitation, all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if 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, in the case of a criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
4. INDEMNITY IN PROCEEDINGS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY . The Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant (as a witness or otherwise) in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses

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actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if 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. No indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that any court in which the Proceeding was brought or the Delaware Court 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 indemnification, to be held harmless or to exoneration.
5. INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A PARTY WHO IS WHOLLY OR PARTLY SUCCESSFUL . Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him 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, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. If the Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding, the Company also shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all Expenses reasonably incurred in connection with a claim, issue or matter related to any claim, issue, or matter on which the Indemnitee was successful. 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.
6. 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, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith.
7. ADDITIONAL INDEMNIFICATION, AND EXONERATION RIGHTS .
     (a) Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, the Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding. No indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights shall be available under this Section 7(a) on account of

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Indemnitee’s conduct which constitutes a breach of Indemnitee’s duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders or is an act or omission not in good faith or which involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law.
     (b) Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, 5 or 7(a), the Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding.
8. CONTRIBUTION IN THE EVENT OF JOINT LIABILITY .
     (a) To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification, hold harmless and/or exoneration rights provided for in this Agreement are unavailable to Indemnitee, in whole or in part, for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying, holding harmless or exonerating Indemnitee, shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, 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) 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, hold harmless and exonerate 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.
9. EXCLUSIONS . Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration payment:
     (a) in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee for which payment has actually been received by or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount actually received under any insurance policy, contract, agreement, other indemnity provision or otherwise;

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     (b) in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law; or
     (c) except as otherwise provided in Sections 14(e)-(f) hereof, prior to a Change in Control, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) such payment arises in connection with any mandatory counterclaim or cross-claim that the Indemnitee asserts against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees or any affirmative defense Indemnitee raises, or (iii) the Company provides the indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration payment, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.
10. ADVANCES OF EXPENSES; DEFENSE OF CLAIM .
     (a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall advance the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee (or reasonably expected by Indemnitee to be incurred by Indemnitee within three months) in connection with any Proceeding within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to be indemnified, held harmless or exonerated under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred in pursuing a Proceeding to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. The Indemnitee shall qualify for advances, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, solely upon the execution and delivery to the Company of an undertaking providing that the Indemnitee undertakes to repay the advance to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company under the provisions of this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation (the “Charter”) or Bylaws of the Company, applicable law or otherwise. This Section 10(a) shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which an indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration payment is excluded pursuant to Section 9.
     (b) The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.
     (c) The Company shall not settle any action, claim or Proceeding (in whole or in part) which would impose any Expense, judgment, fine, penalty or limitation on the Indemnitee without the Indemnitee’s prior written consent.

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11. PROCEDURE FOR NOTIFICATION AND APPLICATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION .
     (a) Indemnitee agrees to notify promptly 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, hold harmless or exoneration rights, or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee 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.
     (b) Indemnitee may deliver to the Company a written application to indemnify, hold harmless or exonerate Indemnitee in accordance with this Agreement. Such application(s) may be delivered from time to time and at such time(s) as Indemnitee deems appropriate in his sole discretion. Following such a written application for indemnification by Indemnitee, the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be determined according to Section 12(a) of this Agreement.
12. PROCEDURE UPON APPLICATION FOR INDEMNIFICATION .
     (a) A determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be made in the specific case by one of the following methods, which shall be at the election of Indemnitee: (i) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board or (ii) by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee. The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including, without limitation, a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied. If it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall reasonably cooperate with the Person or Persons making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including, without limitation, providing to such Person or Persons upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. 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.
     (b) In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 12(b). The Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the

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Board), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying that the Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. If the Independent Counsel is selected by the Board, the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising him of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and certifying that the Independent Counsel so selected meets the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been received, 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 2 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 such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within twenty (20) days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court 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 Delaware Court, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 12(a) hereof. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) 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).
     (c) The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel and to fully indemnify and hold harmless such Independent Counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.
     (d) If the Company disputes a portion of the amounts for which indemnification is requested, the undisputed portion shall be paid and only the disputed portion withheld pending resolution of any such dispute.
13. PRESUMPTIONS AND EFFECT OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS .
     (a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the Person or Persons 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 11(b) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that

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presumption in connection with the making by any Person or Persons of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the
applicable standard of conduct.
     (b) If the Person or Persons empowered or selected under Section 12 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 final judicial determination that any or all such indemnification is expressly prohibited 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 of documentation and/or information relating thereto.
     (c) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of 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 or, 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 if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors or officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected by the Enterprise, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director. The provisions of this Section 13(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed or found to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

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     (e) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.
14. REMEDIES OF INDEMNITEE .
     (a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, is not timely made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5, 6, 7 or the last sentence of Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) a contribution payment is not made in a timely manner pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement, (vi) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vii) payment to Indemnitee pursuant to any hold harmless or exoneration rights under this Agreement or otherwise is not made within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by the Delaware Court to such indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, contribution or advancement rights. 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. Except as set forth herein, the provisions of Delaware law (without regard to its conflict of laws rules) shall apply to any such arbitration. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.
     (b) Upon the occurrence or non-occurrence of any of the events set forth in Section 14(a) of this Agreement, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 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. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to be indemnified, held harmless, exonerated and to receive advances of Expenses under this Agreement and the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, held harmless, exonerated and to receive advances of Expenses, as the case may be, and the Company may not refer to or introduce into evidence any determination pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement adverse to Indemnitee for any purpose. If Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this Section 14, Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advances pursuant to Section 10 until a final determination is made with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification (as to which all rights of appeal have been exhausted or lapsed).

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     (c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to payment, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, 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.
     (d) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 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.
     (e) The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law against all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after the Company’s receipt of such written request) pay to Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, all such Expenses which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any judicial proceeding or arbitration brought by Indemnitee (i) in connection with, to enforce his rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement or any other indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement or contribution agreement or provision of the Charter or Bylaws of the Company now or hereafter in effect; or (ii) for recovery or advances under any insurance policy maintained by any person for the benefit of Indemnitee, regardless of the outcome and whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration right, advancement, contribution or insurance recovery, as the case may be (unless such judicial proceeding or arbitration was not brought by Indemnitee in good faith).
     (f) Interest shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee at the legal rate under Delaware law for amounts which the Company indemnifies, holds harmless or exonerates, or is obliged to indemnify, hold harmless or exonerate for the period commencing with the date on which Indemnitee pays such amounts for which he or she requested indemnification, to be held harmless, exoneration, contribution, reimbursement or advancement of any Expenses and ending with the date on which such payment is made to or on behalf of Indemnitee by the Company.
15. ESTABLISHMENT OF TRUST . In the event of a Potential Change in Control, the Company shall, upon written request by Indemnitee, create a “Trust” for the benefit of Indemnitee and from time to time upon written request of Indemnitee shall fund such Trust in an amount sufficient to satisfy any and all Expenses reasonably anticipated at the time of each such request to be incurred in connection with investigating, preparing for, participating in or defending any Proceedings, and any and all judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such judgments, fines penalties and amounts paid in settlement) in connection with any and all Proceedings from time to time

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actually paid or claimed, reasonably anticipated or proposed to be paid. The trustee of the Trust (the “Trustee”) shall be a bank or trust company or other individual or entity chosen by the Indemnitee and reasonably acceptable to the Company. Nothing in this Section 15 shall relieve the Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement. The amount or amounts to be deposited in the Trust pursuant to the foregoing funding obligation shall be determined by mutual agreement of the Indemnitee and the Company or, if the Company and the Indemnitee are unable to reach such an agreement, by Independent Counsel selected in accordance with Section 12(b) of this Agreement. The terms of the Trust shall provide that, except upon the consent of both the Indemnitee and the Company, (a) the Trust shall not be revoked or the principal thereof invaded, without the written consent of the Indemnitee; and (b) upon a Change in Control: (i) the Trustee shall make advances of Expenses, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, within two (2) business days of a request by the Indemnitee and upon the execution and delivery to the Company of an undertaking providing that the Indemnitee undertakes to repay the advance to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, held harmless or exonerated by the Company; (ii) the Trust shall continue to be funded by the Company in accordance with the funding obligations set forth above; (iii) the Trustee shall promptly pay to the Indemnitee all amounts for which the Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification, or to be held harmless or exonerated pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise; and (iv) all unexpended funds in such Trust shall revert to the Company upon mutual agreement by the Indemnitee and the Company or, if the Indemnitee and the Company are unable to reach such an agreement, by Independent Counsel selected in accordance with Section 12(b) of this Agreement, that the Indemnitee has been fully indemnified, held harmless and exonerated under the terms of this Agreement. The Trust shall be governed by Delaware law (without regard to its conflicts of laws rules) and the Trustee shall consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court in accordance with Section 23 of this Agreement.
16. SECURITY . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent requested by the Indemnitee and approved by the Board, 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.
17. NON-EXCLUSIVITY; SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS; INSURANCE; SUBROGATION .
     (a) The rights of Indemnitee as provided by this Agreement (i) 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 directors, or otherwise and (ii) shall be enforced and this Agreement shall be interpreted independently of and without reference to or limitation or constraint (whether procedural, substantive or otherwise) by any other such rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under

15


 

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 applicable law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration rights or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Charter, or the Bylaws of the Company or 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. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, narrows or limits indemnification or advancement of Expenses that are afforded currently under the Charter, the Company’s bylaws or this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that such change, except to the extent required by applicable law, shall have no effect on this Agreement or the parties’ rights and obligations hereunder. 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.
     (b) The DGCL, the Charter and the Company’s Bylaws permit the Company to purchase and maintain insurance or furnish similar protection or make other arrangements including, but not limited to, providing a trust fund, letter of credit, or surety bond (“Indemnification Arrangements”) on behalf of Indemnitee against any liability asserted against him or incurred by or on behalf of him or in such capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement or under the DGCL, as it may then be in effect. The purchase, establishment, and maintenance of any such Indemnification Arrangement shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company or of the Indemnitee under this Agreement except as expressly provided herein, and the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the Indemnitee shall not in any way limit or affect the rights and obligations of the Company or the other party or parties thereto under any such Indemnification Arrangement.
     (c) The Company shall maintain directors’ and officers’ insurance programs providing coverage to Indemnitee for Expenses during the time period Indemnitee serves the Company in a Corporate Status, and for a period of no less than six (6) years following the conclusion of such service. If, at the time the Company receives notice from any source of a Proceeding as to which Indemnitee is a party or a participant (as a witness or otherwise), the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice 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.

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     (d) 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.
     (e) The Company’s obligation to indemnify, hold harmless, exonerate or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other Enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification, hold harmless or exoneration payments or advancement of expenses from such Enterprise. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, (i) Indemnitee shall have no obligation to reduce, offset, allocate, pursue or apportion any indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration, advancement, contribution or insurance coverage among multiple parties possessing such duties to Indemnitee prior to the Company’s satisfaction and performance of all its obligations under this Agreement, and (ii) the Company shall perform fully its obligations under this Agreement without regard to whether Indemnitee holds, may pursue or has pursued any indemnification, advancement, hold harmless, exoneration, contribution or insurance coverage rights against any person or entity other than the Company.
18. DURATION OF AGREEMENT . All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee serves as a director or officer of the Company or as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other Enterprise which Indemnitee serves at the request of the Company and shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee may be subject to any possible Proceeding (including any rights of appeal thereto and any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement) by reason of his Corporate Status, whether or not he is acting in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement.
19. 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, paragraph or sentence 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; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence 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


 

20. ENFORCEMENT AND BINDING EFFECT .
     (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 encourage Indemnitee to serve and/or continue to serve as a director, officer or key employee of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director, officer or key employee of the Company.
     (b) Without limiting any of the rights of Indemnitee under the Charter or Bylaws of the Company as they may be amended from time to time, and except as provided in Section 17(a), 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.
     (c) The rights to be indemnified and to receive contribution and advancement of Expenses provided by or granted Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement shall apply to Indemnitee’s service as an officer, director, employee or agent of the Company prior to the date of this Agreement, as well as service on or after the date of this Agreement.
     (d) The indemnification, hold harmless, exoneration and advancement of expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (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), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and his or her spouse, assigns, estate, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives.
     (e) The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.
     (f) The Company and Indemnitee agree herein that a monetary remedy for breach of this Agreement, at some later date, 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, among other things, 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

18


 

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 such a bond or undertaking.
21. MODIFICATION AND WAIVER . No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by 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 of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
22. NOTICES . All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) if 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 (3rd) business day after the date on which it is so mailed:
     (a) If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide in writing to the Company.
     (b) If to the Company, to:
Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
c/o General Counsel
1000 Abernathy Road, Suite 1200
Atlanta, Georgia 30328
or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee in writing by the Company.
23. APPLICABLE LAW AND CONSENT TO JURISDICTION . This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally: (a) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Delaware Court and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country; (b) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement; (c) appoint irrevocably, to the extent such party is not a resident of the State of Delaware, Abrams & Laster LLP, 20 Montchanin Road, Suite 200, Wilmington, Delaware 19807 as such party’s agent for acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action or

19


 

proceeding against such party with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware; (d) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court; and (e) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum, or is subject (in whole or in part) to a jury trial.
24. 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.
25. MISCELLANEOUS . Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate. 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.
26. PERIOD OF LIMITATIONS . No legal action shall be brought and no cause of action shall be asserted by or in the right of the Company against Indemnitee, Indemnitee’s spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives after the expiration of two years from the date of accrual of such cause of action, and any claim or cause of action of the Company shall be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action within such two-year period; provided, however, that if any shorter period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of action such shorter period shall govern.
27. ADDITIONAL ACTS . If for the validation of any of the provisions in this Agreement any act, resolution, approval or other procedure is required, the Company undertakes to cause such act, resolution, approval or other procedure to be affected or adopted in a manner that will enable the Company to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank;
signatures appear on following page]

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      IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this Indemnity Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.
                     
BEAZER HOMES USA, INC.       INDEMNITEE    
 
                   
             
Name:
          Name:        
Title:
          Address:        

21

EXHIBIT 10.2
SECOND LIMITED WAIVER
          SECOND LIMITED WAIVER (this “ Limited Waiver ”) dated effective as of June 30, 2008 executed by Beazer Homes USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Borrower ”), the lenders party hereto (the “ Lenders ”), and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as agent (the “ Agent ”).
          The parties hereto are party to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of July 25, 2007 (as amended by that certain Waiver and First Amendment (the “ First Amendment ”) dated as of October 10, 2007, by that certain Second Amendment dated as of October 26, 2007 and by that certain Limited Waiver dated May 13, 2008 (the “ May Waiver ”) and as further amended, supplemented, or modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”; terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as defined therein). Article VII of the Credit Agreement requires the Borrower to comply with certain financial covenants. The Borrower has asked the Agent and Lenders to waive noncompliance with Section 7.01 [Minimum Consolidated Tangible Net Worth] and Section 7.02 [Leverage Ratio] of the Credit Agreement for the Waiver Period (as defined below) in accordance with the terms set forth in this Limited Waiver.
          Section 1. Limited Waiver . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, but with effect on and after the date hereof, the Lenders hereby waive compliance with Sections 7.01 and 7.02 of the Credit Agreement, at all times for the period from and including June 30, 2008 through and excluding the earlier of (i) the date of the occurrence of any other Default and (ii) August 15, 2008 (such period being the “ Waiver Period ”); provided that (x) at no time during the Waiver Period shall Consolidated Tangible Net Worth of the Borrower be less than $700,000,000, and (y) at no time during the Waiver Period shall the Leverage Ratio of the Borrower exceed 2.50 to 1.00. Failure to satisfy any of the terms in the foregoing proviso shall terminate the Limited Waiver set forth in this Section 1, end the Waiver Period, and constitute an Event of Default under Section 8.01 of the Credit Agreement.
          Section 2. Applicable Eurodollar Margin . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Credit Agreement, during the Waiver Period, the Applicable Eurodollar Margin shall be 3.50%. This Section 2 is not meant to extend the Limited Waiver set forth in Section 1.
          Section 3. Conditions Precedent . The waivers set forth in Section 1 hereof shall become effective, as of the date hereof, upon (a) the execution and delivery of this Limited Waiver by the Borrower, the Agent and the Required Lenders, and (b) the execution and delivery of the Acknowledgement and Consent in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto from each Guarantor, all of which signature pages shall be sent to (including by way of facsimile or electronic mail) Jolie Tenholder, of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC, 301 S. College St., Charlotte, North Carolina 28202, facsimile 704-444-9969, email jtenholder@wcsr.com, prior to 5:00 p.m., New York time, on Friday, June 27, 2008.
          Section 4. Representations . The Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Agent and the Lenders that (a) the representations and warranties contained in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date hereof (after giving effect to this Limited Waiver) as if made on and as of the date hereof (except where such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date in
Second Limited Waiver

 


 

which case such representations and warranties were true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date); provided that the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.04 (Financial Statements), Section 4.06 (Other Agreements), Section 4.07 (Litigation), Section 4.14 (Law; Environment) and Section 4.17 (Accuracy of Information) shall be deemed to be made as set forth in the Credit Agreement except that such representations and warranties shall be deemed to be made with an exception for the matters identified in the Audit Committee Report (as supplemented by the disclosures referenced in Section 3 of the May Waiver) giving rise to the Restatement, and (b) after giving effect to this Limited Waiver, no Default has occurred and is continuing.
          Section 5. Waiver of Claims . The Borrower acknowledges that the Agent and Lenders have acted in good faith and have conducted themselves in a commercially reasonable manner in their relationships with the Borrower and the Guarantors in connection with this Limited Waiver and in connection with the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the Borrower hereby waiving and releasing any claims to the contrary. The Borrower, on its own behalf and on behalf of each of its Affiliates, releases and discharges the Agent and Lenders, all Affiliates of the Agent and Lenders, all officers, directors, employees, attorneys and agents of the Agent and Lenders or any of their Affiliates, and all of their predecessors in interest, from any and all claims, defenses and causes of action, whether known or unknown, and whether now existing or hereafter arising, including without limitation, any usury claims, that have at any time been owned, or that are hereafter owned, in tort or in contract by the Borrower or any Affiliate of the Borrower and that arise out of any one or more circumstances or events that occurred prior to the date of this Limited Waiver.
          Section 6. Miscellaneous . Except as herein provided, the Loan Documents shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect. The waiver set forth in Section 1 hereof is not meant to be a waiver of any other term or provision in Article VII of the Credit Agreement or any other term or provision of the Credit Agreement. The Agent and the Lenders expressly reserve all of their rights and remedies with respect to any other present or future Default arising under the Credit Agreement (whether or not related to the matters addressed in this Limited Waiver). This Limited Waiver may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument and any of the parties hereto may execute this Limited Waiver by signing any such counterpart. This Limited Waiver shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of North Carolina, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.
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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Limited Waiver to be duly executed and delivered as of the day and year first above written.
         
  BEAZER HOMES USA, INC., as Borrower
 
 
  By:   /s/ Robert Salomon  
    Name:   Robert Salomon   
    Title:   Senior Vice President, CAO and Controller   
 
         
  WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, as Agent and as a Lender
 
 
  By:   /s/ R. Scott Holtzapple   
    Name:   R. Scott Holtzapple   
    Title:   Director   
 
         
  CITIBANK, N.A., as a Lender
 
 
  By:   /s/ Marni McManus   
    Name:   Marni McManus   
    Title:   Vice President   
 
         
  BNP PARIBAS, as a Lender
 
 
  By:   /s/ Henry Gaw   
    Name:   Henry Gaw   
    Title:   Managing Director   
 
         
     
  By:   /s/ Melissa Balley   
    Name:   Melissa Balley   
    Title:   Vice President   
 
         
  THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND, as a Lender
 
 
  By:   /s/ Bhavin Shah   
    Name:   Bhavin Shah   
    Title:   Managing Director   
 
         
  GUARANTY BANK, as a Lender
 
 
  By:   /s/ Amy Satsky   
    Name:   Amy Satsky   
    Title:   Vice President   
 
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  REGIONS FINANCIAL CORPORATION, as a Lender
 
 
  By:   /s/ Ronny Hudspeth  
    Name:   Ronny Hudspeth  
    Title:   Sr. Vice President  
 
         
  JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as a Lender
 
 
  By:   /s/ Kimberly Turner  
    Name:   Kimberly Turner  
    Title:   Executive Director  
 
         
  CITY NATIONAL BANK, a national banking
association, as a Lender
 
 
  By:   /s/ Mary Bowman  
    Name:   Mary Bowman  
    Title:   SVP  
 
         
  PNC BANK, N.A., as a Lender
 
 
  By:   /s/ Douglas G. Paul  
    Name:   Douglas G. Paul  
    Title:   Senior Vice President  
 
         
  UBS LOAN FINANCE, LLC, as a Lender
 
 
  By:   /s/ Ina R. Otsa  
    Name:   Ina R. Otsa  
    Title:   Associate Director, Banking Product Services U.S.  
 
         
  By:   /s/ Mary E. Evans  
    Name:   Mary E. Evans  
    Title:   Associate Director, Banking Product Services U.S.  
 
         
  COMERICA BANK, as a Lender
 
 
  By:      
    Name:      
    Title:      
 
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EXHIBIT A
ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND CONSENT
          Reference is made to the Second Limited Waiver, dated effective as of June 30, 2008 (the “ Limited Waiver ”), to and under the Credit Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2007 (as heretofore amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Beazer Homes USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Borrower ”), the several lenders from time to time parties thereto (the “ Lenders ”) and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as agent (in such capacity, the “ Agent ”). Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used herein and defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as therein defined.
          Each of the undersigned parties to the Guaranty hereby (a) consents to the transactions contemplated by the Limited Waiver and (b) acknowledges and agrees that the guarantees and grants of security interests made by such party contained in the Guaranty are, and shall remain, in full force and effect after giving effect to the Limited Waiver.
         
GUARANTORS :   APRIL CORPORATION
BEAZER ALLIED COMPANIES HOLDINGS, INC.
BEAZER GENERAL SERVICES, INC.
BEAZER HOMES CORP.
BEAZER HOMES HOLDINGS CORP.
BEAZER HOMES INDIANA HOLDINGS CORP.
BEAZER HOMES SALES, INC.
BEAZER HOMES TEXAS HOLDINGS, INC.
BEAZER MORTGAGE CORPORATION
BEAZER REALTY, INC.
BEAZER REALTY CORP.
BEAZER REALTY LOS ANGELES, INC.
BEAZER REALTY SACRAMENTO, INC.
BEAZER/SQUIRES REALTY, INC.
HOMEBUILDERS TITLE SERVICES, INC.
HOMEBUILDERS TITLE SERVICES OF VIRGINIA, INC.

 
 
  By:  /s/ Robert Salomon  
    Name:   Robert Salomon   
    Title:   Senior Vice President   
 
Second Limited Waiver

 


 

         
  ARDEN PARK VENTURES, LLC
BEAZER CLARKSBURG, LLC
BEAZER COMMERCIAL HOLDINGS, LLC
BEAZER HOMES INVESTMENTS, LLC
BEAZER HOMES MICHIGAN, LLC
DOVE BARRINGTON DEVELOPMENT LLC



By:   BEAZER HOMES CORP., its Managing Member
 
 
  By:   /s/ Robert Salomon   
    Name:   Robert Salomon   
    Title:   Senior Vice President   
 
  BEAZER SPE, LLC

By:   BEAZER HOMES HOLDINGS CORP.,
         its Member
 
 
  By:   /s/ Robert Salomon  
    Name:   Robert Salomon   
    Title:   Senior Vice President   
 
  BEAZER HOMES INDIANA, LLP
BEAZER REALTY SERVICES, LLC
PARAGON TITLE, LLC
TRINITY HOMES, LLC


By:   BEAZER HOMES INVESTMENTS, LLC,
         its Managing Member or Managing Partner

By:   BEAZER HOMES CORP.,
         its Managing Member
 
 
  By:   /s/ Robert Salomon  
    Name:   Robert Salomon   
    Title:   Senior Vice President   
 
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  BEAZER HOMES TEXAS, L.P.
TEXAS LONE STAR TITLE, L.P.



By:   BEAZER HOMES TEXAS HOLDINGS, INC.,
         its Managing Partner
 
 
  By:   /s/ Robert Salomon  
    Name:   Robert Salomon   
    Title:   Senior Vice President   
 
  BH BUILDING PRODUCTS, LP

By:   BH PROCUREMENT SERVICES, LLC,
         its General Partner

By:   BEAZER HOMES TEXAS, L.P.,
         its Managing Member

By:   BEAZER HOMES TEXAS HOLDINGS, INC.,
         its General Partner
 
 
  By:   /s/ Robert Salomon  
    Name:   Robert Salomon   
    Title:   Senior Vice President   
 
  BH PROCUREMENT SERVICES, LLC

By:   BEAZER HOMES TEXAS, L.P.,
         its Managing Member

By:   BEAZER HOMES TEXAS HOLDINGS, INC.,
          its General Partner
 
 
  By:   /s/ Robert Salomon  
    Name:   Robert Salomon   
    Title:   Senior Vice President   
 
Second Limited Waiver