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): August 9, 2005

 


 

ARAMARK CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   001-16807   23-3086414

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

  (Commission File Number)  

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

1101 Market Street

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  19107
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 215-238-3000

 

N/A

(Former name and 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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ 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 August 9, 2005, the Board of Directors of ARAMARK Corporation (the “Company”) approved new compensation for the Company’s Board. As described in the summary of the Board’s compensation, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1, effective October 1, 2005, the Company’s directors will receive a total of $125,000 of annual compensation composed of $62,500 in cash and $62,500 split between stock options ($36,250), based on a Black Scholes valuation, and deferred stock units ($26,250), each granted in quarterly installments. The form of grant certificate, including rules and procedures, that will be used to grant deferred stock units from time to time is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2. Finally, Directors are reimbursed for travel and other expenses in connection with their service on the Board and Board committees.

 

In addition, on August 9, 2005, the Board of Directors adopted a 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan (the “2005 Plan”) that complies with the deferred compensation rules set forth in Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. The 2005 Plan is substantially similar to the Company’s 2001 Deferred Compensation Plan (the “2001 Plan”), except for the following significant changes that are required by the new deferred compensation rules:

 

  The 2005 Plan clarifies that only performance-based bonuses may be deferred under the new rules.

 

  For certain “specified employees” (the top 50 compensated employees), payouts cannot be made until six (6) months after termination of employment, while under the 2001 Plan, such employees could be paid out on the date they terminated employment, or any other specified date.

 

  The hardship withdrawal provision is more restrictive under the 2005 Plan than it was under the 2001 Plan.

 

  The 2005 Plan does not permit the Company to accelerate the payout schedule for monies deferred under the Plan, while the 2001 Plan allowed the Company to accelerate payout at any time.

 

Finally, the Board of Directors approved a form of Indemnification Agreement on August 9, 2005, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.4, that the Company will enter into with its directors, corporate officers and certain corporate employees (each, an “Indemnitee”). The Indemnification Agreement provides the same rights to which directors and officers are currently entitled pursuant to the Company’s certificate of incorporation and by-laws and details further the procedures to be followed in connection with indemnification with the addition of new provisions that: (i) permit an Indemnitee to require the Company to place certain amounts in trust in the event of a potential change in control not approved by the Board of Directors prior to the change in control, (ii) require the Company to procure director and officer liability insurance unless in the Board’s judgment it is unavailable or does not provide effective coverage for the amount of premium and (iii) provide that if an Indemnitee is being indemnified for service on an outside board at the request of ARAMARK, the indemnification by ARAMARK will be in excess of any indemnification or insurance provided by such other entity. Indemnification will not be paid on account of remuneration determined in a final judgment to be in violation of law; for short swing profits under Section 16(b); or if a final judgment establishes that such indemnification is not lawful. The Indemnification Agreement also provides that an Indemnitee will be entitled to advancement of expenses; provided that, prior to such advancement, the Indemnitee must, if required by law, provide an undertaking that, if a final judgment establishes that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, the Indemnitee will repay the Company any amounts advanced to which the Indemnitee was not entitled.

 

ITEM 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

 

  (c) Exhibits

 

10.1    ARAMARK Directors’ Compensation Summary.
10.2    Grant Certificate for Deferred Stock Units.
10.3    ARAMARK 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan.
10.4    Form of Indemnification Agreement and attached schedule.


SIGNATURE

 

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.

 

 

     ARAMARK CORPORATION
Date: August 10, 2005    By:   

/s/ L. Frederick Sutherland


     Name:    L. Frederick Sutherland
     Title:    Executive Vice President and
          Chief Financial Officer


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description


10.1   ARAMARK Directors’ Compensation Summary.
10.2   Grant Certificate for Deferred Stock Units.
10.3   ARAMARK 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan.
10.4   Form of Indemnification Agreement and attached schedule.

Exhibit 10.1

 

DIRECTORS’ COMPENSATION

 

Annual Retainer of $62,500 (payable quarterly) in cash or deferred stock or deferred cash as defined below plus Option Awards and Deferred Stock Units with the value when granted each quarter as described below.

 

Annual Retainer:

 

Cash OR, at the Director’s election,         $15,625 payable quarterly as earned

Deferred Stock under the

2005 Deferred Comp. Plan for Directors OR

   Computation date    The last trading day in the fiscal quarter during which director served
     Class of shares    Class A Common Stock
     Number of shares    $15,625 divided by the closing price for a share of class B Common Stock on the computation date (rounded down to the nearest whole share)
     Issuance date    3 or more years after the computation date
Deferred cash under the 2005 Deferred Comp. Plan for Directors    Payment date    3 or more years after the date earned
     Accrual interest rate    Rate determined annually by Corporation for employee deferred compensation plans


Option Awards:

 

Grant date    The last trading day in the fiscal quarter during which director served
Class of shares    Class A Common Stock
Number of shares   

$36,250 worth of stock options, granted in quarterly installments of $9,062.50. The number of shares to be issued in any quarter will be determined by dividing the amount of the quarterly installment by the per share value of an option, based upon the Black Scholes formula as carried on the Bloomberg L.P. service, using the following assumptions:

Expected Volatility: 27%

Risk - Free Interest Rate: A percentage equal to the interest rate for 10 year U.S. Treasury obligations on the date of grant

Dividend Yield : the annual dividend yield for ARAMARK common stock on the date of grant

Expected Life of Option: 5 years

Stock Price: The closing price of a share of ARAMARK Class B Common stock on the date of grant as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Consolidated Tape

Expiration    10 years from date of grant
Vesting Schedule    Option 100% vested upon grant

 

Options are automatically granted as set forth above without any further action.

 

Deferred Stock Units:

 

Grant date    The last trading day in the fiscal quarter during which director served
Class of shares    Class B Common Stock
Number of shares    $26,250 worth of deferred stock units, granted in quarterly installments of $6,562.50. The number of deferred stock units to be issued in any quarter will be determined by dividing the amount of the quarterly installment by the closing price of a share of ARAMARK Class B Common stock on the date of grant as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Consolidated Tape
Pay out:    6 months after termination of service as a director
Vesting Schedule    100% vested upon grant

 

Deferred stock units are automatically granted as set forth above without any further action.

 

Ownership Guidelines:

 

Ownership Guidelines    ARAMARK common stock with a market value of four times the annual retainer, within four years of election to the Board.

Exhibit 10.2

 

ARAMARK 2001 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

DEFERRED STOCK UNITS AWARD

 

CERTIFICATE OF GRANT

 

This certifies that the Participant:

 

[NAME OF NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR]

 

Is entitled to the number of Deferred Stock Units

indicated below:

 

Number of Shares

 

Class of Common Stock:    B    Number of Shares:                     
                 Date of Grant:    Participant Account #:                     

 

This DSU Award is subject to the terms of the ARAMARK 2001 Equity Incentive Plan and the terms of this Certificate, including the attached Rules and Procedures for Non-Employee Director Deferred Stock Units.


ARAMARK 2001 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

RULES AND PROCEDURES

 

NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR DEFERRED STOCK UNITS

 

These Rules and Procedures form a part of the Non-Employee Director Deferred Stock Unit Award to which this Exhibit A is attached.

 

1. Grant of DSUs . The Company hereby grants the number of deferred stock units (“DSUs”) listed on the attached grant certificate to the Participant, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. This grant is made pursuant to the terms of the ARAMARK 2001 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), which Plan, as amended from time to time, is incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Agreement. Each DSU represents the unfunded, unsecured right of the Participant to receive a share of Class A or Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, (as specified below) of the Company (each a “Share”), on the dates specified herein. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings as in the Plan.

 

2. Payment of Shares .

 

  (a) The Company shall, subject to the remainder of this Agreement, transfer to the Participant a number of shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company equal to the number of DSUs granted to the Participant under this Agreement six months after the date on which the Participant ceases to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company (in whole Shares only with the Participant receiving a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value of any fractional Share on or about the transfer date). For purposes of this Agreement, the Fair Market Value of any Share shall equal the Fair Market Value of a share of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

 

  (b) In the event of a Change in Control, Shares equal to all outstanding DSUs hereunder shall be distributed to the Participant immediately prior to the Change in Control; provided that the Committee may determine that, in lieu of Shares and/or fractional Shares, the Participant shall receive a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value of such Shares (or fractional Shares, as the case may be) on such date. For purposes of this Agreement, “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

  (i)

any Person (other than (A) a Person holding securities representing 10% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities as of the date that the Company completed its initial public offering of its class B common stock (a “Pre-Existing Shareholder”) or a transferee of a Pre-Existing Shareholder receiving securities of the Company by reason of death of the Pre-Existing Shareholder pursuant to the terms of a will or trust or through intestacy, (B) the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, or (C) any company owned, directly or indirectly, by


 

the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of Shares of the Company), becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company, representing (I) 35% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding securities and (II) more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding securities than the Pre-Existing Shareholders in the aggregate.

 

  (ii) during any period of twelve consecutive months, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director nominated by any Person (other than the Company) who publicly announces an intention to take or to consider taking actions (including, but not limited to, an actual or threatened proxy contest) which if consummated would constitute a Change in Control under (i), (iii) or (iv) of this Section 2(b)) whose election or appointment by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders was approved in advance by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof;

 

  (iii) the consummation of any transaction or series of transactions resulting in a merger or consolidation in which the Company is involved, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the shareholders of the Company immediately prior thereto continuing to own (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity), in the same proportion as immediately prior to the transaction(s), more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or

 

  (iv) the complete liquidation of the Company or the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all (i.e., more than 51%, measured by fair market value) of the Company’s assets

 

but only to the extent that, in each of the foregoing instances, such event or events constitutes a “Change in Control Event” pursuant to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue of 1986, as amended.

 

  (c) Upon each transfer of Shares in accordance with Sections 2(a) or 2(b) of this Agreement, DSUs with respect to which Shares have been transferred hereunder shall be extinguished. Shares transferred in accordance with Section 2(a) shall be Class B common stock, par value $0.01 par share, of the Company. Shares transferred in accordance with Section 2(b) shall be Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

 

3.

Dividends . If on any date while DSUs are outstanding hereunder the Company shall pay any dividend on the Shares (other than a dividend payable in Shares), the number of DSUs granted to the Participant shall, as of such dividend payment date, be increased by a number of DSUs equal to: (a) the product of (x) the number of DSUs held by the Participant as of the related dividend record date, multiplied by (y) the per Share amount of any cash dividend (or, in the case of any dividend payable in whole or in part other than in cash, the per Share value of such dividend, as determined in good faith by the


 

Committee), divided by (b) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the payment date of such dividend. In the case of any dividend declared on Shares that is payable in the form of Shares, the number of DSUs granted to the Participant shall be increased by a number equal to the product of (I) the aggregate number of DSUs that have been held by the Participant through the related dividend record date, multiplied by (II) the number of Shares (including any fraction thereof) payable as a dividend on a Share. Shares shall be transferred with respect to all additional DSUs granted pursuant to this Section 3 at the same time as Shares are transferred with respect to the DSUs to which such additional DSUs were attributable.

 

4. Adjustments Upon Certain Events . In the event of any change in the outstanding Shares by reason of any stock split, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, spin-off or combination transaction or exchange of Shares or other corporate exchange, or any distribution to shareholders of Shares (other than any dividends covered by Section 3 above) or any transaction similar to the foregoing (collectively, an “Adjustment Event”), the Committee may, in its sole discretion and without liability to any person, adjust any Shares or DSUs subject to this Agreement to reflect such Adjustment Event; provided that such adjustment shall be consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

5. No Right to Continued Service as a Director . Neither the Plan nor these Rules and Procedures shall be construed as giving the Participant the right to continue to serve as a director of the Company. Further, the Company may at any time cease to nominate the Participant for reelection to the Board of Directors of the Company, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan or these Rules and Procedures, except as otherwise expressly provided herein.

 

6. No Acquired Rights . In participating in the Plan, the Participant acknowledges and accepts that the Committee or the Board has the power to amend or terminate the Plan at any time and that the opportunity given to the Participant to participate in the Plan is entirely at the discretion of the Committee or the Board and does not obligate the Company or any of its Affiliates to offer such participation in the future (whether on the same or different terms).

 

7. No Rights of a Shareholder . The Participant shall not have any rights as a shareholder of the Company until the Shares in question have been registered in the Company’s register of shareholders.

 

8. Legend on Certificates . Any Shares issued or transferred to the Participant pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which such Shares are listed, and any applicable Federal or state laws or relevant securities laws of the jurisdiction of the domicile of the Participant, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any certificates representing such Shares to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

 

9. Transferability . DSUs may not be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by the Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and any purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance not permitted by this Section 9 shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate.


10. Choice of Law . THE INTERPRETATION, PERFORMANCE AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE PARTICIPANT’S RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THE DSUs SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

 

11. DSUs Subject to Plan . By accepting the award of DSUs, the Participant agrees and acknowledges that the Participant has received and read a copy of the Plan. All DSUs are subject to the Plan. In the event of a conflict between any term or provision contained herein and a term or provision of the Plan, the applicable terms and provisions of the Plan will govern and prevail.

 

12. Section 409A . Notwithstanding anything in these Rules and Procedures to the contrary, any payments hereunder that would be subject to the additional income tax imposed by Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall be deferred until the earliest date that such payments may be made without the imposition of such tax.

Exhibit 10.3

 

ARAMARK

2005 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 

I. PURPOSE

 

The ARAMARK 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) allows eligible executives of the Company and its subsidiaries to defer the payment of their Salary and/or Bonus until a specified date in the future.

 

II. DEFINITIONS

 

Bonus ” means amounts that are not salary or wages that are earned by the Executive from the Company or a subsidiary in the form of an incentive or performance bonus.

 

Cause ” means (i) the Executive’s conviction of or entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony (or any similar crime for purposes of laws outside the United States), (ii) the Executive’s fraud or dishonesty, (iii) the Executive’s willful failure to perform assigned duties to the Company or an affiliate, (iv) the Executive’s willful violation of the ARAMARK Business Conduct Policy, or (v) the Executive’s intentionally working against the best interest of the Company or an affiliate.

 

Committee ” means the committee appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company to administer the Plan. As of the date of the adoption of the Plan, the Committee shall be the Compensation and Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Company ” means ARAMARK Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

 

Deferral Account ” means the bookkeeping account pursuant to which the Company records amounts deferred by the Executive under the Plan.

 

Effective Date ” means January 1, 2005.

 

Executive ” means an employee of the Company or any subsidiary who is a member of senior management and is identified as a key employee.

 

Plan ” means this ARAMARK 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan.

 

Plan Administrator ” means the individual(s) appointed by the Committee for purposes of determining eligibility to make deferrals under the Plan and administering deferral elections under the Plan.

 

Plan Year ” means the fiscal year of the Company; provided that the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on October 1, 2005 shall be the initial Plan Year.


Salary ” means an Executive’s base salary, wages and sales commissions (but excludes bonuses, overtime pay, or incentive pay) earned by the Executive from the Company or a subsidiary.

 

Unforeseeable Emergency ” means a severe financial hardship to the Executive resulting from an illness or accident of the Executive, the Executive’s spouse or a dependent (as defined in Section 152(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) of the Executive, loss of the Executive’s property due to casualty or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Executive.

 

III. ELIGIBILITY

 

The Plan Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion, the Executives eligible to participate in the Plan for purposes of deferring Salary and/or Bonuses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Executive who, immediately prior to the Effective Date, was a participating executive making deferrals under the ARAMARK 2001 Deferred Compensation Plan, shall be eligible to participate in this Plan on the Effective Date and to make deferrals of Salary and/or Bonus, as applicable, earned in respect of periods on and after the Effective Time.

 

IV. DEFERRAL PROVISIONS

 

Salary and/or Bonuses may be deferred under this Plan pursuant to rules and procedures established from time to time by the Committee. Such rules and procedures may establish, among other things: (1) deadlines for filing deferral elections under the Plan, (2) any applicable limits on the amount of Salary and Bonus that may be deferred under the Plan, (3) any applicable limits on the period or length of deferrals, (4) any conditions and limitations on changing or revoking deferral elections during a Plan Year, including applicable penalties, and (5) any conditions and limitations on withdrawals and distributions while the Executive’s deferral election remains in effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to Executives who first become eligible to participate in this Plan on the Effective Date as a result of the Executive’s participation in the ARAMARK 2001 Deferred Compensation Plan, such Executive’s elections under that ARAMARK 2001 Deferred Compensation Plan, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Date, shall continue to apply under this Plan with respect to Salary and/or Bonuses, as applicable, earned in respect of periods on and after the Effective Date to the extent consistent with the rules and procedures under the Plan until changed by the Executive in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Plan.

 

V. EARNINGS ON DEFERRAL ACCOUNTS

 

Deferral Accounts shall be credited with earnings, losses, interest, or other forms of investment return pursuant to rules and procedures adopted by the Committee, in its sole discretion. Deferrals shall be deemed to begin to accrue earnings as of the date they would otherwise have been paid to the Executive.

 

2


VI. PAYMENT PROVISIONS

 

Payment of deferrals shall be made pursuant to rules and procedures established from time to time by the Committee.

 

VII. Hardship Withdrawals

 

The Committee may establish rules and procedures permitting Executives to withdraw all or a portion of the amount then credited to the Executive’s Deferral Account solely due to the Unforeseeable Emergency if approved by the Committee in its sole discretion. The amounts distributed due to an Unforeseeable Emergency cannot exceed the amounts necessary to satisfy such emergency plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of the distribution, after taking into account the extent to which such emergency is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise or by liquidation of the Executive’s assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship). The Committee may delegate responsibility for administering and reviewing hardship withdrawal requests to one or more individuals.

 

VIII. NO ASSIGNMENT OR ALIENATION OF BENEFITS

 

Except as hereinafter provided, amounts deferred under this Plan may not be voluntarily or involuntarily assigned, pledged, or alienated. Unless required by law, no execution or attachment of any amount that becomes payable pursuant to any provision of this Plan shall be valid or recognized by the Company.

 

IX. NO RIGHT TO COMPANY ASSETS

 

Amounts credited to the Executive’s Deferral Account will not be held by the Company in trust, escrow, or similar fiduciary capacity, and benefits paid under the Plan shall be paid from general funds of the Company. Neither the Executive, a beneficiary, nor any legal representative will have any right against the Company with respect to any portion of the Deferral Account or any assets of the Company or any subsidiary, except as a general, unsecured creditor of the Company.

 

X. ADMINISTRATION

 

A. The Committee shall administer the Plan and shall be the sole interpreter and arbiter of this Plan; provided, however, that the Committee may delegate to other persons such of its functions as it deems appropriate. The Committee has the right to amend the Plan’s provisions at any time, provided that such amendments do not (1) decrease the balance of the Executive’s Deferral Account at the time of such amendment, or (2) retroactively decrease the applicable rate of interest, earnings or other investment return prior to the time of such amendment. The individuals serving on the Committee shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from any and all liability, costs, and expenses, arising out of any action taken by any member with respect to the Plan to the maximum extent permitted by law.

 

3


B. The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time amend or terminate the Plan as to all or any group of Executives. If the Plan is terminated, the affected Executive’s Deferral Account will be distributed over the period elected by the Executive.

 

XI. MISCELLANEOUS

 

A. The rights and obligations of the Company and its subsidiaries under this Plan shall be binding on their successors and assigns.

 

B. This Plan shall not confer upon any person any right to be continued in the employment of the Company or any subsidiary.

 

C. In the event any provision of the Plan is held invalid, void or unenforceable, the same shall not affect, in any respect, the validity of the other provisions of the Plan.

 

D. The Company is authorized to withhold amounts necessary to satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding requirements and social security or other employee tax requirements applicable with respect to the deferral or payment of amounts hereunder.

 

E. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, any payments hereunder that would be subject to the additional income tax imposed by Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended shall be deferred until the earliest date that such payments may be made without the imposition of such tax.

 

F. The Plan is intended to be an unfunded plan maintained primarily to provide deferred compensation benefits for a select group of management or highly compensated employees within the meaning of Sections 201, 301 and 401 of ERISA and therefore to be exempt from Parts 2, 3 and 4 of Title I of ERISA.

 

G. The Plan shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, without regard to conflicts of law provisions thereof, except to the extent pre-empted by ERISA.

 

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Exhibit 10.4

 

ARAMARK CORPORATION

Indemnification Agreement

 

THIS AGREEMENT is effective the      day of August, 2005, between ARAMARK Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and                                      (“Indemnitee”), whose address is                                                                                                     .

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, it is essential to the Company to retain and attract as directors, officers and other certain key employees the most capable persons available;

 

WHEREAS, Indemnitee is a member of the Board of Directors, a corporate officer of the Company (a “Designated Officer”) or an employee of the Company designated by the Board of Directors to have the benefit of this Agreement (a “Designated Employee”) and in such capacity is performing a valuable service for the Company;

 

WHEREAS, the By-laws of the Company provide for the indemnification of its directors and officers to the full extent authorized or permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “Corporate Statute”);

 

WHEREAS, the Corporate Statute specifically provides that it is not exclusive, and thereby contemplates that contracts may be entered into between the Company and the members of its Board of Directors, its officers or other employees which provide for broader indemnification of such directors, officers and other employees;

 

WHEREAS, developments with respect to the terms and availability of Directors and Officers Liability Insurance (“D&O Insurance”) and with respect to the application, amendment and enforcement of statutory, Certificate of Incorporation and By-law indemnification provisions generally, have raised questions concerning the availability of such insurance and if available, the adequacy and reliability of the protection afforded to directors, Designated Officers and Designated Employees thereby;

 

WHEREAS, in recognition of Indemnitee’s need for substantial protection against personal liability in order to enhance Indemnitee’s service or continued service to the Company in an effective manner and in part to provide Indemnitee with specific contractual assurance that the indemnification protection provided by the Company’s By-laws will be available to Indemnitee (regardless of, among other things, any amendment to or revocation of such By-laws, change in the composition of the Company’s Board of Directors, or acquisition transaction relating to the Company), and in order to induce Indemnitee to provide or to continue to provide services to the Company as a director, Designated Officer or Designated Employee thereof, the Company wishes to provide in this Agreement for the indemnification of and the advancing of expenses and other costs to Indemnitee to the full extent permitted by law and as set forth in this Agreement;


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of Indemnitee commencing or continuing to serve the Company directly or, at its request, another enterprise or entity, including, without limitation, any benefit plan, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENT

 

1. Certain Definitions.

 

(a) “ Change in Control ”: means the first to occur of any of the following: (a) any “person” or “group” (as described in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”)) (other than (i) a person holding securities representing 10% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities as of the date that the Company completed an initial public offering of its class B common stock (a “Pre-Existing Shareholder”) or a transferee of a Pre-Existing Shareholder receiving securities of the Company by reason of the death of the Pre-Existing Shareholder pursuant to the terms of a will or trust or through intestacy, (ii) the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, or (iii) any company owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company), becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company, representing (I) 20% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding securities and (II) more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding securities than the Pre-Existing Shareholders in the aggregate; (b) during any period of twenty-four consecutive months, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Company’s Board of Directors, and any new director (other than a director nominated by any person (other than the Company) who publicly announces an intention to take or to consider taking actions (including, but not limited to, an actual or threatened proxy contest) which if consummated would constitute a Change in Control under (a), (c) or (d) of this Section 1(a)) whose election by the Company’s Board of Directors or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof; (c) the consummation of any transaction or series of transactions resulting in a merger or consolidation in which the Company is involved, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the shareholders of the Company immediately prior thereto continuing to own (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity), in the same proportion as immediately prior to the transaction(s), more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; (d) the complete liquidation of the Company or the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; or (e) any other transaction so denominated by the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

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(b) “ Expenses ”: include attorneys’ fees and all other costs, travel expenses, fees of experts, transcripts costs, filing fees, witness fees, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, expenses and obligations of any nature whatsoever paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, prosecuting, being a witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to investigate, defend, prosecute, be a witness in or participate in any claim, action, suit or proceeding or inquiry or investigation, formal or informal, including, without limitations, any appeal for which a claim for indemnification may be made hereunder.

 

(c) “ 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 entity (including the Company) publicly announces an intention to take or to consider taking actions which if consummated would constitute a Change in Control; or (iii) the Board of Directors adopts a resolution to the effect that, for purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control has occurred.

 

(d) “ Independent Counsel ”: an attorney or a law firm (either being referred to as a “person”) who is experienced in matters of corporate law and who shall not have otherwise performed material services for the Company or Indemnitee within the immediately preceding five years, other than services as Independent Counsel hereunder and who shall not have performed services for any other party to the proceeding giving rise to the claim for indemnification hereunder. Independent Counsel shall not be 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, nor shall Independent Counsel be any person who has been sanctioned or censured for ethical violations of applicable standards of professional conduct in the last five years.

 

(e) “ Final Judgment ”: a final (not interlocutory) judgment or other adjudication of a court or arbitration or administrative body of competent jurisdiction as to which there is no further right or option of appeal or the time within which an appeal must be filed has expired without such filing.

 

2. Maintenance of Insurance; Limitations.

 

(a) The Company currently has in force and effect several policies of D&O Insurance (collectively, the “Insurance Policy”). The Company agrees to furnish a copy of the Insurance Policy to Indemnitee upon request. The Company agrees that, so long as Indemnitee shall continue to serve as a director, or Designated Officer of the Company (or shall at the request of the Company serve as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise) and thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible claim, or threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative, formal or informal, by reason of the fact that Indemnitee was a director or Designated Officer of the Company (or served in any of said other capacities), the Company will, subject to the limitations set forth in

 

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Section 2(b) hereof, endeavor to purchase and maintain in effect for the benefit of Indemnitee one or more valid, binding and enforceable policy or policies of D&O Insurance providing, in all respects, coverage at least comparable to that provided pursuant to the Insurance Policy.

 

(b) The Company shall not be required to maintain the Insurance Policy or such other policy or policies of D&O Insurance in effect if, in the sole business judgment of the then Board of Directors of the Company, (i) such insurance is not reasonably available, (ii) the premium cost for such insurance is substantially disproportionate to the amount of coverage, or (iii) the coverage provided by such insurance is so limited by exclusions that there is a disproportionately insufficient benefit from such insurance.

 

3. Indemnification of Indemnitee.

 

The Company agrees to hold harmless, indemnify and defend Indemnitee to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by the provisions of the Corporate Statute and to such greater extent as the Corporate Statute or other applicable law may thereafter from time to time permit.

 

4. Additional Indemnity.

 

(a) Subject to the exclusions set forth in Section 5 hereof, the Company further agrees to hold harmless, indemnify and defend Indemnitee against any and all reasonable Expenses, and all liability and loss including, without limitation, judgments, excise taxes, penalties, fines and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement, actually incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any threatened, pending or completed claim, action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative, formal or informal (including an action by or in the right of the Company) to which Indemnitee is, was or at any time becomes a party, or is threatened to be made a party, by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is, was or at any time becomes a director, Designated Officer, Designated Employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving or at any time serves at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, employee, agent, fiduciary or “party in interest” (as defined in ERISA) of, or with respect to, or the Company’s representative in, another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise.

 

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of having served as a director, Designated Officer, Designated Employee or agent of the Company or at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, employee, agent, fiduciary or “party in interest” (as defined in ERISA) of, or with respect to, or the Company’s representative in, another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, a witness in any proceeding to which he is not a party, he shall be indemnified against all Expenses actual and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his behalf in connection therewith.

 

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5. Limitations on Indemnity.

 

(a) No indemnification pursuant to Section 3 or Section 4 hereof shall be paid by the Company:

 

(i) on account of remuneration paid to Indemnitee if it shall be determined by a Final Judgment that such remuneration was in violation of law;

 

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

 

(iii) if a Final Judgment establishes that such indemnification is not lawful.

 

(b) The Company’s indemnification obligations under this Agreement shall be reduced to the extent payment is made to or for the benefit of Indemnitee pursuant to any D&O Insurance purchased and maintained by the Company.

 

(c) To the extent Indemnitee’s claim for indemnification under this Agreement arises out of Indemnitee’s service at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, the Company’s indemnification obligation hereunder shall be limited to that amount required in excess of any indemnification and/or insurance provided to Indemnitee by such other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise. Indemnitee hereby also agrees that any indemnification obligation of the Company under the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws with respect to such a claim shall also be subject to this limitation.

 

6. Continuation of Indemnity.

 

All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee is a director, Designated Officer and/or Designated Employee of the Company (or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise) and shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible claim, or threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative, formal or informal, by reason of the fact that Indemnitee was a director, Designated Officer, Designated Employee or agent of the Company or was serving in any other capacity described in this Section 6.

 

7. Notification and Defense of Claim.

 

Promptly after receipt by Indemnitee of notice of the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, Indemnitee shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Company

 

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under this Agreement, notify the Company of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the Company shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee. With respect to any such action, suit or proceeding as to which Indemnitee notifies the Company of the commencement thereof:

 

(a) the Company shall be entitled to participate therein at its own expense;

 

(b) except as otherwise provided below, to the extent that it may wish, the Company jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee. After notice from the Company to Indemnitee of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the Company shall not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation or as otherwise provided below. Indemnitee shall have the right to employ his own chosen counsel in such action, suit or proceeding but the fees and expenses of such counsel incurred after notice from the Company of its assumption of the defense thereof shall be at the expense of Indemnitee, unless (i) the employment of such counsel by Indemnitee has been authorized by the Company, (ii) Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of the defense of such action, suit or proceeding or (iii) the Company shall not in fact have employed its counsel to assume the defense of such action, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of Indemnitee’s counsel shall be at the expense of the Company. The Company shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any action, suit or proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Company or as to which Indemnitee shall have made the conclusion described in (ii) of this Section 7(b); and

 

(c) the Company shall not be liable to indemnify Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any action or claim effected without the Company’s written consent. The Company shall not settle any action or claim in any manner which would impose any penalty, equitable remedy or injunctive or other relief or limitation on Indemnitee without Indemnitee’s written consent. Neither the Company nor Indemnitee shall unreasonably withhold their consent to any proposed settlement.

 

8. Procedures for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification.

 

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

 

(b) Method of Determination . If such a determination is required as a matter of law as a condition to indemnification, a determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be made as follows:

 

(i) if a Change in Control has occurred, unless Indemnitee shall request in writing that such determination be made in accordance with clause (ii) of this Section 8(b), the determination shall be made by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee;

 

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(ii) if a Change of Control has not occurred, the determination shall be made by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who are not and were not a party to the action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee (“Disinterested Directors”). In the event that a quorum of the Board of Directors consisting of Disinterested Directors is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, such quorum of Disinterested Directors so directs, the determination shall be made by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee.

 

(c) Selection, Payment, Discharge of Independent Counsel . In the event the determination of entitlement of indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 8(b) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected, paid, and discharged in the following manner:

 

(i) If a Change of Control has not occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board of Directors, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising Indemnitee of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.

 

(ii) If a Change of Control has occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board of Directors, in which event clause (i) of this Section 8(c) shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.

 

(iii) Following the initial selection described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 8(c), Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection has been received, deliver to the other party a written objection to such selection. 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 1(d) hereof, 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 made, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until a court has determined that such objection is without merit.

 

(iv) Either the Company or Indemnitee may petition a court of competent jurisdiction if the parties have been unable to agree on the selection of Independent Counsel within 20 days after receipt by the Company of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 8(a) hereof. Such petition may request a determination whether an objection to the party’s selection is without merit and/or seek the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall designate. A person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 8(b) hereof.

 

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(v) The Company shall pay any and all reasonable fees of Independent Counsel, and the reasonable expenses incurred by such Independent Counsel, in connection with acting pursuant to this Agreement, and the Company shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 8(c), regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed.

 

(vi) Upon due commencement of any judicial proceeding pursuant to Section 11(b) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

(d) Cooperation . Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or expenses (including 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. If a determination is made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement (including if such indemnification is subject to Section 5(c)), Indemnitee shall continue to provide the Company with such documentation and information and to provide such other cooperation as the Company may reasonably request. Any costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the Company shall be borne by the Company and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

 

9. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

 

(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 8(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption.

 

(b) The termination of any action, suit or 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 of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in accordance with any standard of conduct that may be a condition to indemnification.

 

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(c) 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 Company, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Company in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Company or on information or records given or reports made to the Company by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Company. The provisions of this Section 9(c) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standards for indemnification set forth in this Agreement.

 

(d) The knowledge and/or actions or failure to act of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

10. Advance of Expenses, Judgments, Etc.

 

(a) The Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in defending any claim, action, investigation, formal or informal, request for documents or information, responding to any subpoena or other legal process, suit or proceeding pursuant to which a claim for Indemnification may be applied for by Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement, shall be advanced by the Company at the request of Indemnitee. Any judgments, fines or amounts to be paid in settlement shall also be advanced by the Company to Indemnitee upon request.

 

(b) Prior to the advancement of Expenses by the Company pursuant to this Section 10, Indemnitee must, if required by law, provide an undertaking that if it shall ultimately be determined in a Final Judgment that Indemnitee was not entitled to be indemnified, or was not entitled to be fully indemnified, Indemnitee shall promptly repay to the Company all amounts advanced or the appropriate portion thereof so advanced.

 

11. Enforcement.

 

(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on the Company hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to commence or continue serving as a director, Designated Officer and/or Designated Employee of the Company, and/or at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, and acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in commencing or continuing in such capacity.

 

(b) If (i) a determination is made that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) an advancement of Expenses, judgments, fines or amounts to be paid in settlement or other amounts pursuant to Section 11 hereof is not made within 15 days after receipt by the Company of a request therefor, (iii) a

 

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determination of entitlement to indemnification pursuant to Section 8 hereof has not been made within 90 days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, or (iv) payment of indemnification is not made within 10 days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, then Indemnitee may bring an action against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. In the event Indemnitee is required to bring any action to enforce rights or to collect moneys due under this Agreement, the Company shall reimburse Indemnitee for all of the Indemnitee’s Expenses in bringing and pursuing such action, whether or not Indemnitee is successful in such action, unless the court or other adjudicative body determines that such action for enforcement brought by Indemnitee was frivolous.

 

(c) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 11 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. If a Change of Control shall have occurred, in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 11 the Company shall have the burden of proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.

 

(d) If a determination shall have been made or deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 8 or 9 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 11, 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.

 

(e) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced to enforce this Agreement, including a judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 11, that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable or that there is not sufficient consideration for this Agreement and shall stipulate in any such court that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.

 

12. Establishment of Trust.

 

In the event of a Potential Change in Control other than a Potential Change in Control approved by the Board of Directors of the Company prior to the Change in Control or in the event of such a Change in Control that has been so approved, if the Board determines in its discretion that this Section 12 should still apply, 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 the Company 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, and any and all judgments, fines, penalties and settlement amount actually paid or claimed, reasonably anticipated or proposed to be paid, in connection with any pending or competed action, suit or proceeding pursuant to which a claim for indemnification or advancement may be applied for by Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement. The amount or amounts to be deposited in the trust pursuant to the foregoing funding obligation shall be determined by Independent Counsel. The terms of the trust shall provide that

 

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upon a Change in Control (i) the trust shall not be revoked or the principal thereof invaded, without the written consent of Indemnitee, (ii) the trustee shall advance, within 15 days after receipt of a request by Indemnitee, any and all Expenses, judgments, fines or settlement amounts to Indemnitee for which funding has been provided (and Indemnitee hereby agrees to reimburse the trust under the circumstances under which Indemnitee would be required to reimburse the Company under Section 10 hereof), (iii) the trust shall continue to be funded by the Company in accordance with the funding obligations set forth above, (iv) the trustee shall promptly pay to Indemnitee, from and to the extent such trust has been funded, all amounts for which Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise, and (v) all unexpended funds in such trust shall revert to the Company upon a final determination by Independent Counsel or a Final Judgment, as the case may be, that the Indemnitee has been fully indemnified under the terms of this Agreement. The trustee shall be an Independent Counsel or another independent person agreed upon by the Company and the Indemnitee. Nothing in this Section 12 shall relieve the Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement or under applicable law, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws. All income earned on the assets held in the trust shall be reported as income by the Company for federal, state, local and foreign tax purposes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have the right, in its sole discretion, in lieu of creating and funding such trust, to purchase and maintain one or more bonds or other forms of adequate security from an insurance company, surety company or similar source reasonably acceptable to Indemnitee, for the amounts which it would otherwise be required to place in trust pursuant to this Section 12.

 

13. Other Rights and Remedies.

 

The indemnification and other rights provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may be entitled or hereafter acquire under any provision of law, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws, other agreement, vote of shareholders or directors or otherwise, as to action in Indemnitee’s official capacity while occupying any of the positions or having any of the relationships referred to in this Agreement, and shall continue after Indemnitee has ceased to occupy such position or have such relationship, respecting acts or omissions of Indemnitee while Indemnitee occupied such position or had such relationship. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or any provision hereof shall be effective as to Indemnitee with respect to any action taken or omitted by Indemnitee while occupying any of the positions or having any of the relationships referred to in this Agreement prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal.

 

14. Notices.

 

All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (i) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communications shall have been directed, (ii) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, or by Federal Express or similar service providing receipt against delivery, and (iii) telefaxed and received with a confirming copy received by the method described in (ii) above and shall be deemed received on the earlier of actual receipt or the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed:

 

(a) if to Indemnitee, to the address set forth above or to such other address as may be furnished to the Company by Indemnitee by notice similarly given; or

 

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  (b) if to the Company, to:

 

       ARAMARK Corporation
       1101 Market Street
       Philadelphia, PA 19107-2988
       Attn: Corporate Secretary
       215-413-8808 (facsimile)

 

or to such other address as may be furnished to Indemnitee by the Company by notice similarly given.

 

15. Subrogation.

 

In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee in respect of such payment against one or more third parties (including without limitation D&O Insurance, if applicable). Indemnitee shall execute all documents and instruments necessary or desirable for such purpose, and shall do everything that may be reasonably necessary to secure such rights at the Expense of the Company, including the execution of such documents and instruments reasonably necessary or desirable to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

16. No Construction as Employment Agreement.

 

Nothing contained herein shall be construed as giving Indemnitee any right to be retained as a director, officer or employee of the Company or in any capacity with any other entity referred to in Section 6 hereof, or in the employ of the Company or of any such other entity.

 

17. Severability.

 

The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable in the event that any of the provisions hereof (including any provision within a single section, paragraph or sentence) are held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, and the remaining provisions shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. Furthermore, to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation each portion of this Agreement containing any provision held to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, void or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

 

18. No Third Party Beneficiaries.

 

Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement other than any estate, heir, executor or administrator of or other successor to Indemnitee.

 

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19. Governing Law; Binding Effect; Amendment, Termination, Assignment and Waiver.

 

(a) This Agreement shall be interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

(b) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by and against the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including without limitation any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all, substantially all, or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company), and spouses, heirs, and personal and legal representatives. 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 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.

 

(c) No amendment, modification, termination, cancellation or assignment of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing signed by both parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the party making the waiver nor shall any such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

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

 

 

     ARAMARK Corporation

 


   By:

 

  

 

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Schedule of Parties to Indemnification Agreement

 

The Company will enter into an Indemnification Agreement (which will be the same except for the date and the party) with all of the directors and officers of the Company.