UNITED STATES

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

 

September 23rd, 2014   (September 18, 2014)
Date of report   (Date of earliest event reported)

 

 

Hexcel Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   1-8472   94-1109521
(State of Incorporation)   (Commission File No.)  

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

Two Stamford Plaza

281 Tresser Boulevard

Stamford, Connecticut 06901-3238

(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)

(203) 969-0666

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written Communication 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))

 

 

 


Section 5 — Registrant’s Business and Operations

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On September 18, 2014, the board of directors of Hexcel Corporation (the “Company”) authorized the Company to enter into an Indemnification Agreement with each of the current directors and executive officers of the Company (collectively, the “Indemnitees”). The Indemnification Agreements clarify and supplement indemnification provisions already contained in the Company’s Bylaws and generally provide that the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitees to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, subject to certain exceptions, against expenses, judgments, fines and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with their service as a director or officer and also provide for rights to advancement of expenses.

The description of the Indemnification Agreements set forth in this Item 1.01 is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Indemnification Agreement between the Company and each of the Indemnitees which is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Section 5 — Corporate Governance and Management

Item 5.03 Amendment to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year

Effective as of September 18, 2014, Hexcel’s bylaws were amended to adopt (i) a provision providing that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the exclusive forum for stockholder litigation and (ii) provisions related to the advance notification requirements by stockholders seeking to present proposals or director nominees at meetings, including (a) that an adjournment or postponement of a stockholder meeting will not extend or commence a new notice period, (b) disclosure requirements on arrangements regarding managing risks or benefits from share price changes and increasing or decreasing the voting power or economic interest of the stockholder, (c) disclosure requirements by a nominee regarding arrangements to act or vote on any issue and compensation from others for service as a director and (d) required representations by a nominee to comply with Hexcel’s confidentiality, insider trading, and conflict of interest and ethics policies.

Hexcel’s bylaws, as amended and restated to reflect these changes, are filed as Exhibit 3 hereto.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

 

3    Bylaws of Hexcel Corporation, amended and restated as of September 18, 2014
99.1    Form of Indemnification Agreement

 

 

 

2


Signature

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    HEXCEL CORPORATION
September 23, 2014     /s/ Ira J. Krakower
    Ira J. Krakower
    Senior Vice President

 

3


Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

3    Bylaws of Hexcel Corporation, amended and restated as of September 18, 2014
99.1    Form of Indemnification Agreement

 

4

Exhibit 3

BYLAWS OF HEXCEL CORPORATION

A DELAWARE CORPORATION

AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

OFFICES

1. PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE . The principal executive office of the Corporation is hereby fixed and located at 2 Stamford Plaza, Stamford, Connecticut. The Board of Directors is hereby granted full power and authority to change the place of said principal executive office from time to time.

2. OTHER OFFICES. The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is hereby fixed and located at 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware, c/o The Corporation Trust Company. The Board of Directors is hereby granted full power and authority to change the place of said registered office within the State of Delaware from time to time. The Corporation may also have offices in such other places in the United States or elsewhere as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate or as the business of the Corporation may from time to time require.

STOCKHOLDERS

3. PLACE OF MEETINGS. Stockholders’ meetings shall be held at such place, whether within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors shall, by resolution, designate.

4. ANNUAL MEETINGS. Annual meetings of stockholders shall be held on such dates and at such times as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of such annual meeting. At such annual meetings directors shall be elected and such other business as may be properly brought before such meeting shall be conducted.

Written notice of each annual meeting shall be mailed to or delivered to each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of such annual meeting. Such notice shall specify the place, the day, and the hour of such meeting, and the matters which the Board of Directors intends to present for action by the stockholders.

Except to the extent, if any, specifically provided to the contrary in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, to be properly brought before an annual meeting, all business (other than the nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board of Directors, which nomination must comply with the provisions of Section 16) must be either (a) specified in the notice of annual meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof), (b) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof) or (c) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by a stockholder of record who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 4. In addition to any other applicable requirements, for business (other than the nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board of Directors) to be properly brought before any annual meeting by a


stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof, in proper form, 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 one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within twenty-five (25) days before or after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder in order to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting was made, whichever first occurs. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting of stockholders, or the public announcement of such an adjournment or postponement, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

To be in proper form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must be in writing and must set forth with respect to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (a) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (b) the name and record address of the stockholder proposing such business, (c) the class or series and number of shares of the capital stock of the Corporation that are owned beneficially or of record by the stockholder and any of its affiliates or associates and any other direct or indirect pecuniary or economic interest in any capital stock of the Corporation of such person or any of its affiliates or associates, including, without limitation, any derivative instrument, swap (including total return swaps), option, warrant, short interest, hedge or profit sharing arrangement, and the length of time that the interests in the shares have been held, (d) whether any other transaction, agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares) has been made by or on behalf of such stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, or manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, such stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates or to increase or decrease the voting power or pecuniary or economic interest of such stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates with respect to the capital stock of the Corporation, (e) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates and any other person or persons (including their name(s)) in connection with the proposal of such business by any stockholder and any material interest of such stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates in such business, (f) any other information that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the proposal pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder if such stockholder were engaged in such a solicitation and (g) a representation that such stockholder or a representative thereof intends to appear in person at the annual meeting to bring such business before the meeting. A stockholder providing notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 4 shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for the meeting.

The Chairman of the annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted at the meeting.


5. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the stockholders may be called at any time and for any purpose or purposes by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or by a committee of the Board of Directors which has been duly designated by the Board of Directors and whose powers and authority, as provided in a resolution of the Board of Directors or in these Bylaws, include the power to call such meetings. If and to the extent that any special meeting of stockholders may be called by any other person or persons specified in any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or any amendment thereto, or any certificate filed under Section 151(g) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “GCL”) designating the number of shares of Preferred Stock to be issued and the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted to and imposed on the holders of such designated Preferred Stock, then such special meeting may also be called by such person or persons in the manner, at the times and for the purposes so specified. Except in special cases where other express provision is made by statute, notice of such special meeting shall be given in the same manner as for an annual meeting of stockholders. Such notice shall also specify the general nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting, and no business shall be transacted at the special meeting except as specified in such notice (or any supplement thereto).

6. ADJOURNED MEETINGS AND NOTICE THEREOF. Any stockholders’ meeting, annual or special, whether or not a quorum is present, may be adjourned from time to time by the chairman of such meeting or by the vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at such meeting, but in the absence of a quorum no other business may be transacted at such meeting.

Notice of an adjourned meeting need not be given if (a) the meeting is adjourned for thirty (30) days or less, (b) the time and place of the adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, and (c) no new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting. Otherwise, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as if the adjourned meeting were a new meeting.

7. VOTING. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, any certificate filed under Section 151(g) of the GCL or these Bylaws, a stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on the record date fixed for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at a meeting or, if no such date is fixed, the date determined in accordance with applicable law. If any share is entitled to more or less than one vote on any matter, all references herein to a majority or other proportion of shares shall refer to a majority or other proportion of the voting power of shares entitled to vote on such matter.

8. QUORUM; VOTING REQUIREMENT. (a) A majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. No business may be transacted at a meeting in the absence of a quorum other than the adjournment of such meeting, except that if a quorum is present at the commencement of a meeting, business may be transacted until the meeting is adjourned even though the withdrawal of stockholders results in less than a quorum being present in person or by proxy at such meeting. Except with respect to the election of directors (which shall be governed by Section 8(b) below), if a quorum is present at a meeting, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on any matter shall be the act of the stockholders unless the vote of a larger number is required by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws. If a quorum is present at the commencement of a meeting but the withdrawal of stockholders results in less than a quorum


being present in person or by proxy at such meeting, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares required to constitute a quorum shall be the act of the stockholders unless the vote of a larger number is required by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision in these Bylaws to the contrary (other than in connection with filling vacancies on the Board of Directors), assuming a quorum is present, a nominee for director shall be elected to the Board of Directors if the votes cast for such nominee’s election exceed the votes cast against such nominee’s election; provided, however, that directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at any meeting of stockholders for which the Secretary of the Corporation determines that the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected as of the date seven days prior to the date the Corporation first mails the notice of the meeting for such meeting to stockholders.

(c) In order for any person to become a nominee of the Board of Directors for service on the Board of Directors, such person must submit a resignation, contingent (i) on that person not receiving the required vote for election, and (ii) acceptance of that resignation by the Board of Directors in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors for such purposes. A resignation pursuant to this Section 8(c) shall provide that it is irrevocable.

9. PROXIES. A stockholder may be represented at any meeting of stockholders by a written proxy signed by the person entitled to vote or by such person’s duly authorized attorney-in-fact. A proxy must bear a date within three (3) years prior to the meeting, unless the proxy specifies a different length of time. A revocable proxy is revoked by a writing delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation stating that the proxy is revoked or by a subsequent proxy executed by, or by attendance at the meeting and voting in person by, the person executing the proxy.

10. CHAIRMAN AND SECRETARY AT MEETINGS. At any meeting of stockholders, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or in his absence, a person designated by the Board of Directors, shall preside at and act as chairman of the meeting. The Secretary, or in his absence a person designated by the chairman of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting.

11. INSPECTORS. The Board of Directors may, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at such meeting or any adjournment thereof. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath to faithfully execute the duties of inspector. The inspector(s) shall determine the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding and the voting power of each, the number of shares present or represented by proxy at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, the validity and effect of proxies, and shall receive votes, ballots or consents, count and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents, determine the results of any election or vote, and do such acts as are proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders. At the request of the chairman of the meeting, the inspectors shall make a written report of any matters determined by them. No director or candidate for the office of director shall act as an inspector of an election of directors.

12. LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS. The Secretary of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of the 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 (10) 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.

DIRECTORS

13. POWERS. Subject to any limitations contained in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or the GCL as to actions to be authorized or approved by the stockholders, and subject to the duties of directors as prescribed by these Bylaws, all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the ultimate direction of, and the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the ultimate direction of, the Board of Directors.

14. NUMBER OF DIRECTORS. (a) Except as provided in Subsection 6.1 of the Certificate of Incorporation, the authorized number of directors of this Corporation shall be not less than three (3) nor more than fifteen (15), with the exact number of directors within such range fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.

(b) One member of the Board of Directors shall be designated the Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall be designated by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors.

(c) In the event that the Chairman of the Board is not independent (as determined by the Board), then one member of the Board of Directors shall be designated the Lead Director. The Lead Director shall be designated by a majority of the independent members of the Board of Directors.

15. ELECTION. (a) Directors shall hold office until the annual meeting next following their election and until their successors are nominated, elected and qualified pursuant to these Bylaws; subject, however, to their prior resignation, death or removal as provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or applicable law.

Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation and Subsection (b) hereof, any vacancies in the Board of Directors for any reason, and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors, may be filled by the Board of Directors, acting by a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum; and any directors so chosen shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such directors shall have been chosen, and until their successors shall be elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal.

(b) Whenever the holders of any one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, filling of vacancies, removal and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation applicable thereto, and by the terms of any certificate filed pursuant to Section 151(g) of the GCL designating such class or series and the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted to and imposed on the holders of such designated Preferred Stock.


16. NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS. Except to the extent, if any, specifically provided to the contrary in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, only persons who are nominated in accordance with the following procedures shall be eligible for election as directors of the Corporation. Nominations of person for election to the Board of Directors may be made at any annual meeting of stockholders, or at any special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors, (a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof) or (b) by any stockholder of the Corporation of record who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 16.

In addition to any other applicable requirements, for a nomination to be made by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof, in proper form, 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 (x) in the case of an annual meeting, not less than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within twenty-five (25) days before or after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder in order to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting was made, whichever first occurs; and (y) in the case of a special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors, not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which notice of the date of the special meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the special meeting was made, whichever first occurs. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting of stockholders, or the public announcement of such an adjournment or postponement, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

To be in proper form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must be in writing and must set forth (i) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election to the Board of Directors, (A) the name, age, business address and residence address of the person, (B) the person’s resume or a listing of his or her qualifications to be a director of the Corporation, and (C) such other information that the Board of Directors may require from time to time, (D) the class or series and number of shares of the capital stock of the Corporation that are owned beneficially or of record by such person and any other direct or indirect pecuniary or economic interest in any capital stock of the Corporation of such person, including, without limitation, any derivative instrument, swap (including total return swaps), option, warrant, short interest, hedge or profit sharing arrangement, and the length of time that the interests in the shares have been held, (E) whether any other transaction, agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares) has been made by or on behalf of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, or manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, or to increase or decrease the voting power or pecuniary or economic interest of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, with respect to the capital stock of the Corporation, (F) such person’s written representation and agreement that such person (1) would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with, all applicable publicly disclosed confidentiality, corporate governance, conflict of interest, Regulation FD, code of conduct and ethics, and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation, (2) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question that has not been disclosed


to the Corporation in such representation and agreement, and (3) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director of the Corporation without disclosure to the Corporation of such agreement, arrangement or understanding, and (G) any other information that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of such person or persons to the Board of Directors pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder if such stockholder were engaged in such a solicitation and (ii) as to the stockholder giving notice (A) the name and record address of the stockholder, (B) the class or series and number of shares of the capital stock of the Corporation that are owned beneficially or of record by the stockholder and any of its affiliates or associates and any other direct or indirect pecuniary or economic interest in any capital stock of the Corporation of such person or any of its affiliates or associates, including, without limitation, any derivative instrument, swap (including total return swaps), option, warrant, short interest, hedge or profit sharing arrangement, and the length of time that the interests in the shares have been held, (C) whether any other transaction, agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares) has been made by or on behalf of such stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, or manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, such stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates or to increase or decrease the voting power or pecuniary or economic interest of such stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates with respect to the capital stock of the Corporation, (D) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates and any other person or persons (including their name(s)) in connection with the nomination of any person or persons for election to the Board of Directors by any stockholder and any material interest of such stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates in such nomination, (E) any other information that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of a person or persons to the Board of Directors pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder if such stockholder were engaged in such a solicitation and (F) a representation that such stockholder or a representative thereof intends to appear in person at the stockholder meeting to nominate such person or persons for election to the Board of Directors. Any such notice relating to the nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board of Directors must be accompanied by a written consent of each proposed nominee to being named as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected and an advance resignation letter as specified in Section 8(c) of these Bylaws. A stockholder providing notice of any nomination proposed to be made at an annual or special meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 16 shall be true and correct as of the record date for the annual or special meeting, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for the meeting.

No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 16. If the Chairman of the meeting determines that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedures, the Chairman shall declare to the meeting that the nomination was defective and such defective nomination shall be disregarded.


17. QUORUM AND REQUIRED VOTE. A majority of the directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, every act or decision done or made by a majority of the directors present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present is the act of the Board of Directors.

18. REMOVAL. Except as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and in Section 15 hereof, a director may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote at an election of directors. No reduction in the number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director prior to the expiration of his term.

19. RESIGNATION. Any director may resign by giving written notice to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Secretary or the Board of Directors. Such resignation shall be effective when delivered unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of an event or events.

20. COMPENSATION. If the Board of Directors so resolves, the directors, including the Chairman of the Board, shall receive compensation and expenses of attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors and committees of the Board of Directors. Nothing herein shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in another capacity and receiving compensation for such service.

21. COMMITTEES. (a) The Board of Directors may, by resolution adopted by a majority of the authorized number of directors, designate one or more committees, each consisting of one or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. In the absence or disqualification of any member of a committee of the Board of Directors, the other members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act in the place of such absent or disqualified member. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of a committee who may replace any absent member at any meeting of the committee. To the extent permitted by resolution of the Board of Directors, a committee may exercise all of the authority of the Board of Directors to the extent permitted by Section 141(c) of the GCL.

(b) Each committee shall report to the Board of Directors, no later than the Board of Directors’ next regularly scheduled meeting, on any action taken by the committee on a material matter since the committee’s last report to the Board of Directors. A committee may invite any director who is not a member of the committee to attend a meeting of the committee but the director invitee may not vote at the meeting except as provided in Section 21 (a) hereof.

(c) A majority of the members of a committee then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by the committee. Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, every act or decision done or made by a majority of the members present at a committee meeting duly held at which a quorum is present is the act of the committee.

22. TIME AND PLACE OF MEETINGS AND TELEPHONE MEETINGS. Immediately following each annual meeting of stockholders (or at such other time and place as may be determined by the Board of Directors), the Board of Directors shall hold a regular meeting for purposes of organizing the Board of Directors, electing officers, appointing


committees and transacting other business. The Board of Directors may establish by resolution the times, if any, that other regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held. All meetings of directors shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation or at such other place, whether within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated in the notice for the meeting or in a resolution of the Board of Directors. Directors may participate in a meeting through use of conference telephone or similar communications equipment, so long as all directors participating in such meeting can hear each other.

23. CALL. Meetings of the Board of Directors, whether regular or special, may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Secretary or any two directors. In the event that there is a Lead Director, the Lead Director may call for a meeting of the independent members of the Board of Directors.

24. NOTICE. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice if the date and time of such meetings have been fixed by the Board of Directors. Special meetings shall be held upon four days’ notice by mail, 24 hours notice delivered personally or by telephone, e-mail, telegraph or confirmed fax or on such shorter notice as the person or persons calling such meeting may deem necessary or appropriate under the circumstances. Regular meetings shall be held upon similar notice if notice is required for such meetings. Neither a notice nor a waiver of notice need specify the purpose of any regular or special meeting. Notice sent by mail, e-mail, telegram or fax shall be addressed to a director at his business or home address/fax number/e-mail address as shown upon the records of the Corporation, or at such other address/fax number/e-mail address as the director specifies in writing delivered to the Corporation, or if such an address/fax number/e-mail address is not so shown on such records and no written instructions have been received from the director, at the place at which meetings of directors are regularly held. Such mailing, e-mailing, telegraphing, delivery or transmittal, as above provided, shall be due, legal and personal notice to such director. If a meeting is adjourned for more than 24 hours, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given prior to the time of such meeting to the directors who were not present at the time of the adjournment.

25. MEETING WITHOUT REGULAR CALL AND NOTICE. The transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, however called and noticed or wherever held, is as valid as though transacted at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice if a quorum is present and if, either before or after the meeting, each of the directors not present signs a written waiver of notice, a consent to holding the meeting or an approval of the minutes of the meeting. For such purposes, a director shall not be considered present at a meeting if, although in attendance at the meeting, the director protests the lack of notice prior to the meeting or at its commencement.

26. ACTION WITHOUT MEETING. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if all of the members of the Board of Directors individually or collectively consent in writing to such action.

27. COMMITTEE MEETINGS. The principles set forth in Sections 22 through 26 of these Bylaws shall also apply to committees of the Board of Directors and to actions taken by such committees.

28. HONORARY ADVISORS TO THE BOARD. The Board of Directors may appoint one or more Honorary Advisors, who shall hold such position for such period, shall have such authority and perform such duties as the Board of Directors may specify, subject to change


at any time by the Board of Directors. An Honorary Advisor to the Board of Directors shall not be a director for any purpose or with respect to any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or of the GCL, and shall have no vote as a director. However, an Honorary Advisor to the Board of Directors may receive such compensation and expense reimbursement as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine.

OFFICERS

29. TITLES AND RELATION TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The officers of the Corporation shall include a Chief Executive Officer, a President and a Secretary. The Board of Directors may also choose a Chairman of the Board, one or more Vice Chairmen of the Board, a Chief Operating Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, a General Counsel, a Treasurer, and one or more Vice Presidents (who may be designated Executive or Senior Vice Presidents), Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers or other officers. All officers shall perform their duties and exercise their powers subject to the direction of the Chief Executive Officer and the overriding direction of the Board of Directors. If there shall occur a vacancy in any office, in the absence of the appointment of a replacement by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall have the right and power to appoint a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Chief Operating Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, a General Counsel, one or more additional Vice Presidents (who may be designated Executive or Senior Vice Presidents), one or more Assistant Secretaries and one or more Assistant Treasurers, all of whom shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, and shall perform their duties and exercise their powers subject to the direction of the Chief Executive Officer and the overriding direction of the Board of Directors. Any number of offices may be held simultaneously by the same person.

30. ELECTION, TERM OF OFFICE AND VACANCIES. At its regular annual meeting, the Board of Directors shall choose the officers of the Corporation. The officers shall hold office until their successors are chosen, except that the Board of Directors may remove any officer at any time. Subject to Section 29 of these Bylaws, if an office becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy shall be filled by the Board of Directors.

31. RESIGNATION. Any officer may resign at any time upon written notice to the Corporation without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract to which the officer is a party. Such resignation shall be effective when given unless the notice specifies a later time. The resignation shall be effective regardless of whether it is accepted by the Corporation.

32. COMPENSATION. The Board of Directors shall fix the compensation of the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer and the President and may fix the salaries of other employees of the Corporation including the other officers. If the Board of Directors does not fix the salaries of the other officers, the Chief Executive Officer shall fix such salaries.

33. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. The Chairman of the Board shall, if present, preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors, and exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may be from time to time assigned to the Chairman by the Board of Directors or prescribed by these Bylaws.

34. LEAD DIRECTOR. The Lead Director shall, if present, preside at any meeting of the Board of Directors at which the Chairman is not present, and exercise and


perform such other duties as may be from time to time assigned to the Lead Director by the Board of Directors or prescribed by these Bylaws.

35. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall be deemed general manager of the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall effectuate orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors and exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as the Board of Directors shall from time to time prescribe.

36. PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENTS. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, in the absence or disability of the Chief Executive Officer, the President, and in the absence or disability of the President, the Vice President (who may be designated Executive or Senior Vice President), if any, or if more than one, the Vice Presidents (who may be designated Executive or Senior Vice Presidents) in order of their rank as fixed by the Board of Directors or, if not so ranked, the Vice President (who may be designated Executive or Senior Vice President) designated by the Board of Directors, shall perform all the duties of the Chief Executive Officer, and when so acting shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions upon, the Chief Executive Officer. The President and Vice Presidents (who may be designated Executive or Senior Vice Presidents) shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed for them by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws.

37. SECRETARY. The Secretary (or in his absence an Assistant Secretary or, if there be no Assistant Secretaries, another person designated by the Board of Directors) shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) RECORD OF CORPORATE PROCEEDINGS. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees and shall record all votes and the minutes of such meetings in a book to be kept for that purpose at the principal executive office of the Corporation or at such other place as the Board of Directors may determine. The Secretary shall keep at the Corporation’s principal executive office the original or a copy of these Bylaws, as amended from time to time.

(b) RECORD OF SHARES. Unless a transfer agent is appointed by the Board of Directors to keep a share register, the Secretary shall keep at the principal executive office of the Corporation a share register showing the names of the stockholders and their addresses, the number and class of shares held by each, the number and date of certificates issued, and the number and date of cancellation of each certificate surrendered for cancellation.

(c) NOTICES. The Secretary shall give such notices as may be required by law or these Bylaws.

(d) ADDITIONAL POWERS AND DUTIES. The Secretary shall exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer shall from time to time prescribe.

38. TREASURER. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer of the Corporation shall be its chief financial officer, and shall have custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep adequate and correct accounts of the Corporation’s properties and business transactions. The Treasurer shall disburse such funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors or by one or more persons


authorized by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and when requested shall render to the Chief Executive Officer, the Board of Directors and, if applicable, the Chief Financial Officer, an account of all transactions and the financial condition of the Corporation and shall exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or, if applicable, the Chief Financial Officer shall prescribe.

39. OTHER OFFICERS AND AGENTS. Such other officers and agents as the Board of Directors may choose shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may delegate to any other officer of the Corporation the power to choose such other officers and to prescribe their respective duties and powers.

SHARES

40. CERTIFICATES. The shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be represented by a certificate, unless and until the Board of Directors of the Corporation adopts a resolution permitting shares to be uncertificated. Notwithstanding the adoption of any resolution providing for uncertificated shares, every stockholder shall be entitled to have a certificate or certificates certifying the number and class of shares of the capital stock of the Corporation owned by such stockholder. All such certificates shall be signed in the manner prescribed in the GCL. Any signature on such certificates may be a facsimile signature. The Board of Directors shall have the power to appoint one or more transfer agents and/or registrars for the transfer or registration of certificates of stock of any class, and may require stock certificates to be countersigned or registered by one or more of such transfer agents and/or registrars.

41. TRANSFERS OF SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK. Transfers of shares shall be made only upon the transfer books of the Corporation, kept at the office of the Corporation or transfer agents and/or registrars designated by the Board of Directors. Any such transfer shall be made, in the case of certificated shares of stock, only by the person named in the certificate or by such person’s attorney lawfully constituted in writing and upon the surrender of the certificate therefore, properly endorsed for transfer, and in the case of uncertificated shares of stock, upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered holder of the shares or by such person’s attorney lawfully constituted in writing.

42. STOCKHOLDERS OF RECORD. Only stockholders of record shall be entitled to be treated by the Corporation as the holders in fact of the shares standing in their respective names and the Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in any share of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as expressly provided by law.

43. LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED CERTIFICATES. The Corporation may cause a new stock certificate to be issued in place of any certificate previously issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed. The Corporation may, at its discretion and as a condition precedent to such issuance, require the owner of such certificate to deliver an affidavit stating that such certificate was lost, stolen or destroyed, or to give the Corporation a bond or other security sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it, including any expense or liability, on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction or the issuance of a new certificate.


44. STOCKHOLDERS RECORD DATE. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which shall be not more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of and 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, and shall fix a new record date for such adjourned meeting if the adjourned meeting is to take place more than thirty (30) days from the date set for the original meeting.

45. DIVIDENDS. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and the GCL, the Board of Directors may, out of funds legally available therefor, declare dividends upon the stock of the Corporation. Before the declaration of any dividend, the Board of Directors may set apart, out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends, such sum or sums as from time to time in its discretion may be deemed proper for working capital or as a reserve fund to meet contingencies or for such other purposes as shall be deemed conducive to the interests of the Corporation.

AMENDMENTS

46. ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS. The Board of Directors is authorized and empowered from time to time in its discretion to make, alter, amend or repeal these Bylaws, except as such power may be restricted or limited by the GCL.

47. RECORD OF AMENDMENTS. Whenever an amendment or new bylaw is adopted, it shall be copied in the book to be kept for that purpose at the principal executive office of the Corporation or at such other place as the Board of Directors may determine. If any bylaw is repealed, the fact of repeal with the date of the meeting at which the repeal was enacted or written consent with respect thereto was filed shall be stated in said book.

CORPORATE SEAL

48. FORM OF SEAL. The corporate seal shall be circular in form, and shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the date of its incorporation and the word “Delaware”.

MISCELLANEOUS

49. CHECKS, DRAFTS, ETC. All checks, drafts, or other orders for payment of money, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, issued in the name of or payable by or to the Corporation, shall be signed or endorsed by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or such other person or persons as may from time to time be so authorized in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors.

50. CONTRACTS, ETC.; HOW EXECUTED. Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President (who may be designated Executive or Senior Vice President) or Treasurer, or such other officer or officers as may from time to time be so authorized in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors, shall have the power and authority to sign and execute on behalf of the Corporation


deeds, conveyances and contracts, and any and all other documents requiring execution by the Corporation. The Board of Directors may authorize any other officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

51. REPRESENTATION OF SHARES OF OTHER CORPORATIONS. The Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President (who may be designated Executive or Senior Vice President) or the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Corporation are authorized to vote, represent, and exercise on behalf of the Corporation all rights incident to any and all shares of any other corporation or corporations standing in the name of the Corporation. The authority herein granted to said officers to vote or represent on behalf of the Corporation any and all shares held by the Corporation in any other corporation or corporations may be exercised either by such officers in person or by any other person authorized so to do by proxy or power of attorney duly executed by said officers.

52. INSPECTION OF BYLAWS. The Corporation shall keep in its principal office for the transaction of business the original or a copy of these Bylaws as amended or otherwise altered to date, certified by the Secretary, which shall be open to inspection by the stockholders at all reasonable times during office hours.

53. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

54. FORUM FOR ADJUDICATION OF CERTAIN DISPUTES. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum (an “Alternative Forum Consent”), the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, stockholder, employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director, officer, stockholder, employee or agent of the Corporation arising out of or relating to any provision of the General Corporation Law of Delaware or the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director, officer, stockholder, employee or agent of the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the State of Delaware; provided, however, that, in the event that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks subject matter jurisdiction over any such action or proceeding, the sole and exclusive forum for such action or proceeding shall be another state or federal court located within the State of Delaware, in each such case, unless the Court of Chancery (or such other state or federal court located within the State of Delaware, as applicable) has dismissed a prior action by the same plaintiff asserting the same claims because such court lacked personal jurisdiction over an indispensable party named as a defendant therein. Failure to enforce the foregoing provisions would cause the Corporation irreparable harm and the Corporation shall be entitled to equitable relief, including injunctive relief and specific performance, to enforce the foregoing provisions. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 54. The existence of any prior Alternative Forum Consent shall not act as a waiver of the Corporation’s ongoing consent right as set forth above in this Section 54 with respect to any current or future actions or claims.

55. CONSTRUCTION AND DEFINITIONS. Unless the context otherwise requires, the general provisions, rules and construction, and definitions contained in the GCL


shall govern the construction of these Bylaws. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter, the singular number includes the plural and the plural number includes the singular, and the term “person” includes a corporation or other entity or organization as well as a natural person.

56. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of these Bylaws is determined to be invalid, void, illegal or unenforceable, the remaining provisions of these Bylaws shall continue to be valid and enforceable and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby.

Exhibit 99.1

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT, dated as of [                  ], by and between Hexcel Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and [                  ] (the “ Indemnitee ”).

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

WHEREAS, the Indemnitee is a director and/or officer of the Company;

WHEREAS, the Company and the Indemnitee recognize the increased risk of litigation and other claims being asserted against directors and officers of companies in today’s environment;

WHEREAS, the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation (“ Certificate of Incorporation ”) requires the Company to indemnify and advance expenses to its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law, and the Indemnitee serves as a director and/or officer of the Company, in part, in reliance on such provisions in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation;

WHEREAS, the Company has determined that its inability to retain and attract as directors and officers the most capable persons would be detrimental to the interests of the Company, and that Company therefore should seek to assure such persons that indemnification and insurance coverage will be available in the future; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of the Indemnitee’s need for substantial protection against personal liability in order to enhance the Indemnitee’s continued service to the Company in an effective manner and the Indemnitee’s reliance on the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, and in part to provide the Indemnitee with specific contractual assurance that the protection promised by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation will be available to the Indemnitee (regardless of, among other things, any amendment to or revocation of the applicable provisions of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws or any change in the composition of the governing bodies of the Company or any acquisition transaction relating to the Company), the Company wishes to provide in this Agreement for the indemnification of and the advancing of expenses to the Indemnitee to the fullest extent (whether partial or complete) permitted by law and as set forth in this Agreement, and, to the extent insurance is maintained, for the continued coverage of the Indemnitee under the directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy of the Company.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the Indemnitee continuing to serve the Company directly or, on its behalf or at its request, as an officer, director, manager, member, partner, tax matters partner, fiduciary or trustee of, or in any other capacity with, another Person (as defined below) or any employee benefit plan, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:


1. Certain Definitions . In addition to terms defined elsewhere herein, the following terms have the following meanings when used in this Agreement:

 

  (a) Agreement : shall mean this Indemnification Agreement, as amended from time to time hereafter.

 

  (b) Board of Directors : shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

  (c) Claim : means any threatened, asserted, pending or completed civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other action, suit or proceeding of any kind whatsoever, including any arbitration or other alternative dispute resolution mechanism, or any appeal of any kind thereof, or any inquiry or investigation, whether instituted by the Company, any governmental agency or any other party, that the Indemnitee in good faith believes might lead to the institution of any such action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other, including any arbitration or other alternative dispute resolution mechanism.

 

  (d)

Indemnifiable Expenses : means (i) all expenses and liabilities, including judgments, fines, penalties, interest, amounts paid in settlement with the approval of the Company, and counsel fees and disbursements (including, without limitation, experts’ fees, court costs, retainers, transcript fees, duplicating, printing and binding costs, as well as telecommunications, postage and courier charges) paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to investigate, defend, be a witness in or participate in, any Claim by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was or has agreed to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or while serving as a director or officer of the Company, is or was serving or has agreed to serve on behalf of or at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent (which, for purposes hereof, shall include a trustee, fiduciary, partner or manager or similar capacity) of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in any such capacity, whether occurring before, on or after the date of this Agreement (any such event, an “ Indemnifiable Event ”), (ii) any liability pursuant to a loan guaranty or otherwise, for any indebtedness of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, including, without limitation, any indebtedness which the Company or any subsidiary of the Company has assumed or taken subject to, and (iii) any liabilities which an Indemnitee incurs as a result of acting on behalf of the Company (whether as a fiduciary or otherwise) in connection with the operation, administration or maintenance of an employee benefit plan or any related trust or funding mechanism (whether such liabilities are in the form of excise taxes assessed by the United States Internal Revenue

 

2


  Service, penalties assessed by the Department of Labor, restitutions to such a plan or trust or other funding mechanism or to a participant or beneficiary of such plan, trust or other funding mechanism, or otherwise).

 

  (e) Indemnitee-Related Entities : means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise (other than the Company or any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise Indemnitee has agreed, on behalf of the Company or at the Company’s request, to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent and which service is covered by the indemnity described in this Agreement) from whom an Indemnitee may be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to which, in whole or in part, the Company may also have an indemnification or advancement obligation (other than as a result of obligations under an insurance policy).

 

  (f) Jointly Indemnifiable Claim : means any Claim for which the Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification from both an Indemnitee-Related Entity and the Company pursuant to applicable law, any indemnification agreement or the certificate of incorporation, by-laws, partnership agreement, operating agreement, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or comparable organizational documents of the Company and an Indemnitee-Related Entity.

 

  (g) Person : means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, governmental entity or other entity.

2. Basic Indemnification Arrangement; Advancement of Expenses .

(a) In the event that the Indemnitee was, is or becomes subject to, a party to or witness or other participant in, or is threatened to be made subject to, a party to or witness or other participant in, a Claim by reason of (or arising in part out of) an Indemnifiable Event, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee, or cause such Indemnitee to be indemnified, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law in effect on the date hereof and as amended from time to time; provided , however , that no change in Delaware law shall have the effect of reducing the benefits available to the Indemnitee hereunder based on Delaware law as in effect on the date hereof or as such benefits may improve as a result of amendments after the date hereof. The rights of the Indemnitee provided in this Section 2 shall include, without limitation, the rights set forth in the other sections of this Agreement. Payments of Indemnifiable Expenses shall be made as soon as practicable but in any event no later than twenty (20) days after written demand is presented to the Company, against any and all Indemnifiable Expenses.

(b) If so requested by the Indemnitee, the Company shall advance, or cause to be advanced (within two business days of such request), any and all Indemnifiable Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee (an “ Expense Advance ”). The

 

3


Company shall, in accordance with such request (but without duplication), either (i) pay, or cause to be paid, such Indemnifiable Expenses on behalf of the Indemnitee, or (ii) reimburse, or cause the reimbursement of, the Indemnitee for such Indemnifiable Expenses. The Indemnitee’s right to an Expense Advance is absolute and shall not be subject to any condition that the Board of Directors shall not have determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under applicable law. However, the obligation of the Company to make an Expense Advance pursuant to this Section 2(b) shall be subject to the condition that, if, when and to the extent that a final judicial determination is made (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be so indemnified under applicable law, the Company shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to reimburse the Company) for all such amounts theretofore paid (it being understood and agreed that the foregoing agreement by the Indemnitee shall be deemed to satisfy any requirement that the Indemnitee provide the Company with an undertaking to repay any Expense Advance if it is ultimately determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under applicable law). The Indemnitee’s undertaking to repay such Expense Advances shall be unsecured and interest-free.

(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification or advancement of Indemnifiable Expenses pursuant to this Agreement in connection with any Claim initiated by the Indemnitee unless (i) the Company has joined in or the Board of Directors of the Company has authorized or consented to the initiation of such Claim or (ii) the Claim is one to enforce the Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement (including an action pursued by the Indemnitee to secure a determination that the Indemnitee should be indemnified under applicable law).

(d) The indemnification obligations of the Company under Section 2(a) shall be subject to the condition that the Board of Directors shall not have determined (by majority vote of directors who are not parties to the applicable Claim) that the indemnification of the Indemnitee is not proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under applicable law. If the Board of Directors determines that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified in whole or in part under applicable law, the Indemnitee shall have the right to commence litigation in any court in the States of New York or Delaware having subject matter jurisdiction thereof and in which venue is proper, seeking an initial determination by the court or challenging any such determination by the Board of Directors or any aspect thereof, including the legal or factual bases therefor, and the Company hereby consents to service of process and to appear in any such proceeding. If the Indemnitee commences legal proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to secure a determination that the Indemnitee should be indemnified under applicable law, any determination made by the Board of Directors that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under applicable law shall not be binding, the Indemnitee shall continue to be entitled to receive Expense Advances, and the Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any Expense Advance, until a final judicial determination is made (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be so indemnified under applicable law. Any determination by the Board of Directors otherwise shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and the Indemnitee.

(e) To the extent that the Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any or all Claims relating in whole or in part to an

 

4


Indemnifiable Event or in defense of any issue or matter therein, including dismissal without prejudice, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Indemnifiable Expenses actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith, notwithstanding an earlier determination by the Board of Directors that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under applicable law.

3. Indemnification for Additional Expenses . The Company shall indemnify, or cause the indemnification of, the Indemnitee against any and all Indemnifiable Expenses and, if requested by the Indemnitee, shall advance such Indemnifiable Expenses to the Indemnitee subject to and in accordance with Section 2(b) and (d), which are incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by the Indemnitee, the Company or any other Person with respect to the Indemnitee’s right to: (i) indemnification or an Expense Advance by the Company under this Agreement or any provision of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and/or By-Laws and/or (ii) recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether the Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, Expense Advance or insurance recovery, as the case may be; provided that the Indemnitee shall be required to reimburse such Indemnifiable Expenses in the event that a final judicial determination is made (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that such action brought by the Indemnitee, or the defense by the Indemnitee of an action brought by the Company or any other Person, as applicable, was frivolous or in bad faith.

4. Partial Indemnity, Etc. If the Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of the Indemnifiable Expenses in respect of a Claim but not, however, for all of the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify the Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which the Indemnitee is entitled.

5. Burden of Proof . In connection with any determination by the Board of Directors, any court or otherwise as to whether the Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified hereunder, the Board of Directors or court shall presume that the Indemnitee has satisfied the applicable standard of conduct and is entitled to indemnification, and the burden of proof shall be on the Company or its representative to establish, by clear and convincing evidence, that the Indemnitee is not so entitled.

6. Reliance as Safe Harbor . The Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification for any action or omission to act undertaken (a) in good faith reliance upon the records of the Company, including its financial statements, or upon information, opinions, reports or statements furnished to the Indemnitee by the officers or employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries in the course of their duties, or by committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other Person as to matters the Indemnitee reasonably believes are within such other Person’s professional or expert competence, or (b) on behalf of the Company in furtherance of the interests of the Company in good faith in reliance upon, and in accordance with, the advice of legal counsel or accountants, provided such legal counsel or accountants were selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company. In addition, the knowledge and/or actions, or failures to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company shall not be imputed to the Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnity hereunder.

 

5


7. No Other Presumptions . For purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any claim, action, suit or proceeding, by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not meet any particular standard of conduct or have any particular belief or that a court has determined that indemnification is not permitted by applicable law. In addition, neither the failure of the Board of Directors to have made a determination as to whether the Indemnitee has met any particular standard of conduct or had any particular belief, nor an actual determination by the Board of Directors that the Indemnitee has not met such standard of conduct or did not have such belief, prior to the commencement of legal proceedings by the Indemnitee to secure a judicial determination that the Indemnitee should be indemnified under applicable law shall be a defense to the Indemnitee’s claim or create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met any particular standard of conduct or did not have any particular belief.

8. Non-exclusivity, Etc. The rights of the Indemnitee hereunder shall be in addition to any other rights the Indemnitee may have under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws, the laws of the State of Delaware, or otherwise. To the extent that a change in Delaware law or the interpretation thereof (whether by statute or judicial decision) permits greater indemnification by agreement than would be afforded currently under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws, it is the intent of the parties hereto that the Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. To the extent that there is a conflict or inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws, it is the intent of the parties hereto that the Indemnitee shall enjoy the greater benefits regardless of whether contained herein, in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws. No amendment or alteration of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws or any other agreement shall adversely affect the rights provided to Indemnitee under this Agreement.

9. Liability Insurance . The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to purchase and maintain a policy or policies of insurance with reputable insurance companies with A.M. Best ratings of “A” or better, providing Indemnitee with coverage for any liability asserted against, or incurred by, Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was or has agreed to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or while serving as a director or officer of the Company, is or was serving or has agreed to serve on behalf of or at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent (which, for purposes hereof, shall include a trustee, fiduciary, partner or manager or similar capacity) of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, or arising out of Indemnitee’s status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify Indemnitee against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement. Such insurance policies shall have coverage terms and policy limits at least as favorable to Indemnitee as the insurance coverage provided to any other director or officer of the Company. If the Company has such insurance in effect at the time the Company receives from Indemnitee any notice of the commencement of an action, suit or proceeding, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the policy. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policy.

 

6


10. 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 the Indemnitee, the 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.

11. Amendments, Etc. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver. In the event the Company or any of its subsidiaries enters into an indemnification agreement with another director, officer, agent, fiduciary or manager of the Company or any of its subsidiaries containing a term or terms more favorable to the indemnitee than the terms contained herein (as determined by the Indemnitee), the Indemnitee shall be afforded the benefit of such more favorable term or terms and such more favorable term or terms shall be deemed incorporated by reference herein as if set forth in full herein. As promptly as practicable following the execution by the Company or the relevant subsidiary of each indemnity agreement with any such other director, officer or manager (i) the Company shall send a copy of the indemnity agreement to the Indemnitee, and (ii) if requested by the Indemnitee, the Company shall prepare, execute and deliver to the Indemnitee an amendment to this Agreement containing such more favorable term or terms.

12. Subrogation . Subject to Section 13, in the event of payment by the Company under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee with respect to any insurance policy. Indemnitee shall execute all papers reasonably required and shall do everything that may be reasonably necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents necessary to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights. The Company shall pay or reimburse all expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such subrogation.

13. Jointly Indemnifiable Claims . Given that certain Jointly Indemnifiable Claims may arise due to the relationship between the Indemnitee-Related Entities and the Company and the service of the Indemnitee as a director and/or officer of the Company at the request of the Indemnitee-Related Entities, the Company acknowledges and agrees that the Company shall be fully and primarily responsible for the payment to the Indemnitee in respect of indemnification and advancement of expenses in connection with any such Jointly Indemnifiable Claim, pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, irrespective of any right of recovery the Indemnitee may have from the Indemnitee-Related Entities. Under no circumstance shall the Company be entitled to any right of subrogation or contribution by the Indemnitee-Related Entities and no right of recovery the Indemnitee may have from the Indemnitee-Related Entities shall reduce or otherwise alter the rights of the Indemnitee or the obligations of the Company hereunder. In the event that any of the Indemnitee-Related

 

7


Entities shall make any payment to the Indemnitee in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to any Jointly Indemnifiable Claim, the Indemnitee-Related Entity making such payment shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee against the Company, and the Indemnitee shall execute all papers reasonably required and shall do all things that may be reasonably necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents as may be necessary to enable the Indemnitee-Related Entities effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights. Each of the Indemnitee-Related Entities shall be third-party beneficiaries with respect to this Paragraph 13, entitled to enforce this Paragraph 13 against the Company as though each such Indemnitee-Related Entity were a party to this Agreement.

14. No Duplication of Payments . Subject to Paragraph 13 hereof, the Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment in connection with any Claim made against the Indemnitee to the extent the Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment (under any insurance policy, any provision of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws, or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder.

15. Defense of Claims . The Company shall be entitled to participate in the defense of any Claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event or to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee; provided that if the Indemnitee believes, after consultation with counsel selected by the Indemnitee, that (i) the use of counsel chosen by the Company to represent the Indemnitee would present such counsel with an actual or potential conflict of interest, (ii) the named parties in any such Claim (including any impleaded parties) include the Company or any subsidiary of the Company and the Indemnitee and the Indemnitee concludes that there may be one or more legal defenses available to him that are different from or in addition to those available to the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or (iii) any such representation by such counsel would be precluded under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, then the Indemnitee shall be entitled to retain separate counsel (but not more than one law firm plus, if applicable, local counsel in respect of any particular Claim) at the Company’s expense. The Company shall not be liable to the Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any Claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event effected without the Company’s prior written consent. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee, effect any settlement of any Claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event which the Indemnitee is or could have been a party unless such settlement solely involves the payment of money and includes a complete and unconditional release of the Indemnitee from all liability on all claims that are the subject matter of such Claim. Neither the Company nor the Indemnitee shall unreasonably withhold its or his consent to any proposed settlement; provided that the Indemnitee may withhold consent to any settlement that does not provide a complete and unconditional release of the Indemnitee. To the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, the Company’s assumption of the defense of a Claim pursuant to this Section 15 will constitute an irrevocable acknowledgement by the Company that any Indemnifiable Expenses incurred by or for the account of Indemnitee incurred in connection therewith are indemnifiable by the Company under Section 2 of this Agreement.

16. Binding Effect, Etc. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors,

 

8


(including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company), assigns, spouses, heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. The Company shall require and cause any successor(s) (whether directly or indirectly, whether in one or a series of transactions, and whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise) to all or a significant portion of the business and/or assets of the Company and/or its subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis), by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Indemnitee and his or her counsel, 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; provided that no such assumption shall relieve the Company from its obligations hereunder and any obligations shall thereafter be joint and several. This Agreement shall continue in effect regardless of whether the Indemnitee continues to serve as a director or officer of the Company and/or on behalf of or at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent (which, for purposes hereof, shall include a trustee, fiduciary, partner or manager or similar capacity) of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise. Neither this Agreement nor any duties or responsibilities pursuant hereto may be assigned by the Company to any other person or entity without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee.

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

18. 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, all portions of any paragraph of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that are not themselves invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, all portions of any paragraph of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable and to give effect to the terms of this Agreement.

19. Specific Performance, Etc. The parties recognize that if any provision of this Agreement is violated by the parties hereto, the Indemnitee may be without an adequate remedy at law. Accordingly, in the event of any such violation, the Indemnitee shall be entitled, if the Indemnitee so elects, to institute proceedings, either in law or at equity, to obtain damages, to enforce specific performance, to enjoin such violation, or to obtain any relief or any combination of the foregoing as the Indemnitee may elect to pursue.

20. Notices . All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder to any party shall be deemed to be sufficient if contained in a written document delivered in person or sent by facsimile, nationally recognized overnight courier or personal delivery, addressed to such party at the address set forth below or such other address as may hereafter be designated on the signature pages of this Agreement or in writing by such party to the other parties:

 

9


  (a) If to the Company, to:

 

       Hexcel Corporation
       281 Tresser Blvd.
       Stamford, CT 06901
       Attn: General Counsel
       Tel: 203 352 6841
       Fax: 203 358 3972

 

  (b) If to the Indemnitee, to the address set forth on Annex A .

All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to have been given or made if and when received (including by overnight courier) by the parties at the above addresses or sent by electronic transmission, with confirmation received, to the telecopy numbers specified above (or at such other address or telecopy number for a party as shall be specified by like notice). Any notice delivered by any party hereto to any other party hereto shall also be delivered to each other party hereto simultaneously with delivery to the first party receiving such notice.

21. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in 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.

22. Headings . The headings of the sections and 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 or interpretation thereof.

23. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed in such state without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

10


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

HEXCEL CORPORATION
By:    
Name:
Title:
     
[Indemnitee]

 

11


Annex A

 

Name and Contact information
     
     
     
Tel:    
Fax:    
Email:    

 

12