<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 10.1
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered into as of
_____________, 2000, between Chorum Technologies, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("the Company"), and ("Indemnitee").
WITNESSETH THAT:
WHEREAS, Indemnitee performs a valuable service for the Company;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has adopted Bylaws (the
"Bylaws") providing for the indemnification of the officers and directors
of the Company to the maximum extent authorized by Section 145 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended ("Law");
WHEREAS, the Bylaws and the Law, by their nonexclusive nature, permit
contracts between the Company and the officers or directors of the Company
with respect to indemnification of such officers or directors;
WHEREAS, in accordance with the authorization as provided by the Law,
the Company may purchase and maintain a policy or policies of directors'
and officers' liability insurance ("D & O Insurance"), covering certain
liabilities which may be incurred by its officers or directors in the
performance of their obligations to the Company; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of past services and in order to induce
Indemnitee to continue to serve as an officer or director of the Company,
the Company has determined and agreed to enter into this contract with
Indemnitee;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of Indemnitee's service as an officer
or director after the date hereof, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Indemnity of Indemnitee. The Company hereby agrees to hold
-----------------------
harmless and indemnify Indemnitee to the full extent authorized or
permitted by the provisions of the Law, as such may be amended from time to
time, and Article VII, Section 6 of the Bylaws, as such may be amended. In
furtherance of the foregoing indemnification, and without limiting the
generality thereof:
(a) Proceedings Other Than Proceedings by or in the Right of the
------------------------------------------------------------
Company. Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification
-------
provided in this Section l(a) if, by reason of his Corporate Status (as
hereinafter defined), he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or
participant in any Proceeding (as hereinafter defined) other than a
Proceeding by or in the right of the Company. Pursuant to this Section
1(a), Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses (as hereinafter
defined), judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with
such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if he acted in good
faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
best interests of the
<PAGE>
Company and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable
cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
(b) Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Indemnitee
---------------------------------------------
shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section
1(b) if, by reason of his Corporate Status, he is, or is threatened to be
made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding brought by or in the
right of the Company. Pursuant to this Section 1(b), Indemnitee shall be
indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or
on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding if he acted in good faith
and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Company; provided, however, that, if applicable law so
provides, no indemnification against such Expenses shall be made in respect
of any claim, issue or matter in such Proceeding as to which Indemnitee
shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and to the
extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall determine
that such indemnification may be made.
(c) Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or
--------------------------------------------------------
Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
-----------------
to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a
party to and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding,
he shall be indemnified to the maximum extent permitted by law against all
Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in
connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such
Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more
but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company
shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably
incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with each successfully
resolved claim, issue or matter. For purposes of this Section and without
limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a
Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a
successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.
2. Additional Indemnity. In addition to, and without regard to any
--------------------
limitations on, the indemnification provided for in Section 1, the Company
shall and hereby does indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against all
Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf if, by reason of
his Corporate Status, he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or
participant in any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of
the Company), including, without limitation, all liability arising out of
the negligence or active or passive wrongdoing of Indemnitee. The only
limitation that shall exist upon the Company's obligations pursuant to this
Agreement shall be that the Company shall not be obligated to make any
payment to Indemnitee that is finally determined (under the procedures, and
subject to the presumptions, set forth in Sections 6 and 7 hereof) to be
unlawful under Delaware law.
3. Contribution in the Event of Joint Liability.
--------------------------------------------
(a) Whether or not the indemnification provided in Sections 1 and 2
hereof is available, in respect of any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit or proceeding in which Company is jointly liable with
Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding),
Company shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount of any judgment
or
2
<PAGE>
settlement of such action, suit or proceeding without requiring Indemnitee
to contribute to such payment and Company hereby waives and relinquishes
any right of contribution it may have against Indemnitee. Company shall not
enter into any settlement of any action, suit or proceeding in which
Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such
action, suit or proceeding) unless such settlement provides for a full and
final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee.
(b) Without diminishing or impairing the obligations of the
Company set forth in the preceding subparagraph, if, for any reason,
Indemnitee shall elect or be required to pay all or any portion of any
judgment or settlement in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit
or proceeding in which Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would
be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), Company shall contribute
to the amount of expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred and paid or
payable by Indemnitee in proportion to the relative benefits received by
the Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company other
than Indemnitee who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if
joined in such action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and
Indemnitee, on the other hand, from the transaction from which such action,
suit or proceeding arose; provided, however, that the proportion determined
on the basis of relative benefit may, to the extent necessary to conform to
law, be further adjusted by reference to the relative fault of Company and
all officers, directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee
who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such
action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other
hand, in connection with the events that resulted in such expenses,
judgments, fines or settlement amounts, as well as any other equitable
considerations which the law may require to be considered. The relative
fault of Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company
other than Indemnitee who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be
if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and
Indemnitee, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, the degree to which their actions were motivated by intent to
gain personal profit or advantage, the degree to which their liability is
primary or secondary, and the degree to which their conduct is active or
passive.
(c) Company hereby agrees to fully indemnify and hold Indemnitee
harmless from any claims of contribution which may be brought by officers,
directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who may be
jointly liable with Indemnitee.
4. Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness. Notwithstanding any
-----------------------------------------
other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by
reason of his Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding to which
Indemnitee is not a party, he shall be indemnified against all Expenses
actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection
therewith.
5. Advancement of Expenses. Notwithstanding any other provision of
-----------------------
this Agreement, the Company shall advance all Expenses incurred by or on
behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding by reason of
Indemnitee's Corporate Status within ten (10) days after the receipt by the
Company of a statement or statements from Indemnitee requesting such
advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final
disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall
reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by
3
<PAGE>
Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by an
undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay any Expenses advanced if
it shall ultimately be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be
indemnified against such Expenses. Any advances and undertakings to repay
pursuant to this Section 5 shall be unsecured and interest free.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligation of the Company to advance
Expenses pursuant to this Section 5 shall be subject to the condition that,
if, when and to the extent that the Company determines that Indemnitee
would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law, the Company
shall be entitled to be reimbursed, within thirty (30) days of such
determination, by Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to reimburse the Company)
for all such amounts theretofore paid; provided, however, that if
Indemnitee has commenced or thereafter commences legal proceedings in a
court of competent jurisdiction to secure a determination that Indemnitee
should be indemnified under applicable law, any determination made by the
Company that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under
applicable law shall not be binding and Indemnitee shall not be required to
reimburse the Company for any advance of Expenses until a final judicial
determination is made with respect thereto (as to which all rights of
appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed).
6. Procedures and Presumptions for Determination of Entitlement
------------------------------------------------------------
to Indemnification. It is the intent of this Agreement to secure for
------------------
Indemnitee rights of indemnity that are as favorable as may be permitted
under the law and public policy of the State of Delaware. Accordingly, the
parties agree that the following procedures and presumptions shall apply in
the event of any question as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification under this Agreement:
(a) To obtain indemnification (including, but not limited
to, the advancement of Expenses and contribution by the Company) under this
Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request,
including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is
reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine
whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. The
Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for
indemnification, advise the Board of Directors in writing that Indemnitee
has requested indemnification.
(b) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification
pursuant to the first sentence of Section 6(a) hereof, a determination, if
required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee's entitlement
thereto shall be made in the specific case by one of the following three
methods, which shall be at the election of Indemnitee: (1) by a majority
vote of the disinterested directors, even though less than a quorum, or (2)
by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (3) by the
stockholders.
(c) If the determination of entitlement to indemnification
is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof, the
Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 6(c). The
Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee
shall request that such selection be made by the Board of Directors).
Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within 10 days after
such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the
Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such
selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on
the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the
4
<PAGE>
requirements of "Independent Counsel" as defined in Section 13 of this
Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual
basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person
so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If a written objection is
made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected may not serve as
Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court
has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within 20 days
after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification
pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been
selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition
the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or other court of competent
jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by
the Company or Indemnitee to the other's selection of Independent Counsel
and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by
the court or by such other person as the court shall designate, and the
person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so
appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 6(b) hereof. The
Company shall pay any and all reasonable fees and expenses of Independent
Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in connection with acting
pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof, and the Company shall pay all reasonable
fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 6(c),
regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or
appointed.
(d) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to
indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such
determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification
under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for
indemnification in accordance with Section 6(a) of this Agreement. Anyone
seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the
burden of persuasion, by clear and convincing evidence.
(e) Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if
Indemnitee's action is based on the records or books of account of the
Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to
Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties,
or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or
records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified
public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with
reasonable care by the Enterprise. In addition, the knowledge and/or
actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of
the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of
determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement. Whether or
not the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(e) are satisfied, it shall
in any event be presumed that Indemnitee has at all times acted in good
faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
best interests of the Company. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption
shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion, by clear and
convincing evidence.
(f) If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under
Section 6 to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification
shall not have made a determination within thirty (30) days after receipt
by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of
entitlement to indemnification shall be deemed to have been made and
Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a
misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material
fact necessary to make Indemnitee's statement not
5
<PAGE>
materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification,
or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law;
provided, however, that such 30 day period may be extended for a reasonable
time, not to exceed an additional fifteen (15) days, if the person, persons
or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to
indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the
obtaining or evaluating documentation and/or information relating thereto;
and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(g)
shall not apply if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is
to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement
and if (A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the
request for such determination the Board of Directors or the Disinterested
Directors, if appropriate, resolve to submit such determination to the
stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be
held within seventy five (75) days after such receipt and such
determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is
called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of
making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within
sixty (60) days after having been so called and such determination is made
thereat.
(g) Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity
making such determination with respect to Indemnitee's entitlement to
indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon
reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not
privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably
available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any
Independent Counsel, member of the Board of Directors, or stockholder of
the Company shall act reasonably and in good faith in making a
determination under the Agreement of the Indemnitee's entitlement to
indemnification. Any costs or expenses (including attorneys' fees and
disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person,
persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company
(irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee's entitlement to
indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold
Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
(h) The Company acknowledges that a settlement or other
disposition short of final judgment may be successful if it permits a party
to avoid expense, delay, distraction, disruption and uncertainty. In the
event that any action, claim or proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party
is resolved in any manner other than by adverse judgment against Indemnitee
(including, without limitation, settlement of such action, claim or
proceeding with or without payment of money or other consideration) it
shall be presumed that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or
otherwise in such action, suit or proceeding. Anyone seeking to overcome
this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of
persuasion, by clear and convincing evidence.
7. Remedies of Indemnitee.
----------------------
(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to
Section 6 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not
timely made pursuant to Section 5 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination
of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section
6(b) of this Agreement within 90 days after receipt by the Company of the
request for indemnification,
6
<PAGE>
(iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to this Agreement
within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request
therefor, or (v) payment of indemnification is not made within ten (10)
days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification or such determination is deemed to have been made pursuant
to Section 6 of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an
adjudication in an appropriate court of the State of Delaware, or in any
other court of competent jurisdiction, of his entitlement to such
indemnification. Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an
adjudication within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first
has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 7(a).
The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee's right to seek any such
adjudication.
(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made
pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled
to indemnification, any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this
Section 7 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, on the
merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse
determination under Section 6(b).
(c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section
6(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the
Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding
commenced pursuant to this Section 7, absent a prohibition of such
indemnification under applicable law.
(d) In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 7,
seeks a judicial adjudication of his rights under, or to recover damages
for breach of, this Agreement, or to recover under any directors' and
officers' liability insurance policies maintained by the Company the
Company shall pay on his behalf, in advance, any and all expenses (of the
types described in the definition of Expenses in Section 13 of this
Agreement) actually and reasonably incurred by him in such judicial
adjudication, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to
be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of expenses or insurance
recovery.
(e) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any
judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 7 that the
procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and
enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court that the Company is bound
by all the provisions of this Agreement.
8. Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.
-----------------------------------------------------------
(a) The rights of indemnification as provided by this Agreement
shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may
at any time be entitled under applicable law, the certificate of
incorporation of the Company, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of
stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. No amendment,
alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall
limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect
of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his Corporate Status
prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change
in the Law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater
indemnification than would be
7
<PAGE>
afforded currently under the Bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of
the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the
greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein
conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and
every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every
other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law
or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or
remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion
or employment of any other right or remedy.
(b) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy
or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers,
employees, or agents or fiduciaries of the Company or of any other
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or
other enterprise which such person serves at the request of the Company,
Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with
its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any
such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies.
(c) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the
Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the
rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and
take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of
such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to
enforce such rights.
(d) The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make
any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the
extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under
any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.
9. Exception to Right of Indemnification. Notwithstanding any other
-------------------------------------
provision of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to
indemnification under this Agreement with respect to any Proceeding brought
by Indemnitee, or any claim therein, unless (a) the bringing of such
Proceeding or making of such claim shall have been approved by the Board of
Directors of the Company or (b) such Proceeding is being brought by the
Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce his rights under this Agreement.
10. Duration of Agreement. All agreements and obligations of the
---------------------
Company contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee is an
officer or director of the Company (or is or was serving at the request of
the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise) and
shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any
Proceeding (or any proceeding commenced under Section 7 hereof) by reason
of his Corporate Status, whether or not he is acting or serving in any such
capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which
indemnification can be provided under this Agreement. This Agreement shall
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
parties hereto and their respective successors (including any direct or
indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all
or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), assigns,
spouses, heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. This
Agreement shall continue in effect regardless of
8
<PAGE>
whether Indemnitee continues to serve as an officer or director of the
Company or any other Enterprise at the Company's request.
11. Security. To the extent requested by the Indemnitee and
--------
approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, the Company may at any
time and from time to time provide security to the Indemnitee for the
Company's obligations hereunder through an irrevocable bank line of credit,
funded trust or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to the
Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released without the prior written
consent of the Indemnitee.
12. Enforcement.
-----------
(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has
entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it
hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as an officer or director of
the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon
this Agreement in serving as an officer or director of the Company.
(b) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between
the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes
all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between
the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
13. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
-----------
(a) "Corporate Status" describes the status of a person who
is or was a director, officer, employee or agent or fiduciary of the
Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust,
employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such person is or was
serving at the express written request of the Company.
(b) "Disinterested Director" means a director of the
Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of
which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.
(c) "Enterprise" shall mean the Company and any other
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or
other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the express
written request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or
fiduciary.
(d) "Expenses" shall include all reasonable attorneys'
fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness
fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs,
telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other
disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection
with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend,
investigating, participating, or being or preparing to be a witness in a
Proceeding.
(e) "Independent Counsel" means a law firm, or a member of
a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither
presently is, nor in the past
9
<PAGE>
five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee
in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to
matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other
indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other
party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification
hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term "Independent Counsel"
shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of
professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in
representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine
Indemnitee's rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay the
reasonable fees of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully
indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities
and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement
pursuant hereto.
(f) "Proceeding" includes any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism,
investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual,
threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of
the Company or otherwise and whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party
or otherwise, by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director of
the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any inaction on his
part while acting as an officer or director of the Company, or by reason of
the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other Enterprise; in each case whether or not he is
acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense
is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement;
including one pending on or before the date of this Agreement; and
excluding one initiated by an Indemnitee pursuant to Section 7 of this
Agreement to enforce his rights under this Agreement.
14. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement
------------
shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void,
illegal or otherwise unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this
Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any section of
this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall
not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable
to the fullest extent permitted by law; and (b) to the fullest extent
possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation,
each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any such provision
held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid,
illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the
intent manifested thereby.
15. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification, termination
-----------------------
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.
16. Notice By Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the
--------------------
Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena,
complaint, indictment,
10
<PAGE>
information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which
may be subject to indemnification covered hereunder. The failure to so
notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it
may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise unless and
only to the extent that such failure or delay materially prejudices the
Company.
17. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
-------
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given
if (i) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice
or other communication shall have been directed, or (ii) mailed by
certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business
day after the date on which it is so mailed:
(a) If to Indemnitee, to the address set forth below Indemnitee
signature hereto.
(b) If to the Company, to:
Chorum Technologies, Inc.
1303 East Arapaho Road
Richardson, Texas 75081
or to such other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the
Company or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.
18. Identical Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or
----------------------
more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an
original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom
enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of
this Agreement.
19. Headings. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are
--------
inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of
this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.
20. Governing Law. The parties agree that this Agreement shall be
-------------
governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the
State of Delaware without application of the conflict of laws principles
thereof.
21. Gender. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include
------
usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.
22. Coverage of Certain Investors. If a partnership that is an
-----------------------------
investor in the Company ("Investor") is or is threatened to be made a party
to or a participant in a Proceeding and (a) the Indemnitee also is or is
threatened to be made a party to or participant in that same Proceeding,
(b) the Indemnitee is a general partner (or general partner in a general
partner) of such Investor, and (c) Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification under this Agreement, then such Investor shall be entitled
to indemnification hereunder to the same extent as the Indemnitee.
11
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Agreement on and as of the day and year first above written.
CHORUM TECHNOLOGIES INC.
By: _________________________________________
INDEMNITEE:
By: _________________________________________
Print Name:
Title:
Address: ____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
