ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Exelon Corporation
Chapter 17, Subchapter D of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988, as amended (the PBCL), contains provisions permitting indemnification of officers and directors of a business corporation incorporated in Pennsylvania. Sections 1741 and 1742 of the PBCL provide that a business corporation may indemnify directors and officers against liabilities and expenses he or she may incur in connection with a threatened, pending or completed civil, administrative or investigative proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a representative of the corporation or was serving at the request of the corporation as a representative of another enterprise, provided that the particular person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. In general, the power to indemnify under these sections does not exist in the case of actions against a director or officer by or in the right of the corporation if the person otherwise entitled to indemnification shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation, unless it is judicially determined that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for the expenses the court deems proper. Section 1743 of the PBCL provides that the corporation is required to indemnify directors and officers against expenses they may incur in defending these actions if they are successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of such actions.
Section 1746 of the PBCL provides that indemnification under the other sections of Subchapter D is not exclusive of other rights that a person seeking indemnification may have under any by-law, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the person under any other provision of law. However, Section 1746 prohibits indemnification in circumstances where the act or failure to act giving rise to the claim for indemnification is determined by a court to have constituted willful misconduct or recklessness.
Section 1747 of the PBCL permits a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a representative of another enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by him or her in that capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the person against such liability under Subchapter D.
Exelon’s Bylaws provide that it is obligated to indemnify directors and officers and other persons designated by the board of directors against any liability, including any damage, judgment, amount paid in settlement, fine, penalty, cost or expense (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements) including in connection with any proceeding. Exelon’s Bylaws provide that no indemnification shall be made where the act or failure to act giving rise to the claim for indemnification is determined by arbitration or otherwise to have constituted willful misconduct or recklessness or attributable to receipt from Exelon of a personal benefit to which the recipient is not legally entitled.
As permitted by PBCL Section 1713, Exelon’s Bylaws provide that directors generally will not be liable for monetary damages in any action, whether brought by shareholders directly or in the right of Exelon or by third parties, unless they fail in the good faith performance of their duties as fiduciaries (the standard of care established by the PBCL), and such failure constitutes self-dealing, willful misconduct or recklessness.
Exelon has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors. Exelon also currently maintains liability insurance for its directors and officers. In addition, the directors, officers and employees of Exelon are insured under policies of insurance, within the limits and subject to the limitations of the policies, against claims made against them for acts in the discharge of their duties, and Exelon is insured to the extent that it is required or permitted by law to indemnify the directors, officers and employees for such loss. The premiums for such insurance are paid by Exelon.
Exelon Generation Company, LLC
Section 4.6 of Generation’s operating agreement provides, as follows:
The Member shall, and any officer, employee or agent of the Company may in the Member’s absolute discretion, be indemnified by the Company to the fullest extent permitted by Section 8945 of the Pennsylvania Limited Liability Company Law of 1994 and as may be otherwise permitted by applicable law.
Section 8945 of the Pennsylvania Limited Liability Company Law of 1994 provides that:
8945. Indemnification.
(a) General rule. Subject to such standards and restrictions, if any, as are set forth in the operating agreement, a limited liability company may and shall have the power to indemnify and hold harmless any member or manager or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever.
(b) When indemnification is not to be made. Indemnification under subsection (a) shall not be made in any case where the act giving rise to the claim for indemnification is determined by a court to have constituted willful misconduct or recklessness. The certificate of organization or operating agreement may not provide for indemnification in the case of willful misconduct or recklessness.
(c) Grounds. Indemnification under subsection (a) may be granted for any action taken and may be made whether or not the company would have the power to indemnify the person under any other provision of law except as provided in this section and whether or not the indemnified liability arises or arose from any threatened, pending or completed action by or in the right of the company. Such indemnification is declared to be consistent with the public policy of this Commonwealth.
(d) Payment of expenses. Expenses incurred by a member, manager or other person in defending any action or proceeding against which indemnification may be made under this section may be paid by the company in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the company.
(e) Rights to indemnification. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted under this section shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to serve in the capacity as to which he was indemnified and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person.
(f) Mandatory indemnification. Without regard to whether indemnification or advancement of expenses is provided under subsections (a) and (d), a limited liability company shall be subject to section 8331(2) (relating to rules determining rights and duties of partners) and both the members and the managers, if any, shall be deemed to be general partners for purposes of applying that section.
In addition, the officers and employees of Generation are insured under policies of insurance, within the limits and subject to the limitations of the policies, against claims made against them for acts in the discharge of their duties, and the registrant is insured to the extent that it is required or permitted by law to indemnify the officers and employees for such loss. The premiums for such insurance are paid by Generation.
Commonwealth Edison Company
Certain provisions of the Illinois Business Corporation Act of 1983, as amended (the BCA), provide that ComEd may, and in some circumstances must, indemnify the directors and officers of ComEd and of each subsidiary company against liabilities and expenses incurred by such person by reason of the fact that such person was serving in such capacity, subject to certain limitations and conditions set forth in the statute. ComEd’s Restated Articles of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-Laws provide that ComEd will indemnify its directors and officers and any other person serving as director, officer, employee or agent of another business entity at ComEd’s request, to the extent permitted by the statute. In addition, ComEd’s Restated Articles of Incorporation provide, as permitted by the BCA, that directors shall not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except (i) for breaches of their duty of loyalty to ComEd or its shareholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 8.65 of the BCA, and (iv) for transactions from which a director derived an improper personal benefit.
ComEd has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors. ComEd also maintains liability insurance policies which indemnify ComEd’s directors and officers, the directors and officers of subsidiaries of ComEd, and the trustees of the Commonwealth Edison Company Service Annuity Fund and the Commonwealth Edison Company of Indiana, Inc. Service Annuity Fund, against loss arising from claims by reason of their legal liability for acts as such directors, officers or trustees, subject to limitations and conditions as set forth in the policies.
PECO Energy Company
As noted above, the PBCL, contains provisions permitting indemnification of officers and directors of a business corporation incorporated in Pennsylvania. Sections 1741 and 1742 of the PBCL provide that a business corporation may indemnify directors and officers against liabilities and expenses he or she may incur in connection with a threatened, pending or completed civil, administrative or investigative proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a representative of the corporation or was serving at the request of the corporation as a representative of another enterprise, provided that the particular person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. In general, the power to indemnify under these sections does not exist in the case of actions against a director or officer by or in the right of the corporation if the person otherwise entitled to indemnification shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation, unless it is judicially determined that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for the expenses the court deems proper. Section 1743 of the PBCL provides that the corporation is required to indemnify directors and officers against expenses they may incur in defending these actions if they are successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of such actions.
Section 1746 of the PBCL provides that indemnification under the other sections of Subchapter D is not exclusive of other rights that a person seeking indemnification may have under any by-law, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the person under any other provision of law. However, Section 1746 prohibits indemnification in circumstances where the act or failure to act giving rise to the claim for indemnification is determined by a court to have constituted willful misconduct or recklessness.
Section 1747 of the PBCL permits a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a representative of another enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by him or her in that capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the person against such liability under Subchapter D.
PECO’s Bylaws provide that it is obligated to indemnify any present or former director or officer who is made, or threatened to be made, a party to a proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity or by reason of service, while a director or officer of the Company and at the request of the Company, as a director or officer of another company, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, and the Company shall pay or reimburse reasonable expenses incurred in advance of final disposition of the proceeding, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
PECO has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors. PECO also currently maintains liability insurance for its directors and officers. In addition, the directors, officers and employees of PECO are insured under policies of insurance, within the limits and subject to the limitations of the policies, against claims made against them for acts in the discharge of their duties, and PECO is insured to the extent that it is required or permitted by law to indemnify the directors, officers and employees for such loss. The premiums for such insurance are paid by PECO.
Baltimore Gas and Electric Company
The following description of indemnification allowed under Maryland statutory law is a summary rather than a complete description. Reference is made to Section 2-418 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Maryland Annotated Code, which is incorporated herein by reference, and the following summary is qualified in its entirety by such reference.
By a Maryland statute, a Maryland corporation may indemnify any director who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (Proceeding) by reason of the fact that he is a present or former director of the corporation and any person who, while a director of the corporation, is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company, other enterprise, or employee benefit plan (Director). Such indemnification may be against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by such Director in connection with the Proceeding unless it is established that (a) the act or omission of the Director was material to the matter
giving rise to the Proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith, or (ii) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; or (b) the Director actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property, or services; or (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the Director had reasonable cause to believe the act or omission was unlawful. However, the corporation may not indemnify any Director in connection with a Proceeding by or in the right of the corporation if the Director has been adjudged to be liable to the corporation. A Director who has been successful in the defense of any Proceeding described above, or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter in the Proceeding, shall be indemnified against reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the Proceeding or the claim, issue or matter in which the Director has been successful. The corporation may not indemnify a Director in respect of any Proceeding charging improper personal benefits to the Director in which the Director was adjudged to be liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received. The corporation may not indemnify a Director or advance expenses for a Proceeding brought by the Director against the corporation except if the Proceeding is brought to enforce indemnification by the corporation or if the corporation’s charter or bylaws, a board resolution or contract provides otherwise. Notwithstanding the above provisions, a court of appropriate jurisdiction, upon application of the Director, may order indemnification if it determines that in view of all the relevant circumstances, the Director is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification; however, indemnification with respect to any Proceeding by or in the right of the corporation or in which liability was adjudged on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received shall be limited to expenses. A corporation may advance reasonable expenses to a Director prior to the final disposition of a Proceeding upon receipt by the corporation of a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Director to repay the amount if it shall ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation has not been met.
A corporation may indemnify and advance expenses to an officer of the corporation to the same extent that it may indemnify Directors under the statute.
The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by statute is not exclusive of any other rights, by indemnification or otherwise, to which a Director or officer may be entitled under the charter, bylaws, a resolution of shareholders or directors, an agreement or otherwise.
A corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a Director or officer, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify a Director or officer against liability under the provision of this section of Maryland law. Further, a corporation may provide similar protection, including a trust fund, letter of credit or surety bond, not inconsistent with the statute.
Article V of BGE’s Charter reads as follows:
“A director or officer of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages except (i) to the extent that it is proved that the person actually received an improper benefit or profit in money, property, or services for the amount of the benefit or profit in money, property, or services actually received or (ii) to the extent that a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the person is entered in a proceeding based on a finding in the proceeding that the person’s action or failure to act was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and was material to the cause of action adjudicated in the proceeding. It is the intent of this Article that the liability of directors and officers shall be limited to the fullest extent permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time.
Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph by the stockholders of the corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director or officer of the corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification.”
BGE's Bylaws provide that it is obligated to indemnify any present or former director or officer who is made, or threatened to be made, a party to a proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity or by reason of service, while a director or officer of the Company and at the request of the
Company, as a director or officer of another company, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, and the Company shall pay or reimburse reasonable expenses incurred in advance of final disposition of the proceeding, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Maryland.
BGE has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors. The directors and officers of BGE are covered by insurance indemnifying them against certain liabilities which might be incurred by them in their capacities as such, including certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933. The premium for this insurance is paid by Exelon with BGE’s share of the premium being reimbursed by BGE.
Potomac Electric Power Company
Section 29-306.51 of the Business Corporation Act of 2010, or the DCBCA, provides that a District of Columbia corporation may indemnify an individual who is a party to a proceeding because the individual is a director of the corporation against liability incurred in the proceeding if the director conducted himself or herself in good faith and reasonably believed, in the case of conduct in an official capacity, that his or her conduct was in the best interests of the corporation, and in all other cases, that his or her conduct was at least not opposed to the best interests of the corporation (or, in the case of conduct with respect to an employee benefit plan, for a purpose the director reasonably believed to be in the interests of the participants in, and the beneficiaries of, the plan), and, in the case of any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. Unless ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction, a corporation may not indemnify a director (i) in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, except for expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding if it is determined that the director has met the relevant standard of conduct, or (ii) with respect to conduct for which the director was adjudged liable on the basis of receiving a financial benefit to which he or she was not entitled.
Under Section 29-306.52 of the DCBCA, a corporation must indemnify a director who was wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which the director was a party because he or she was a director of the corporation, against expenses incurred by the director in connection with the proceeding.
Under Section 29-306.53 of the DCBCA, a corporation may, before final disposition of a proceeding, advance funds to pay for or reimburse expenses incurred in connection with such a proceeding so long as the director provides the corporation with a signed affirmation of the director’s good faith belief that the relevant standard of conduct has been met by the director or that the proceeding involves conduct for which liability has been eliminated under a provision of the articles of incorporation and an undertaking of the director to repay any funds advanced if the director is not entitled to mandatory indemnification under Section 29-306.52 of the DCBCA and it is ultimately determined that the director has not met the relevant standard of conduct for indemnification.
Section 29-306.56 of the DCBCA provides that a corporation may also indemnify and advance expenses to an individual who is a party to a proceeding because he or she is an officer of the corporation (i) to the same extent as a director, and, (ii) if he or she is an officer but not a director (and, where the officer is also a director if the basis on which the person is a party to the proceeding is an act or omission solely as an officer), to such further extent as may be provided by the articles of incorporation, the bylaws, a resolution of the board of directors, or contract except for liability (A) in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation (other than for expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding) or (B) arising out of conduct that constitutes a receipt by the officer of a financial benefit to which the officer is not entitled, an intentional infliction of harm on the corporation or the shareholders or an intentional violation of criminal law. The mandatory indemnification requirement under Section 29-306.52 of the DCBCA discussed above also applies to an officer of the corporation who is not also a director, to the same extent as if the officer was a director.
Under Sections 13.1-697 and 13.1-702 of the Virginia Stock Corporation Act, or the VSCA, a Virginia corporation may indemnify any current or former director or officer who was, is or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding if the director conducted himself in good faith and (i) believed, in the case of conduct in his official capacity with the corporation, that his conduct was in the best interests of the corporation or, in all other cases, that his conduct was at least not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, or (ii) in the case of a criminal proceeding, he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided, however that, unless ordered by a court, a corporation may not indemnify a director or officer in connection with (i) a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation in which the director or officer was found liable to the corporation, other than for reasonable expenses or (ii) any other proceeding charging improper personal benefit to him, whether or not involving action in his official capacity, in which he was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received.
Under Sections 13.1-698 and 13.1-702 of the VSCA, unless limited by its articles of incorporation, a Virginia corporation is required to indemnify any director or officer who entirely prevails in the defense of any proceeding to which he was a party because he is or was a director of the corporation against reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection with the proceeding.
The By-Laws of Pepco provide that Pepco will, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify each director or officer and each former director and officer of Pepco against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer, except in relation to matters as to which such director or officer shall be finally adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding to have knowingly violated the criminal law or to be liable for willful misconduct in the performance of his duty to Pepco; and that such indemnification shall be in addition to, but that such indemnification rights shall not be exclusive of, any other rights to which such person may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders, or otherwise.
Delmarva Power & Light Company
DPL’s Articles of Restatement of Certificate and Articles of Incorporation provide, in accordance with Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL and Section 13.1-692.1 of the VSCA, that no director of DPL shall be personally liable to DPL or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that such provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director for (i) any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to DPL or its stockholders, (ii) acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) liability under Section 174 of the DGCL for unlawful payment of dividends or stock purchases or redemptions, or (iv) any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Under the VSCA, this provision does not limit the liability of a director who has engaged in willful misconduct or a knowing violation of the criminal law or of any federal or state securities law, including, without limitation, any claim of unlawful insider trading or manipulation of the market for any security.
Under Section 145 of the DGCL, a corporation is permitted to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than action by or in the right of the corporation), by reason of the fact that the person is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as an officer, director, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such proceeding: (i) if the person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation; and (ii) in the case of a criminal proceeding, the person had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
Under Section 145 of the DGCL, a corporation also is permitted to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to obtain a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director or officer against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification is permitted with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which the person is found liable to the corporation unless and to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which the action or suit is brought determines that, despite the adjudication of liability, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for such expenses as the court shall deem proper.
Under Section 145 of the DGCL, a corporation must indemnify any present or former director or officer of the corporation who is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person.
Under Sections 13.1-697 and 13.1-702 of the VSCA, a Virginia corporation may indemnify any current or former director or officer who was, is or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding if the director conducted himself or herself in good faith and (i) believed, in the case of conduct in his official capacity with the corporation, that his conduct was in the best interests of the corporation or, in all other cases, that his conduct was at least not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, or (ii) in the case of a criminal proceeding, he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; provided, however, that, unless ordered by a court, a corporation may not indemnify a director or officer in connection with (i) a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation in which the director or officer was found liable to the corporation, other than for reasonable expenses or (ii) any other proceeding charging improper personal benefit to him, whether or not involving action in his official capacity, in which he was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received.
Under Sections 13.1-698 and 13.1-702 of the VSCA, unless limited by its articles of incorporation, a Virginia corporation is required to indemnify any director or officer who entirely prevails in the defense of any proceeding to which he was a party because he is or was a director of the corporation against reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection with the proceeding.
The Amended and Restated Bylaws of DPL provide that DPL shall indemnify, to the full extent that it shall have power under applicable law, any person made or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of DPL, but that such indemnification rights shall not be exclusive of, any other rights to which such person may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
Atlantic City Electric Company
In accordance with Section 14A:2-7 of New Jersey Business Corporation Act, or the NJBCA, Article VI of ACE’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that any person who is or was a director or officer of ACE shall not be personally liable to ACE or its shareholders for any breach of duty owed to ACE or its shareholders, but excluding any breach of duty based upon an act or omission (a) in breach of such person’s duty of loyalty to ACE or its shareholders, (b) not in good faith or involving a knowing violation of law or (c) resulting in receipt by such person of an improper personal benefit.
Section 14A:3-5 of the NJBCA generally provides that a corporation may indemnify its current or former directors or officers, or any person who may have served at its request as a director or officer of another corporation, against expenses and liabilities in any pending, threatened or completed civil,
criminal, administrative or arbitrative action, suit or proceeding which involves the director or officer in his capacity as such, other than a proceeding by or in the right of a corporation, if (i) the director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, (ii) in a criminal proceeding, he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. A corporation may indemnify a director or officer against expenses incurred in connection with any proceeding brought by or in the right of the corporation which involves the director or officer in his capacity as such, if the director or officer acted in good faith in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that indemnification is not permitted in an action by or in the right of the corporation if the corporate agent is adjudged to be liable to the corporation, unless the court in which the proceeding was brought shall have determined that indemnification is appropriate in light of the circumstances of the case. A corporation is required to indemnify a director or officer against expenses to the extent such person has been successful on the merits or otherwise in a proceeding, or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein.
Article VI of ACE’s Amended and Restated Bylaws provides that ACE shall, to the fullest extent it shall have power under applicable law, indemnify any person who is or was made a party or is threatened to be made a party to any proceeding by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer of ACE. The indemnification in Article VI is not exclusive of any other right which a director or officer may have or acquire under any bylaw, agreement, vote of the stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
(a) Each of the undersigned registrants hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
Each of the undersigned registrants undertake that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b) Each of the undersigned registrants hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, each registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.