SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): April 21, 2005
SCHLUMBERGER N.V. (SCHLUMBERGER LIMITED)
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Netherlands Antilles | 1-4601 | 52-0684746 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
153 East 53rd Street, 57th Floor New York, New York 10022-4624
42, rue Saint-Dominique, Paris, France 75007
Parkstraat 83, The Hague, The Netherlands 2514 JG
(Addresses of principal executive offices and zip or postal codes)
Registrants telephone number in the United States, including area code: (212) 350-9400
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:
¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On April 21, 2005, Schlumberger Limited (Schlumberger N.V.), a Netherlands Antilles corporation (Schlumberger), entered into its standard form of director indemnification agreement (which Schlumberger enters into with all of its directors) with Michael E. Marks and Rana Talwar, each of whom was elected to the Board of Directors at Schlumbergers 2005 Annual General Meeting of Stockholders held on April 13, 2005.
Under the terms of the indemnification agreement, Schlumberger has agreed to indemnify each indemnitee against any and all expenses to the fullest extent permitted by the law if the indemnitee was, is, becomes or is threatened to be made a party to or witness or other participant in a claim by reason of (or arising in part out of) the indemnitees service as a director, officer, partner, employee, trustee, agent or fiduciary of Schlumberger or any of its subsidiaries or the indemnitees service at the request of Schlumberger in any such capacity with any other enterprise. The agreements also provide for, among other things, the advancement of expenses relating to the indemnification obligations and the maintenance of directors and officers liability insurance covering the indemnitee.
A copy of Schlumbergers standard form of indemnification agreement has been included as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.
Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
On April 21, 2005, the Board of Directors of Schlumberger amended and restated Schlumbergers bylaws to:
| conform the bylaws to recent changes to Schlumbergers Articles of Incorporation that were approved by Schlumbergers stockholders at the 2005 Annual General Meeting of Stockholders held on April 13, 2005; |
| clarify the general powers of the Board of Directors and officers of Schlumberger; |
| require the appointment of a technology committee of the Board of Directors and a chief financial officer for Schlumberger, both of which are consistent with current practice; |
| provide for mandatory indemnification of current and former directors and officers against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement that are actually and reasonably incurred by such persons in connection with various actions, suits and proceedings if such persons acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Schlumberger, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that their conduct was unlawful (this provision is consistent with the charter and bylaw provisions of many domestic U.S. corporations); |
| empower the Chief Executive Officer to authorize Schlumberger to indemnify employees and agents subject to the same conditions set out above; |
| establish that directors may rely in good faith on the records of Schlumberger and on information, opinions, reports or statements presented to Schlumberger by Schlumbergers officers, employees and certain other persons as to matters the directors reasonably believe are within such persons professional or expert competence and who have been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of Schlumberger (this provision is consistent with statutory provisions that exist in Delaware and many U.S. states); and |
| improve the readability and clarify certain provision of the former bylaws. |
The amended and restated bylaws became effective immediately upon their adoption by the Board of Directors. A copy of the amended and restated bylaws has been included as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein. A copy of the amended and restated bylaws marked to show changes to the former bylaws has been included as Exhibit 3.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits
3.1 | Amended and Restated Bylaws of Schlumberger Limited (Schlumberger N.V.). |
3.2 | Amended and Restated Bylaws of Schlumberger Limited (Schlumberger N.V.) marked to show changes to the former bylaws. |
10.1 | Form of Indemnification Agreement. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
SCHLUMBERGER N.V. | ||
(SCHLUMBERGER LIMITED) | ||
By: |
/s/ Frank A. Sorgie | |
Frank A. Sorgie | ||
Chief Accounting Officer |
Date: April 22, 2005
Exhibit 3.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BY-LAWS
of
SCHLUMBERGER LIMITED
(Schlumberger N.V.)
(Certain provisions of the By-Laws correspond to provisions contained in the Articles of Incorporation as amended, and any amendment of such provisions of the By-Laws is subject to an appropriate amendment of the Articles of Incorporation.) |
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION 1.1 Place of Meetings: Chairmanship of Meetings
All general meetings of stockholders shall be held in Curaçao or anywhere else in the Netherlands Antilles. All such general meetings shall be presided over by the Chairman or, in his absence or disability, by the Vice Chairman. In the absence or disability of both the Chairman and the Vice Chairman, such meetings shall be presided over by such other person as may be designated by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 1.2 Annual Meeting
The annual general meeting of stockholders shall be held within the period required by applicable law, on a date determined from year to year by the Board of Directors, for the purpose of electing directors, reporting on the course of business during the preceding fiscal year, approving of the balance sheet and the profit and loss accounts for the preceding fiscal year and for any other purposes required by law, and for such additional purposes as may be specified in the notice of such meeting.
SECTION 1.3 Special Meetings
Special general meetings of stockholders may be called at any time upon the direction of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Board of Directors or in the manner provided in Article 2:129 of the Civil Code of the Netherlands Antilles, or by one or more holders of shares meeting the requirements of Article 11.3 of the Articles of Incorporation.
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SECTION 1.4 Notice of Meeting
All notices of general meetings of stockholders shall state the matters to be considered at the meeting. Notice of meetings of stockholders, whether annual general meetings or special general meetings, stating the time and place of the meeting, shall be given to the stockholders not less than 20 and no more than 60 days prior to the date of the meeting in question by notice to each stockholder at the address thereof appearing in the share register.
SECTION 1.5 Closing of Transfer Books or Fixing of Record Date
For the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any general meeting of stockholders, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of shares, or in order to make a determination of stockholders for any other proper purpose, the Board of Directors of the Company may provide that the stock transfer books shall be closed for a stated period or that a record date be fixed. If the stock transfer books shall be closed for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a general meeting of stockholders, such books shall be closed for at least 10 days but not to exceed, in any case, 60 days immediately preceding such meeting. In lieu of closing the stock transfer books, the Board of Directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination of stockholders, such date in any case to be not more than 60 days and, in case of a general meeting of stockholders, not less than 10 days prior to the date on which the particular action requiring such determination of stockholders is to be taken. If the stock transfer books are not closed and no record date is fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a general meeting of stockholders, or stockholders entitled to receive payment of a dividend or other distribution or allotment, the date on which notice of the meeting is mailed or the date on which the resolution of the Board of Directors declaring such dividend or other distribution or allotment is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of stockholders. When a determination of stockholders entitled to vote at any general meeting of stockholders has been made as herein provided, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof except where the determination has been made through the closing of stock transfer books, and the stated period of closing has expired.
SECTION 1.6 Quorum
Except as otherwise provided herein, no action may be taken at any general meeting of stockholders unless a quorum consisting of the holders of at least one-half of the outstanding shares entitling the holders thereof to vote at such meeting is present at
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such meeting in person or by proxy. If a quorum is not present in person or by proxy at any general meeting of stockholders, a second general meeting shall be called in the same manner as such original meeting of stockholders, to be held within 2 months, at which second meeting, regardless of the number of shares represented (but subject to the provisions of Articles 18, 19 and 21 of the Articles of Incorporation), valid resolutions may be adopted with respect to any matter stated in the notice of the original meeting and also in the notice of such second meeting or which, by law, is required to be brought before the stockholders despite the absence of a quorum. Subject to the provisions of Articles 18, 19 and 21 of the Articles of Incorporation, a vote in favor by a majority of the votes cast (excluding any abstentions) shall be necessary to adopt any resolution at any general meeting of stockholders.
SECTION 1.7 Buy Out
Any one person, or any two or more legal entities belonging to the same group, holding shares representing at least 90% of the equity of the Company can require the remaining stockholders to transfer their shares as provided by and in accordance with the provisions of Article 2:250 of the Civil Code of the Netherlands Antillles.
SECTION 1.8 Notices
Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders or directors, any notice given by the Company shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the person to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by written notice received by the Company. All notices shall be deemed given: (1) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the recipient has consented to receive notice; (2) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the recipient has consented to receive notice; (3) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the recipient of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and (4) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the recipient. An affidavit that the notice has been given by a form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud or bad faith, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. For purposes of these By-Laws, electronic transmission means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved, and reviewed by a recipient thereof.
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ARTICLE II
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 2.1 General Powers
The overall management of all the affairs, property and business of the Company, including the supervision of the officers of the Company who shall manage the daily course of affairs of the Company, shall be vested in a Board of Directors who shall have and may exercise all powers except such as are exclusively conferred upon stockholders by law or by the Articles of Incorporation of the Company as from time to time amended. The Board of Directors may delegate such of its powers as it deems appropriate to committees consisting of one or more members of the Board and to the officers and other agents of the Company.
SECTION 2.2 Number, Tenure and Qualifications
The directors shall be elected at the annual general meeting of stockholders by a majority of the votes cast, in person or by proxy, by the stockholders entitled to vote. The Board of Directors are authorized to appoint directors to fill any vacancies on the Board of Directors, any such appointment to be effective until the next general meeting of the stockholders. The number of persons constituting the whole Board of Directors shall not be less than five nor more than twenty-four as fixed and elected by the general meeting of stockholders. The number of persons constituting the whole Board of Directors shall, until changed at any succeeding general meeting of stockholders, be the number so fixed and elected. Directors may be suspended or dismissed at any general meeting of stockholders. A suspension automatically terminates if the person concerned has not been dismissed within 2 months after the day of suspension. At any general meeting of stockholders at which action is taken to increase the number of the whole Board of Directors or to suspend or dismiss a director, or at any subsequent general meeting, the stockholders may fill any vacancy or vacancies created by such action. Each director shall be elected to serve until the next annual general meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified or until his or her death, resignation or removal. Directors need not be citizens or residents of the Netherlands Antilles or stockholders of the Company.
SECTION 2.3 Meetings of the Board
The directors may hold their meetings in or outside the Netherlands Antilles. Meetings may be held through telephone conference, video conference or other real time communication allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other or through any other device permitted by then applicable law, and participation in a meeting through any such lawful device or arrangement shall constitute presence at such meetings. The Chairman or, in the absence or disability
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of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman shall preside at their meetings. In the absence or disability of both the Chairman and the Vice Chairman, such meetings shall be presided over by such person as may be chosen by the Board of Directors. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times as may from time to time be fixed by the Board. Notice need not be given of regular meetings of the Board held at the time fixed by the Board. Special meetings may be held at any time upon the call of the Chairman or the Vice Chairman or of two directors by oral, electronic or written notice duly served on, sent or mailed to each director not less than three days before such meeting. The first meeting of the Board of Directors following the annual general meeting of stockholders, whether a regular or special meeting of the Board, shall be an organization meeting for the election of officers of the Company and at which any other matters may also be acted upon by the Board. Meetings may be held at any time without notice if all the directors are present or if those not present and who are entitled to notice under the provisions of this Section waive notice of the meeting in writing before or after the meeting. Matters to be acted upon by the Board at any regular or special meeting need not be specified in the notice thereof.
SECTION 2.4 Action by Directors Without Meeting
When action by the Board of Directors is required or permitted to be taken, action at a meeting may be dispensed with if all commercially reasonable efforts have been taken to notify all the directors and if three fourths of the directors shall consent in writing, by telegram, telefax, electronic mail or other communication device to such action taken or being taken, and provided that all directors are promptly notified of such action taken or having been taken.
SECTION 2.5 Quorum
A majority of the whole Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of any business, and the action of the majority of the directors present in person or by proxy, as hereinafter provided, at a meeting at which a quorum is so present shall constitute the action of the Board of Directors. Directors may in writing, by telegram, telefax, electronic mail or other communication device, appoint a proxy to act at any meeting of the Board of Directors, such proxy to be restricted, however, to the particular meeting specified therein. Such proxy must be another director of the Company, provided, however, that at any meeting of the Board of Directors a director may not act as proxy for more than one director.
SECTION 2.6 Vacancies
In the event that one or more of the directors is prevented from or is incapable of acting as a director, the remaining directors (or the remaining director, if there should be only one) may appoint one or more persons to fill the vacancy or vacancies thereby created on the Board of Directors until the next general meeting of
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stockholders, provided that, if at any time the number of directors then in office shall be reduced to less than a majority of the number constituting the whole Board of Directors, the remaining directors or director shall forthwith call a general meeting of stockholders for the purpose of filling the vacancies on the Board of Directors, and, provided further that in the event that all of the directors are prevented from or are incapable of acting as directors, the Company shall be temporarily managed by any person or persons previously appointed by the Board of Directors so to act, who shall forthwith call a general meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing a Board of Directors. Until such general meeting of stockholders is held, the person so designated shall only take such acts of management that can not suffer any delay. If no such general meeting of stockholders shall be called and if no such person shall have been appointed, any person or persons holding, in the aggregate, at least five percent of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company may call a general meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing a Board of Directors.
SECTION 2.7 Committees
(a) Committees consisting of one or more members of the Board may be established by the Board and shall have such general or limited powers or duties as the Board shall deem appropriate. A majority of any such committee composed of two or more members may determine its action at meetings and fix the time and place of its meetings, unless the Board shall otherwise provide. Meetings may be held through telephone conference, video conference or other real time communication allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other or through any other device permitted by then applicable law, and participation in a meeting through any such lawful device or arrangement shall constitute presence at such meetings. When action by any committee is required or permitted to be taken, action at a meeting may be dispensed with if all members of the committee consent to such action. Members of a committee may, in writing or by telegram, telefax, electronic mail or other communication device, appoint a proxy to act at any meeting of the committee, such proxy to be restricted, however, to the particular meeting specified therein. Such proxy must be a director of the Company, provided, however, that at any committee meeting a director may not act as proxy for more than one committee member.
(b) The Board shall have power at any time to change the members of any committee, to fill vacancies thereon, and to discharge any committee.
(c) The Board of Directors shall have a standing Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Finance Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Technology Committee.
(d) The Board of Directors shall adopt a charter for each committee for regulating the conduct of its affairs. Such charters must be consistent with these By-Laws and the Articles of Incorporation.
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SECTION 2.8 Certain Claims Involving Directors
If the Board of Directors receives a written demand by a stockholder requesting the Board of Directors to bring a legal claim on behalf of the Company against one or more directors of the Company for breach of a directors duty to the Company under applicable law, and if the demand gives notice to the Board of Directors, of evidence of the facts necessary to support each of the claims made therein, the Board of Directors shall conduct a review and evaluation of the demand to determine whether the bringing of a legal claim as requested in the demand would be in the best interests of the Company. The following procedural standards shall apply to the review and evaluation of the demand and determination of best interest by the Board of Directors:
(1) | No director interested in one or more of the claims of breach of duty shall participate other than as described in clause (3) below, and if any of the directors interested in a claim is an officer of the Company, no director who is an officer of the Company shall participate other than as described in clause (3). |
(2) | The directors conducting the review and evaluation and making the determination shall be assisted by independent counsel of their choice, and such other independent agents, as they consider necessary. |
(3) | Any director interested in a claim shall have an adequate opportunity to present evidence and be heard by the directors making the review, evaluation and determination. |
ARTICLE Ill
OFFICERS
SECTION 3.1 Election and Term of Office
The officers of the Company shall be elected or appointed by the Board of Directors and shall be a Chairman, a Chief Executive Officer, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Board of Directors from time to time may also elect or appoint a Chief Financial Officer, a President, a Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, one or more Executive Vice Presidents, one or more Vice Presidents and any such other officers, including assistant officers and agents, as the Board may deem advisable. Officers of the Company shall have such powers and duties as are specified in these By-Laws and such further powers and duties as are determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. Officers other than the Chairman and the Vice Chairman may but need not be directors. The Board of Directors may designate an officer or officers to be the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Accounting Officer of the Company.
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Two or more offices may be held by the same person, provided, however, that no officer shall execute, acknowledge or verify any instrument in more than one capacity if such instrument is required by law or by these By-Laws to be executed, acknowledged or verified by any two or more officers. The Board of Directors may grant general or specific authority to additional agents or to committees, giving such agents or committees such general or limited powers or duties as it may deem appropriate. All officers and agents shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and may be removed at any time by the Board, which shall have power to fill any vacancy which shall occur in any office by reason of death, resignation, removal or otherwise. Unless so removed, the terms of office of all officers and of all members of any committees of the Board shall continue until the election of their successors or until the elimination of such offices or committees.
SECTION 3.2 Chairman
The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board, and shall exercise such other powers and discharge such other responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 3.3 Vice Chairman
The Board of Directors may, from time to time, designate a director of the Company to be Vice Chairman. The Vice Chairman shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the Chairman or by the Board of Directors, and shall, in the absence or disability of the Chairman, act for the Chairman.
SECTION 3.4 Chief Executive Officer
The Board of Directors shall at least annually elect or appoint a Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general executive powers and overall responsibility for the management of the business of the Company.
SECTION 3.5 President
The Board of Directors may, from time to time, designate an officer to the Company to be the President of the Company. The President shall exercise such powers and discharge such responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 3.6 Chief Operating Officer
The Board of Directors may, from time to time, designate an officer of the Company to be the Chief Operating Officer of the Company. The Chief Operating Officer shall have general executive powers and responsibility for the management of the operations of the Company.
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SECTION 3.7 Chief Financial Officer
The Board of Directors shall at least annually elect or appoint a Chief Financial Officer of the Company. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the responsibility for formulating and managing the financial and fiscal, policies and procedures of the Company. The Chief Financial Officer shall generally perform all of the duties usually appertaining to the officer of chief financial officer of a company.
SECTION | 3.8 Vice Presidents |
The several Vice Presidents shall do and perform all such duties and services as shall be assigned to or required of them, from time to time, by the Board of Directors, the Chairman, the Vice Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer.
SECTION 3.9 Secretary
The Secretary shall attend to the giving of notice of all meetings of stockholders and of the Board of Directors and shall keep and attest true records of all proceedings thereat. The Secretary shall have charge of the corporate seal and have authority to attest any and all instruments or writings to which the same may be affixed. The Secretary shall have care and custody of documents, papers and records of the Company, shall have the power to sign stock certificates, and shall supervise the keeping of a record of the stockholders of the Company. The Secretary shall generally perform all of the duties usually appertaining to the office of the secretary of a company. In the absence of the Secretary, or if the office is vacant, an Assistant Secretary shall perform the duties of the Secretary, unless otherwise decided by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 3.10 Treasurer
The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of all monies, funds and securities of the Company and shall deposit or cause to be deposited all funds of the Company in and with such depositories as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time. The Treasurer shall have the power to sign stock certificates, to endorse for deposit or collection or otherwise all checks, drafts, notes, bills of exchange or other commercial paper payable to the Company and to give proper receipts or discharges therefor, and shall generally perform all of the duties usually appertaining to the office of the treasurer of a company. In the absence of the Treasurer, or if the office is vacant, an Assistant Treasurer shall perform the duties of the Treasurer, unless otherwise decided by the Board of Directors.
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SECTION 3.11 Salaries
The salaries of the officers shall be fixed from time to time by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors or, in absence thereof, by the Board of Directors. No officer shall be prevented from receiving such salary by reason of the fact that he or she is also a director of the Company.
SECTION 3.12 Checks. Notes. etc.
All checks, drafts, notes, bills of exchange, acceptances and other instruments for the payment of money shall be signed by such officer or officers, person or persons, as may from time to time be thereunto authorized by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IV
SHARES OF STOCK
SECTION 4.1 Registrar and Stock Certificates
Every stockholder shall be entitled to a certificate representing the stockholders shares. A Register shall be kept by the Board of Directors or by a Registrar designated thereto by the Board of Directors. Each entry shall mention the name and address of the stockholder, the number of shares held and the numbers of the share certificates and such other information required to be included under Article 2:109 of the Civil Code of the Netherlands Antilles. The Register shall not be open for inspection by third parties or stockholders with respect to shares other than those registered in their name, except with respect to shares that have not been paid in full and except further, with respect to the Registrar, if said Registrar has been requested, or if demand of said Registrar has been made, to disclose any piece of information in the Register and failure to disclose such information would lead to liability of the Registrar. Every transfer and devolution of a share shall be entered in the Register and every such entry shall be signed or otherwise acknowledged by or on behalf of the Board of Directors or by the Registrar. Each certificate shall be signed by the Chairman or the Vice Chairman or the President or any Vice President and by the Secretary, Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer, and bear the corporate seal or a facsimile thereof, certifying the number of shares owned by the stockholder in the Company; provided that, where such certificate is countersigned by a Registrar other than the Company, the signatures of the officers of the Company and the Registrar on such certificate may be a facsimile, engraved, stamped or printed. In case any officer or officers or Registrar who shall have signed or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been used on any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers or Registrar, whether because of death, resignation or otherwise before such certificate or certificates shall have been delivered by the Company, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be issued and delivered as
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though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates, or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been used thereon, had not ceased to be such officer or officers or Registrar.
SECTION 4.2 Lost Certificates
In case any certificate of stock shall be lost, stolen or destroyed, the Board of Directors or the Registrar, in its discretion, may authorize the issue of a substitute certificate in place of the certificate of stock so lost, stolen or destroyed, and may cause such substitute certificate to be countersigned and registered by the appropriate Registrar; provided that, in each such case, the applicant for a substitute certificate shall furnish to the Company and to such of its Registrars as may require the same, evidence, satisfactory to them, of the loss, theft or destruction of such certificate and of the ownership thereof and also such security or indemnity as may by them be required.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 5.1 Indemnification in Actions by Third Party
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify any current or former, director or officer 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 an action by or in the right of the Company) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer, 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 or entity, against expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that such persons conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such persons conduct was unlawful. The Company shall indemnify any present or former officer or director of the Company to the fullest extent allowed by the preceding provisions of this Section 5.1 in the event of a Change of Control. Change of Control means a change in
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control of the Company which shall be deemed to have occurred if at any time (i) any entity, person or organization is or becomes the legal or beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding shares without the prior approval of at least two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such entity, person or organization attaining such percentage interest; (ii) the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, share exchange, sale of assets or other reorganization, or a proxy contest, as a consequence of which members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board of Directors thereafter; or (iii) during any 15-month period, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors (including for this purpose any new director whose election or nomination for election by the Companys stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of such period) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors.
SECTION | 5.2 Indemnification In Actions by or in the Right of the Company |
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify any current or former, director or officer 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 Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent 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 or entity against expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been finally adjudged to be liable to the Company for improper conduct unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought or any other court having appropriate jurisdiction shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement which the court in which the action or suit was brought or such other court having appropriate jurisdiction shall deem proper. The Company shall indemnify any present or former officer or director of the Company to the fullest extent allowed by the preceding provisions of this Section 5.2 in the event of a Change of Control, as defined in Section 5.1.
SECTION | 5.3 Extension of Indemnification to Employees and Agents of the Company |
Any indemnification under Sections 5.1 and 5.2 (unless ordered by a court) may be
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extended to current or former employees or agents of the Company only as authorized by the Chief Executive Officer or by contract approved or, or by-laws, resolution or other action adopted or taken, by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders.
SECTION 5.4 Advance of Reimbursement of Expenses and Undertaking
Expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by a present or former director or a present officer in defending any civil or criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit 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 such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized by Article V of these By-Laws. Such expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by former officers or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Company deems appropriate.
SECTION 5.5 Non-Exclusivity of By-Laws
The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to the other Sections of this Article shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any law, by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise both as to action in such persons official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
SECTION 5.6 Insurance for Indemnification
The Company shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent 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 or entity against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of Article V of these By-Laws.
SECTION 5.7 Definition of the Company
For purposes of this Article V, reference to the Company shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence
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had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or entity, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article V with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have had with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
SECTION 5.8 Other Definitions
For purposes of this Article V, references to other enterprises shall include employee benefit plans; references to fines shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and references to serving at the request of the Company shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner not opposed to the best interests of the Company as referred to in this Article V.
SECTION 5.9 Good Faith Reliance
A member of the Board of Directors, or a member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, shall, in the performance of such members duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Company and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Company by any of the Companys officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other person as to matters the member reasonably believes are within such other persons professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company.
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ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 6.1 Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar year.
SECTION 6.2 Corporate Seal
The Company shall have a corporate seal which shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Company, the words, Netherlands Antilles, and the year of its organization.
SECTION 6.3 Amendments
These By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors, except, however, that no provision of these By-Laws which is included in, or the substance of which is expressed in, the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation shall be so altered, amended or repealed as to be inconsistent with the Articles of Incorporation. The amendment of these By-Laws to eliminate any provisions hereof the substance of which is also contained in the Articles of Incorporation shall not be deemed to render these By-Laws inconsistent with the Articles of Incorporation or to affect in any way the corresponding provisions of the Articles of Incorporation.
15
Exhibit 3.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BY-LAWS
of
SCHLUMBERGER LIMITED
(Schlumberger N.V.)
(Certain provisions of the By-Laws correspond to provisions contained in the Articles of Incorporation as amended, and any amendment of such provisions of the By-Laws is subject to an appropriate amendment of the Articles of Incorporation.) |
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION 1.1 Place of Meetings: Chairmanship of Meetings
All general meetings of stockholders shall be held in Curaçao, Bonaire, St. Eustatius, Saba or the Dutch part of St.
Maarten or anywhere else in the Netherlands Antilles. All such general meetings shall be presided over by the Chairman or, in his absence or disability, by the Vice Chairman. In the absence or disability of both the
Chairman and the Vice Chairman, such meetings shall be presided over by such other person as may be designated by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 1.2 Annual Meeting
The annual general meeting of stockholders shall be held within the period required by applicable law, on a date determined from year to year by the Board of Directors, ,
for the purpose of electing directors, reporting on the course of business during the preceding fiscal year, adoptingapproving of the balance sheet and the profit and loss accounts for the preceding fiscal year and for
any other purposes required by law, and for such additional purposes as may be specified in the notice of such meeting.
SECTION 1.3 Special Meetings
Special general meetings of stockholders may be called at any time upon the direction of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or
the Board of Directors or in the manner provided in Article 822:129 of the Civil Code of Commerce of the Netherlands Antilles, or by one or more holders of shares representing in
the aggregate a majority of the shares of stock then outstanding, or as provided for in Article 8.5 meeting the requirements of Article 11.3 of the Articles of Incorporation.
SECTION 1.4 Notice of Meeting
All notices of general meetings of stockholders shall state the matters to be considered at the meeting. Notice of meetings of stockholders, whether annual general meetings or special general meetings, stating the time and place of the meeting, shall be given to the stockholders not less than 20 and no more than 60 days prior to the date of the meeting in question by notice to each stockholder at the address thereof appearing in the share register.
SECTION 1.5 Closing of Transfer Books or Fixing of Record Date
For the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any general meeting of stockholders, or entitled to receive
payment of any dividend, or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of shares, or in order to make a determination of
stockholders for any other proper purpose, (but excluding determinations made as provided in Section 1.7 of these By-Laws with respect to action by stockholders without meeting), the Board of Directors of the Company may provide
that the stock transfer books shall be closed for a stated period but not to exceed, in any case, 60 daysor that a record date be fixed. If the stock transfer books shall be closed for the purpose of determining
stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a general meeting of stockholders, such books shall be closed for at least 10 days but not to exceed, in any case, 60 days immediately preceding such meeting. In lieu of closing the
stock transfer books, the Board of Directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination of stockholders, such date in any case to be not more than 60 days and, in case of a general meeting of stockholders, not less than
10 days prior to the date on which the particular action requiring such determination of stockholders is to be taken. If the stock transfer books are not closed and no record date is fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of
or to vote at a general meeting of stockholders, or stockholders entitled to receive payment of a dividend or other distribution or allotment, the date on which notice of the meeting is mailed or the date on which the resolution of the
Board of Directors declaring such dividend or other distribution or allotment is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of stockholders. When a determination of stockholders entitled to vote at any
general meeting of stockholders has been made as herein provided, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof except where the determination has been made through the closing of stock transfer books, and the stated period of closing
has expired.
SECTION 1.6 Quorum
Except as otherwise provided herein, no action may be taken at any general meeting of stockholders unless a quorum consisting of the holders
of at least one-half of the outstanding shares isentitling the holders thereof to vote at such meeting is present at such meeting in person or by proxy. If a quorum is not present in person or by proxy at any general
meeting of stockholders, a second general meeting shall be called in the same manner as such original meeting of stockholders, to be held within two2 months, at which second meeting, regardless of the number of shares
represented (but subject to the provisions of Articles 18, 19 and 21 of the Articles of Incorporation), valid resolutions may be adopted with respect to any matter stated in the notice of the original meeting and also in the notice of such second
meeting or which, by law, is required to be brought before the stockholders despite the absence of a quorum. Subject to the provisions of Articles 18, 19 and 21 of the Articles of Incorporation, a vote in favor by a majority of the
votes cast (excluding any abstentions) shall be necessary to adopt any resolution at any general meeting of stockholders.
SECTION 1.7 Buy Out
SECTION 1.7 Action by Shareholders Without Meeting
As provided in Article 20 of the Articles of Incorporation, any
action which, by law or by the Articles of Incorporation, is required or permitted to be taken at a general meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting if taken by the written consent of the holder or holders of at least the majority of
the shares of the Company outstanding and entitled to vote. Each stockholder may evidence such consent by separate instrument which may be executed by the stockholder or by a duly appointed proxy on behalf of the stockholder. Notice of any action
proposed to be taken under said Article 20 shall be given to each stockholder at the address appearing in the share register, such notice to designate the date on or before which such written consent must be received by the Secretary of the Company
in order to be counted. Any stockholder may revoke his or her consent by instrument received by the Secretary of the Company on or before the date so designated or before written consents from the holders of the absolute majority of the shares
outstanding and entitled to vote have been received by the Secretary of the Company, whichever first occurs, and not thereafter. For the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of and or give written consent to any action proposed to
be taken under said Article 20, the Board of Directors of the Company may provide that the stock transfer books shall be closed for a stated period not to exceed 60 days. Such books shall be closed for at least 10 days immediately preceding the date
on or before which written consents must be received by the Secretary of the Company in order to be counted. In lieu of closing the stock transfer books, the Board of Directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination
of stockholders, such date to be not more than 60 days prior to the date on or before which written consents must be received by the Secretary of the Company in order to be counted. If the stock transfer books are not closed and no record date is
fixed for the determination of stockholders, the date on which notice of the action proposed to be taken hereunder is given, shall be the record date for such determination of stockholders.
Any one person, or any two or more legal entities belonging to the same group, holding shares representing at least 90% of the equity of the Company can require the remaining stockholders to transfer their shares as provided by and in accordance with the provisions of Article 2:250 of the Civil Code of the Netherlands Antillles.
SECTION 1.8 Notices
Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders or directors, any notice given by the Company shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the person to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by written notice received by the Company. All notices shall be deemed given: (1) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the recipient has consented to receive notice; (2) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the recipient has consented to receive notice; (3) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the recipient of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and (4) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the recipient. An affidavit that the notice has been given by a form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud or bad faith, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. For purposes of these By-Laws, electronic transmission means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved, and reviewed by a recipient thereof.
ARTICLE II
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 2.1 General Powers
The overall management of all the affairs, property and business of the Company, including the supervision of the officers of the Company who shall manage the daily course of affairs of the Company, shall be vested in a Board of Directors who shall have and may exercise all powers except such as are exclusively conferred upon stockholders by law or by the Articles of Incorporation of the Company as from time to time amended. The Board of Directors may delegate such of its powers as it deems appropriate to committees consisting of one or more members of the Board and to the officers and other agents of the Company.
SECTION 2.2 Number, Tenure and Qualifications
The directors shall be elected at the annual general
meeting of stockholders by a majority of the votes cast, in person or by proxy, by the stockholders entitled to vote. The Board of Directors are authorized to appoint directors to fill any vacancies on the Board of
Directors, any such appointment to be effective until the next general meeting of the stockholders. The number of persons constituting the whole Board of Directors shall not be less than five nor more than twenty-four as fixed and elected by
the general meeting of stockholders. The number of persons constituting the whole Board of Directors shall, until changed at any succeeding general meeting of stockholders, be the number so fixed and elected. Directors may be
removedsuspended or dismissed at any general meeting of stockholders. A suspension automatically terminates if the person concerned has not been dismissed within 2 months after the day of suspension. At
any general meeting of stockholders at which action is taken to increase the number of the whole Board of Directors or to removesuspend or dismiss a director, or at any subsequent general meeting, the stockholders may
fill any vacancy or vacancies created by such action. Each director shall be elected to serve until the next annual general meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified or until his or her death, resignation
or removal. Directors need not be Netherlands citizens or residents of the Netherlands Antilles or stockholders of the Company.
SECTION 2.3 Meetings of the Board
The directors may hold their meetings in or outside the Netherlands Antilles. Meetings may be held through telephone conference, video conference or other real time communication allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other or through any other device permitted by then applicable law, and participation in a meeting through any such lawful device or arrangement shall constitute presence at such meetings. The Chairman or, in the absence or disability
of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman shall preside at their meetings. In the absence or disability of both the Chairman and the Vice Chairman, such meetings shall be presided over by such person as may be chosen by the Board of Directors. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times as may from time to time be fixed by the Board. Notice need not be given of regular meetings of the Board held at the time fixed by the Board. Special meetings may be held at any time upon the call of the Chairman or the Vice Chairman or of two directors by oral, electronic or written notice duly served on, sent or mailed to each director not less than three days before such meeting. The first meeting of the Board of Directors following the annual general meeting of stockholders, whether a regular or special meeting of the Board, shall be an organization meeting for the election of officers of the Company and at which any other matters may also be acted upon by the Board. Meetings may be held at any time without notice if all the directors are present or if those not present and who are entitled to notice under the provisions of this Section waive notice of the meeting in writing before or after the meeting. Matters to be acted upon by the Board at any regular or special meeting need not be specified in the notice thereof.
SECTION 2.4 Action by Directors Without Meeting
When action by the Board of Directors is required or permitted to be taken,
action at a meeting may be dispensed with if all commercially reasonable efforts have been taken to notify all the directors and if three fourths of the directors shall consent in writing, by telegram, cable, telex,
telefax, electronic mail or other communication device to such action taken or being taken, and provided that all directors are promptly notified of such action taken or having been taken.
SECTION 2.5 Quorum
A majority of the whole Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the
conduct of any business, and the action of the majority of the directors present in person or by proxy, as hereinafter provided, at a meeting at which a quorum is so present shall constitute the action of the Board of Directors. Directors may
in writing, by telegram, cable, telex, telefax, electronic mail or other communication device, appoint a proxy to act at any meeting of the Board of Directors, such proxy to be restricted, however, to the
particular meeting specified therein. Such proxy must be another director of the Company, provided, however, that at any meeting of the Board of Directors a director may not act as proxy for more than one director.
SECTION 2.6 Vacancies
In the event that one or more of the directors is prevented from or is incapable of acting as a director, the remaining directors (or the remaining director, if there should be only one) may appoint one or more persons to fill the vacancy or vacancies thereby created on the Board of Directors until the next general meeting of stockholders, provided that, if at any time the number of directors then in office shall
be reduced to less than a majority of the number constituting the whole Board of Directors, the remaining directors or director shall forthwith call a
general meeting of stockholders for the purpose of filling the vacancies inon the Board of Directors, and, provided further that in the event that all of the directors are prevented from or are incapable of acting as
directors, the Company shall be temporarily managed by any person or persons previously appointed by the Board of Directors so to act, who shall forthwith call a general meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing a Board of Directors.
Until such general meeting of stockholders is held, the person so designated shall only take such acts of management that can not suffer any delay. If no such general meeting of stockholders shall be called and if no such person shall
have been appointed, any person or persons holding, in the aggregate, at least five percent of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company may call a general meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing a Board of
Directors.
SECTION 2.7 Committees
(a) Committees consisting of one or more members of the Board may be established by the
Board and shall have such general or limited powers or duties as the Board shall deem appropriate. A majority of any such committee composed of two or more members may determine its action at meetings and fix the time and place of its meetings,
unless the Board shall otherwise provide. Meetings may be held through telephone conference, video conference or other real time communication allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other or through any other device permitted
by then applicable law, and participation in a meeting through any such lawful device or arrangement shall constitute presence at such meetings. When action by any committee is required or permitted to be taken, action at a meeting may be dispensed
with if all members of the committee consent to such action. Members of a committee may, in writing or by telegram, cable, telex, telefax, electronic mail or other communication device, appoint a proxy to act at any meeting of the
committee, such proxy to be restricted, however, to the particular meeting specified therein. Such proxy must be a director of the Company, provided, however, that at any committee meeting a director may not act as proxy for more than one committee
member.
(b) The Board shall have power at any time to change the members of any committee, to fill vacancies thereon, and to discharge any committee.
(c)
The Board of Directors shall have a standing Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Finance Committee and, Nominating and Governance Committee and Technology Committee.
(d) The Board of Directors shall adopt a charter for each committee for regulating the conduct of its affairs. Such charters must be consistent with these By-Laws and the Articles of Incorporation.
SECTION 2.8 Certain Claims Involving Directors
If the Board of Directors receives a written demand by a stockholder requesting the Board of Directors to bring a legal claim on behalf of the Company against one or more directors of the Company for breach of a directors duty to the Company under applicable law, and if the demand gives notice to the Board of Directors, of evidence of the facts necessary to support each of the claims made therein, the Board of Directors shall conduct a review and evaluation of the demand to determine whether the bringing of a legal claim as requested in the demand would be in the best interests of the Company. The following procedural standards shall apply to the review and evaluation of the demand and determination of best interest by the Board of Directors:
(1) | No director interested in one or more of the claims of breach of duty shall participate other than as described in clause (3) below, and if any of the directors interested in a claim is an officer of the Company, no director who is an officer of the Company shall participate other than as described in clause (3). |
(2) | The directors conducting the review and evaluation and making the determination shall be assisted by independent counsel of their choice, and such other independent agents, as they consider necessary. |
(3) | Any director interested in a claim shall have an adequate opportunity to present evidence and be heard by the directors making the review, evaluation and determination. |
ARTICLE Ill
OFFICERS
SECTION 3.1 Election and Term of Office
The officers of the Company shall be elected or appointed by the Board of Directors and shall be a Chairman, a Chief Executive Officer, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Board of Directors from time to time may also elect or appoint a Chief Financial Officer, a President, a Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, one or more Executive Vice Presidents, one or more Vice Presidents and any such other officers, including assistant officers and agents, as the Board may deem advisable. Officers of the Company shall have such powers and duties as are specified in these By-Laws and such further powers and duties as are determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. Officers other than the Chairman and the Vice Chairman may but need not be directors. The Board of Directors may designate an officer or officers to be the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Accounting Officer of the Company. Two or more offices may be held by the same person, provided, however, that no officer shall execute, acknowledge or verify any instrument in more than one capacity if such instrument is required by law or by these By-Laws to be executed,
acknowledged or verified by any two or more officers. The Board of Directors may grant general or specific authority to additional agents or to committees, giving such agents or committees such general or limited powers or duties as it may deem appropriate. All officers and agents shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and may be removed at any time by the Board, which shall have power to fill any vacancy which shall occur in any office by reason of death, resignation, removal or otherwise. Unless so removed, the terms of office of all officers and of all members of any committees of the Board shall continue until the election of their successors or until the elimination of such offices or committees.
SECTION 3.2 Chairman
The Chairman shall preside at all
meetings of the Board, and shall exercise such other powers and discharge such other responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board of Directors. The Chairman shall have the power to sign certificates of stock of the Company.
SECTION 3.3 Vice Chairman
The Board of Directors may, from time to time, designate a director of the Company to be Vice Chairman. The Vice Chairman shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the Chairman or by the Board of Directors, and shall, in the absence or disability of the Chairman, act for the Chairman.
SECTION 3.4 Chief Executive Officer
The Board of Directors shall at least annually elect or appoint a Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general executive powers and overall responsibility for the management of the business of the Company.
SECTION 3.5 President
The Board of Directors may, from time to time, designate an officer to the Company to be the President of the Company. The President shall exercise such
powers and discharge such responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board of Directors, and shall have the power to sign certificates of stock of the Company.
SECTION 3.6 Chief Operating Officer
The Board of Directors may, from time to time, designate an officer of the Company to be the Chief Operating Officer of the Company. The Chief Operating Officer shall have general executive powers and responsibility for the management of the operations of the Company.
SECTION 3.7 Chief Financial Officer
The Board of Directors shall at least annually elect or appoint a Chief Financial Officer of the Company. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the responsibility for formulating and managing the financial and fiscal, policies and procedures of the Company. The Chief Financial Officer shall generally perform all of the duties usually appertaining to the officer of chief financial officer of a company.
SECTION 3.8 Vice Presidents
The several Vice Presidents shall do and perform all such duties and services as shall be assigned to or required of them, from time to time, by the Board of Directors, the Chairman, the Vice Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer.
SECTION 3.8 3.9 Secretary
The Secretary shall attend to the giving of notice of all meetings of stockholders and of the Board of Directors and shall keep and attest true records of all proceedings thereat. The Secretary shall have charge of the corporate seal and have authority to attest any and all instruments or writings to which the same may be affixed. The Secretary shall have care and custody of documents, papers and records of the Company, shall have the power to sign stock certificates, and shall supervise the keeping of a record of the stockholders of the Company. The Secretary shall generally perform all of the duties usually appertaining to the office of the secretary of a company. In the absence of the Secretary, or if the office is vacant, an Assistant Secretary shall perform the duties of the Secretary, unless otherwise decided by the Board of Directors.
SECTION
3.9 3.10 Treasurer
The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of all monies, funds and securities of the Company and shall deposit or cause to be deposited all funds of the Company in and with such depositories as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time. The Treasurer shall have the power to sign stock certificates, to endorse for deposit or collection or otherwise all checks, drafts, notes, bills of exchange or other commercial paper payable to the Company and to give proper receipts or discharges therefor, and shall generally perform all of the duties usually appertaining to the office of the treasurer of a company. In the absence of the Treasurer, or if the office is vacant, an Assistant Treasurer shall perform the duties of the Treasurer, unless otherwise decided by the Board of Directors.
SECTION
3.10 Controller
The Controller shall be in charge of the books of account and accounting records of the Company and of its accounting procedures. The Controller shall render an account of the funds of the Company whenever
required so to do by the Board of
Directors, the Chairman, the Vice Chairman, or the President, and shall generally perform all of the duties
usually appertaining to the office of controller of a company. In the absence of the Controller, or if the office is vacant, an Assistant Controller shall perform the duties of the Controller, unless otherwise decided by the Board of
Directors.
SECTION 3.11 Salaries
The salaries of the officers shall be fixed from time to time by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors or, in absence thereof, by the Board of Directors. No officer shall be prevented from receiving such salary by reason of the fact that he or she is also a director of the Company.
SECTION 3.12 Checks. Notes. etc.
All checks, drafts, notes, bills of exchange, acceptances and other instruments for the payment of money shall be signed by such officer or officers, person or persons, as may from time to time be thereunto authorized by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IV
SHARES OF STOCK
SECTION 4.1 Registrar and Stock Certificates
Every stockholder shall be entitled to a certificate representing the stockholders shares. A Register shall be kept by the Board of Directors or by a Registrar
designated thereto by the Board of Directors. Each entry shall mention the name and residenceaddress of the stockholder, and the quantitynumber of shares held and
the numbers of the share certificates and such other information required to be included under Article 2:109 of the Civil Code of the Netherlands Antilles. The Register shall not be open for inspection by third
parties or stockholders with respect to shares other than those registered in their name, except with respect to shares that have not been paid in full and except further, with respect to the Registrar, if said Registrar has been requested, or if
demand of said Registrar has been made, to disclose any piece of information in the Register and failure to disclose such information would lead to liability of the Registrar. Every transfer and devolution of a share shall be entered in the Register
and every such entry shall be signed or otherwise acknowledged by or on behalf of the Board of Directors or by the Registrar. Each certificate shall be signed by the Chairman or the Vice Chairman or the President or any Vice President and by the
Secretary, Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer, and bear the corporate seal or a facsimile thereof, certifying the number of shares owned by the stockholder in the Company; provided that, where such certificate is countersigned by a
Registrar other than the Company, the signatures of the officers of the Company and the Registrar on such certificate may be a facsimile,
engraved, stamped or printed. In case any officer or officers or Registrar who shall have signed or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been used on any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers or Registrar, whether because of death, resignation or otherwise before such certificate or certificates shall have been delivered by the Company, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates, or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been used thereon, had not ceased to be such officer or officers or Registrar.
SECTION 4.2 Lost Certificates
In case any certificate of stock shall be lost, stolen or destroyed, the Board of Directors or the Registrar, in its discretion, may authorize the issue of a substitute certificate in place of the certificate of stock so lost, stolen or destroyed, and may cause such substitute certificate to be countersigned and registered by the appropriate Registrar; provided that, in each such case, the applicant for a substitute certificate shall furnish to the Company and to such of its Registrars as may require the same, evidence, satisfactory to them, of the loss, theft or destruction of such certificate and of the ownership thereof and also such security or indemnity as may by them be required.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 5.1 Indemnification in Actions by Third Party
TheTo the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall have the
power to indemnify any personcurrent or former, director or officer 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 an action by or in the right of the Company) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, or officer, employee or agent 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 or entity, against expenses (including attorneys fees),
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that such persons conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment,
order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the Company, and, with
respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such persons conduct was unlawful. The Company shall indemnify any
present or former officer or director of the Company to the fullest extent allowed by the preceding provisions of this Section 5.1 in the event of a Change of Control. Change inof Control means
a change in control of the Company which shall be deemed to have occurred if at any time (i) any entity, person or organization is or becomes the legal or beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 30% or
more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding shares without the prior approval of at least two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such entity, person or organization attaining
such percentage interest; (ii) the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, share exchange, sale of assets or other reorganization, or a proxy contest, as a consequence of which members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to
such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board of Directors thereafter; or (iii) during any 15-month period, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors (including for this purpose any
new director whose election or nomination for election by the Companys stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of such period) cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 5.2 Indemnification In Actions by or in the Right of the Company
TheTo the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall have the power to indemnify any person current or former, director or
officer 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 Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent 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 or entity against
expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in
a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been finally adjudged
to be liable to the Company for improper conduct unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought or any other court having appropriate jurisdiction shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication
of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement which the court in which the action or suit was brought or
such other court having appropriate jurisdiction shall deem proper. The Company shall indemnify any present or former officer or director of the Company to the fullest extent allowed by the preceding provisions of this Section 5.2 in the event of a
Change inof Control, as defined in Section 5.1.
SECTION 5.3 Indemnification against ExpensesSECTION 5.3 Extension of
Indemnification to Employees and Agents of the Company
To the
extent that a present or former director or officer of the Company has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 5.1 and 5.2, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein,
such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
SECTION 5.4 Determination of Indemnification
Any indemnification under Sections 5.1 and 5.2 (unless ordered by a court) shall be
made bymay be extended to current or former employees or agents of the Company only as authorized by the Chief Executive Officer or by contract approved or, or by-laws, resolution or other
action adopted or taken, by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders or as required by the last sentences of Sections 5.1 and 5.2..
SECTION 5.5SECTION 5.4 Advance of Reimbursement of Expenses and Undertaking
Expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by a present or former director or a present officer in defending any civil or criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit 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 such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized by Article V of these By-Laws. Such expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by former officers or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Company deems appropriate.
SECTION 5.6 5.5 Non-Exclusivity of By-Laws
The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to the other Sections of this Article shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any law, by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise both as to action in such persons official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
SECTION 5.7 5.6 Insurance for Indemnification
The Company shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent 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 or entity against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of Article V of these By-Laws.
SECTION 5.8 5.7 Definition of the Company
For purposes of this Article V, reference to the Company shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or entity, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article V with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have had with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
SECTION 5.9 5.8 Other Definitions
For purposes of this Article V, references to other enterprises shall include employee benefit plans; references to fines shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and references to serving at the request of the Company shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner not opposed to the best interests of the Company as referred to in this Article V.
SECTION 5.9 Good Faith Reliance
A member of the Board of Directors, or a member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, shall, in the performance of such members duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Company and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Company by any of the Companys officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other person as to matters the member reasonably believes are within such other persons professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 6.1 Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar year.
SECTION 6.2 Corporate Seal
The Company shall have a corporate seal which shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Company, the words, Netherlands Antilles, and the year of its organization.
SECTION 6.3 Amendments
These By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors, except, however, that no provision of these By-Laws which is included in, or the substance of which is expressed in, the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation shall be so altered, amended or repealed as to be inconsistent with the Articles of Incorporation. The amendment of these By-Laws to eliminate any provisions hereof the substance of which is also contained in the Articles of Incorporation shall not be deemed to render these By-Laws inconsistent with the Articles of Incorporation or to affect in any way the corresponding provisions of the Articles of Incorporation.
Exhibit 10.1
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Indemnification Agreement, including the glossary attached as Schedule A, (the Agreement) is entered into effective as of , 20 , by and between Schlumberger Limited, a Netherlands Antilles corporation (the Company), and (the Director). The Company and Director hereby agree as follows:
1. Agreement to Serve.
Director agrees to serve or continue to serve, as the case may be, as a member of the Board of Directors for so long as Director is duly elected and qualified or until such time as Director resigns such membership.
2. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification of Expenses. The Company shall indemnify Director against any and all Expenses to the fullest extent permitted by law if Director was, is, becomes or is threatened to be made a party to or witness or other participant in a Claim by reason of (or arising in part out of) an Indemnifiable Event irrespective of whether Director has ceased to be a director of the Company. If any change after the date of this Agreement to any applicable law expands the right of the Company to indemnify Director, it is the intent of the parties that Director shall enjoy the greater benefits afforded by such change. If any change in any applicable law narrows the right of the Company to indemnify Director, to the extent not otherwise required by such law, such change shall have no effect on this Agreement or the parties rights and obligations hereunder.
(b) Procedure for Indemnification. The Company agrees that within 30 days of the receipt of a notice from Director (the Notice Effective Date) seeking indemnification hereunder, the Company shall appoint a Reviewing Party to review the request for indemnification. Reviewing Party shall mean any appropriate person or body consisting of a member or members of the Companys Board of Directors or any other person or body appointed by the Board of Directors who is not a party to the particular Claim for which Director is seeking indemnification, or Independent Legal Counsel. The Reviewing Party shall be selected by the Board of Directors unless there has been a Change in Control since the effective date of this Agreement, in which case the Reviewing Party shall be Independent Legal Counsel.
The Reviewing Party shall review the Claim for which Director is seeking indemnification and shall make a determination in writing within 30 days of the Notice Effective Date. Director shall be entitled to indemnification hereunder unless the Reviewing Party shall have determined that Director is not permitted to indemnification under applicable law. If, after such 30 days have passed, there has been no determination by the Reviewing Party or if the Reviewing Party determines that Director is not permitted to be indemnified in whole or in part, Director shall have the right to commence litigation, in any court selected by the Director, seeking an initial
determination by a court or challenging any such determination by the Reviewing Party or any aspect thereof, and the Company hereby consents to service of process and to appear in any such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any determination by the Reviewing Party shall not bind the court or create any presumptions respecting Directors beliefs or Directors standard of conduct. Any determination by the Reviewing Party shall otherwise be conclusive and binding on the Company.
3. Indemnification Procedures and Conditions.
(a) Advancement of Expenses. The Company shall pay to Director all Expenses incurred by Director in advance of the final disposition of the Claim (an Expense Advance). All Expense Advances to be made pursuant to this Agreement shall be paid by the Company to Director as soon as practicable and no later than 30 days after written demand by Director for payment is given to the Company.
(b) Conditions. The obligations of the Company to pay Expenses and make Expense Advances are subject to the conditions that:
(i) if the review under Section 2(b) results in a determination that Director is not permitted to be indemnified by the Company under applicable law, Director shall reimburse the Company for all Expense Advances the Company made to Director; the Directors obligation to reimburse the Company for any Expense Advance shall be unsecured and interest free; and
(ii) Director gives the Company (1) notice in writing as soon as practicable of any Claim made against Director for which indemnification shall or could be sought under this Agreement, and (2) such information and cooperation as the Company may reasonably require and which is in Directors power to give.
(c) No Presumptions. For the purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any Claim 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 Director 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.
(d) Burden of Proof. In connection with any determination by the Reviewing Party or otherwise as to whether the Director is entitled to be indemnified hereunder, the burden of proof shall be on the Company to establish that Director is not so entitled.
(e) Selection of Counsel. In the event the Company shall be obligated hereunder to pay the Expenses of any Claim, the Company, if appropriate, shall be entitled to assume the defense of such Claim, with counsel approved by Director, upon written notice to Director. Thereafter, the Company shall not be liable to Director under this Agreement for any subsequent fees of separate counsel unless (i) Director reasonably concludes that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and Director in the conduct of any such defense, or (ii) the Company ceases to retain counsel to defend such Claim.
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4. Non-exclusivity. The indemnification provided by this Agreement shall be in addition to any rights to which Director may be otherwise entitled.
5. No Duplication of Payments. The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to indemnify Director to the extent Director has actually received payment (under any insurance policy, certificate of incorporation, by-law or otherwise) of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder.
6. Partial Indemnification. If Director is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of Expenses incurred in connection with any Claim, but not, however, for all of the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Director for the portion of such Expenses to which Director is entitled.
7. Liability Insurance. From the effective date of this Agreement, the Company, at its sole expense, shall maintain in force, for the benefit of Director in common with all other directors and officers of the Company, directors and officers liability insurance with an aggregate policy limit of such amount as is reasonable with regard to the potential liability faced by the directors and officers of the Company and in light of prevailing insurance conditions. Director shall be covered by such policies in such a manner as to provide Director the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the Companys directors.
8. Exceptions. Any other provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement:
(a) to indemnify or advance Expenses to Director with respect to Claims initiated or brought voluntarily by Director and not by way of defense, except:
(i) with respect to actions or proceedings brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification under this Agreement or otherwise relating to Claims for Indemnifiable Events,
(ii) in specific cases if the Board of Directors has approved the initiation or bringing of such Claim, or
(iii) as otherwise as required under applicable law, regardless of whether Director ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, Expense Advance or insurance recovery, as the case may be;
(b) to indemnify Director for any expenses incurred by the Director with respect to any proceeding instituted by Director to enforce or interpret this Agreement, if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that each of the material assertions made by the Director in such proceeding was not made in good faith or was frivolous; and
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(c) to indemnify Director for expenses and the payment of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Director of securities in violation of Section 16 of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any similar successor statute, rules or regulations.
9. 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 Director, Directors estate, 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.
10. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original.
11. Binding Effect; Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, 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, estate, spouse, heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. The Company shall cause any successor, whether direct or indirect, to expressly assume the obligations of the Company hereunder. This Agreement shall continue in effect regardless of whether Director continues to serve as a director of the Company or of any other enterprise at the Companys request.
12. Notice. If either the Director or the Company receives any notice of the commencement of a Claim naming or involving Director and relating to an Indemnifiable Event, the party receiving the notice shall notify the other party promptly of such receipt. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (i) if delivered by hand, on the date of such receipt, (ii) if mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date postmarked or (iii) if delivered by facsimile transmission, on the date of such receipt when received prior to 5:00 p.m. local time, otherwise on the date following such receipt. Addresses for notice to either party are as shown on the signature page of this Agreement, or as subsequently modified by written notice.
13. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable in the event that any of the provisions hereof (including any provision within a single section, paragraph or sentence) are held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable. The remaining provisions shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law and, to the fullest extent possible, shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
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14. Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and its provisions construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the Netherlands Antilles, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.
15. Subrogation. In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Director, who shall execute all documents required and shall do all acts that may be necessary to secure such rights and to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.
16. Amendment and Waiver. No amendment, modification, termination or cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing signed by both 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.
17. Integration and Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes and merges all previous written and oral negotiations, commitments, understandings and agreements relating to the subject matter hereof between the parties hereto.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED: | SCHLUMBERGER LIMITED | |||||
By: |
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By: |
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Name: |
Name: |
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Title: |
Title: |
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Address: |
Address: |
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Fax: |
Fax: |
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Schedule A
Glossary
For the purposes of this Agreement, the following terms will have the definitions assigned below:
(a) Board of Directors means the board of directors of the Company.
(b) a Change of Control means a change in control of the Company which shall be deemed to have occurred if at any time (i) any entity, person or organization is or becomes the legal or beneficial owner, directly or indirectly of securities of the Company representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding shares without the prior approval of at least two thirds of the members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such entity, person or organization attaining such percentage interest; (ii) the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, share exchange, sale of assets or other reorganization, or a proxy contest, as a consequence of which members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board of Directors in office thereafter; or (iii) during any 15-month period, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors (including for this purpose any new director whose election or nomination for election by the Companys shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of such period) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors.
(c) Claim means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, proceeding, arbitration, or alternative dispute resolution mechanism, or any hearing, inquiry or investigation that Director in good faith believes might lead to the institution of any action, suit, proceeding, arbitration or alternative dispute resolution mechanism, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or otherwise.
(d) Expenses means:
(i) any and all expenses, including attorneys fees and all other costs, expenses and obligations incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be a witness in or participate in, any action, suit, proceeding, arbitration, alternative dispute resolution mechanism, hearing, inquiry or investigation;
(ii) any and all judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (if such settlement is approved in advance by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) of any Claim, including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect thereof, including excise taxes assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan; and
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(iii) any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on the Director as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement.
(e) Indemnifiable Event means any event or occurrence related to the fact that Director is or was a director, officer, partner, employee, trustee, agent or fiduciary of the Company, or any subsidiary of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, partner, employee, trustee, agent or fiduciary of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary while serving in such capacity, or by reason of any action or inaction on the part of Director in such capacity.
(f) Independent Legal Counsel means an attorney or firm of attorneys, av or better rated by Martindale-Hubbell, having no previous employment, attorney-client or other relationship with the Company or Director selected by Director and consented to in writing by the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. In the event that the parties can not agree on the selection of the Independent Legal Counsel, such counsel shall be drawn by lot from a selection of at least four law firms having more than fifty attorneys and an av or better rating by Martindale-Hubbell, two of which firms shall be chosen by the Company and two of which shall be chosen by Director. The drawing shall be done in the presence of both parties or their legal counsel, as each party may elect.
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