SCOLR PHARMA, INC. DIRECTOR INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
Exhibit
10.1
THIS AGREEMENT is made as of May 26,
2009, by and between SCOLR
Pharma, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), and
________________ ("Director"), a member of the
Corporation's Board of Directors (the “Board”).
WHEREAS, it is essential to the
Corporation to retain and attract directors who have significant experience in
business, corporate and financial matters; and
WHEREAS, the Director possesses the
knowledge and experience desired by the Corporation and the Corporation desires
the Director to serve as a director of the Corporation; and
WHEREAS, the Certificate of
Incorporation and the Bylaws of the Corporation require indemnification of the
directors of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware
General Corporation Law (the "DGCL"), and the DGCL expressly
provides that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not
exclusive; and
WHEREAS, the Corporation and the
Director desire to enter into a contract that sets forth their respective rights
and obligations with regard to claims for loss, liability, expense or damage
which, directly or indirectly, may arise out of or relate to service as a member
of the Board;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the
premises and the covenants contained herein and Director's agreement to continue
to serve the Corporation after the date hereof, the sufficiency of which is
hereby acknowledged, the Corporation and Director do hereby covenant and agree
as follows:
1.
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Agreement to
Serve. The Director shall serve as a director of
the Corporation for so long as the Director is duly elected or until the
Director tenders a resignation in writing. This Agreement creates no
obligation on either party to continue the service of the Director for a
particular term or any term.
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2.
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Definitions. As
used in this Agreement:
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(a)
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The
term "Proceeding"
shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Corporation or otherwise,
and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative nature,
whether formal or informal, in which the Director may be or may have been
involved as a party, witness or otherwise, by reason of the fact that the
Director is or was a director of the Corporation, or is or was serving at
the request of the Corporation (or is deemed to be serving or have served)
as a director, officer, partner, trustee, manager, employee or agent of
another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, whether or not serving in such
capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred
for
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which
exculpation, indemnification or reimbursement can be provided under this
Agreement. The term "Proceeding" shall also
include a situation that the Director in good faith believes may lead to
the institution of an action, suit or
proceeding.
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(b)
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The
term "Expenses"
shall mean any expense, liability or loss, including attorneys' fees,
judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, amounts paid or to be
paid in settlement, any interest, assessments or other charges imposed
thereon, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed as a result of
the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, and
shall include, without limitation thereto, expenses of investigations,
judicial or administrative proceedings or appeals, attorney, accountant
and other professional fees and disbursements and any expenses of
establishing a right to indemnification under Section 12 of this
Agreement, but shall not include amounts paid in settlement by the
Director or the amount of judgments or fines against the
Director.
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(c)
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References
to "other
enterprise" include, without limitation, employee benefit plans;
references to "fines" include, without
limitation, any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any
employee benefit plan; references to "serving at the request of the
Corporation" include, without limitation, any service as a
director, officer, partner, trustee, manager, employee or agent which
imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer,
partner, trustee, manager, employee or agent with respect to an employee
benefit plan, its participants, or its 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 Corporation" as referred to in this
Agreement.
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(d)
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References
to "the
Corporation" shall include, in addition to the resulting entity,
any constituent corporation or other entity (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, partners, trustees, managers, employees
or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, partner,
trustee, manager, employee or agent of such constituent entity, or is or
was serving at the request of such constituent entity as a director,
officer, partner, trustee, manager, employee or agent of another
corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust
or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this Agreement
with respect to the resulting or surviving entity as such person would
have with respect to such constituent entity if its separate
existence had continued.
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(e)
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For
purposes of this Agreement, the meaning of the phrase "to the fullest extent permitted
by law" shall include, but not be limited
to:
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(i)
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to
the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or
replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that
increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify or exculpate its
directors; and
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(ii)
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to
the fullest extent permitted by any provision of the DGCL that authorizes
or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the
corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the
DGCL.
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(f)
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A
"Change in
Control" shall be deemed to occur upon the earlier the earliest to
occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following
events:
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(i)
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Acquisition of Stock by Third
Party. Any Person (as defined below) is or becomes
the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the
Corporation representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined
voting power of the Corporation's then outstanding securities entitled to
vote generally in the election of directors, unless (a) the change in the
relative Beneficial Ownership of the Corporation's securities by any
Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of
outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors, or (b) such acquisition was approved in advance
by the Continuing Directors (as defined below) and such acquisition would
not constitute a Change in Control under part (iii) of this
definition;
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(ii)
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Change in Board of
Directors. Individuals who, as of the date hereof,
constitute the Board, and any new director whose election by the Board or
nomination for election by the Corporation's stockholders was approved by
a vote of at least two thirds of the Directors then still in office who
were Directors on the date hereof or whose election for nomination for
election was previously so approved (collectively, the "Continuing Directors"),
cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of
the Board;
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(iii)
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Corporation
Transactions. The effective date of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation of the Corporation (a "Business Combination"),
in each case, unless, immediately following such Business Combination: (a)
all or substantially all of the Persons who were the Beneficial Owners of
securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors
immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly
or indirectly, more than 51% of the combined voting power of the then
outstanding securities of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in
the election of Directors resulting from such Business Combination
(including, without limitation, a corporation which was a result of such
transaction owns the Corporation or all or substantially all of the
Corporation's assets either directly or through one or more Subsidiaries)
in
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substantially
the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such
Business Combination, of the securities entitled to vote generally in the
election of Directors; (b) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting
from such Business Combination) is the Beneficial Owner, directly or
indirectly, of 15% or more of the combined voting power of the then
outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of
Directors of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership
existed prior to such Business Combination; and (c) at least a majority of
the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business
Combination were Continuing Directors at the time of the execution of the
initial agreement, or of the action of the board of directors, providing
for such Business Combination;
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(iv)
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Liquidation. The
approval by the stockholders of the Corporation of a complete liquidation
of the Corporation or an agreement or series of agreements for the sale or
disposition by the Corporation of all or substantially all of the
Corporation's assets, other than factoring the Corporation's current
receivables or escrows due (or, if such approval is not required, the
decision by the Board to proceed with such a liquidation, sale, or
disposition in one transaction or a series of related transactions);
or
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(v)
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Other
Events. There occurs any other event of a nature
that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule
14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar
schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act, whether or not the
Corporation is then subject to such reporting
requirement.
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(g)
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Beneficial Owner; Beneficial
Ownership. The terms "Beneficial Owner" and
"Beneficial
Ownership" shall have the meanings set forth in Rule 13d-3
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, as in effect on the date hereof (the "Exchange
Act") .
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(h)
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The
term "Person"
shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the
Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof; provided, however, that
"Person" shall exclude: (a) the Corporation; (b) any subsidiary of the
Corporation; (c) any employment benefit plan of the Corporation or of a
subsidiary of the Corporation or of any corporation owned, directly or
indirectly, by the stockholders of the Corporation in substantially the
same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Corporation; and (d)
any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee
benefit plan of the Corporation or of a subsidiary of the Corporation or
of a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the
Corporation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of
stock of the Corporation.
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3.
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Limitation
of Liability.
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(a)
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To
the fullest extent permitted by law, the Director shall have no monetary
liability of any kind or nature whatsoever in respect of the Director's
errors or omissions (or alleged errors or omissions) in serving the
Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, their respective shareholders or
any other enterprise at the request of the Corporation, so long as such
errors or omissions (or alleged errors or omissions), if any, are not
shown by clear and convincing evidence to have
involved:
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(i)
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any
breach of the Director's duty of loyalty to such entities, shareholders or
enterprises;
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(ii)
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any
act or omission not in good faith or which involved intentional misconduct
or a knowing violation of law;
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(iii)
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any
transaction from which the Director derived an improper personal benefit;
or
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(iv)
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profits
made from the purchase and sale by the Director of securities of the
Corporation within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, or similar provision of any state statutory law
or common law.
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(b)
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Without
limiting the generality of subparagraph (a) above and to the fullest
extent permitted by law, the Director shall have no personal liability to
the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, their respective shareholders
or any other person claiming derivatively through the Corporation,
regardless of the theory or principle under which such liability may be
asserted, for:
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(i)
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punitive,
exemplary or consequential damages;
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(ii)
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treble
or other damages computed based upon any multiple of damages actually and
directly proved to have been
sustained;
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(iii)
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fees
of attorneys, accountants, expert witnesses or professional consultants;
or
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(iv)
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civil
fines or penalties of any kind or nature
whatsoever.
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4.
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Indemnity in Third Party
Proceedings. The Corporation shall indemnify the
Director in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if the
Director was or is a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, any
Proceeding (other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation
to procure a judgment in its favor), against all Expenses, judgments,
fines and amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably incurred by
the by the Director in connection with such Proceeding if the Director
acted in good faith and
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in
a manner the Director reasonably believed was in or not opposed to the
best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal
action or proceeding, the Director, in addition, had no reasonable cause
to believe that the Director's conduct was
unlawful.
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The
Director shall not be entitled to indemnification under this Section 4 in
connection with any Proceeding charging improper personal benefit to the
Director in which the Director is finally adjudged liable without further
rights of appeal on the basis that personal benefit was improperly
received by the Director unless and only to the extent that the court
conducting such Proceeding, or any other court of competent jurisdiction,
determines upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability,
the Director is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view
of all the relevant circumstances.
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5.
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Indemnity in Proceedings by or
in the Right of the Corporation. The Corporation
shall indemnify the Director in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 5 if the Director was or is a party to, or is threatened to be
made a party to, any Proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation to
procure a judgment in its favor, against all Expenses actually and
reasonably incurred by the Director in connection with the defense or
settlement of such Proceeding if the Director acted in good faith and in a
manner the Director reasonably believed was in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Corporation. The Director shall not be entitled to
indemnification under this Section 5 in connection with any Proceeding in
which the Director has been finally adjudged liable without further rights
of appeal to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the court
conducting such Proceeding, or any other court of competent jurisdiction,
determines upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability,
the Director is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view
of all the relevant circumstances.
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6.
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Indemnification of Expenses of
Successful Party. Notwithstanding any other
provisions of this Agreement other than Section 8, to the extent that the
Director has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in defense of
any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein,
including the dismissal of an action without prejudice, the Corporation
shall indemnify the Director against all Expenses actually and reasonably
incurred in connection therewith. If any Proceeding is disposed
of on the merits or otherwise (including a disposition without prejudice),
without (i) the disposition being adverse to the Director, (ii) an
adjudication that the Director was liable to the Corporation, (iii) a plea
of guilty by the Director, (iv) an adjudication that the Director did not
act in good faith, and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and (v) with respect to
any criminal proceeding, an adjudication that the Director had reasonable
cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, the Director shall be
considered for the purposes hereof to have been successful with respect
thereto.
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7.
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Additional
Indemnification. Notwithstanding any limitation in
Sections 4, 5 or 6, the Corporation shall indemnify the Director to the
fullest extent permitted by law with respect to any Proceeding (including
a Proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment
in its favor), against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement, actually and reasonably incurred by the Director in connection
with such
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Proceeding.
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8.
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Exclusions. Notwithstanding
any provision in this Agreement, the Corporation shall not be obligated
under this Agreement to make any indemnification in connection with any
claim made against the Director:
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(a)
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for
which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of the Director under
any insurance policy, except with respect to any excess amount to which
the Director is entitled under this Agreement beyond the amount of payment
under such insurance policy;
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(b)
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if
a court having jurisdiction in the matter finally determines that such
indemnification is not lawful under any applicable statute or public
policy;
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(c)
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in
connection with any Proceeding (or part of any Proceeding) initiated by
the Director, or any Proceeding by the Director against the Corporation or
its directors, officers, employees or other persons entitled to be
indemnified by the Corporation,
unless:
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(i)
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the
Corporation is expressly required by law to make the
indemnification;
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(ii)
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the
Proceeding was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation;
or
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(iii)
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the
Director initiated the Proceeding pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement
and the Director is successful in whole or in part in such Proceeding;
or
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(d)
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on
account of any Proceeding with respect to which final judgment without
further right of appeal is rendered against the Director for payment or an
accounting of profits made from the purchase or sale by the Director of
securities of the Corporation within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or similar provision of any
state statutory law or common law.
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9.
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Advances of
Expenses. The Corporation shall pay the Expenses
incurred by the Director in any Proceeding (other than a Proceeding
brought for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale by
the Director of securities of the Corporation within the meaning of
Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or
similar provision of any state statutory law or common law) in advance of
the final disposition of the Proceeding at the written request of the
Director, if the Director:
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(a)
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furnishes
the Corporation a written affirmation of the Director's good faith belief
that the Director is entitled to be indemnified under this Agreement;
and
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(b)
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furnishes
the Corporation a written undertaking in the form attached hereto
as
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(b)
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Exhibit A. Such
undertaking shall be an unlimited general obligation of the Director but
need not be secured.
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Advances
pursuant to this Section 9 shall be made no later than 10 days after receipt by
the Corporation of the affirmation and undertaking described in Sections 9(a)
and 9(b) above, and shall be made without regard to the Director's ability to
repay the amount advanced and without regard to the Director's ultimate
entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement. Advances shall be unsecured
and interest free. The Corporation may establish a trust, escrow
account or other secured funding source for the payment of advances made and to
be made pursuant to this Section 9 or of other liability incurred by the
Director in connection with any Proceeding.
10.
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Nonexclusivity, Effectiveness
and Continuity of Rights. The indemnification,
advancement of Expenses, and exculpation from liability provided by this
Agreement (i) shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which
the Director may be entitled under any other agreement, any certificate of
incorporation, bylaws, or vote of shareholders or directors, the DGCL, or
otherwise, both as to action in the Director's official capacity and as to
action in another capacity while holding such office or occupying such
position, (ii) shall apply without regard to whether the event giving rise
to a claim for indemnification, advancement, reimbursement or exculpation
occurred prior to or following the date of this Agreement, and (iii) shall
continue as to the Director even though the Director may have ceased to be
a director of the Corporation or a director, officer, partner, trustee,
manager, employee or agent of an enterprise related to the Corporation and
shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, administrators and
personal representatives of the
Director.
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11.
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Procedure Upon Application for
Indemnification. Any indemnification under
Sections 4, 5, 6 or 7 shall be made no later than 45 days after receipt of
the written request of the Director, and, if required by applicable law,
only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that
indemnification of the Director is proper in the circumstances because the
person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in sections
145(a) and (b) of the DGCL. Such determination shall be made, with respect
to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such
determination:
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(a)
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by
a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such Proceeding,
even though less than a quorum; or
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(b)
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by
a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such
directors, even though less than a quorum;
or
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(c)
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if
there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by
independent legal counsel in a written opinion, which counsel shall be
appointed (i) by a majority vote of the Board of Directors or its
committee in the manner prescribed by paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of
this Section 11, or (ii) if a quorum of the Board of Directors cannot be
obtained under paragraph (a) of this Section 11 or a committee cannot be
designated under paragraph (b) of this Section 11, then by
a
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majority
vote of the full Board of Directors, including directors who are parties
to the applicable Proceeding; or
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(d)
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by
the shareholders of the Corporation; provided that
following: a Change in Control,
all determinations concerning the rights of the Director to indemnity
payments and expense advances under this Agreement or any other agreement
or under applicable law or the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation
or Bylaws now or hereafter in effect relating to indemnification shall be
made by independent counsel selected by the Director and approved by the
Corporation (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed), and who has not otherwise performed services for the Corporation
or the Director (other than in connection with indemnification matters)
within the last five years. The Independent Counsel shall not include any
person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then
prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the
Corporation or Director in an action to determine Director’s rights under
this Agreement. Such counsel, among other things, shall render its written
opinion to the Corporation and Director as to whether and to what extent
the Director should be permitted to be indemnified under applicable
law.
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The
Corporation agrees to pay the reasonable fees of any independent counsel engaged
hereunder and to advance expenses for and indemnify fully such counsel against
any and all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), claims, liabilities, loss and
damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the engagement of
independent counsel pursuant hereto.
If the
person or persons so empowered to make a determination pursuant to this Section
11 shall have failed to make the requested determination within ninety (90) days
after any judgment, order, settlement, dismissal, arbitration award, conviction,
acceptance of a plea of nolo
contendre or its equivalent, or other disposition or partial disposition
of any Proceeding or any other event that could enable the Corporation to
determine the Director's entitlement to indemnification, the requisite
determination that the Director is entitled to indemnification shall be deemed
to have been made.
12.
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Enforcement. The
Director may enforce any right to indemnification, advances or exculpation
provided by this Agreement in any court of competent jurisdiction
if:
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(a)
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the
Corporation denies the claim for indemnification, advances or exculpation,
in whole or in part; or
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(b)
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the
Corporation does not dispose of such claim within the time period required
by this Agreement.
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It shall
be a defense to any such enforcement action (other than an action brought to
enforce a claim for advancement of Expenses pursuant to, and in compliance with,
Section 9 of this Agreement) that the Director is not entitled to
indemnification or
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exculpation
under this Agreement. However, except as provided in Section 13 of this
Agreement, the Corporation shall not assert any defense to an action brought to
enforce a claim for advancement of Expenses pursuant to Section 9 of this
Agreement if the Director has tendered to the Corporation the affirmation and
undertaking required thereunder. In making any determination concerning
Director's right to indemnification, there shall be a presumption that Director
has satisfied the applicable standard of conduct, and the Corporation may
overcome such presumption only by its presenting clear and convincing evidence
to the contrary. The burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that
indemnification or exculpation is not appropriate shall be on the Corporation.
Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, a
committee thereof, or independent legal counsel) to have made a determination
prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification or exculpation is
proper in the circumstances because the Director has met the applicable standard
of conduct nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board
of Directors, a committee thereof, or independent legal counsel) that
indemnification or exculpation is improper because the Director has not met such
applicable standard of conduct, shall be asserted as a defense to the action or
create a presumption that the Director is not entitled to indemnification or
exculpation under this Agreement or otherwise. The knowledge and/or actions, or
failure to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Corporation
or the Corporation itself shall not be imputed to Director for purposes of
determining any rights under this Agreement. The Director's Expenses
incurred in connection with successfully establishing the Director's right to
indemnification, advances or exculpation, in whole or in part, in any Proceeding
shall also be paid or reimbursed by the Corporation.
The
termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon
a plea of nolo
contendere, or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption
that:
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(i)
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the
Director is not entitled to indemnification under Sections 4, 5 or 7 of
this Agreement because the Director did not act in good faith and in a
manner which the Director reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal
action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the Director's
conduct was unlawful; or
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(ii)
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the
Director is not entitled to exculpation under Section 3 of this
Agreement.
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The
Corporation and Director agree that a monetary remedy for breach of this
Agreement may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult of proof, and further
agree that such breach may cause Director irreparable
harm. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that Director may enforce
this Agreement by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance hereof,
without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable harm and that by
seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance, Director shall not be
precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which he may be
entitled. The Corporation and Director further agree that Director
shall be entitled to such specific
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performance
and injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary
injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bonds or
other undertaking in connection therewith. The Corporation
acknowledges that in the absence of a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be
required of Director by the Court, and the Corporation hereby waives any such
requirement of a bond or undertaking.
13.
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Notification and Defense of
Claim. Promptly after receipt by Director of notice of
the commencement of any Proceeding, Director shall, if a claim in respect
of the Proceeding is to be made against the Corporation hereunder, notify
the Corporation of the commencement thereof. The failure to
promptly notify the Corporation of the commencement of the Proceeding, or
Director's request for indemnification, will not relieve the Corporation
from any liability that it may have to Director hereunder, except to the
extent the Corporation is prejudiced in its defense of such Proceeding as
a result of such failure. With respect to any Proceeding as to
which the Director so notifies the Corporation of the
commencement:
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(a)
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The
Corporation shall be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own
expense.
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(b)
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Except
as otherwise provided in this Section 14, the Corporation may, at its
option and jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified
and electing to assume such defense, assume the defense of the Proceeding,
with legal counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Director. The Director
shall have the right to use separate legal counsel in the Proceeding, but
the Corporation shall not be liable to the Director under this Agreement,
including Section 9 above, for the fees and Expenses of separate legal
counsel incurred after notice from the Corporation of its assumption of
the defense, unless (i) the Director reasonably concludes that there may
be a conflict of interest between the Corporation and the Director in the
conduct of the defense of the Proceeding, or (ii) the Corporation does not
use legal counsel to assume the defense of such Proceeding. The
Corporation shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any Proceeding
brought by or on behalf of the Corporation or as to which the Director has
made the conclusion provided for in (i)
above.
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(c)
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If
two or more persons who may be entitled to indemnification from the
Corporation, including the Director, are parties to any Proceeding, the
Corporation may require the Director to use the same legal counsel as the
other parties. The Director shall have the right to use separate legal
counsel in the Proceeding, but the Corporation shall not be liable to the
Director under this Agreement, including Section 9 above, for the fees and
Expenses of separate legal counsel incurred after notice from the
Corporation of the requirement to use the same legal counsel as the other
parties, unless the Director reasonably concludes that there may be a
conflict of interest between the Director and any of the other parties
required by the Corporation to be represented by the same legal
counsel.
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11
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(d)
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The
Corporation shall not be liable to indemnify the Director under this
Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any Proceeding effected
without its written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. The
Corporation shall not be required to obtain the consent of the Director
for the settlement of any Proceeding the Corporation has undertaken to
defend if the Corporation assumes full and sole responsibility for each
such settlement; provided, however, that
the Corporation shall be required to obtain Director’s prior written
approval, which may be granted or withheld in Director’s sole, reasonable
discretion, before entering into any settlement which (i) does not grant
Director a complete and unqualified release of liability; (ii) would
impose any penalty or limitation on Director, or (b) would admit any
liability or misconduct by
Director.
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14.
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Partial
Indemnification. If the Director is entitled under
any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Corporation for
some or a portion of the Expenses, judgments, fines or amounts paid in
settlement, actually and reasonably incurred by the Director in connection
with such Proceeding, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the
Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify the Director for the portion of
such Expenses, judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement to which the
Director is entitled.
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15.
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Contribution. In
order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in
which the indemnification provided for herein is held by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to the Director in whole or in
part, it is agreed that, in such event, the Corporation shall, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, contribute the payment of the Director's
costs, charges and Expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines
and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any Proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in an amount that is
just and equitable in the circumstances, taking into account, among other
things, contributions by other directors and officers of the Corporation
or others pursuant to indemnification agreements or otherwise; provided,
that, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such contribution
shall not be required where such holding by the court is due to (i) the
failure of the Director to meet the standard of conduct set forth in
Section 4 hereof, or (ii) any limitation on indemnification set forth in
Sections 4, 5 or 8 hereof.
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16. D&O Liability
Insurance.
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(a)
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Maintenance of
Insurance. The Corporation
hereby covenants and agrees that, so long as the Director shall continue
to serve the Corporation in any of the capacities set forth in the
definition of "Proceeding" above, and
thereafter so long as the Director shall be subject to any possible
Proceeding by reason of the fact that the Director was serving in any such
capacity, the Corporation shall promptly obtain and maintain in full force
and effect directors’ and officers’ liability insurance ("D&O
Insurance") in reasonable amounts from established and reputable
insurers.
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12
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(b)
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Annual
Review. At the Director’s request, the Corporation
shall arrange an annual review of the Corporation's D&O Insurance by
an independent insurance adviser, all fees and charges arising from such
review to be met by the
Corporation.
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(c)
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Tail
Coverage. In the event of a Change in Control, the
Corporation shall maintain in force any and all insurance policies then
maintained by the Corporation providing insurance in respect of Director,
including without limitation D&O Insurance, for a period of six years
thereafter. The policies for such continued coverage shall be
placed by a broker engaged by the Corporation prior to such Change in
Control.
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(d)
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Pursuit of the Insurance
Company. The Corporation shall indemnify Director
for Expenses incurred by Director in connection with action brought by
Director for recovery under any insurance policy referred to in this
Section 16, and shall advance to Director the Expenses of such action;
provided,
however,
that by executing this Agreement Director hereby undertakes to promptly
re-pay the Corporation for any such advanced Expenses if a court of
competent jurisdiction finds that all of the claims brought by the
Director were frivolous and not in good
faith.
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17.
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Interpretation and Scope of
Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be
interpreted to constitute a contract of service for any particular period
or pursuant to any particular terms or conditions. The Corporation retains
the right, in its discretion, to terminate the service relationship of the
Director, with or without cause, or to alter the terms and conditions of
the Director's service all without prejudice to any rights of the Director
which may have accrued or vested prior to such action by the
Corporation. The Corporation shall be precluded from asserting
in any such proceeding that the procedures and presumptions of this
Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and
shall stipulate in any such court that the Corporation is bound
by all the provisions of this Agreement and is precluded from making any
assertion to the contrary.
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18.
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Severability.
If this Agreement or any portion thereof shall be invalidated on any
ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this
Agreement shall continue to be valid and the Corporation shall
nevertheless indemnify the Director as to Expenses, judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement with respect to any Proceeding to the fullest
extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Agreement that shall
not have been invalidated.
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19.
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Subrogation.
In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Corporation shall be
subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery
of the Director with respect to any insurance policy or otherwise. The
Director shall execute all documents required and shall do all acts that
may be necessary to secure such rights and to enable the Corporation
effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights. The
Corporation shall pay or reimburse all Expenses actually and reasonably
incurred by Director in connection with such
subrogation.
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13
20.
|
Notices. All
notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon
delivery by hand to the party to whom the notice or other communication
shall have been directed, or on the third business day after the date on
which it is mailed by United States mail with first-class postage prepaid,
addressed as follows:
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If
to Director:
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_____________________
_____________________
Attn:_________________
Facsimile:
_____________
E-mail:________________
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If
to Corporation:
|
00000
Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Fascimile: (000) 000-0000
E-mail:
xxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx
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With
a copy to:
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Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Eighteenth Floor
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx
00000-0000
Attne: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx,
Esquire
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
E-mail:
xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx
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or to any
other address as either party may designate to the other in
writing.
21.
|
Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which
shall constitute the original.
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22.
|
Successors and
Assigns. All of the terms and provisions of this
Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall
be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors,
assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal
representatives. The Corporation shall require and cause any
direct or indirect successor (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation
or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the
Corporation, by written agreement in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to Director, expressly to assume and agree to perform this
Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation
would be required to perform if no such succession had taken
place.
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23.
|
Applicable
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the internal laws of the state of Delaware
without regard to the principles of conflict of
laws.
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14
24.
|
Attorney
Fees. If
any suit or action (including, without limitation, any bankruptcy
proceeding) is instituted to enforce or interpret any provision of this
Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the
party not prevailing, in addition to other relief that may be provided by
law, an amount determined reasonable as attorney fees at trial and on any
appeal of such suit or action.
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25.
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Modification and
Waiver. No
supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding
unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No
waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall
constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof (whether or not similar)
nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing
waiver.
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26.
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Jurisdiction and Venue.
Each party hereto expressly and irrevocably consents
and submits to the jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal court
sitting in King County, Washington, in any action or proceeding arising
out of or relating to this Agreement and agrees that all claims in respect
of the action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such court and
to the appellate courts in connection with any appeal. The parties
expressly waive all defenses of lack of personal jurisdiction, improper
venue and forum
non-conveniens with respect to such federal and state courts
sitting within King County, Washington. The parties expressly consent to
(i) service of process being effected upon them by certified mail sent to
the addresses set forth in this Agreement and (ii) any final judgment
rendered against a party in any action or proceeding being enforceable in
other jurisdictions in any manner provided by
law.
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27.
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Period of
Limitations. No legal action shall be brought and
no cause of action shall be asserted by or in the right of the Corporation
against Director, Director’s 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 Corporation 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.
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of this page intentionally left blank.]
15
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as
of the date first written above.
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DIRECTOR:
_____________________________
Signature
Print Name: ____________________
CORPORATION:
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By:
|
______________________________
Signature
Print Name: _____________________
Title: President &
CEO_____________
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16
EXHIBIT
A
FORM
OF UNDERTAKING
The
undersigned is the Director as defined in that certain Director Indemnification
Agreement dated May 26, 2009 between the undersigned and SCOLR Pharma, Inc. (the
"Indemnification Agreement"). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings given in such agreement.
As a
condition to receiving advances of Expenses as provided in Section 9 of the
Indemnification Agreement, Director agrees that, if, when and to the extent that
a final judicial determination is made that Director would not be permitted to
be so indemnified under applicable law, the Director shall reimburse the
Corporation for all amounts theretofore paid by the Corporation to Director
pursuant to the Indemnification Agreement within 60 days of the Corporation’s
demand, but only to the extent that Director is ultimately found not to be
entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation under the terms of the
Indemnification Agreement, the charter documents of the Corporation (including
its certificate of incorporation and bylaws), and applicable state
law.
This
Agreement shall not affect in any manner rights which Director may have against
the Corporation, any insurer or any other person to seek indemnification for or
reimbursement of any expenses referred to herein or any judgment which may be
rendered in any litigation or proceeding.
FOR
EXHIBIT PURPOSES ONLY,
NO SIGNATURE REQUIRED __________________________
Director
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Exhibit A