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8-KSEC Filing

Indaptus Therapeutics (INDP) Files Standard Director Contracts for Board Recruitment

8-K filed on April 23, 2026

April 23, 2026 at 12:00 AM

🧾 What This Document Is

This is an 8-K filing, which companies use to announce major events to investors. In this case, Indaptus Therapeutics is sharing the standard templates for two important legal contracts they use when bringing a new independent director onto their Board.

  • Exhibit 10.1: The Independent Director Agreement. This sets the rules for the director's role, pay, and duties.
  • Exhibit 10.2: The Indemnification Agreement. This is a separate, powerful promise by the company to protect the director from legal and financial risks.

πŸ‘‰ Why it matters: Filing these forms shows the company is formalizing its governance. It lets investors see exactly what terms and protections are offered to attract top talent to its board.

🏒 What The Company Does

In simple terms, Indaptus Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company. They are focused on developing new cancer treatments, specifically therapies that use the body's own immune system to fight tumors.

  • Industry: Biotech / Pharmaceuticals.
  • Stage: Clinical-stage, meaning they are testing drugs in people but are not yet selling any approved products. This is a high-risk, high-reward field.
  • Why this matters for the filing: Companies like this need to recruit experienced scientific and business leaders to their Board. These agreements are key tools to make that recruitment possible by offering clear terms and significant protection.

🀝 The Deal: Independent Director Agreement (Exhibit 10.1)

This contract outlines what the company expects from a new board member and what the board member gets in return.

🎯 Role & Duties

  • The director agrees to attend Board and committee meetings, promote the company's interests, and be available for advice.
  • They can have other jobs or board seats, but must notify Indaptus of any new commitments and can't let other work materially interfere with their duties here.
  • πŸ‘‰ The takeaway: It's a serious, time-bound commitment, not a passive honorary role.

πŸ’° Compensation

  • Cash Retainer: $30,000 per year, paid in two installments (after Q2 and Q4). It can be increased but not decreased.
  • Stock Awards: The director may be granted shares of company stock at the Board's discretion, subject to a vesting schedule (meaning they earn the shares over time).
  • Status: The director is considered an independent contractor, not an employee. They handle their own taxes.
  • Expense Reimbursement: The company pays for reasonable, pre-approved business expenses.
  • πŸ‘‰ Why it matters: This shows the market rate and structure for a director at a small public biotech company. The mix of cash and potential equity aligns the director's interests with shareholders.

πŸ”’ Confidentiality & Restrictions

  • Confidentiality: The director must keep the company's secrets (like research and business plans) private. This duty lasts for 5 years after they leave the board.
  • Non-Solicitation: For 12 months after leaving, they can't try to hire away employees or poach customers.
  • πŸ‘‰ The takeaway: These are standard, strict protections to safeguard a biotech's most valuable assetβ€”its intellectual property.

⏳ Term & Termination

  • The "Directorship Term" runs until the next annual shareholder meeting, or until death, mutual agreement, removal by shareholders, or resignation.
  • πŸ‘‰ Key point: This means board terms are effectively reviewed and renewed annually by shareholders, giving the company flexibility.

πŸ›‘οΈ The Shield: Indemnification Agreement (Exhibit 10.2)

This is a crucial protection package for the director, separate from the main agreement. It's designed to make taking the job less risky.

πŸ“œ What It Covers

The company promises to indemnify (reimburse and protect) the director against expenses, liabilities, judgments, and settlements incurred from serving on the board, even if sued for negligence or wrongdoing (as long as it wasn't criminal or in bad faith). The coverage extends to former directors as long as they are involved in a proceeding related to their past service.

βš™οΈ How It Works

  • Advancement of Expenses: The company must pay the director's legal fees upfront as they are incurred, not after the case is over. This is critical for directors who couldn't otherwise afford a robust legal defense.
  • Broad Definition: "Proceeding" is defined very broadly to include lawsuits, investigations, arbitrations, and administrative hearings.
  • Burden of Proof: The agreement states it should be presumed the director acted in good faith unless proven otherwise by clear evidence.
  • D&O Insurance: The company must maintain at least $5 million in Directors & Officers insurance and a "tail" policy for 6+ years after the director leaves to cover claims arising from their service.

πŸ‘‰ Why it matters: Without strong indemnification, many qualified individuals would refuse to serve on public company boards due to the fear of personal financial ruin from a lawsuit. This agreement is a standard and essential risk-management tool.

πŸ—οΈ Big Picture: Strengths & Risks

  • πŸ‘ Strengths (for the company): These are professionally drafted, standard agreements that protect the company's information and make the director role attractive. They follow Delaware law, which is favorable to corporations.
  • ⚠️ Risks (for the company): The indemnification and insurance obligations represent a significant potential financial liability. The cost of D&O insurance can be high, especially for companies in risky sectors like biotech.

🧠 The Analogy

Hiring an independent director is like asking a seasoned captain to join the crew of your ship on a risky but promising voyage. The Director Agreement is the job description and pay contract. The Indemnification Agreement is the life insurance and legal defense fund, assuring the captain that if the ship is sued for a collision, the company will cover their legal costs and damages, so they don't have to worry about their personal fortune sinking along with the ship.

🧩 Final Takeaway

Indaptus Therapeutics is publishing its standard playbook for recruiting and protecting its board members. The documents reveal the cost ($30k+), the expectations (active, confidential service), and, most importantly, the substantial legal and financial safety net the company provides to make the high-risk role of a director in the volatile biotech industry palatable to talent.