Placement Agent Agreement, dated April 6, 2012


 Exhibit 10.2 
 April 6, 2012 
 Mr. David J. Drutz 

Chief Executive Officer 
 DARA BioSciences, Inc.

 8601 Six Forks Road 
 Suite 160

 Raleigh, NC 27615 
 Dear David:

 This letter (the “Agreement”) constitutes the agreement between Ladenburg Thalmann & Co., Inc.
(“Ladenburg” or the “Placement Agent”) and DARA BioSciences, Inc. (the “Company”), that Ladenburg shall serve as the exclusive placement agent for the Company, on a “reasonable best
efforts” basis, in connection with the proposed placement (the “Placement”) of registered securities (the “Securities”) of the Company, including shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s
convertible preferred stock, which Shares are convertible into the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”) and warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock. The terms of such Placement and the
Securities shall be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the purchasers (each, a “Purchaser” and collectively, the “Purchasers”) and nothing herein constitutes that Ladenburg would have the power or authority to
bind the Company or any Purchaser or an obligation for the Company to issue any Securities or complete the Placement. This Agreement and the documents executed and delivered by the Company and the Purchasers in connection with the Placement shall be
collectively referred to herein as the “Transaction Documents.” The date of the closing of the Placement shall be referred to herein as the “Closing Date.” The Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that
Ladenburg’s obligations hereunder are on a reasonable best efforts basis only and that the execution of this Agreement does not constitute a commitment by Ladenburg to purchase the Securities and does not ensure the successful placement of the
Securities or any portion thereof or the success of Ladenburg with respect to securing any other financing on behalf of the Company. The Placement Agent may retain other brokers or dealers to act as sub-agents or selected-dealers on its behalf in
connection with the Placement. 
 SECTION 1. COMPENSATION. 

(A) A cash fee equal to 8% of the gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Securities at the closing of the Placement
(the “Closing”). 
 (B) Subject to compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(D), the Company also agrees to
reimburse Ladenburg’s expenses not to exceed $20,000 without the Company’s consent, but in no event shall such reimbursement exceed 1% of the aggregate purchase price of the units sold in this offering (provided, however, that such expense
cap in no way limits or impairs the indemnification and contribution provisions of this Agreement). Such reimbursement shall be payable immediately upon (but only in the event of) a Closing of the Placement. 

SECTION 2. REGISTRATION STATEMENT. 






 The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Placement Agent that: 

(A) The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form
S-1 (Registration File No.333-179637) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), which became effective on April 6, 2012, for the registration under the Securities Act of the Securities. At the time of such
filing, the Company met the requirements of Form S-1 under the Securities Act. The Company will file with the Commission pursuant to Rules 430A and 424(b) under the Securities Act, and the rules and regulations (the “Rules and
Regulations”) of the Commission promulgated thereunder, a final prospectus included in such registration statement relating to the placement of the Securities and the plan of distribution thereof and has advised the Placement Agent of all
further information (financial and other) with respect to the Company required to be set forth therein. Such registration statement, including the exhibits thereto, as amended at the date of this Agreement, is hereinafter called the
“Registration Statement”; such prospectus in the form in which it appears in the Registration Statement is hereinafter called the “Preliminary Prospectus”; and the amended or supplemented form of prospectus, in the form in
which it will be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rules 430A and 424(b) (including the Preliminary Prospectus as so amended or supplemented) is hereinafter called the “Final Prospectus.” Any reference in this Agreement to the
Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein (the “Incorporated Documents”) pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-1
which were filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), on or before the date of this Agreement, or the issue date of the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be; and
any reference in this Agreement to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include
the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the date of this Agreement, or the issue date of the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference. All references in this
Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included,” “described,” “referenced,” “set forth” or “stated” in the Registration Statement, the
Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in
the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use of the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus has been
issued, and no proceeding for any such purpose is pending or has been initiated or, to the Company’s knowledge, is threatened by the Commission. For purposes of this Agreement, “free writing prospectus” has the meaning set forth in
Rule 405 under the Securities Act and the “Time of Sale Prospectus” means the preliminary prospectus, if any, together with the free writing prospectuses, if any, used in connection with the Placement, including any documents
incorporated by reference therein. 
 (B) The Registration Statement (and any further documents to be filed with the Commission)
contains all exhibits and schedules as required by the Securities Act. Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations and did not and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading. The Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, if any, and the Final Prospectus, each as of its respective date, comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act
and the applicable Rules and Regulations. Each of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, if any, and the Final Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, did not and will not contain as of the date thereof any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were 






 
made, not misleading. The Incorporated Documents, when they were filed with the Commission, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable Rules and
Regulations, and none of such documents, when they were filed with the Commission, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein (with respect to Incorporated Documents
incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus or Final Prospectus), in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus,
the Time of Sale Prospectus, if any, or Final Prospectus, when such documents are filed with the Commission, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations, as applicable, and
will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. No post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement reflecting any facts or events arising after the date thereof which represent, individually or in the aggregate, a fundamental change in the information set forth therein is required to be filed with the Commission. There are
no documents required to be filed with the Commission in connection with the transaction contemplated hereby that (x) have not been filed as required pursuant to the Securities Act or (y) will not be filed within the requisite time period.
There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, if any, or Final Prospectus, or to be filed as exhibits or schedules to the Registration Statement, which have not been
described or filed as required. 
 (C) The Company is eligible to use free writing prospectuses in connection with the Placement
pursuant to Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act. Any free writing prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the
requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Each free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was
prepared by or behalf of or used by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. The Company will not, without the
prior consent of the Placement Agent, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus. 
 (D) The Company has delivered, or
will as promptly as practicable deliver, to the Placement Agent complete conformed copies of the Registration Statement and of each consent and certificate of experts, as applicable, filed as a part thereof, and conformed copies of the Registration
Statement (without exhibits), the Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, if any, and the Final Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, in such quantities and at such places as the Placement Agent reasonably requests. Placement Agent
acknowledges that all such materials as exist on the date of this letter are available on EDGAR. Neither the Company nor any of its directors and officers has distributed and none of them will distribute, prior to the Closing Date, any offering
material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities pursuant to the Placement other than the Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, if any, the Final Prospectus, the Registration Statement, copies of the documents
incorporated by reference therein and any other materials permitted by the Securities Act. 
 SECTION 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE. Each of the representations and warranties (together with any related disclosure schedules thereto) made to the Purchasers in that certain Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of April 6, 2012, between the
Company and each Purchaser, is hereby incorporated herein by reference (as though fully restated herein) and is hereby made to, and in favor of, Ladenburg. 
 SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS OF LADENBURG. Ladenburg represents and warrants that it is (i) a member in good standing of FINRA, (ii) is registered as a broker/dealer under the







 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and (iii) is licensed as a broker/dealer under the laws of the States applicable to the offers and sales of Securities
by Ladenburg. Ladenburg will immediately notify the Company in writing of any change in its status as such. Ladenburg covenants that it will use its reasonable best efforts to conduct the Transaction hereunder in compliance with the provisions of
this Agreement. Except as required by law or as contemplated by this agreement, Ladenburg will keep confidential all material nonpublic information, including information regarding the Transaction contemplated hereunder, provided to it by the
Company or its affiliates or advisors and use such information only for the purposes contemplated herein. 
 SECTION 5.
INDEMNIFICATION. The Company agrees to the indemnification and other agreements set forth in the Indemnification Provisions (the “Indemnification”) attached hereto as Addendum A, the provisions of which are incorporated
herein by reference and shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement. 
 SECTION 6. ENGAGEMENT TERM.
Ladenburg’s engagement hereunder will be until the earlier of (i) six months following the date hereof and (ii) the completion of the Placement. The engagement may be terminated by either the Company or Ladenburg at any time upon 10
days’ written notice. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the provisions concerning the Company’s obligation to pay any fees actually earned and to reimburse expenses actually incurred and reimbursable pursuant to
Section 1 hereof and which are permitted to be reimbursed under FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(D), and the confidentiality, indemnification, contribution provisions contained herein and the Company’s obligations contained in the Indemnification
Provisions will survive any expiration or termination of this Agreement. Ladenburg agrees not to disclose or use any confidential information concerning the Company provided to it by the Company for any purposes other than those contemplated under
this Agreement. 
 SECTION 7. LADENBURGY INFORMATION. The Company agrees that any information or advice rendered by Ladenburg in
connection with this engagement is for the confidential use of the Company only in their evaluation of the Placement and, except as otherwise required by law, the Company will not disclose or otherwise refer to the advice or information in any
manner without Ladenburg’s prior written consent. 
 SECTION 8. NO FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIP. This Agreement does not create,
and shall not be construed as creating rights enforceable by any person or entity not a party hereto, except those entitled hereto by virtue of the Indemnification Provisions hereof. The Company acknowledges and agrees that Ladenburg is not and
shall not be construed as a fiduciary of the Company and shall have no duties or liabilities to the equity holders or the creditors of the Company or any other person by virtue of this Agreement or the retention of Ladenburg hereunder, all of which
are hereby expressly waived. 
 SECTION 9. CLOSING. The obligations of the Placement Agent, and the closing of the sale of the
Securities hereunder are subject to the accuracy, when made and on the Closing Date, of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company and its Subsidiaries contained herein, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company and its
Subsidiaries made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company and its Subsidiaries of their obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions: 

(A) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose
shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission, and any request for additional information on the part of the Commission (to be included in the Registration 






 
Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Supplement or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Placement Agent. 

(B) The Placement Agent shall not have discovered and disclosed to the Company on or prior to the Closing Date that the Registration
Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto contains an untrue statement of a fact which, in the opinion of counsel for the Placement Agent, is material or omits to state any fact which, in
the opinion of such counsel, is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. 
 (C) All corporate proceedings and other legal matters incident to the authorization, form, execution, delivery and validity of each of this Agreement, the Securities, the Registration Statement, the
Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and all other legal matters relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to counsel for the Placement Agent, and the
Company shall have furnished to such counsel all documents and information that they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters. 
 (D) The Placement Agent shall have received from outside counsel to the Company such counsel’s written opinion, addressed to the Placement Agent and the Purchasers dated as of the Closing Date, in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Placement Agent, which opinion shall include a “10b-5” negative assurance from such counsel. 
 (E) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall have sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus, any
loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood, terrorist act or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth in or
contemplated by the Preliminary Prospectus and (ii) since such date there shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any change, or any development involving a prospective
change, in or affecting the business, general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth in or contemplated by the
Preliminary Prospectus, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is, in the judgment of the Placement Agent, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the sale or delivery
of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, if any, and the Final Prospectus. 
 (F) The Common Stock is registered under the Exchange Act. The Company shall have taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the
Exchange, nor has the Company received any information suggesting that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration. 
 (G) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq
National Market shall have been suspended or minimum or maximum prices or maximum ranges for prices shall have been established on any such exchange or such market by the Commission, by such exchange or by any other regulatory body or governmental
authority having jurisdiction, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal or state authorities or a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States,
(iii) the United States shall have become engaged in hostilities in which it is not currently engaged, the subject of an act of terrorism, there shall have been an escalation in hostilities involving the United States, or there shall have been
a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States, or (iv) there shall have occurred any other calamity or crisis or any change in general economic, political or financial conditions







 
in the United States or elsewhere, if the effect of any such event in clause (iii) or (iv) makes it, in the sole judgment of the Placement Agent, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed
with the sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus. 
 (H) No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental agency or body which would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the
issuance or sale of the Securities or materially and adversely affect or potentially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Company; and no injunction, restraining order or order of any other nature by any federal or state court of
competent jurisdiction shall have been issued as of the Closing Date which would prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities or materially and adversely affect or potentially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Company.

 (I) The Company shall have prepared and filed with the Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K with respect to the Placement,
including as an exhibit thereto this Agreement. 
 (J) The Company shall have entered into subscription agreements with each of
the Purchasers and such agreements shall be in full force and effect and shall contain representations, warranties and covenants of the Company as agreed between the Company and the Purchasers. 

(K) FINRA shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the terms and arrangements of this Agreement. In addition,
the Company shall, if requested by the Placement Agent, make or authorize Placement Agent’s counsel to make on the Company’s behalf, an Issuer Filing with FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110 with respect to the Registration Statement and pay
all filing fees required in connection therewith. 
 (L) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the
Placement Agent such further information, certificates and documents as the Placement Agent may reasonably request. 
 All
opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Placement
Agent. 
 SECTION 10. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State
of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely in such State. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the other party. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Any right to trial by jury with respect to any dispute arising under this Agreement or any transaction or conduct in connection herewith is waived. Each of the
Placement Agent and the Company: (i) agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and/or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be instituted exclusively in New York Supreme Court, County of
New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, (ii) waives any objection which it may have or hereafter to the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding, and (iii) irrevocably consents to the
jurisdiction of the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in any such suit, action or proceeding. Each of the Placement Agent and the Company further agrees to accept
and acknowledge service of any and all process which may be served in any such suit, action or proceeding in the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and agrees that
service of process upon the Company mailed by certified mail to the Company’s address shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company, in any such suit, action or proceeding, and service of process upon the
Placement Agent mailed by certified mail to the Placement Agent’s address shall be deemed in every respect 






 
effective service process upon the Placement Agent, in any such suit, action or proceeding. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner
permitted by law. If either party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of a Transaction Document, then the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its attorneys fees and
other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding. 
 SECTION 11.
ENTIRE AGREEMENT/MISC. This Agreement (including the attached Indemnification Provisions) embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, relating to the
subject matter hereof. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, such determination will not affect such provision in any other respect or any other provision of this Agreement, which will remain
in full force and effect. This Agreement may not be amended or otherwise modified or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by both Ladenburg and the Company. The representations, warranties, agreements and covenants contained herein shall
survive the closing of the Placement and delivery and/or exercise of the Securities, as applicable. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall
become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or a
..pdf format file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or .pdf signature page were an original thereof.
The Company agrees that the Placement Agent may rely upon, and is a third party beneficiary of, the representations and warranties, and applicable covenants set forth in any such purchase, subscription or other agreement with the Purchasers in the
Placement. 
 SECTION 12. NOTICES. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (a) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number specified on the signature pages attached
hereto prior to 6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on a business day, (b) the next business day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number on the signature pages attached
hereto on a day that is not a business day or later than 6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any business day, (c) the business day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (d) upon
actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such notices and communications shall be as set forth on the signature pages hereto. 
 [The remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank.] 






 Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth our agreement by signing and
returning to Ladenburg the enclosed copy of this Agreement. 
  

			
	Very truly yours,
	
	LADENBURG THALMANN & CO., INC. 
		
	By:	 	/S/    N. STERGIS
		 	Name: N. Stergis
		 	Title: Managing Director
	
	Address for notice:
	4400 Biscayne Blvd
	14th Floor
	Miami, Florida 33137
	Attention: General Counsel


 Accepted and Agreed to as of 
 the date first written above: 
  

			
	DARA BioSciences, Inc.
		
	By:	 	/s/    David J. Drutz
		 	Name: David J. Drutz
		 	 Title: President and
 Chief Executive Officer

	
	Address for notice:
	8601 Six Forks Road
	Suite 160
	Raleigh, NC 27615
	Attention: David J. Drutz







 ADDENDUM A 

INDEMNIFICATION PROVISIONS 
 In connection with the engagement of Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. (“Ladenburg”) by DARA BioSciences, Inc. (the “Company”) pursuant to a letter agreement dated April 6,
2012, between the Company and Ladenburg, as it may be amended from time to time in writing (the “Agreement”), the Company hereby agrees as follows: 
  

	1.	The Company hereby agrees to indemnify and hold Ladenburg, its officers, directors, principals, employees, affiliates, and stockholders, and their successors and
assigns, harmless from and against any and all loss, claim, damage, liability, deficiencies, actions, suits, proceedings, costs and legal expenses or expense whatsoever (including, but not limited to, reasonable legal fees and other expenses and
reasonable disbursements incurred in connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending any action, suit or proceeding, including any inquiry or investigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, or in appearing or
preparing for appearance as witness in any proceeding, including any pretrial proceeding such as a deposition) (collectively the “Losses”) arising out of, based upon, or in any way related or attributed to, (i) any breach of a
representation, warranty or covenant by the Company contained in this Agreement; or (ii) any activities or services performed hereunder by Ladenburg, unless it is finally judicially determined in a court of competent jurisdiction that such
Losses were the primary and direct result of the intentional misconduct or gross negligence of Ladenburg in performing the services hereunder. 

  

	2.	If Ladenburg receives written notice of the commencement of any legal action, suit or proceeding with respect to which the Company is or may be obligated to provide
indemnification pursuant to this Section (B), Ladenburg shall, within twenty (20) days of the receipt of such written notice, give the Company written notice thereof (a “Claim Notice”). Failure to give such Claim Notice within such
twenty (20) day period shall not constitute a waiver by Ladenburg of its right to indemnity hereunder with respect to such action, suit or proceeding; provided, however, the indemnification hereunder may be limited by any such failure to
provide a Claim Notice to the Company that materially prejudices the Company. Upon receipt by the Company of a Claim Notice from Ladenburg with respect to any claim for indemnification which is based upon a claim made by a third party (“Third
Party Claim”), the Company may assume the defense of the Third Party Claim with counsel of its own choosing, as described below. Ladenburg shall cooperate in the defense of the Third Party Claim and shall furnish such records, information and
testimony and attend all such conferences, discovery proceedings, hearings, trial and appeals as may be reasonably required in connection therewith. Ladenburg shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action which shall be at the
Company’s expense if (i) the Company and Ladenburg shall have mutually agreed in writing to the retention of such counsel, (ii) the Company shall have failed in a timely manner to assume the defense and employ counsel or experts
reasonably satisfactory to Ladenburg in such litigation or proceeding or (iii) the named parties to any such litigation or proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include the Company and Ladenburg and representation of the Company and
Ladenburg by the same counsel or experts would, in the reasonable opinion of Ladenburg, be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between the Company and Ladenburg. The Company shall not satisfy or settle any Third Party Claim
for which indemnification has been sought and is available hereunder, without the prior written consent of Ladenburg, which consent shall not be delayed and which shall not be required if Ladenburg is granted a release in connection therewith. The
indemnification provisions hereunder shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement. 

  

	3.	 The Company further agrees, upon demand by Ladenburg, to promptly reimburse Ladenburg for, or pay, any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense as to
which Ladenburg has been indemnified herein 









	 	
with such reimbursement to be made currently as any loss, damage, liability or expense is incurred by Ladenburg. Notwithstanding the provisions of the aforementioned Indemnification, any such
reimbursement or payment by the Company of fees, expenses, or disbursements incurred by Ladenburg shall be repaid by Ladenburg in the event of any proceeding in which a final judgment (after all appeals or the expiration of time to appeal) is
entered in a court of competent jurisdiction against Ladenburg based solely upon its gross negligence or intentional misconduct in the performance of its duties hereunder, and provided further, that the Company shall not be required to make
reimbursement or payment for any settlement effected without the Company’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). 


 

	4.	If for any reason the foregoing indemnification is unavailable or is insufficient to hold such indemnified party harmless, the Company agrees to contribute the amount
paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as to reflect not only the relative benefits received by the Company, as the case may be, on the one hand, and Ladenburg, on the other hand, but also the relative fault of the Company and
Ladenburg as well as any relevant equitable considerations. In no event shall Ladenburg contribute in excess of the fees actually received by it pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. 


 

	5.	For purposes of this Agreement, each officer, director, stockholder, and employee or affiliate of Ladenburg and each person, if any, who controls Ladenburg (or any
affiliate) within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, shall have the same rights as Ladenburg with respect to matters of
indemnification by the Company hereunder. 

  

			
	LADENBURG THALMANN & CO. INC.
		
	By:	 	/S/    N. STERGIS
		 	Name: N. Stergis
		 	Title: Managing Director
		 	


  

			
	 Accepted and Agreed to as of
 the date first written above:

	
	 DARA BioSciences, Inc.

		
	By:	 	/s/    David J. Drutz
		 	Name: David J. Drutz
		 	 Title:  President and
 Chief Executive Officer