(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a corporation may indemnify an individual who is a party to a proceeding because he is a director against liability incurred in the proceeding if: (1) (A) He conducted himself in good faith; (B) he reasonably believed (i) in the case of conduct in his official capacity, that his conduct was in the best interests of the corporation; and (ii) in all other cases, that his conduct was at least not opposed to the best interests of the corporation; and (C) in the case of any criminal proceeding, he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; or (2) he engaged in conduct for which broader indemnification has been made permissible or obligatory under a provision of the certificate of incorporation as authorized by subdivision (5) of subsection (b) of section 33-1026.
(b) A director's conduct with respect to an employee benefit plan for a purpose he reasonably believed to be in the interests of the participants in and beneficiaries of the plan is conduct that satisfies the requirement of subparagraph (ii) of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section.
(c) The termination of a proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent is not, of itself, determinative that the director did not meet the relevant standard of conduct described in this section.
(d) Unless ordered by a court under section 33-1120, a corporation may not indemnify a director under this section: (1) In connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation except for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding if it is determined that the director has met the relevant standard of conduct under subsection (a) of this section; or (2) in connection with any proceeding with respect to conduct for which he was adjudged liable on the basis that he received a financial benefit to which he was not entitled, whether or not involving action in his official capacity.
(e) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, a corporation which was incorporated under the laws of this state, whether under chapter 600 of the general statutes, revised to January 1, 1995, or any other general law or special act, prior to January 1, 1997, shall, except to the extent that the certificate of incorporation expressly provides otherwise, indemnify under sections 33-1116 to 33-1125, inclusive, except subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section, a director to the same extent the corporation is permitted to provide the same to a director pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (a) and subsections (b), (c) and (d) of this section as limited by the provisions of section 33-1121.
(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a corporation which is a “private foundation” as defined in Section 509 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended, shall not, during the period it is such a private foundation, indemnify any person if such indemnity or its carrying out will constitute a violation of any provision of section 33-281b or any substantially like provision which may be contained in the certificate of incorporation.
(P.A. 96-256, S. 85, 209; P.A. 97-246, S. 55, 99.)
History: P.A. 96-256 effective January 1, 1997; P.A. 97-246 substantially revised section, including amending Subsec. (a) to add new Subdiv. (2) re indemnification pursuant to the certificate of incorporation, revising Subsec. (d) re when a corporation may not indemnify a director, deleting former Subsec. (e) re limitation on indemnification in connection with proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, which provision was incorporated into Subsec. (d)(1), redesignating former Subsec. (f) as Subsec. (e) and rephrasing said Subsec., and redesignating former Subsec. (g) as Subsec. (f), effective June 27, 1997.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 602 - Nonstock Corporations
Section 33-1000. - Short title: Connecticut Revised Nonstock Corporation Act.
Section 33-1001. - Construction of statutes.
Section 33-1002. - Definitions.
Section 33-1003a. - Qualified director.
Section 33-1004. - Filing requirements.
Section 33-1005. - Forms. Mailing address.
Section 33-1006. - Effective time and date of document.
Section 33-1007. - Correcting filed document.
Section 33-1008. - Filing duty of Secretary of the State.
Section 33-1009. - Appeal from Secretary of the State's refusal to file document.
Section 33-1010. - Evidentiary effect of copy of filed document.
Section 33-1011. - Certificate of existence or authorization.
Section 33-1012. - Penalty for signing false document.
Section 33-1013. - Fees payable to Secretary of the State.
Section 33-1014. - Franchise tax.
Section 33-1015. - Powers of Secretary of the State.
Section 33-1016. - Regulations regarding electronic filing.
Section 33-1017. - Interrogatories by Secretary of the State.
Section 33-1025. - Incorporators.
Section 33-1026. - Certificate of incorporation.
Section 33-1027. - Incorporation.
Section 33-1028. - Liability for preincorporation transactions.
Section 33-1029. - Organization of corporation.
Section 33-1031. - Emergency bylaws.
Section 33-1036. - General powers.
Section 33-1037. - Emergency powers.
Section 33-1038. - Ultra vires.
Section 33-1045. - Corporate name.
Section 33-1046. - Reserved name.
Section 33-1047. - Registered name.
Section 33-1050. - Registered office and registered agent.
Section 33-1051. - Change of registered office or registered agent.
Section 33-1052. - Resignation of registered agent.
Section 33-1053. - Service of process on corporation.
Section 33-1055. - Classes of members.
Section 33-1056. - Rules for membership.
Section 33-1057. - Corporation may impose fines and penalties and levy dues and assessments.
Section 33-1058. - Liability of members.
Section 33-1061. - Annual meeting. Regular meeting.
Section 33-1062. - Special meeting.
Section 33-1063. - Court-ordered meeting.
Section 33-1064. - Action without meeting. Validity of actions at meetings not properly called.
Section 33-1065. - Notice of meeting.
Section 33-1066. - Waiver of notice.
Section 33-1067. - Record date.
Section 33-1068. - Chairperson to preside.
Section 33-1069. - Remote participation in meetings.
Section 33-1070. - Members' list for meeting.
Section 33-1071. - Member voting rights.
Section 33-1073. - Corporation's acceptance or rejection of votes.
Section 33-1074. - Quorum and voting requirements.
Section 33-1075. - Action by single and multiple classes of members.
Section 33-1076. - Other quorum or voting requirement.
Section 33-1077. - Voting for directors. Cumulative voting.
Section 33-1078. - Inspectors.
Section 33-1080. - Requirements for and duties of board of directors.
Section 33-1081. - Qualifications of directors.
Section 33-1082. - Number and election of directors.
Section 33-1083. - Special provisions regarding directors.
Section 33-1084. - Election of directors by certain classes of members.
Section 33-1085. - Terms of directors generally.
Section 33-1086. - Staggered terms for directors.
Section 33-1087. - Resignation of directors.
Section 33-1088. - Removal of directors by members or directors.
Section 33-1089. - Proceedings to determine validity of election.
Section 33-1090. - Removal of directors by judicial proceeding.
Section 33-1091. - Vacancy on board of directors.
Section 33-1091a. - Judicial appointment of board of directors.
Section 33-1092. - Compensation of directors.
Section 33-1096. - Court-ordered meeting of directors.
Section 33-1097. - Action without meeting.
Section 33-1098. - Notice of meeting.
Section 33-1099. - Waiver of notice.
Section 33-1100. - Quorum and voting.
Section 33-1101. - Committees.
Section 33-1104. - General standards for directors.
Section 33-1105. - Liability for unlawful distribution.
Section 33-1106. - Liability for loans.
Section 33-1110. - Functions of officers.
Section 33-1111. - Standards of conduct for officers.
Section 33-1112. - Resignation and removal of officers.
Section 33-1113. - Contract rights of officers.
Section 33-1116. - Definitions.
Section 33-1117. - Permissible indemnification.
Section 33-1118. - Mandatory indemnification.
Section 33-1119. - Advance for expenses.
Section 33-1120. - Court-ordered indemnification and advance for expenses.
Section 33-1121. - Determination and authorization of indemnification.
Section 33-1122. - Indemnification of and advance for expenses to officers, employees and agents.
Section 33-1124. - Variation by corporate action.
Section 33-1125. - Exclusivity of provisions.
Section 33-1127. - Definitions.
Section 33-1128. - Judicial action.
Section 33-1129. - Directors' action.
Section 33-1130. - Members' action.
Section 33-1131. - Taking advantage of a business opportunity.
Section 33-1140. - Authority to amend.
Section 33-1141. - Certain amendments by board of directors.
Section 33-1142. - Amendment by board of directors and members.
Section 33-1143. - Amendments by incorporators.
Section 33-1144. - Certificate of amendment.
Section 33-1145. - Restated certificate of incorporation.
Section 33-1146. - Amendment pursuant to reorganization.
Section 33-1147. - Effect of amendment.
Section 33-1150. - Amendment by board of directors or members.
Section 33-1151. - Bylaw increasing quorum or voting requirement for members.
Section 33-1152. - Bylaw increasing quorum or voting requirement for directors.
Section 33-1156. - Action on plan of merger.
Section 33-1157. - Certificate of merger.
Section 33-1158. - Effect of merger.
Section 33-1159. - Merger with foreign corporation.
Section 33-1159a. - Merger with foreign corporation.
Section 33-1159b. - Abandoned merger.
Section 33-1166. - Sale or other disposition of assets leaving no significant continuing activity.
Section 33-1170. - Dissolution by incorporators or initial directors.
Section 33-1171. - Dissolution by resolution of board of directors and members.
Section 33-1172. - Certificate of dissolution.
Section 33-1173. - Revocation of dissolution.
Section 33-1174. - Effect of dissolution.
Section 33-1175. - Adoption of plan for distribution of assets.
Section 33-1176. - Liquidating distribution of assets.
Section 33-1177. - Known claims against dissolved corporation.
Section 33-1178. - Unknown claims against dissolved corporation.
Section 33-1178b. - Duties of directors of dissolved corporation.
Section 33-1181. - Administrative dissolution.
Section 33-1182. - Effect of administrative dissolution.
Section 33-1183. - Reinstatement following administrative dissolution.
Section 33-1184. - Appeal from refusal of reinstatement.
Section 33-1187. - Grounds for judicial dissolution.
Section 33-1188. - Procedure for judicial dissolution.
Section 33-1189. - Receivership or custodianship.
Section 33-1190. - Decree of dissolution.
Section 33-1193. - Deposit of assets with State Treasurer or other state official.
Section 33-1200. - Provisions applicable to specially chartered corporations.
Section 33-1201. - Formation of specially chartered corporation.
Section 33-1202. - Amendment of special charter.
Section 33-1203. - Surrender of charter and reincorporation.
Section 33-1204. - Franchise tax.
Section 33-1205. - Dissolution of specially chartered beach association.
Section 33-1210. - Authority to conduct affairs required.
Section 33-1211. - Consequences of conducting affairs without authority.
Section 33-1212. - Application for certificate of authority.
Section 33-1213. - Amended certificate of authority.
Section 33-1214. - Effect of certificate of authority.
Section 33-1215. - Corporate name of foreign corporation.
Section 33-1216. - Registered office and registered agent of foreign corporation.
Section 33-1217. - Change of registered office or registered agent of foreign corporation.
Section 33-1218. - Resignation of registered agent of foreign corporation.
Section 33-1219. - Service of process on foreign corporation.
Section 33-1222. - Withdrawal of foreign corporation.
Section 33-1225. - Grounds for revocation.
Section 33-1226. - Procedure for and effect of revocation.
Section 33-1227. - Appeal from revocation.
Section 33-1235. - Corporate records.
Section 33-1236. - Inspection of records by members.
Section 33-1237. - Scope of inspection right.
Section 33-1238. - Court-ordered inspection.
Section 33-1239. - Inspection of records by directors.
Section 33-1240. - Exception to notice requirement.
Section 33-1241. - Financial statements.
Section 33-1242. - Other reports to members.
Section 33-1244. - Failure to file report. Incorrect report.
Section 33-1245. - Interim notice of change of director or officer.
Section 33-1285. - Judicial relief.
Section 33-1286. - Applicability to domestic corporations in existence on January 1, 1997.
Section 33-1287. - Applicability to qualified foreign corporations.
Section 33-1288. - Savings provisions.