(a) Each member of the board of directors, when discharging the duties of a director, shall act: (1) In good faith; and (2) in a manner the director reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation.
(b) The members of the board of directors or a board committee, when becoming informed in connection with their decision-making function or devoting attention to their oversight function, shall discharge their duties with the care that a person in a like position would reasonably believe appropriate under similar circumstances.
(c) In discharging board or committee duties, a director shall disclose, or cause to be disclosed, to the other board or committee members information not already known by them but known by the director to be material to the discharge of their decision-making or oversight functions, except that disclosure is not required to the extent that the director reasonably believes that doing so would violate a duty imposed under law, a legally enforceable obligation of confidentiality, or a professional ethics rule.
(d) In discharging board or committee duties, a director who does not have knowledge that makes reliance unwarranted is entitled to rely on the performance by any of the persons specified in subdivision (1) or (3) of subsection (f) of this section to whom the board may have delegated, formally or informally by course of conduct, the authority or duty to perform one or more of the board's functions that are delegable under applicable law.
(e) In discharging board or committee duties, a director who does not have knowledge that makes reliance unwarranted is entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports or statements, including financial statements and other financial data, prepared or presented by any of the persons specified in subsection (f) of this section.
(f) A director is entitled to rely, in accordance with subsection (d) or (e) of this section, on: (1) One or more officers or employees of the corporation whom the director reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the functions performed or the information, opinions, reports or statements provided; (2) legal counsel, public accountants or other persons retained by the corporation as to matters involving skills or expertise the director reasonably believes are matters (A) within the particular person's professional or expert competence, or (B) as to which the particular person merits confidence; or (3) a board committee of which the director is not a member if the director reasonably believes the committee merits confidence.
(g) For the purposes of sections 33-817, 33-830, 33-831, 33-841 and 33-844, a director of a corporation that has a class of voting stock registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as the same has been or hereafter may be amended from time to time, in addition to complying with the provisions of subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of this section, may consider, in determining what the director reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation, (1) the long-term as well as the short-term interests of the corporation, (2) the interests of the shareholders, long-term as well as short-term, including the possibility that those interests may be best served by the continued independence of the corporation, (3) the interests of the corporation's employees, customers, creditors and suppliers, and (4) community and societal considerations, including those of any community in which any office or other facility of the corporation is located. A director may also consider, in the discretion of such director, any other factors the director reasonably considers appropriate in determining what the director reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation.
(P.A. 94-186, S. 100, 215; P.A. 10-35, S. 10; P.A. 14-217, S. 156; P.A. 17-108, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 94-186 effective January 1, 1997; P.A. 10-35 amended Subsec. (d) to substitute “may” for “shall” re director's consideration of factors in Subdivs. (1) to (4) in determining what he reasonably believes to be in best interests of corporation; P.A. 14-217 added Subsec. (f) re liability of director for duties performed under Sec. 33-1358; P.A. 17-108 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing provision re director discharge of duties with provision re member of board of directors discharge of duties of director, deleting Subdiv. (2) re care of ordinarily prudent person, redesignating Subdiv. (3) as new Subdiv. (2), and making technical changes, deleted former Subsecs. (b) to (f), added new Subsec. (b) re members of board of directors or board committee discharge of duties, added new Subsec. (c) re director disclosures to board or committee members, added new Subsec. (d) re director entitled to rely on performance of persons to whom board delegated authority or duty, added new Subsec. (e) re director entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports or statements and financial data prepared by specified persons, added new Subsec. (f) re director entitled to rely on officers or employees of corporation, legal counsel, public accountants or other persons retained by corporation or board committee, and added new Subsec. (g) re considerations by director.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 601 - Business Corporations
Section 33-600. - Short title: Connecticut Business Corporation Act.
Section 33-601. - Construction of statutes.
Section 33-602. - Definitions.
Section 33-603. - Notices and other communications.
Section 33-603a. - Householding.
Section 33-604. - Number of shareholders.
Section 33-605. - Qualified director.
Section 33-606. - Defective corporate actions. Definitions.
Section 33-606a. - Defective corporate action not void or voidable, when.
Section 33-606b. - Ratification of defective corporate actions.
Section 33-606c. - Action on ratification.
Section 33-606d. - Notice requirements re action on ratification.
Section 33-606e. - Effect of ratification.
Section 33-606g. - Judicial proceeding re validity of corporate action.
Section 33-608. - Filing requirements.
Section 33-609. - Forms. Mailing address.
Section 33-610. - Effective time and date of document.
Section 33-611. - Correcting filed document.
Section 33-612. - Filing duty of Secretary of the State.
Section 33-613. - Appeal from Secretary of the State's refusal to file document.
Section 33-614. - Evidentiary effect of copy of filed document.
Section 33-615. - Certificate of existence or authorization.
Section 33-616. - Penalty for signing false document.
Section 33-617. - Fees payable to Secretary of the State.
Section 33-618. - Franchise tax.
Section 33-622. - Powers of Secretary of the State.
Section 33-623. - Regulations regarding electronic filing.
Section 33-624. - Interrogatories by Secretary of the State.
Section 33-635. - Incorporators.
Section 33-636. - Certificate of incorporation.
Section 33-637. - Incorporation.
Section 33-638. - Liability for preincorporation transactions.
Section 33-639. - Organization of corporation.
Section 33-641. - Emergency bylaws.
Section 33-646. - Authorization to form corporation to transact insurance business.
Section 33-647. - General powers.
Section 33-648. - Emergency powers.
Section 33-649. - Ultra vires.
Section 33-655. - Corporate name.
Section 33-656. - Reserved name.
Section 33-657. - Registered name.
Section 33-660. - Registered office and registered agent.
Section 33-661. - Change of registered office or registered agent.
Section 33-662. - Resignation of registered agent.
Section 33-663. - Service of process on corporation.
Section 33-665. - Authorized shares.
Section 33-666. - Terms of class or series of shares.
Section 33-667. - Issued and outstanding shares.
Section 33-668. - Fractional shares.
Section 33-671. - Subscription for shares before incorporation.
Section 33-672. - Issuance of shares.
Section 33-673. - Liability of shareholders.
Section 33-673a. - Definitions.
Section 33-674. - Share dividends.
Section 33-675. - Share options and other equity compensation awards.
Section 33-676. - Form and content of certificates.
Section 33-677. - Shares without certificates.
Section 33-678. - Restriction on transfer of shares and other securities.
Section 33-679. - Expense of issue.
Section 33-680. - Surrender of share certificates.
Section 33-683. - Shareholder's preemptive rights.
Section 33-684. - Corporation's acquisition of its own shares.
Section 33-687. - Distributions to shareholders.
Section 33-695. - Annual meeting.
Section 33-696. - Special meeting.
Section 33-697. - Court-ordered meeting.
Section 33-698. - Action without meeting.
Section 33-699. - Notice of meeting.
Section 33-700. - Waiver of notice.
Section 33-701. - Record date.
Section 33-702. - Chairperson to preside.
Section 33-703. - Remote participation in annual and special meetings.
Section 33-704. - Shareholders' list for meeting.
Section 33-705. - Voting entitlement of shares.
Section 33-707. - Shares held by nominees.
Section 33-708. - Corporation's acceptance or rejection of votes.
Section 33-709. - Quorum and voting requirements for voting groups.
Section 33-710. - Action by single and multiple voting groups.
Section 33-711. - Greater quorum or voting requirement.
Section 33-712. - Voting for directors. Cumulative voting.
Section 33-715. - Voting trust.
Section 33-716. - Voting agreement.
Section 33-717. - Shareholder agreement.
Section 33-720. - Derivative proceedings. Definitions.
Section 33-723. - Stay of proceedings.
Section 33-725. - Discontinuance or settlement.
Section 33-726. - Payment of expenses.
Section 33-727. - Applicability to foreign corporations.
Section 33-735. - Requirements for and duties of board of directors.
Section 33-736. - Qualifications for directors or nominees for directors.
Section 33-737. - Number and election of directors.
Section 33-738. - Election of directors by certain classes of shareholders.
Section 33-739. - Terms of directors generally.
Section 33-740. - Staggered terms for directors.
Section 33-741. - Resignation of directors.
Section 33-742. - Removal of directors by shareholders.
Section 33-743. - Removal of directors by judicial proceeding.
Section 33-744. - Vacancy on board of directors.
Section 33-745. - Compensation of directors.
Section 33-749. - Action without meeting.
Section 33-750. - Notice of meeting.
Section 33-751. - Waiver of notice.
Section 33-752. - Quorum and voting.
Section 33-754. - Submission of matters for shareholder vote.
Section 33-756. - General standards of conduct for directors.
Section 33-757. - Liability for unlawful distribution.
Section 33-758. - General standards of liability for directors.
Section 33-764. - Functions of officers.
Section 33-765. - Standards of conduct for officers.
Section 33-766. - Resignation and removal of officers.
Section 33-767. - Contract rights of officers.
Section 33-770. - Definitions.
Section 33-771. - Permissible indemnification.
Section 33-772. - Mandatory indemnification.
Section 33-773. - Advance for expenses.
Section 33-774. - Court-ordered indemnification and advance for expenses.
Section 33-775. - Determination and authorization of indemnification.
Section 33-778. - Variation by corporate action.
Section 33-779. - Exclusivity of provisions.
Section 33-781. - Definitions.
Section 33-782. - Judicial action.
Section 33-783. - Directors' action.
Section 33-784. - Shareholders' action.
Section 33-785. - Taking advantage of a business opportunity.
Section 33-795. - Authority to amend.
Section 33-796. - Amendment by board of directors.
Section 33-797. - Amendment by board of directors and shareholders.
Section 33-798. - Voting on amendments by voting groups.
Section 33-799. - Amendment before issuance of shares.
Section 33-800. - Certificate of amendment.
Section 33-801. - Restated certificate of incorporation.
Section 33-802. - Amendment pursuant to reorganization.
Section 33-803. - Effect of amendment.
Section 33-806. - Amendment by shareholders or board of directors.
Section 33-807. - Bylaw increasing quorum or voting requirement for shareholders.
Section 33-808. - Bylaw increasing quorum or voting requirement for directors.
Section 33-809. - Bylaw provisions relating to the election of directors.
Section 33-814. - Definitions.
Section 33-816. - Share exchange.
Section 33-817. - Action on plan of merger or share exchange.
Section 33-818. - Merger of subsidiary.
Section 33-819. - Certificate of merger or share exchange.
Section 33-820. - Effect of merger or share exchange.
Section 33-821. - Merger or share exchange with foreign corporation.
Section 33-821a. - Abandoned merger or share exchange.
Section 33-840. - Business combinations. Definitions.
Section 33-841. - Approval of business combination.
Section 33-843. - Business combinations. Definitions.
Section 33-845. - Excepted business combinations.
Section 33-855. - Definitions.
Section 33-856. - Right to appraisal.
Section 33-857. - Assertion of rights by nominees and beneficial owners.
Section 33-860. - Notice of appraisal rights.
Section 33-861. - Notice of intent to demand payment. Consequences of voting or consenting.
Section 33-862. - Appraisal notice and form.
Section 33-863. - Perfection of rights. Right to withdraw.
Section 33-864. - Share restrictions.
Section 33-866. - Failure to take action.
Section 33-867. - After-acquired shares.
Section 33-868. - Procedure if shareholder dissatisfied with payment or offer.
Section 33-871. - Court action.
Section 33-872. - Court costs and expenses.
Section 33-880. - Dissolution by incorporators or initial directors.
Section 33-881. - Dissolution by board of directors and shareholders.
Section 33-882. - Certificate of dissolution.
Section 33-883. - Revocation of dissolution.
Section 33-884. - Effect of dissolution.
Section 33-885. - Requirements prior to final liquidating distribution of assets.
Section 33-886. - Known claims against dissolved corporation.
Section 33-887. - Unknown claims against dissolved corporation.
Section 33-887b. - Duties of directors of dissolved corporation.
Section 33-890. - Administrative dissolution.
Section 33-891. - Effect of administrative dissolution.
Section 33-892. - Reinstatement following administrative dissolution.
Section 33-893. - Appeal from refusal of reinstatement.
Section 33-896. - Grounds for judicial dissolution.
Section 33-897. - Procedure for judicial dissolution.
Section 33-898. - Receivership or custodianship.
Section 33-899. - Decree of dissolution.
Section 33-900. - Election to purchase in lieu of dissolution.
Section 33-903. - Deposit of assets with State Treasurer or other state official.
Section 33-910. - Provisions applicable to specially chartered corporations.
Section 33-911. - Formation of specially chartered corporation.
Section 33-912. - Amendment of special charter.
Section 33-913. - Surrender of charter and reincorporation.
Section 33-914. - Franchise tax.
Section 33-920. - Authority to transact business required.
Section 33-921. - Consequences of transacting business without authority.
Section 33-921a. - Limited amnesty for foreign corporation transacting business without authority.
Section 33-922. - Application for certificate of authority.
Section 33-923. - Amended certificate of authority.
Section 33-924. - Effect of certificate of authority.
Section 33-925. - Corporate name of foreign corporation.
Section 33-926. - Registered office and registered agent of foreign corporation.
Section 33-927. - Change of registered office or registered agent of foreign corporation.
Section 33-928. - Resignation of registered agent of foreign corporation.
Section 33-929. - Service of process on foreign corporation.
Section 33-932. - Withdrawal of foreign corporation.
Section 33-935. - Grounds for revocation.
Section 33-936. - Procedure for and effect of revocation.
Section 33-937. - Appeal from revocation.
Section 33-945. - Corporate records.
Section 33-946. - Inspection of records by shareholders.
Section 33-947. - Scope of inspection right.
Section 33-948. - Court-ordered inspection.
Section 33-949. - Inspection of records by directors.
Section 33-950. - Exception to notice requirement.
Section 33-951. - Financial statements for shareholders.
Section 33-952. - Other reports to shareholders.
Section 33-954. - Failure to file report. Incorrect report.
Section 33-955. - Interim notice of change of director or officer.
Section 33-995. - Applicability to domestic corporations in existence on January 1, 1997.
Section 33-996. - Applicability to qualified foreign corporations.
Section 33-997. - Saving provisions.