35-14-858. Variation by corporate action -- application. (1) A corporation may, by a provision in its articles of incorporation or bylaws or in a resolution adopted or a contract approved by the board of directors or shareholders, obligate itself in advance of the act or omission giving rise to a proceeding to provide indemnification in accordance with 35-14-851 or advance funds to pay for or reimburse expenses in accordance with 35-14-853. An obligatory provision under this section satisfies the requirements for authorization referred to in 35-14-853(3) and 35-14-855(3). Any provision that obligates the corporation to provide indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by law obligates the corporation to advance funds to pay for or reimburse expenses in accordance with 35-14-853 to the fullest extent permitted by law unless the provision expressly provides otherwise.
(2) A right of indemnification or to advances for expenses created by 35-14-850 through 35-14-859 or under subsection (1) of this section and in effect at the time of an act or omission may not be eliminated or impaired with respect to the act or omission by an amendment of the articles of incorporation or bylaws or a resolution of the board of directors or shareholders adopted after the occurrence of the act or omission unless, in the case of a right created under subsection (1), the provision creating the right and in effect at the time of the act or omission explicitly authorizes the elimination or impairment after the act or omission has occurred.
(3) A provision pursuant to subsection (1) may not obligate the corporation to indemnify or advance expenses to a director of a predecessor of the corporation pertaining to conduct with respect to the predecessor unless otherwise expressly provided. A provision for indemnification or advance for expenses in the articles of incorporation or bylaws or a resolution of the board of directors or shareholders of a predecessor of the corporation in a merger or in a contract to which the predecessor is a party that exists at the time the merger takes effect is governed by 35-14-1107(1)(d).
(4) Subject to subsection (2), a corporation may, by a provision in its articles of incorporation, limit any of the rights to indemnification or advance for expenses created by or pursuant to 35-14-850 through 35-14-859.
(5) Sections 35-14-850 through 35-14-859 do not limit a corporation's power to pay or reimburse expenses incurred by a director or an officer in connection with appearing as a witness in a proceeding at a time when the director or officer is not a party.
(6) Sections 35-14-850 through 35-14-859 do not limit a corporation's power to indemnify, advance expenses to, or provide or maintain insurance on behalf of an employee or agent.
History: En. Sec. 127, Ch. 271, L. 2019.
Structure Montana Code Annotated
Title 35. Corporations, Partnerships, and Associations
Chapter 14. Montana Business Corporation Act
Part 8. Directors and Officers
35-14-801. Board of directors -- requirements -- functions
35-14-802. Qualifications of directors
35-14-803. Directors -- number -- election
35-14-804. Election of directors -- certain classes or series of shares
35-14-805. Terms of directors generally
35-14-806. Staggered terms for directors
35-14-807. Resignation of directors
35-14-808. Removal of directors by shareholders
35-14-809. Removal of directors by judicial proceeding
35-14-810. Vacancy -- board of directors
35-14-811. Compensation of directors
35-14-812. through 35-14-819 reserved
35-14-821. Action without meeting
35-14-825. Committees of board
35-14-826. Submission of matters for shareholder vote
35-14-827. through 35-14-829 reserved
35-14-830. Standards of conduct for directors
35-14-831. Standards of liability for directors
35-14-832. Director's liability for unlawful distributions
35-14-833. through 35-14-839 reserved
35-14-841. Functions of officers
35-14-842. Standards of conduct for officers
35-14-843. Resignation and removal of officers
35-14-844. Contract rights of officers
35-14-845. through 35-14-849 reserved
35-14-850. Definitions -- indemnification and advance for expenses
35-14-851. Permissible indemnification
35-14-852. Mandatory indemnification
35-14-853. Advance for expenses
35-14-854. Court-ordered indemnification and advance for expenses
35-14-855. Determination and authorization of indemnification
35-14-856. Indemnification of officers
35-14-858. Variation by corporate action -- application
35-14-860. Definitions -- director's conflicting interest transactions
35-14-863. Shareholders' action