35-2-451. Determination and authorization of indemnification. (1) A corporation may not indemnify a director under 35-2-447 unless it is authorized in the specific case after a determination has been made that indemnification of the director is permissible in the circumstances because the director has met the standard of conduct set forth in 35-2-447.
(2) The determination must be made:
(a) by the board of directors by majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors not at the time parties to the proceeding;
(b) if a quorum cannot be obtained under subsection (2)(a), by majority vote of a committee designated by the board of directors consisting solely of two or more directors not at the time parties to the proceeding;
(c) by special legal counsel:
(i) selected by the board of directors or its committee in the manner prescribed in subsection (2)(a) or (2)(b); or
(ii) if a quorum of the board cannot be obtained under subsection (2)(a) and a committee cannot be designated under subsection (2)(b), selected by majority vote of the full board, in which selected directors who are parties may participate; or
(d) by the members of a mutual benefit corporation. However, directors who are at the time parties to the proceeding may not vote on the determination.
(3) Authorization of indemnification and evaluation as to reasonableness of expenses must be made in the same manner as the determination that indemnification is permissible, except that if the determination is made by special legal counsel, authorization of indemnification and evaluation as to reasonableness of expenses must be made by those entitled under subsection (2)(c) to select counsel.
(4) A director of a public benefit corporation may not be indemnified until 20 days after the effective date of written notice to the attorney general of the proposed indemnification.
History: En. Sec. 106, Ch. 411, L. 1991.
Structure Montana Code Annotated
Title 35. Corporations, Partnerships, and Associations
Chapter 2. Nonprofit Corporations
Part 4. Directors and Officers -- Indemnification
35-2-414. Requirement for and duties of board
35-2-415. Qualifications and numbers of directors
35-2-416. General standards for directors
35-2-417. Election, designation and appointment of directors
35-2-418. Director conflict of interest
35-2-419. Terms of directors generally -- staggered terms
35-2-420. Resignation of directors
35-2-421. Removal of directors elected by members or directors
35-2-422. Removal of designated or appointed directors
35-2-423. Removal of directors by judicial proceeding
35-2-425. Compensation of directors
35-2-427. Regular and special meetings
35-2-428. Action without meeting
35-2-429. Call and notice of meetings
35-2-433. Committees of the board
35-2-435. Loans to or guaranties for directors and officers
35-2-436. Liability for unlawful distributions
35-2-437. and 35-2-438 reserved
35-2-440. Duties and authority of officers
35-2-441. Standards of conduct for officers
35-2-442. Resignation and removal of officers
35-2-443. Contract rights of officers
35-2-444. Officers' authority to execute documents
35-2-447. Authority to indemnify
35-2-448. Mandatory indemnification
35-2-449. Advance for expenses
35-2-450. Court-ordered indemnification
35-2-451. Determination and authorization of indemnification
35-2-452. Indemnification of officers, employees, and agents