55-8-42. Standards of conduct for officers.
(a) An officer with discretionary authority shall discharge his duties under that authority:
(1) In good faith;
(2) With the care an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would exercise under similar circumstances; and
(3) In a manner he reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation.
(b) In discharging his duties an officer is entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports, or statements, including financial statements and other financial data, if prepared or presented by:
(1) One or more officers or employees of the corporation whom the officer reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented; or
(2) Legal counsel, public accountants, or other persons as to matters the officer reasonably believes are within their professional or expert competence.
(c) An officer is not entitled to the benefit of subsection (b) if he has actual knowledge concerning the matter in question that makes reliance otherwise permitted by subsection (b) unwarranted.
(d) An officer is not liable for (i) any action taken as an officer, or any failure to take any action, if the officer performed the duties of the officer's office in compliance with this section or (ii) any failure to offer the corporation the right to have or participate in a business opportunity prior to the pursuit or taking of the opportunity by the officer or other person if the corporation's articles of incorporation include a provision authorized by G.S. 55-2-02(b)(4) and the procedures and approvals required by the provision, if any, were complied with or obtained prior to the pursuit or taking of the opportunity by the officer or other person.
(e) An officer may be entitled to indemnification against liability and expenses pursuant to Part 5 of Article 8 of this Chapter. (1955, c. 1371, s. 1; 1989, c. 265, s. 1; 2018-45, s. 12.)
Structure North Carolina General Statutes
North Carolina General Statutes
Chapter 55 - North Carolina Business Corporation Act
Article 8 - Directors and Officers.
§ 55-8-01 - Requirement for and duties of board of directors.
§ 55-8-02 - Qualifications of directors.
§ 55-8-03 - Number and election of directors.
§ 55-8-04 - Election of directors by certain classes of shareholders.
§ 55-8-05 - Terms of directors generally.
§ 55-8-06 - Staggered terms for directors.
§ 55-8-07 - Resignation of directors.
§ 55-8-08 - Removal of directors by shareholders.
§ 55-8-09 - Removal of directors by judicial proceeding.
§ 55-8-11 - Compensation of directors.
§ 55-8-21 - Action without meeting.
§ 55-8-22 - Notice of meeting.
§ 55-8-24 - Quorum and voting.
§ 55-8-26 - Submission of matters for shareholder vote.
§ 55-8-30 - General standards for directors.
§ 55-8-31 - Director conflict of interest.
§ 55-8-32 - Loans to directors.
§ 55-8-33 - Liability for unlawful distributions.
§ 55-8-41 - Duties of officers.
§ 55-8-42 - Standards of conduct for officers.
§ 55-8-43 - Resignation and removal of officers.
§ 55-8-44 - Contract rights of officers.
§ 55-8-50 - Policy statement and definitions.
§ 55-8-51 - Authority to indemnify.
§ 55-8-52 - Mandatory indemnification.
§ 55-8-53 - Advance for expenses.
§ 55-8-54 - Court-ordered indemnification.
§ 55-8-55 - Determination and authorization of indemnification.
§ 55-8-56 - Indemnification of officers, employees, and agents.