55-8-55. Determination and authorization of indemnification.
(a) A corporation may not indemnify a director under G.S. 55-8-51 unless authorized in the specific case after a determination has been made that indemnification of the director is permissible in the circumstances because he has met the standard of conduct set forth in G.S. 55-8-51.
(b) The determination shall be made:
(1) By the board of directors by majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors not at the time parties to the proceeding;
(2) If a quorum cannot be obtained under subdivision (1), by majority vote of a committee duly designated by the board of directors (in which designation directors who are parties may participate), consisting solely of two or more directors not at the time parties to the proceeding;
(3) By special legal counsel (i) selected by the board of directors or its committee in the manner prescribed in subdivision (1) or (2); or (ii) if a quorum of the board of directors cannot be obtained under subdivision (1) and a committee cannot be designated under subdivision (2), selected by majority vote of the full board of directors (in which selection directors who are parties may participate); or
(4) By the shareholders, but shares owned by or voted under the control of directors who are at the time parties to the proceeding may not be voted on the determination.
(c) Authorization of indemnification and evaluation as to reasonableness of expenses shall 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 shall be made by those entitled under subsection (b)(3) to select counsel. (1955, c. 1371, s. 1; 1969, c. 797, s. 2; 1973, c. 469, s. 6; 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 1027, s. 39; 1989, c. 265, s. 1.)
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.