West Virginia Code 31D-8-858 – Variation by corporate action; application of part
(a) A corporation may, by a provision in its articles of incorporation or bylaws or in a resolution adopted or a contract approved by its 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 section eight hundred fifty-one of this article or advance funds to pay for or reimburse expenses in accordance with section eight hundred fifty-three of this article. Any obligatory provision is deemed to satisfy the requirements for authorization referred to in subsection (c), section eight hundred fifty-three of this article and in subsection (c), section eight hundred fifty-five of this article. Any provision that obligates the corporation to provide indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by law is deemed to obligate the corporation to advance funds to pay for or reimburse expenses in accordance with section eight hundred fifty-three of this article to the fullest extent permitted by law, unless the provision specifically provides otherwise.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 31D-8-858
- Articles of incorporation: includes , but is not limited to, amended and restated articles of incorporation and articles of merger. See West Virginia Code 31D-1-150
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Employee: includes an officer and may include a director: Provided, That the director has accepted duties that make him or her also an employee. See West Virginia Code 31D-1-150
- Indemnification: In general, a collateral contract or assurance under which one person agrees to secure another person against either anticipated financial losses or potential adverse legal consequences. Source: FDIC
(b) Any provision pursuant to subsection (a) of this section does 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 specifically provided. Any provision for indemnification or advance for expenses in the articles of incorporation, 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, existing at the time the merger takes effect, is to be governed by subdivision (3), subsection (a), section one thousand one hundred six, article eleven of this chapter.
(c) 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 this part.
(d) This part does not limit a corporation's power to pay or reimburse expenses incurred by a director or an officer in connection with his or her appearance as a witness in a proceeding at a time when he or she is not a party.
(e) This part does not limit a corporation's power to indemnify, advance expenses to or provide or maintain insurance on behalf of an employee or agent.