Bill Text: DE SB203 | 2021-2022 | 151st General Assembly | Engrossed


Bill Title: An Act To Amend Title 8 Of The Delaware Code Relating To The General Corporation Law.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-2)

Status: (Passed) 2022-02-07 - Signed by Governor [SB203 Detail]

Download: Delaware-2021-SB203-Engrossed.html

SPONSOR:

Sen. Townsend & Sen. Brown & Sen. Gay & Rep. Lynn

Sens. Bonini, Hansen, Sokola; Reps. Bush, Griffith, K. Johnson, Longhurst, Spiegelman

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE BILL NO. 203

AS AMENDED BY

SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 8 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (Two-thirds of all members elected to each house thereof concurring therein):

Section 1. Amend § 145, Title 8 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows :

§ 145 Indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents; insurance.

(c) (1) To the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith. For indemnification with respect to any act or omission occurring after December 31, 2020, references to “officer” for purposes of this paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this section shall mean only a person who at the time of such act or omission is deemed to have consented to service by the delivery of process to the registered agent of the corporation pursuant to § 3114(b) of Title 10 (for purposes of this sentence only, treating residents of this State as if they were nonresidents to apply § 3114(b) of Title 10 to this sentence).

(g) A corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this section. For purposes of this subsection, insurance shall include any insurance provided directly or indirectly (including pursuant to any fronting or reinsurance arrangement) by or through a captive insurance company organized and licensed in compliance with the laws of any jurisdiction, including any captive insurance company licensed under Chapter 69 of Title 18 of the Delaware Code, provided that the terms of any such captive insurance shall:

(1) exclude from coverage thereunder, and provide that the insurer shall not make any payment for, loss in connection with any claim made against any person arising out of, based upon or attributable to any (i) personal profit or other financial advantage to which such person was not legally entitled or (ii) deliberate criminal or deliberate fraudulent act of such person, or a knowing violation of law by such person, if (in the case of the foregoing clause (i) or (ii)) established by a final, non-appealable adjudication in the underlying proceeding in respect of such claim (which shall not include an action or proceeding initiated by the insurer or the insured to determine coverage under the policy), unless and only to the extent such person is entitled to be indemnified therefor under this section;

(2) require that any determination to make a payment under such insurance in respect of a claim against a current director or officer (as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section) of the corporation shall be made by a independent claims administrator or in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (d)(1) through (4) of this section; and

(3) require that, prior to any payment under such insurance in connection with any dismissal or compromise of any action, suit or proceeding brought by or in the right of a corporation as to which notice is required to be given to stockholders, such corporation shall include in such notice that a payment is proposed to be made under such insurance in connection with such dismissal or compromise.

For purposes of paragraph (1) of this subsection, the conduct of an insured person shall not be imputed to any other insured person. A corporation that establishes or maintains a captive insurance company that provides insurance pursuant to this section shall not, solely by virtue thereof, be subject to the provisions of Title 18 of the Delaware Code.

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