(1) A corporation may, before final disposition of a proceeding, advance funds to pay for or reimburse expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding by an individual who is a party to the proceeding because that individual is or was a director or an officer if the director or officer delivers to the corporation a signed written undertaking of the director or officer to repay any funds advanced if:

(a) The director or officer is not entitled to mandatory indemnification under s. 607.0852; and

Terms Used In Florida Statutes 607.0853

  • 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.
  • Expenses: means reasonable expenses of any kind that are incurred in connection with a matter. See Florida Statutes 607.01401
  • 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
  • Individual: includes the estate of an incompetent or deceased individual. See Florida Statutes 607.01401
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Proceeding: includes a civil suit, a criminal action, an administrative action, and an investigatory action. See Florida Statutes 607.01401
  • Shares: means the units into which the proprietary interests in a corporation are divided. See Florida Statutes 607.01401
(b) It is ultimately determined under s. 607.0854 or s. 607.0855 that the director or officer has not met the relevant standard of conduct described in s. 607.0851 or the director or officer is not entitled to indemnification under s. 607.0859.
(2) The undertaking required by paragraph (1)(b) must be an unlimited general obligation of the director or officer but need not be secured and may be accepted without reference to the financial ability of the director or officer to make repayment.
(3) Authorizations under this section must be made:

(a) By the board of directors:

1. If there are two or more qualified directors, by a majority vote of all of the qualified directors (a majority of whom shall for such purpose constitute a quorum) or by a majority of the members of a committee appointed by such vote and comprised of two or more qualified directors; or
2. If there are fewer than two qualified directors, by the vote necessary for action by the board of directors under s. 607.0824(3), in which authorization vote directors who are not qualified directors may participate; or
(b) By the shareholders, but shares owned by or voted under the control of a director or officer who at the time of the authorization is not a qualified director or is an officer who is a party to the proceeding may not be counted as a vote in favor of the authorization.
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