Subchapter IV. Directors and Officers

TITLE 8

Corporations

CHAPTER 1. GENERAL CORPORATION LAW

Subchapter IV. Directors and Officers

§ 141. Board of directors; powers; number, qualifications, terms and quorum; committees; classes of directors; nonstock corporations;
reliance upon books; action without meeting; removal.

(a) The business and affairs of every corporation organized under this chapter shall be managed by or under the direction
of a board of directors, except as may be otherwise provided in this chapter or in its certificate of incorporation. If any
such provision is made in the certificate of incorporation, the powers and duties conferred or imposed upon the board of directors
by this chapter shall be exercised or performed to such extent and by such person or persons as shall be provided in the certificate
of incorporation.

(b) The board of directors of a corporation shall consist of 1 or more members, each of whom shall be a natural person. The
number of directors shall be fixed by, or in the manner provided in, the bylaws, unless the certificate of incorporation fixes
the number of directors, in which case a change in the number of directors shall be made only by amendment of the certificate.
Directors need not be stockholders unless so required by the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws. The certificate of
incorporation or bylaws may prescribe other qualifications for directors. Each director shall hold office until such director's
successor is elected and qualified or until such director's earlier resignation or removal. Any director may resign at any
time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the corporation. A resignation is effective when the resignation
is delivered unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of
an event or events. A resignation which is conditioned upon the director failing to receive a specified vote for reelection
as a director may provide that it is irrevocable. A majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for
the transaction of business unless the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws require a greater number. Unless the certificate
of incorporation provides otherwise, the bylaws may provide that a number less than a majority shall constitute a quorum which
in no case shall be less than 1/3 of the total number of directors except that when a board of 1 director is authorized under
this section, then 1 director shall constitute a quorum. The vote of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at
which a quorum is present shall be the act of the board of directors unless the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws
shall require a vote of a greater number.

(c)(1) All corporations incorporated prior to July 1, 1996, shall be governed by paragraph (1) of this subsection, provided
that any such corporation may by a resolution adopted by a majority of the whole board elect to be governed by paragraph (2)
of this subsection, in which case paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply to such corporation. All corporations incorporated
on or after July 1, 1996, shall be governed by paragraph (2) of this subsection. The board of directors may, by resolution
passed by a majority of the whole board, designate 1 or more committees, each committee to consist of 1 or more of the directors
of the corporation. The board may designate 1 or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any
absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. The bylaws may provide that in the absence or disqualification
of a member of a committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not
the member or members present constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the board of directors to act
at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution
of the board of directors, or in the bylaws of the corporation, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of
the board of directors in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation, and may authorize the seal of the
corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference
to amending the certificate of incorporation (except that a committee may, to the extent authorized in the resolution or resolutions
providing for the issuance of shares of stock adopted by the board of directors as provided in subsection (a) of § 151 of
this title, fix the designations and any of the preferences or rights of such shares relating to dividends, redemption, dissolution,
any distribution of assets of the corporation or the conversion into, or the exchange of such shares for, shares of any other
class or classes or any other series of the same or any other class or classes of stock of the corporation or fix the number
of shares of any series of stock or authorize the increase or decrease of the shares of any series), adopting an agreement
of merger or consolidation under § 251, § 252, § 254, § 255, § 256, § 257, § 258, § 263 or § 264 of this title, recommending
to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the corporation's property and assets, recommending
to the stockholders a dissolution of the corporation or a revocation of a dissolution, or amending the bylaws of the corporation;
and, unless the resolution, bylaws or certificate of incorporation expressly so provides, no such committee shall have the
power or authority to declare a dividend, to authorize the issuance of stock or to adopt a certificate of ownership and merger
pursuant to § 253 of this title.

(2) The board of directors may designate 1 or more committees, each committee to consist of 1 or more of the directors of
the corporation. The board may designate 1 or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent
or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. The bylaws may provide that in the absence or disqualification of
a member of a committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such
member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the board of directors to act at the meeting
in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the
board of directors, or in the bylaws of the corporation, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the board
of directors in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation, and may authorize the seal of the corporation
to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to
the following matter: (i) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the
election or removal of directors) expressly required by this chapter to be submitted to stockholders for approval or (ii)
adopting, amending or repealing any bylaw of the corporation.

(3) Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, the bylaws or the resolution of the board of directors
designating the committee, a committee may create 1 or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of 1 or more members
of the committee, and delegate to a subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee.

(d) The directors of any corporation organized under this chapter may, by the certificate of incorporation or by an initial
bylaw, or by a bylaw adopted by a vote of the stockholders, be divided into 1, 2 or 3 classes; the term of office of those
of the first class to expire at the first annual meeting held after such classification becomes effective; of the second class
1 year thereafter; of the third class 2 years thereafter; and at each annual election held after such classification becomes
effective, directors shall be chosen for a full term, as the case may be, to succeed those whose terms expire. The certificate
of incorporation or bylaw provision dividing the directors into classes may authorize the board of directors to assign members
of the board already in office to such classes at the time such classification becomes effective. The certificate of incorporation
may confer upon holders of any class or series of stock the right to elect 1 or more directors who shall serve for such term,
and have such voting powers as shall be stated in the certificate of incorporation. The terms of office and voting powers
of the directors elected separately by the holders of any class or series of stock may be greater than or less than those
of any other director or class of directors. In addition, the certificate of incorporation may confer upon 1 or more directors,
whether or not elected separately by the holders of any class or series of stock, voting powers greater than or less than
those of other directors. Any such provision conferring greater or lesser voting power shall apply to voting in any committee
or subcommittee, unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws. If the certificate of incorporation
provides that 1 or more directors shall have more or less than 1 vote per director on any matter, every reference in this
chapter to a majority or other proportion of the directors shall refer to a majority or other proportion of the votes of the
directors.

(e) A member of the board of directors, or a member of any committee designated by the board of directors, shall, in the performance
of such member's duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the corporation and upon such information,
opinions, reports or statements presented to the corporation by any of the corporation's officers or employees, or committees
of the board of directors, or by any other person as to matters the member reasonably believes are within such other person's
professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the corporation.

(f) Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken
at any meeting of the board of directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the
board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, or by electronic transmission and the writing or writings
or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the board, or committee. Such filing
shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained
in electronic form.

(g) Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or bylaws, the board of directors of any corporation organized
under this chapter may hold its meetings, and have an office or offices, outside of this State.

(h) Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or bylaws, the board of directors shall have the authority
to fix the compensation of directors.

(i) Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or bylaws, members of the board of directors of any corporation,
or any committee designated by the board, may participate in a meeting of such board, or committee by means of conference
telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other,
and participation in a meeting pursuant to this subsection shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

(j) The certificate of incorporation of any nonstock corporation may provide that less than 1/3 of the members of the governing
body may constitute a quorum thereof and may otherwise provide that the business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed
in a manner different from that provided in this section. Except as may be otherwise provided by the certificate of incorporation,
this section shall apply to such a corporation, and when so applied, all references to the board of directors, to members
thereof, and to stockholders shall be deemed to refer to the governing body of the corporation, the members thereof and the
members of the corporation, respectively; and all references to stock, capital stock, or shares thereof shall be deemed to
refer to memberships of a nonprofit nonstock corporation and to membership interests of any other nonstock corporation.

(k) Any director or the entire board of directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the
shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors, except as follows:

(1) Unless the certificate of incorporation otherwise provides, in the case of a corporation whose board is classified as
provided in subsection (d) of this section, stockholders may effect such removal only for cause; or

(2) In the case of a corporation having cumulative voting, if less than the entire board is to be removed, no director may
be removed without cause if the votes cast against such director's removal would be sufficient to elect such director if then
cumulatively voted at an election of the entire board of directors, or, if there be classes of directors, at an election of
the class of directors of which such director is a part.

Whenever the holders of any class or series are entitled to elect 1 or more directors by the certificate of incorporation,
this subsection shall apply, in respect to the removal without cause of a director or directors so elected, to the vote of
the holders of the outstanding shares of that class or series and not to the vote of the outstanding shares as a whole.

8 Del. C. 1953, § 141; 56 Del. Laws, c. 50; 56 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 3; 57 Del. Laws, c. 148, §§ 5, 6; 57 Del. Laws, c. 421, § 1; 59 Del. Laws, c. 437, §§ 2-5; 64 Del. Laws, c. 112, § 6; 65 Del. Laws, c. 127, § 3; 66 Del. Laws, c. 136, §§ 2, 3; 70 Del. Laws, c. 79, § 7; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 349, § 2; 71 Del. Laws, c. 339, §§ 11-13; 72 Del. Laws, c. 343, §§ 4-6; 73 Del. Laws, c. 298, § 2; 74 Del. Laws, c. 84, § 2; 74 Del. Laws, c. 326, § 2; 75 Del. Laws, c. 30, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 306, §§ 3, 4; 76 Del. Laws, c. 145, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 253, §§ 10-12.;

§ 142. Officers; titles, duties, selection, term; failure to elect; vacancies.

(a) Every corporation organized under this chapter shall have such officers with such titles and duties as shall be stated
in the bylaws or in a resolution of the board of directors which is not inconsistent with the bylaws and as may be necessary
to enable it to sign instruments and stock certificates which comply with §§ 103(a)(2) and 158 of this title. One of the officers
shall have the duty to record the proceedings of the meetings of the stockholders and directors in a book to be kept for that
purpose. Any number of offices may be held by the same person unless the certificate of incorporation or bylaws otherwise
provide.

(b) Officers shall be chosen in such manner and shall hold their offices for such terms as are prescribed by the bylaws or
determined by the board of directors or other governing body. Each officer shall hold office until such officer's successor
is elected and qualified or until such officer's earlier resignation or removal. Any officer may resign at any time upon written
notice to the corporation.

(d) A failure to elect officers shall not dissolve or otherwise affect the corporation.

(e) Any vacancy occurring in any office of the corporation by death, resignation, removal or otherwise, shall be filled as
the bylaws provide. In the absence of such provision, the vacancy shall be filled by the board of directors or other governing
body.

8 Del. C. 1953, § 142; 56 Del. Laws, c. 50; 56 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 4; 57 Del. Laws, c. 649, § 2; 59 Del. Laws, c. 437, § 6; 71 Del. Laws, c. 339, § 14.;

§ 143. Loans to employees and officers; guaranty of obligations of employees and officers.

Any corporation may lend money to, or guarantee any obligation of, or otherwise assist any officer or other employee of the
corporation or of its subsidiary, including any officer or employee who is a director of the corporation or its subsidiary,
whenever, in the judgment of the directors, such loan, guaranty or assistance may reasonably be expected to benefit the corporation.
The loan, guaranty or other assistance may be with or without interest, and may be unsecured, or secured in such manner as
the board of directors shall approve, including, without limitation, a pledge of shares of stock of the corporation. Nothing
in this section contained shall be deemed to deny, limit or restrict the powers of guaranty or warranty of any corporation
at common law or under any statute.

8 Del. C. 1953, § 143; 56 Del. Laws, c. 50.;

§ 144. Interested directors; quorum.

(a) No contract or transaction between a corporation and 1 or more of its directors or officers, or between a corporation
and any other corporation, partnership, association, or other organization in which 1 or more of its directors or officers,
are directors or officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because
the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the board or committee which authorizes the contract
or transaction, or solely because any such director's or officer's votes are counted for such purpose, if:

(1) The material facts as to the director's or officer's relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are
disclosed or are known to the board of directors or the committee, and the board or committee in good faith authorizes the
contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested
directors be less than a quorum; or

(2) The material facts as to the director's or officer's relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are
disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved
in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or

(3) The contract or transaction is fair as to the corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the
board of directors, a committee or the stockholders.

(b) Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the board of directors
or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.

8 Del. C. 1953, § 144; 56 Del. Laws, c. 50; 56 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 5; 57 Del. Laws, c. 148, § 7; 71 Del. Laws, c. 339, §§ 15-17; 77 Del. Laws, c. 253, §§ 13, 14.;

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

(a) A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other
than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person 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 expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such
action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable
cause to believe the person's conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order,
settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that
the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that
the person's conduct was unlawful.

(b) A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by
reason of the fact that the person 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 expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection
with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made
in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation
unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine
upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person
is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem
proper.

(c) 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.

(d) Any indemnification under subsections (a) and (b) of this section (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation
only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer,
employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in
subsections (a) and (b) of this section. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer
of the corporation at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such
action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority
vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct,
by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.

(e) Expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by an officer or director of the corporation in defending any civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition
of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such
amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized
in this section. Such expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and
agents of the corporation or by persons serving at the request of the corporation as directors, officers, employees or agents
of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise may be so paid upon such terms and conditions,
if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.

(f) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this section
shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be
entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such
person's official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. A right to indemnification or to
advancement of expenses arising under a provision of the certificate of incorporation or a bylaw shall not be eliminated or
impaired by an amendment to such provision after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought,
unless the provision in effect at the time of such act or omission explicitly authorizes such elimination or impairment after
such action or omission has occurred.

(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.

(h) For purposes of this section, references to "the corporation" shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation,
any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its
separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or
agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or
was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this section with respect to
the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate
existence had continued.

(i) For purposes of this section, references to "other enterprises" shall include employee benefit plans; references to "fines"
shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and references to "serving
at the request of the corporation" shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation
which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit
plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed
to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a
manner "not opposed to the best interests of the corporation" as referred to in this section.

(j) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this section shall, unless otherwise
provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent
and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

(k) The Court of Chancery is hereby vested with exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine all actions for advancement of
expenses or indemnification brought under this section or under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested
directors, or otherwise. The Court of Chancery may summarily determine a corporation's obligation to advance expenses (including
attorneys' fees).

8 Del. C. 1953, § 145; 56 Del. Laws, c. 50; 56 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 6; 57 Del. Laws, c. 421, § 2; 59 Del. Laws, c. 437, § 7; 63 Del. Laws, c. 25, § 1; 64 Del. Laws, c. 112, § 7; 65 Del. Laws, c. 289, §§ 3-6; 67 Del. Laws, c. 376, § 3; 69 Del. Laws, c. 261, §§ 1, 2; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 71 Del. Laws, c. 120, §§ 3-11; 77 Del. Laws, c. 14, § 3; 77 Del. Laws, c. 290, §§ 5, 6.;

§ 146. Submission of matters for stockholder vote.

A corporation may agree to submit a matter to a vote of its stockholders whether or not the board of directors determines
at any time subsequent to approving such matter that such matter is no longer advisable and recommends that the stockholders
reject or vote against the matter.

74 Del. Laws, c. 84, § 3.;