Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Section 13.1-692.1 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, places a limitation on the liability of officers and directors of a corporation in any proceeding brought by or in the right of the corporation or brought by or on behalf of shareholders of the corporation. The damages assessed against an officer or director arising out of a single transaction, occurrence, or course of conduct shall not exceed the greater of $100,000 or the amount of cash compensation received by the officer or director from the corporation during the 12 months immediately preceding the act or omission for which liability was imposed. The statute also authorizes the corporation, in its articles of incorporation or, if approved by the shareholders, in its bylaws, to provide for a different specific monetary limit on, or to eliminate entirely, liability. The liability of an officer or director shall not be limited if the officer or director engaged in willful misconduct or a knowing violation of the criminal law or any federal or state securities law. The Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the “Articles”) contain a provision which eliminates, to the full extent that the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia permit, the liability of an officer or director of the Company to the Company or its shareholders for monetary damages for any breach of duty as a director or officer.
The Company’s Articles also require the Company to indemnify any director or officer who is or was a party to a proceeding, including a proceeding by or in the right of the Company, by reason of the fact that he is or was such a director or officer or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another entity. Directors and officers of the Company are entitled to be indemnified against all liabilities and expenses incurred by the director or officer in the proceeding, except such liabilities and expenses as are incurred because of his or her willful misconduct or knowing violation of the criminal law. Unless a determination has been made that indemnification is not permissible, a director or officer also is entitled to have the Company make advances and reimbursement for expenses prior to final disposition of the proceeding upon receipt of a written undertaking from the director or officer to repay the amounts advanced or reimbursed if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to indemnification. The Board of Directors of the Company also has the authority to extend to employees, agents, and other persons serving at the request of the Company the same indemnification rights held by directors and officers, subject to all of the accompanying conditions and obligations.
Virginia Code Section 13.1-700.1 permits a court, upon application of a director or officer, to review Company’s determination as to a director’s or officer’s request for advances, reimbursement or indemnification. If it determines that the director or officer is entitled to such advances, reimbursement or indemnification, the court may order Company to make advances and/or reimbursement for expenses or to provide indemnification, in which case the court shall also order Company to pay the officer’s or director’s reasonable expenses incurred to obtain the order. With respect to a proceeding by or in the right of the Company, the court may order indemnification to the extent of the officer’s or director’s reasonable expenses if it determines that, considering all the relevant circumstances, the officer or director is entitled to indemnification even though he or she was adjudged liable, and may also order Company to pay the officer’s and director’s reasonable expenses incurred to obtain the order of indemnification.
The Company has the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of Company, or is or was serving at the request of Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another entity, against any liability asserted against or incurred by such person, in any such capacity or arising from his or her status as such, whether or not Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the Articles.
The Company maintains a directors’ and officers’ legal liability insurance policy. The policy provides coverage, subject to certain deductible or retention amounts, for (i) Company’s directors and officers against losses by reason of their wrongful acts, and (ii) Company against claims against the directors and officers by reasons of their wrongful acts for which Company is required to indemnify or pay, all as such terms are defined in the policy and subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions contained therein.
Pursuant to the Company’s Articles, the Company may maintain a directors’ and officers’ insurance policy which insures the directors and officers of the Company against liability asserted against such persons in such capacity whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the Act.
The foregoing is only a general summary of certain aspects of the Act and the Company’s Articles dealing with indemnification of directors and officers, and does not purport to be complete. It is qualified in its entirety by reference to the detailed provisions of Article 10 of the Act and Article VI of the Articles of the Company.