contract except for (1) liability in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation other than for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding or (2) liability arising out of conduct that constitutes (a) receipt by the officer of a financial benefit to which the officer is not entitled, (b) an intentional infliction of harm on the corporation or the shareholders or (c) an intentional violation of criminal law. An officer of a corporation who is not a director is entitled to mandatory indemnification as a prevailing party under ARS §10-852.
ARS §10-857 provides that a corporation may purchase and maintain insurance, including retrospectively rated and self-insured programs, on behalf of an individual who is or was a director or officer of the corporation or who, while a director or officer of the corporation, is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other entity, against liability asserted against or incurred by the individual in that capacity or arising from the individual’s status as a director or officer, whether or not the corporation would have power to indemnify or advance expenses to the individual against the same liability under Arizona law.
The articles of incorporation of Meritage Homes of Arizona, Inc., Meritage Homes Construction, Inc., Meritage Homes of Nevada, Inc., Meritage Homes of Colorado, Inc., Meritage Homes of Texas Holding, Inc., Meritage Homes of the Carolinas, Inc., Meritage Homes of Tennessee, Inc., Meritage Homes of South Carolina, Inc., Meritage Homes of Georgia, Inc., MTH Shelf Co., Inc. and MLC Holdings, Inc. dba MLC Land Holdings, Inc., each of which is an Arizona corporation, provide that the liability of a director or former director to the corporation or its shareholders shall be eliminated to the fullest extent permitted by Arizona law. In addition, the articles of incorporation of each of these corporations, other than Meritage Homes of Texas Holding, Inc., provide that the corporation shall indemnify any and all of its existing and former directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Arizona law.
Arizona Limited Liability Company Guarantors
ARS §29-610 provides that, unless otherwise limited in a company’s articles of organization, an Arizona limited liability company may indemnify a member, manager, employee, officer or agent or any other person. The articles of organization for each of Meritage Homes Operating Company, LLC, Meritage Homes of Texas, LLC, Meritage Paseo Crossing, LLC, Meritage Paseo Construction, LLC,MTH-Cavalier, LLC, MTH Golf, LLC, WW Project Seller, LLC, MTH Realty LLC, MTH GA Realty LLC, MTH SC Realty LLC and Meritage Homes of Georgia Realty, LLC, each of which is an Arizona limited liability company, do not contain any such restrictions.
The operating agreement for each ofMTH-Cavalier, LLC and MTH Golf, LLC provides that its members and their respective affiliates will be indemnified and held harmless, to the extent of the applicable company’s assets, for, from, and against any liability, damage, cost, expense, loss, claim, or judgment incurred arising out of any claim based upon acts performed or omitted to be performed by in connection with the business of the applicable company. However, the operating agreement for each ofMTH-Cavalier, LLC and MTH Golf, LLC further provides that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no such person shall be indemnified or held harmless for claims based upon acts or omissions in breach of the operating agreement or that constitute fraud, gross negligence, or willful misconduct. In addition, the operating agreement for each ofMTH-Cavalier, LLC and MTH Golf, LLC provides that no members or their respective affiliates shall be personally liable, responsible, or accountable in damages or otherwise to the applicable company for any act or omission performed or omitted in connection with the applicable company or its business, and that any member’s liability for the debts and obligations of the applicable company shall be limited as set forth under applicable law.
California Corporate Guarantor
Section 317 of the California General Corporation Law (the “CGCL”) allows a corporation, in certain circumstances, to indemnify its directors and officers against certain expenses (including attorneys’ fees and
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