THE CORPORATIONS LAW

CHAPTER 2D - OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES

PART 2D.2 - RESTRICTIONS ON INDEMNITIES, INSURANCE AND TERMINATION PAYMENTS

Division 1 - Indemnities and insurance for officers and auditors

SECTION 199A   INDEMNIFICATION AND EXEMPTION OF OFFICER OR AUDITOR  

199A(1)  Exemptions not allowed.  

A company or a related body corporate must not exempt a person (whether directly or through an interposed entity) from a liability to the company incurred as an officer or auditor of the company.

199A(2)  When indemnity for liability (other than for legal costs) not allowed.  

A company or a related body corporate must not indemnify a person (whether by agreement or by making a payment and whether directly or through an interposed entity) against any of the following liabilities incurred as an officer or auditor of the company:

(a)  a liability owed to the company or a related body corporate

(b)  a liability for a pecuniary penalty order under section 1317G or a compensation order under section 1317H

(c)  a liability that is owed to someone other than the company or a related body corporate and did not arise out of conduct in good faith.

This subsection does not apply to a liability for legal costs.

199A(3)  When indemnity for legal costs not allowed.  

A company or related body corporate must not indemnify a person (whether by agreement or by making a payment and whether directly or through an interposed entity) against legal costs incurred in defending an action for a liability incurred as an officer or auditor of the company if the costs are incurred:

(a)  in defending or resisting proceedings in which the person is found to have a liability for which they could not be indemnified under subsection (2); or

(b)  in defending or resisting criminal proceedings in which the person is found guilty; or

(c)  in defending or resisting proceedings brought by ASIC or a liquidator for a court order if the grounds for making the order are found by the court to have been established; or

(d)  in connection with proceedings for relief to the person under this Law in which the Court denies the relief.

Paragraph (c) does not apply to costs incurred in responding to actions taken by ASIC or a liquidator as part of an investigation before commencing proceedings for the court order.

Note 1:

Paragraph (c) - This includes proceedings by ASIC for an order under section 206C, 206D or 206E (disqualification), section 232 (oppression), section 1317E, 1317G or 1317H (civil penalties) or section 1324 (injunction).

Note 2: The company may be able to give the person a loan or advance in respect of the legal costs (see section 212).

199A(4)  [Outcome of proceedings]  

For the purposes of subsection (3), the outcome of proceedings is the outcome of the proceedings and any appeal in relation to the proceedings.