Code of Virginia - Title 13.1 Corporations - Section 13.1-675 Number and election of directors

§ 13.1-675. Number and election of directors

A. A board of directors shall consist of one or more individuals, with the number specified in or fixed in accordance with the bylaws, or if not specified in or fixed in accordance with the bylaws, with the number specified in or fixed in accordance with the articles of incorporation. The number of directors may be increased or decreased from time to time by amendment to the bylaws, unless the articles of incorporation provide that a change in the number of directors shall be made only by amendment of the articles of incorporation.

B. The shareholders may adopt a bylaw fixing the number of directors and may direct that such bylaw not be amended by the board of directors. If a bylaw states a fixed number of directors and the board of directors has the right to amend the bylaw, it may by amendment to the bylaw increase or decrease by 30 percent or less the number of directors last elected by the shareholders, or, if the directors' terms are staggered pursuant to § 13.1-678, the number of directors of all classes immediately following the most recent election of directors by the shareholders, but only the shareholders may increase or decrease the number by more than 30 percent. The restrictions on the increase or decrease in the number of directors set forth in this subsection shall not apply to a corporation registered as an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

C. The articles of incorporation or bylaws may establish a variable range for the size of the board of directors by fixing a minimum and maximum number of directors. If a variable range is established, the number of directors may be fixed or changed from time to time, within the minimum and maximum, by the shareholders or by the board of directors. After shares are issued, only the shareholders may change the range for the size of the board of directors or change from a fixed to a variable-range size board or vice versa.

D. Directors are elected at the first annual shareholders' meeting and at each annual meeting thereafter unless their terms are staggered under § 13.1-678.

E. No individual shall be named or elected as a director without his prior consent.

(Code 1950, § 13.1-36; 1956, c. 428; 1968, c. 87; 1973, c. 50; 1974, c. 662; 1977, c. 123; 1982, c. 104; 1985, c. 522; 1991, c. 112; 2005, c. 765; 2006, c. 330.)

Sections:  Previous  13.1-672.2  13.1-672.3  13.1-672.4  13.1-672.5  13.1-672.6  13.1-673  13.1-674  13.1-675  13.1-676  13.1-677  13.1-678  13.1-679  13.1-680  13.1-681  13.1-682  Next

Last modified: April 16, 2009