The fiduciary duty (loyalty) and duty of care owed by directors
and officers of Canadian corporations require them to oversee the
management of the corporation with a view to the corporation's
best interests. The Supreme Court of Canada has held that the
fiduciary duty is a "broad, contextual concept" that is
not confined to short-term profit or share value. In considering
what is in the corporation's best interests, directors may
consider the interests of various stakeholders, including
shareholders, employees, creditors, consumers, governments and the
environment. The content of the duty "varies with the
situation at hand."
For many corporations, the extraordinary circumstances triggered by
the COVID-19 pandemic have materially changed the situation at
hand. As such, determining the corporation's best
interests may involve a more complex analysis. This is particularly
so where the interest of shareholders in value maximization may run
counter to the interests of other stakeholders, such as
employees.
Business judgment rule
How do directors and officers satisfy this increasingly
challenging duty and minimize their exposure to personal liability?
The answer begins with good governance and processes that ensure
due consideration of stakeholder interests. If directors and
officers follow best practices and processes in this regard, under
the "business judgment rule" Canadian courts are more
likely to be deferential to their decisions so long as the
decisions lie within a range of reasonable alternatives.
The specific forms of governance and decision-making processes that
should be followed will vary depending upon the nature of the
corporation's business. In general, noting the situation at
hand, directors should be asking tough questions, including about
the viability of the corporation's business model, the need for
additional or modified disclosure (for instance, guidance on
revenue), management's crisis management plans, compliance with
contractual covenants (for instance, debt covenants), newly
available contractual rights (for instance, the right to declare
force majeure), new supply chain risks, employee safety,
and any newly available government assistance.
In this particular situation at hand, directors and officers should
consider the availability of expert advice on COVID-19 issues, and
in any event stay on top of COVID-19 developments, including
changes to laws and government programs. The need for more frequent
board meetings and management reports should also be
considered.
In terms of personal exposure, directors and officers should also
seek advice on the adequacy of the corporation's D&O
insurance coverage and their rights of indemnity, and pay close
attention to corporate tax obligations that can lead to personal
liability.
We also refer the reader to the Norton Rose Fulbright
publications:
-
Managing Securities litigation risks in the age of
uncertainty
-
COVID-19: Legal considerations for Canadian
boards
About Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
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