N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-65-168: Mandatory indemnification.

Unless limited by its articles of incorporation, a corporation shall indemnify a director who was wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he was a party because he is or was a director of the corporation against reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection with the proceeding. (1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 1071, s. 1.)