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Subchapter A. SHARES
| § 6.01 AUTHORIZED SHARES
(a) The articles of incorporation must prescribe the classes of shares
and the number of shares of each class that the corporation is
authorized to issue. If more than one class of shares is authorized,
the articles of incorporation must prescribe a distinguishing
designation for each class, and, prior to the issuance of shares of a
class, the preferences, limitations, and relative rights of that class
must be described in the articles of incorporation. All shares of a
class must have preferences, limitations, and relative rights
identical with those of other shares of the same class except to the
extent otherwise permitted by section 6.02.
(b) The articles of incorporation must authorize (1) one or more
classes of shares that together have unlimited voting rights, and (2)
one or more classes of shares (which may be the same class or classes
as those with voting rights) that together are entitled to receive the
net assets of the corporation upon dissolution.
(c) The articles of incorporation may authorize one or more classes
of shares that:
(1) have special, conditional, or limited voting rights, or no
right to vote, except to the extent prohibited by this Act;
(2) are redeemable or convertible as specified in the articles of
incorporation (i) at the option of the corporation, the shareholder,
or another person or upon the occurrence of a designated event; (ii)
for cash, indebtedness, securities, or other property; (iii) in a
designated amount or in an amount determined in accordance with a
designated formula or by reference to extrinsic data or events;
(3) entitle the holders to distributions calculated in any manner,
including dividends that may be cumulative, noncumulative, or
partially cumulative;
(4) have preference over any other class of shares with respect to
distributions, including dividends and distributions upon the
dissolution of the corporation.
(d) The description of the designations, preferences, limitations,
and relative rights of share classes in subsection (c) is not
exhaustive. |
| § 6.02 TERMS OF CLASS OR SERIES
DETERMINED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS (a) If the articles of
incorporation so provide, the board of directors may determine, in
whole or part, the preferences, limitations, and relative rights
(within the limits set forth in section 6.01) of (1) any class of
shares before the issuance of any shares of that class or (2) one or
more series within a class before the issuance of any shares of that
series.
(b) Each series of a class must be given a distinguishing
designation.
(c) All shares of a series must have preferences, limitations, and
relative rights identical with those of other shares of the same
series and, except to the extent otherwise provided in the description
of the series, with those of other series of the same class.
(d) Before issuing any shares of a class or series created under
this section, the corporation must deliver to the secretery of state
for filing articles of amendment, which are effective without
shareholder action, that set forth:
(1) the name of the corporation;
(2) the text of the amendment determining the terms of the class or
series of shares;
(3) the date it was adopted; and
(4) a statement that the amendment was duly adopted by the board of
directors. |
| § 6.03 ISSUED AND OUTSTANDING
SHARES (a) A corporation may issue the number of shares of each
class or series authorized by the articles of incorporation. Shares
that are issued are outstanding shares until they are reacquired,
redeemed, converted, or cancelled.
(b) The reacquisition, redemption, or conversion of outstanding
shares is subject to the limitations of subsection (c) of this section
and to section 6.40.
(c) At all times that shares of the corporation are outstanding,
one or more shares that together have unlimited voting rights and one
or more shares that together are entitled to receive the net assets of
the corporation upon dissolution must be outstanding. |
| § 6.04 FRACTIONAL SHARES
(a) A corporation may:
(1) issue fractions of a share or pay in money the value of
fractions of a share;
(2) arrange for disposition of fractional shares by the
shareholders;
(3) issue scrip in registered or bearer form entitling the holder
to receive a full share upon surrendering enough scrip to equal a full
share.
(b) Each certificate representing scrip must be conspicuously
labeled "scrip" and must contain the information required by section
6.25(b).
(c) The holder of a fractional share is entitled to exercise the
rights of a shareholder, including the right to vote, to receive
dividends, and to participate in the assets of the corporation upon
liquidation. The holder of scrip is not entitled to any of these
rights unless the scrip provides for them.
(d) The board of directors may authorize the issuance of scrip
subject to any condition considered desirable, including:
(1) that the scrip will become void if not exchanged for full
shares before a specified date; and
(2) that the shares for which the scrip is exchangeable may be sold
and the proceeds paid to the scripholders. |
Subchapter B. ISSUANCE
OF SHARES
| § 6.20 SUBSCRIPTION FOR SHARES
BEFORE INCORPORATION (a) A subscription for shares entered into
before incorporation is irrevocable for six months unless the
subscription agreement provides a longer or shorter period or all the
subscribers agree to revocation.
(b) The board of directors may determine the payment terms of
subscription for shares that were entered into before incorporation,
unless the subscription agreement specifies them. A call for payment
by the board of directors must be uniform so far as practicable as to
all shares of the same class or series, unless the subscription
agreement specifies otherwise.
(c) Shares issued pursuant to subscriptions entered into before
incorporation are fully paid and nonassessable when the corporation
receives the consideration specified in the subscription agreement.
(d) If a subscriber defaults in payment of money or property under
a subscription agreement entered into before incorporation, the
corporation may collect the amount owed as any other debt.
Alternatively, unless the subscription agreement provides otherwise,
the corporation may rescind the agreement and may sell the shares if
the debt remains unpaid for more than 20 days after the corporation
sends written demand for payment to the subscriber.
(e) A subscription agreement entered into after incorporation is a
contract between the subscriber and the corporation subject to section
6.21. |
| § 6.21 ISSUANCE OF SHARES
(a) The powers granted in this section to the board of directors may
be reserved to the shareholders by the articles of incorporation.
(b) The board of directors may authorize shares to be issued for
consideration consisting of any tangible or intangible property or
benefit to the corporation, including cash, promissory notes, services
performed, contracts for services to be performed, or other securities
of the corporation.
(c) Before the corporation issues shares, the board of directors
must determine that the consideration received or to be received for
shares to be issued is adequate. That determination by the board of
directors is conclusive insofar as the adequacy of consideration for
the issuance of shares relates to whether the shares are validly
issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.
(d) When the corporation receives the consideration for which the
board of directors authorized the issuance of shares, the shares
issued therefor are fully paid and nonassessable.
(e) The corporation may place in escrow shares issued for a
contract for future services or benefits or a promissory note, or make
other arrangements to restrict the transfer of the shares, and may
credit distributions in respect of the shares against their purchase
price, until the services are performed, the note is paid, or the
benefits received. If the services are not performed, the note is not
paid, or the benefits are not received, the shares escrowed or
restricted and the distributions credited may be cancelled in whole or
part.
(f) (1) An issuance of shares or other securities convertible into
or rights exercisable for shares, in a transaction or a series of
integrated transactions, requires approval of the shareholders, at a
meeting at which a quorum exists consisting of at least a majority of
the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, if:
(i) the shares, other securities, or rights are issued for
consideration other than cash or cash equivalents, and
(ii) the voting power of shares that are issued and issuable as a
result of the transaction or series of integrated transactions will
comprise more than 20 percent of the voting power of the shares of the
corporation that were outstanding immediately before the transaction.
(2) In this subsection:
(i) For purposes of determining the voting power of shares issued
and issuable as a result of a transaction or series of integrated
transactions, the voting power of shares shall be the greater of (A)
the voting power of the shares to be issued, or (B) the voting power
of the shares that would be outstanding after giving effect to the
conversion of convertible shares and other securities and the exercise
of rights to be issued.
(ii) A series of transactions is integrated if consummation of one
transaction is made contingent on consummation of one or more of the
other transactions. |
| § 6.22 LIABILITY OF
SHAREHOLDERS (a) A purchaser from a corporation of its own
shares is not liable to the corporation or its creditors with respect
to the shares except to pay the consideration for which the shares
were authorized to be issued (section 6.21) or specified in the
subscription agreement (section 6.20).
(b) Unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation, a
shareholder of a corporation is not personally liable for the acts or
debts of the corporation except that he may become personally liable
by reason of his own acts or conduct. |
| § 6.23 SHARE DIVIDENDS
(a) Unless the articles of incorporation provide otherwise, shares may
be issued pro rata and without consideration to the corporation's
shareholders or to the shareholders of one or more classes or series.
An issuance of shares under this subsection is a share dividend.
(b) Shares of one class or series may not be issued as a share
dividend in respect of shares of another class or series unless (1)
the articles of incorporation so authorize, (2) a majority of the
votes entitled to be cast by the class or series to be issued approve
the issue, or (3) there are no outstanding shares of the class or
series to be issued.
(c) If the board of directors does not fix the record date for
determining shareholders entitled to a share dividend, it is the date
the board of directors authorizes the share dividend. |
| § 6.24. SHARE OPTIONS A
corporation may issue rights, options, or warrants for the purchase of
shares of the corporation. The board of directors shall determine the
terms upon which the rights, options, or warrants are issued, their
form and content, and the consideration for which the shares are to be
issued. |
| § 6.25 FORM AND CONTENT OF
CERTIFICATES (a) Shares may but need not be represented by
certificates. Unless this Act or another statute expressly provides
otherwise, the rights and obligations of shareholders are identical
whether or not their shares are represented by certificates.
(b) At a minimum each share certificate must state on its face:
(1) the name of the issuing corporation and that it is organized
under the law of this state;
(2) the name of the person to whom issued; and
(3) the number and class of shares and the designation of the
series, if any, the certificate represents.
(c) If the issuing corporation is authorized to issue different
classes of shares or different series within a class, the
designations, relative rights, preferences, and limitations applicable
to each class and the variations in rights, preferences, and
limitations determined for each series (and the authority of the board
of directors to determine variations for future series) must be
summarized on the front or back of each certificate. Alternatively,
each certificate may state conspicuously on its front or back that the
corporation will furnish the shareholder this information on request
in writing and without charge.
(d) Each share certificate (1) must be signed (either manually or
in facsimile) by two officers designated in the bylaws or by the board
of directors and (2) may bear the corporate seal or its facsimile.
(e) If the person who signed (either manually or in facsimile) a
share certificate no longer holds office when the certificate is
issued, the certificate is nevertheless valid. |
| § 6.26. SHARES WITHOUT
CERTIFICATES (a) Unless the articles of incorporation or bylaws
provide otherwise, the board of directors of a corporation may
authorize the issue of some or all of the shares of any or all of its
classes or series without certificates. The authorization does not
affect shares already represented by certificates until they are
surrendered to the corporation.
(b) Within a reasonable time after the issue or transfer of shares
without certificates, the corporation shall send the shareholder a
written statement of the information required on certificates by
section 6.25(b) and (c), and, if applicable, section 6.27. |
| § 6.27. RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER
OF SHARES AND OTHER SECURITIES (a) The articles of
incorporation, bylaws, an agreement among shareholders, or an
agreement between shareholders and the corporation may impose
restrictions on the transfer or registration of transfer of shares of
the corporation. A restriction does not affect shares issued before
the restriction was adopted unless the holders of the shares are
parties to the restriction agreement or voted in favor of the
restriction.
(b) A restriction on the transfer or registration of transfer of
shares is valid and enforceable against the holder or a transferee of
the holder if the restriction is authorized by this section and its
existence is noted conspicuously on the front or back of the
certificate or is contained in the information statement required by
section 6.26(b). Unless so noted, a restriction is not enforceable
against a person without knowledge of the restriction.
(c) A restriction on the transfer or registration of transfer of
shares is authorized:
(1) to maintain the corporation's status when it is dependent on
the number or identity of its shareholders;
(2) to preserve exemptions under federal or state securities law;
(3) for any other reasonable purpose.
(d) A restriction on the transfer or registration of transfer of
shares may:
(1) obligate the shareholder first to offer the corporation or
other persons (separately, consecutively, or simultaneously) an
opportunity to acquire the restricted shares;
(2) obligate the corporation or other persons (separately,
consecutively, or simultaneously) to acquire the restricted shares;
(3) require the corporation, the holders of any class of its
shares, or another person to approve the transfer of the restricted
shares, if the requirement is not manifestly unreasonable;
(4) prohibit the transfer of the restricted shares to designated
persons or classes of persons, if the prohibition is not manifestly
unreasonable.
(e) For purposes of this section, "shares" includes a security
convertible into or carrying a right to subscribe for or acquire
shares. |
| § 6.28 EXPENSE OF ISSUE A
corporation may pay the expenses of selling or underwriting its
shares, and of organizing or reorganizing the corporation, from the
consideration received for shares. |
Subchapter C.
SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITION OF SHARES BY SHAREHOLDERS AND CORPORATION
| § 6.30 SHAREHOLDERS' PREEMPTIVE
RIGHTS (a) The shareholders of a corporation do not have a
preemptive right to acquire the corporation's unissued shares except
to the extent the articles of incorporation so provide.
(b) A statement included in the articles of incorporation that "the
corporation elects to have preemptive rights" (or words of similar
import) means that the following principles apply except to the extent
the articles of incorporation expressly provide otherwise:
(1) The shareholders of the corporation have a preemptive right,
granted on uniform terms and conditions prescribed by the board of
directors to provide a fair and reasonable opportunity to exercise the
right, to acquire proportional amounts of the corporation's unisssued
shares upon the decision of the board of directors to issue them.
(2) A shareholder may waive his preemptive right. A waiver
evidenced by a writing is irrevocable even though it is not supported
by consideration.
(3) There is no preemptive right with respect to:
(i) shares issued as compensation to directors, officers, agents,
or employees of the corporation, its subsidiaries or affiliates:
(ii) shares issued to satisfy conversion or option rights created
to provide compensation to directors, officers, agents, or employees
of the corporation, its subsidiaries or affiliates;
(iii) shares authorized in articles of incorporation that are
issued within six months from the effective date of incorporation;
(iv) shares sold otherwise than for money.
(4) Holders of shares of any class without general voting rights
but with preferential rights to distributions or assets have no
preemptive rights with respect to shares of any class.
(5) Holders of shares of any class with general voting rights but
without preferential rights to distributions or assets have no
preemptive rights with respect to shares of any class with
preferential rights to distributions or assets unless the shares with
preferential rights are convertible into or carry a right to subscribe
for or acquire shares without preferential rights.
(6) Shares subject to preemptive rights that are not acquired by
shareholders may be issued to any person for a period of one year
after being offered to shareholders at a consideration set by the
board of directors that is not lower than the consideration set for
the exercise of preemptive rights. An offer at a lower consideration
or after the expiration of one year is subject to the shareholders'
preemptive rights.
(c) For purposes of this section, "shares" includes a security
convertible into or carrying a right to subscribe for or acquire
shares. |
| § 6.31 CORPORATION'S
ACQUISITION OF ITS OWN SHARES (a) A corporation may acquire its
own shares, and shares so acquired constitute authorized but unissued
shares.
(b) If the articles of incorporation prohibit the reissue of the
acquired shares, the number of authorized shares is reduced by the
number of shares acquired. |
Subchapter D. DISTRIBUTIONS
| § 6.40 DISTRIBUTIONS TO
SHAREHOLDERS (a) A board of directors may authorize and the
corporation may make distributions to its shareholders subject to
restriction by the articles of incorporation and the limitation in
subsection (c).
(b) If the board of directors does not fix the record date for
determining shareholders entitled to a distribution (other than one
involving a purchase, redemption, or other acquisition of the
corporation's shares), it is the date the board of directors
authorizes the distribution.
(c) No distribution may be made if, after giving it effect:
(1) the corporation would not be able to pay its debts as they
become due in the usual course of business; or
(2) the corporation's total assets would be less than the sum of
its total liabilities plus (unless the articles of incorporation
permit otherwise) the amount that would be needed, if the corporation
were to be dissolved at the time of the distribution, to satisfy the
preferential rights upon dissolution of shareholders whose
preferential rights are superior to those receiving the distribution.
(d) The board of directors may base a determination that a
distribution is not prohibited under subsection (c) either on
financial statements prepared on the basis of accounting practices and
principles that are reasonable in the circumstances or on a fair
valuation or other method that is reasonable in the circumstances.
(e) Except as provided in subsection (g), the effect of a
distribution under subsection (c) is measured:
(1) in the case of distribution by purchase, redemption, or other
acquisition of the corporation's shares, as of the earlier of (i) the
date money or other property is transferred or debt incurred by the
corporation or (ii) the date the shareholder ceases to be a
shareholder with respect to the acquired shares;
(2) in the case of any other distribution of indebtedness, as of
the date the indebtedness is distributed; and
(3) in all other cases, as of (i) the date the distribution is
authorized if the payment occurs within 120 days after the date of
authorization or (ii) the date the payment is made if it occurs more
than 120 days after the date of authorization.
(f) A corporation's indebtedness to a shareholder incurred by
reason of a distribution made in accordance with this section is at
parity with the corporation's indebtedness to its general, unsecured
creditors except to the extent subordinated by agreement.
(g) Indebtedness of a corporation, including indebtedness issued as
a distribution, is not considered a liability for purposes of
determinations under subsection (c) if its terms provide that payment
of principal and interest are made only if and to the extent that
payment of a distribution to shareholders could then be made under
this section. If the indebtedness is issued as a distribution, each
payment of principal or interest is treated as a distribution, the
effect of which is measured on the date the payment is actually made. |
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