HB2176: Virginia Stock Corporation Act and Virginia Nonstock Corporation Act; updates terminology.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 13.1-604, 13.1-614, 13.1-615, 13.1-615.1, 13.1-618, 13.1-706, 13.1-710, 13.1-722.5, 13.1-722.7, 13.1-722.12, 13.1-722.13, 13.1-722.14, 13.1-754, 13.1-759, 13.1-760, 13.1-762, 13.1-766.1, 13.1-767, 13.1-769, 13.1-769.1, 13.1-804, 13.1-810.1, 13.1-813, 13.1-815, 13.1-818, 13.1-885, 13.1-898.5, 13.1-898.7, 13.1-916, 13.1-921, 13.1-922, 13.1-928.1, 13.1-929, 13.1-931, 13.1-931.1, 13.1-941.01 through 13.1-944, 13.1-944.5, 13.1-944.6, and 13.1-944.7 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 13.1-604. Filing requirements.
A. A document shall satisfy the requirements of this section, and of any other section that adds to or varies these requirements, to be entitled to be filed with the Commission.
B. The document shall be one that this chapter requires or permits to be filed with the Commission.
C. The document shall contain the information required by this chapter. It may contain other information as well.
D. The document shall be typewritten or printed or, if electronically transmitted, shall be in a format that can be retrieved or reproduced in typewritten or printed form. The typewritten or printed portion shall be in black. Photocopies, or other reproduced copies, of typewritten or printed documents may be filed. In every case, information in the document shall be legible and the document shall be capable of being reformatted and reproduced in copies of archival quality.
E. The document shall be in the English language. A corporate name need not be in English if written in English letters or Arabic or Roman numerals. The articles of incorporation, duly authenticated by the official having custody of corporate records in the state or country under whose law the corporation is incorporated, which are required of foreign corporations need not be in English if accompanied by a reasonably authenticated English translation.
F. The document shall be signed in the name of the domestic or foreign corporation:
1. By the chairman or any vice-chairman of the board of directors, the president, or any other of its officers authorized to act on behalf of the corporation;
2. If directors have not been selected or the corporation has not been formed, by an incorporator; or
3. If the corporation is in the hands of a receiver, trustee, or other court-appointed fiduciary, by that fiduciary.
G. Any annual report required to be filed by § 13.1-775 shall be signed in the name of the corporation by an officer or director listed in the report or, if the corporation is in the hands of a receiver, trustee, or other court-appointed fiduciary, by that fiduciary.
H. The person signing the document shall state beneath or opposite his signature his name and the capacity in which he signs. Any signature may be a facsimile. The document may but need not contain a corporate seal, attestation, acknowledgment, or verification.
I. If, pursuant to any provision of this chapter, the Commission has prescribed a mandatory form for the document, the document shall be in or on the prescribed form.
J. The document shall be delivered to the Commission for filing and shall be accompanied by the required filing fee, and any franchise tax, charter or entrance fee or registration fee required by this chapter.
K. The Commission may accept the electronic filing of any information required or permitted to be filed by this chapter and may prescribe the methods of execution, recording, reproduction and certification of electronically filed information pursuant to § 59.1-496.
L. Whenever a provision of this chapter permits any of the terms of a plan or a filed document to be dependent on facts objectively ascertainable outside the plan or filed document, the following provisions apply:
1. The plan or filed document shall specify the nationally recognized news or information medium in which the facts can be found or otherwise state the manner in which the facts can be objectively ascertained. The manner in which the facts will operate upon the terms of the plan or filed document shall be set forth in the plan or filed document.
2. The facts may include:
a. Any of the following that are available in a nationally recognized news or information medium either in print or electronically: statistical or market indices, market prices of any security or group of securities, interest rates, currency exchange rates or similar economic or financial data;
b. A determination or action by any person or body, including the corporation or any other party to a plan or filed document; or
c. The terms of, or actions taken under, an agreement to which the corporation is a party, or any other agreement or document.
3. As used in this subsection:
a. "Filed document" means a document filed with the Commission under § 13.1-619 or Article 11 (§ 13.1-705 et seq.) or 12 (§ 13.1-715.1 et seq.) of this chapter; and
b. "Plan" means a plan of merger or share exchange.
4. The following terms of a plan or filed document may not be made dependent on facts outside the plan or filed document:
a. The name and address of any person required in a filed document;
b. The registered office of any entity required in a filed document;
c. The registered agent of any entity required in a filed document;
d. The number of authorized shares and designation of each class or series of shares;
e. The effective date of a filed document; and
f. Any required statement in a filed document of the date on which the underlying transaction was approved or the manner in which that approval was given.
5. If a term of a filed document is made dependent on a fact objectively ascertainable outside of the filed document, and that fact is not objectively ascertainable by reference to a source described in subdivision 2 a of this subsection or a document that is a matter of public record, or the affected shareholders have not received notice of the fact from the corporation, then the corporation shall file with the Commission articles of amendment setting forth the fact promptly after the time when the fact referred to is first objectively ascertainable or thereafter changes. Articles of amendment under this subdivision are deemed to be authorized by the authorization of the original filed document or plan to which they relate and may be filed by the corporation without further action by the board of directors or the shareholders.
6. The provisions of subdivisions 1, 2, and 5 of this subsection shall not be considered by the Commission in deciding whether the terms of a plan or filed document comply with the requirements of law.
§ 13.1-614. Hearing and finality of Commission action; injunctions.
A. The Commission shall have no power to grant a hearing with respect to any certificate issued by the Commission with respect to any articles filed with the Commission except on a petition by a shareholder filed with the Commission and the corporation within 30 days after the effective date of the certificate, in which the shareholder asserts that the certification of corporate action contained in the articles contains a misstatement of a material fact as to compliance with statutory requirements, specifying the particulars thereof. After hearing, on notice in writing to the corporation and the shareholder, the Commission shall determine the issues and revoke or refuse to revoke its order accordingly.
B. No court within or without the Commonwealth shall have jurisdiction to enjoin or delay the holding of any meeting of directors or shareholders for the purpose of authorizing or consummating any amendment, merger, share exchange, domestication, conversion or termination of corporate existence or the execution or filing with the Commission of any articles or other documents for such purpose, except pursuant to subsection D of § 13.1-661 or for fraud. No court within or without the Commonwealth, except the Supreme Court by way of appeal as authorized by law, shall have jurisdiction to review, reverse, correct or annul any action of the Commission, within the scope of its authority, with regard to any articles, certificate, order, objection or petition, or to suspend or delay the execution or operation thereof, or to enjoin, restrain or interfere with the Commission in the performance of its official duties.
C. Notwithstanding any provision of subsection A to the contrary, the Commission shall have the power to act upon a petition filed by a corporation at any time to correct Commission records so as to eliminate the effects of clerical errors and of filings made by a person or persons without authority to act for the corporation, or of its own motion to correct Commission records so as to eliminate the effects of clerical errors committed by its staff.
§ 13.1-615. Fees to be collected by Commission; application of payment; payment of fees prerequisite to Commission action; exceptions.
A. The Commission shall assess the registration fees and shall charge and collect the filing fees, charter fees, and entrance fees imposed by law. The Commission shall have authority to certify to the Comptroller directing refund of any overpayment of a fee, or of any fee collected for a document that is not accepted for filing, at any time within one year from the date of its payment. When the Commission receives payment of an annual registration fee assessed against a domestic or foreign corporation, such payment shall be applied against any unpaid annual registration fees previously assessed against such corporation, including any penalties incurred thereon, beginning with the assessment or penalty that has remained unpaid for the longest period of time.
B. The Commission shall not file or issue with respect to any domestic or foreign corporation any document or certificate specified in this chapter, except the annual report required by § 13.1-775, a statement of change pursuant to § 13.1-635 or 13.1-764, and a statement of resignation pursuant to § 13.1-636 or 13.1-765, until all fees, fines, penalties, and interest assessed, imposed, charged, or to be collected by the Commission pursuant to this chapter or Title 12.1 have been paid by or on behalf of such corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Commission may file or issue any document or certificate with respect to a domestic or foreign corporation that has been assessed an annual registration fee if the document or certificate is filed or issued with an effective date that is on or before the due date of the corporation's annual registration fee payment in any year, provided that the Commission shall not issue a certificate of domestication with respect to a foreign corporation until the annual registration fee has been paid by or on behalf of that corporation.
C. Any A domestic or foreign corporation
that has ceased to exist in the Commonwealth because of the issuance of a
certificate of termination of corporate existence, certificate of incorporation
surrender or certificate of entity conversion or any foreign corporation that
has obtained a certificate of withdrawal, effective on or before its annual
report due date pursuant to subsection C of § 13.1-775 in any year, shall not
be required to pay the registration fee for that year. Any domestic or foreign
corporation that has merged, effective on or before its annual report due date
pursuant to subsection C of § 13.1-775 in any year, into a surviving domestic
corporation or into a surviving foreign corporation that files with the
Commission an authenticated copy of the instrument of merger on or before such
date, shall not be required to pay the registration fee for that year. Any
foreign corporation that has converted, effective on or before its annual
report due date pursuant to subsection C of § 13.1-775 in any year, to a
different entity type that files with the Commission an authenticated copy of
the instrument of entity conversion on or before such date, shall not be required
to pay the annual registration fee for that assessed against
it pursuant to subsection B of § 13.1-775.1 in any year if (i) the
Commission issues or files any of the following types of certificate or
instrument and (ii) the certificate or instrument is effective on or before the
annual registration fee due date:
1. A certificate of termination of corporate existence, a certificate of incorporation surrender, or a certificate of entity conversion for a domestic corporation;
2. A certificate of withdrawal for a foreign corporation;
3. A certificate of merger or an authenticated copy of an instrument of merger for a domestic or foreign corporation that has merged into a surviving domestic corporation or eligible entity or into a surviving foreign corporation or eligible entity; or
4. An authenticated copy of an instrument of entity conversion for a foreign corporation that has converted to a different entity type.
The Commission shall cancel the annual registration fee assessments specified in this subsection that remain unpaid.
D. Any A foreign corporation that has amended
its articles of incorporation to reduce the number of shares it is authorized
to issue, effective prior to its annual registration fee assessment date
pursuant to subsection B of § 13.1-775.1 of a given year, and has timely filed
an authenticated copy of the amendment with the Commission pursuant to §
13.1-760 after its annual registration fee assessment date pursuant to
subsection B of § 13.1-775.1, shall have its annual registration
fee reassessed to reflect the new number of authorized shares.
E. Registration Annual registration fee
assessments that have been paid shall not be refunded.
§ 13.1-615.1. Charter and entrance fees for corporations.
A. Every domestic corporation, upon the granting of its charter or upon domestication, shall pay a charter fee into the state treasury, and every foreign corporation, when it obtains from the State Corporation Commission a certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth, shall pay an entrance fee into the state treasury. The fee in each case is to be ascertained and fixed as follows:
For any domestic or foreign corporation whose number of authorized shares is 1,000,000 or fewer shares - $50 for each 25,000 shares or fraction thereof;
For any domestic or foreign corporation whose number of authorized shares is more than 1,000,000 shares - $2,500.
B. For any foreign corporation that files articles of domestication and that had authority to transact business in the Commonwealth at the time of such filing, the charter fee to be charged upon domestication shall be an amount equal to the difference between the amount that would be required by this section and the amount already paid as an entrance fee by such corporation.
C. For any foreign corporation that files an application for a certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth and that had previously surrendered its articles of incorporation as a domestic corporation, the entrance fee to be charged upon obtaining a certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth shall be an amount equal to the difference between the amount that would be required by this section and the amount already paid as a charter fee by such corporation.
D. Whenever by articles of amendment or articles of merger, the number of authorized shares of any domestic or foreign corporation or of the surviving corporation is increased, the charter or entrance fee to be charged shall be an amount equal to the difference between the amount already paid as a charter or entrance fee by such corporation and the amount that would be required by this section to be paid if the increased number of authorized shares were being stated at that time in the original articles of incorporation.
E. For any domestic limited liability company that files articles of entity conversion to become a domestic corporation and that had previously converted from a domestic corporation, the charter fee to be charged upon entity conversion shall be an amount equal to the difference between the amount that would be required by this section and the amount already paid as a charter fee by the domestic limited liability company when it was a domestic corporation.
F. If no charter or entrance fee has been heretofore paid to the Commonwealth, the amount to be paid shall be the same as would have to be paid on original incorporation or application for authority to transact business.
§ 13.1-618. Incorporators.
One or more persons may act as the incorporator or incorporators
of a corporation by signing and filing delivering articles of
incorporation with to the Commission for filing.
§ 13.1-706. Amendment of articles of incorporation by directors.
Unless the articles of incorporation provide otherwise, a corporation's board of directors may adopt one or more amendments to the corporation's articles of incorporation without shareholder action:
1. To delete the names and addresses of the initial directors;
2. To delete the name and address of the initial
registered agent or the address of the initial registered office, if a
statement of change described in § 13.1-635 is on file with the
Commission;
3. If the corporation has only one class of shares outstanding:
a. To change each issued and unissued authorized share of the class into a greater number of whole shares of that class; or
b. To increase the number of authorized shares of the class to the extent necessary to permit the issuance of shares as a share dividend;
4. To eliminate or change the par value of the shares of any class or series;
5. To change the corporate name by substituting the word "corporation," "incorporated," "company," or "limited," or the abbreviation "corp.," "inc.," "co." or "ltd.," or a similar word or abbreviation in the name, or by adding, deleting, or changing a geographic attribution for the name;
6. To make any other If the corporation has or will
become a holding company under § 13.1-719.1, to change expressly
permitted by this chapter to be made without shareholder action the
corporate name to the former name of the constituent corporation; or
7. If the corporation is registered as an open-end management
investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, to increase or
decrease the aggregate number of shares or classes the number of
shares of any class or series of shares within any class that the
corporation is authorized to issue; or
8. To make any other change expressly permitted by this chapter to be made without shareholder action.
§ 13.1-710. Articles of amendment.
A. A corporation amending its articles of incorporation shall file with the Commission articles of amendment setting forth:
1. The name of the corporation;
2. The text of each amendment adopted or the information required by subdivision L 5 of § 13.1-604;
3. If an amendment provides for an exchange, reclassification, or cancellation of issued shares, provisions for implementing the amendment if not contained in the amendment itself, which may be made dependent upon facts objectively ascertainable outside the articles of amendment in accordance with subsection L of § 13.1-604;
4. The date of each amendment's adoption;
5. If an amendment was adopted by the incorporators or
the board of directors or the incorporators without shareholder
approval, a statement that the amendment was duly approved by the
incorporators or by the board of directors or by a majority of the
incorporators, as the case may be, including the reason shareholder and,
if applicable, director approval was not required; and
6. If an amendment was approved by the shareholders, either:
a. A statement that the amendment was adopted by unanimous consent of the shareholders, or
b. A statement that the amendment was proposed by the board of directors and submitted to the shareholders in accordance with this chapter and a statement of:
(1) The designation, number of outstanding shares, and number of votes entitled to be cast by each voting group entitled to vote separately on the amendment;
(2) Either the total number of votes cast for and against the amendment by each voting group entitled to vote separately on the amendment or the total number of undisputed votes cast for the amendment by each voting group and a statement that the number cast for the amendment by each voting group was sufficient for approval by that voting group.
B. If the Commission finds that the articles of amendment comply with the requirements of law and that all required fees have been paid, it shall issue a certificate of amendment.
§ 13.1-722.5. Surrender of articles of incorporation upon domestication.
A. Whenever a domestic corporation has adopted and approved, in the manner required by this article, a plan of domestication providing for the corporation to be domesticated under the laws of another jurisdiction, the corporation shall file with the Commission articles of incorporation surrender setting forth:
1. The name of the corporation;
2. The corporation's new jurisdiction of
incorporation in which the corporation is to be domesticated and the
name of the corporation upon its domestication under the laws of that
jurisdiction;
3. The plan of domestication;
4. A statement that the articles of incorporation surrender are being filed in connection with the domestication of the corporation as a foreign corporation to be incorporated under the laws of another jurisdiction and that the corporation is surrendering its charter under the laws of this Commonwealth;
5. A statement:
a. That the plan was adopted by the unanimous consent of the shareholders; or
b. That the plan was submitted to the shareholders by the board of directors in accordance with this chapter, and a statement of:
(1) The designation, number of outstanding shares and number of votes entitled to be cast by each voting group entitled to vote separately on the plan; and
(2) Either the total number of votes cast for and against the plan by each voting group entitled to vote separately on the plan or the total number of undisputed votes cast for the plan separately by each voting group and a statement that the number cast for the plan by each voting group was sufficient for approval by that voting group;
6. A statement that the domestic corporation revokes
the authority of its registered agent to accept service on its behalf and
appoints the clerk of the Commission as its agent for service of process in any
proceeding based on a cause of action arising during the time it was
incorporated in this the Commonwealth;
7. A mailing address to which the clerk may mail a copy of any
process served on him the clerk under subdivision 6; and
8. A commitment by the corporation to notify the clerk of the Commission in the future of any change in the mailing address of the corporation.
B. If the Commission finds that the articles of incorporation surrender comply with the requirements of law and that all required fees have been paid, it shall issue a certificate of incorporation surrender.
C. The corporation shall automatically cease to be a domestic corporation when the certificate of incorporation surrender becomes effective.
D. If the former domestic corporation intends to continue to
transact business in the Commonwealth, then, within thirty 30
days after the effective date of the certificate of incorporation surrender, it
shall deliver to the Commission an application for a certificate of authority
to transact business in the Commonwealth pursuant to § 13.1-759 together with a
copy of its instrument of domestication and articles of incorporation and all
amendments thereto, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State or other
official having custody of corporate records in the state or country under
whose laws it is incorporated or domesticated.
E. Service of process on the clerk of the Commission is service of process on a former domestic corporation that has surrendered its charter pursuant to this section. Service on the clerk shall be made in accordance with § 12.1-19.1 and service on the former domestic corporation may be made in any other manner permitted by law.
§ 13.1-722.7. Abandonment of domestication.
A. Unless otherwise provided in a plan of domestication
of a domestic corporation prohibits abandonment of the domestication without
shareholder approval to become a foreign corporation, after the domestication
plan has been authorized approved and adopted as required by this
article, and at any time before the certificate of domestication filed
in the other jurisdiction incorporation surrender has become
effective, the domestication may be abandoned by the domestic corporation
without further shareholder action by the shareholders in
accordance with the procedure any procedures set forth in
the plan of domestication or, if none is no such procedures
are set forth in the plan of domestication, in the manner determined
by the board of directors.
B. If a domestication is abandoned under subsection A after articles of incorporation surrender have been filed with the Commission but before the certificate of incorporation surrender has become effective, written notice that the domestication has been abandoned in accordance with this section shall be filed with the Commission prior to the effective time and date of the certificate of incorporation surrender. The notice shall take effect upon filing and the domestication shall be deemed abandoned and shall not become effective.
C. If the domestication of a foreign corporation into this
the Commonwealth is abandoned in accordance with the laws of the foreign
jurisdiction in which the foreign corporation is incorporated after
articles of domestication have been filed with the Commission but before the
certificate of domestication has become effective in this Commonwealth,
written notice that the domestication has been abandoned shall be filed with
the Commission prior to the effective time and date of the certificate
of domestication. The notice shall take effect upon filing and the
domestication shall be deemed abandoned and shall not become effective.
§ 13.1-722.12. Articles of entity conversion.
A. After the conversion of a corporation into a limited liability company has been adopted and approved as required by this article, the converting entity shall file with the Commission articles of entity conversion setting forth:
1. The name of the corporation immediately prior to the filing of the articles of entity conversion and the name to which the name of the corporation is to be changed, which name shall satisfy the requirements of the laws of this Commonwealth;
2. The plan of entity conversion, including the full text of
the articles of organization of the surviving entity that comply with the
requirements of Chapter 12 (§ 13.1-1000 et seq.) of this title, as they
will be in effect immediately after consummation of the conversion;
3. A statement If the plan of entity conversion was
adopted by the board of directors or the incorporators without shareholder
approval, a statement that the plan was duly approved by the board of directors
or by a majority of the incorporators, as the case may be, including the reason
shareholder and, if applicable, director approval was not required; and
4. If the plan of entity conversion was approved by the shareholders, either:
a. That A statement that the plan was adopted by
the unanimous consent of the shareholders; or
b. That A statement that the plan was submitted
to the shareholders by the board of directors in accordance with this chapter,
and a statement of:
(1) The designation, number of outstanding shares, and number of votes entitled to be cast by each voting group entitled to vote separately on the plan; and
(2) Either the total number of votes cast for and against the plan by each voting group entitled to vote separately on the plan or the total number of undisputed votes cast for the plan separately by each voting group and a statement that the number cast for the plan by each voting group was sufficient for approval by that voting group.
B. After the conversion of a limited liability company into a corporation has been adopted and approved as required by this article, the converting entity shall file with the Commission articles of entity conversion setting forth:
1. The name of the limited liability company immediately prior to the filing of the articles of entity conversion and the name to which the name of the limited liability company is to be changed, which name shall satisfy the requirements of § 13.1-630;
2. The plan of entity conversion, including the full text of the articles of incorporation of the surviving entity that comply with the requirements of this chapter, as they will be in effect immediately after the consummation of the conversion; and
3. A statement that the plan was adopted by the members of the limited liability company in the manner provided in the limited liability company's operating agreement or articles of organization for amendments, or, if no such provision is made in an operating agreement or articles of organization, by the unanimous vote of the members of the limited liability company.
C. If the Commission finds that the articles of entity conversion comply with the requirements of law and that all required fees have been paid, it shall issue a certificate of entity conversion.
§ 13.1-722.13. Effect of entity conversion.
A. When an entity conversion under this article becomes effective, with respect to that entity:
1. The title to all real estate and other property remains in the surviving entity without reversion or impairment;
2. The liabilities remain the liabilities of the surviving entity;
3. A proceeding pending proceeding may be
continued by or against the surviving entity as if the conversion did not
occur;
4. The articles of incorporation or articles of organization attached to the articles of conversion constitute the articles of incorporation or articles of organization of the surviving entity;
5. The shares or interests of the converting entity are
reclassified into shares or interests in accordance with the plan of entity
conversion; and the shareholders or members of the converting entity are
entitled only to the rights provided in the plan of entity conversion or, in
the case of a converting entity that is a corporation, to the rights, if any,
they may have under subdivision A 5 of § 13.1-730; and
6. The surviving entity is deemed to:
a. Be a corporation or limited liability company for all purposes;
b. Be the same corporation or limited liability company
without interruption as the converting entity that existed prior to the
conversion; and
c. Have been incorporated or otherwise organized on the date that the converting entity was originally incorporated or organized; and
7. The converting entity shall cease to be a corporation or a limited liability company, as the case may be, when the certificate of entity conversion becomes effective.
B. Any shareholder or member of a converting entity who, prior to the entity conversion, was liable for the liabilities or obligations of the converting entity is not released from those liabilities or obligations by reason of the entity conversion.
§ 13.1-722.14. Abandonment of entity conversion.
A. Unless otherwise provided in a plan of entity
conversion of a corporation prohibits abandonment of the conversion without
shareholder approval to become a limited liability company, after
the conversion plan has been authorized approved and
adopted as required by this article, and at any time before the certificate
of entity conversion has become effective, the conversion may be abandoned
by the corporation without further shareholder action by the
shareholders in accordance with the procedure any procedures
set forth in the plan of entity conversion or, if none is no
such procedures are set forth in the plan of entity conversion, in
the manner determined by the board of directors.
B. Unless the limited liability company's articles of
organization, operating agreement or otherwise provided in a plan of
entity conversion prohibits abandonment of the conversion of a
limited liability company to become a corporation, after the conversion
plan has been authorized approved and adopted as required by this
article, and at any time before the certificate of entity conversion has
become effective, the conversion may be abandoned in the manner set forth in
the plan of entity conversion or, if none is no such
procedures are set forth in the plan of entity conversion, by
majority a vote of the members, managers, or organizers of
the limited liability company that is equal to or greater than the vote cast
for entity conversion pursuant to subsection B of § 13.1-722.11.
C. If an entity conversion is abandoned under subsection A or B after articles of entity conversion have been filed with the Commission but before the certificate of entity conversion has become effective, written notice that the entity conversion has been abandoned in accordance with this section shall be filed with the Commission prior to the effective time and date of the certificate of entity conversion. The notice shall take effect upon filing and the entity conversion shall be deemed abandoned and shall not become effective.
§ 13.1-754. Reinstatement of a corporation that has ceased to exist.
A. A corporation that has ceased to exist pursuant
to this article may apply to the Commission for reinstatement within five
years thereafter unless the corporate existence was terminated by order of the
Commission (i) upon a finding that the corporation has continued to exceed or
abuse the authority conferred upon it by law or (ii) entered pursuant to §
13.1-749 and the circuit court's decree directing dissolution contains no
provision for reinstatement of corporate existence. The Commission shall
enter an order reinstating the
B. To have its corporate existence upon receiving an
annual report together with payment of a reinstated, the corporation
shall provide the Commission with the following:
1. An application for reinstatement, which shall include the identification number issued by the Commission to the corporation, and which may be in the form of a letter signed by an officer or director of the corporation, or which may be by affidavit signed by an agent of any shareholder's interests stating that after diligent search by such agent, no officer or director can be found;
2. A reinstatement fee of $100 plus all;
3. All annual registration fees and penalties that were
due before the corporation ceased to exist and that would have become due
thereafter been assessed or imposed to the date of reinstatement if
the corporation corporation's existence had not ceased to
exist been terminated;
4. An annual report need not be submitted if such a
report previously was filed during for the calendar year in which
reinstatement is sought. The application for reinstatement may be by letter
signed by an officer or director of the corporation, or may be by affidavit
signed by an agent of any shareholder's interests stating that after diligent
search by such agent no officer or director can be found. The Commission shall
assess the amounts that would have become due that corresponds to the
calendar year of the latest annual registration fee that was assessed or that
would have been assessed to the date of reinstatement;
5. If the name of the corporation does not comply with the provisions of § 13.1-630 at the time of reinstatement, articles of amendment to the articles of incorporation to change the corporation's name to a name that satisfies the provisions of § 13.1-630, with the fee required by this chapter for the filing of articles of amendment; and
6. If the corporation's registered agent has filed a statement of resignation and a new registered agent has not been appointed, a statement of change pursuant to § 13.1-635.
C. If the corporation complies with the provisions of this
section, the Commission shall enter an order of reinstatement of corporate
existence. Upon the entry by the Commission of an
the order of reinstatement, the corporate existence shall be deemed
to have continued from the date of termination of corporate existence
as if the termination had never occurred, and any liability incurred by the
corporation or a director, officer, or other agent after the termination
of corporate existence and before the reinstatement shall be is
determined as if the termination of corporate the corporation's
existence had never occurred. If the name of a corporation that has ceased
to exist is not distinguishable upon the records of the Commission, the
reinstated corporation shall not engage in business until it has amended its
articles of incorporation to change its name to a name that is distinguishable
upon the records of the Commission.
§ 13.1-759. Application for certificate of authority.
A. A foreign corporation may apply to the Commission for a certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth. The application shall be made on forms prescribed and furnished by the Commission. The application shall set forth:
1. The name of the corporation, and if the corporation is
prevented by § 13.1-762 from using its own name in the Commonwealth, a
designated name that satisfies the requirements of subsection B of § 13.1-762;
2. The name of the state or other jurisdiction under whose law it is incorporated, and if the corporation was previously authorized or registered to transact business in the Commonwealth as a foreign corporation, limited liability company, business trust, limited partnership, or registered limited liability partnership, with respect to every such prior authorization or registration, (i) the name of the entity; (ii) the entity type; (iii) the state or other jurisdiction of incorporation, organization, or formation; and (iv) the entity identification number issued to it by the Commission;
3. The date of incorporation and period of duration;
4. The street address of the foreign corporation's principal office;
5. The address of the proposed registered office of the foreign corporation in the Commonwealth (including both (i) the post office address with street and number, if any, and (ii) the name of the county or city in which it is located) and the name of its proposed registered agent in the Commonwealth at such address and that the registered agent is either (a) an individual who is a resident of Virginia and either an officer or director of the corporation or a member of the Virginia State Bar or (b) a domestic or foreign stock or nonstock corporation, limited liability company, or registered limited liability partnership authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth, the business office of which is identical with the registered office;
6. The names and usual business addresses of the current directors and principal officers of the foreign corporation; and
7. The number of shares the corporation is authorized to
issue, itemized by classes and series, if any, within a class.
B. The foreign corporation shall deliver with the completed application a copy of its articles of incorporation and all amendments thereto duly authenticated by the Secretary of State or other official having custody of corporate records in the state or other jurisdiction under whose law it is incorporated.
C. If the Commission finds that the application complies with the requirements of law and that all required fees have been paid, it shall issue a certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth.
§ 13.1-760. Amended certificate of authority.
A. A foreign corporation authorized to transact business in
this Commonwealth shall obtain an amended certificate of authority from the
Commission if:
1. If it changes its corporate name or the state or
country other jurisdiction of its incorporation; or
2. To abandon or change the designated name adopted by the corporation for use in the Commonwealth pursuant to subsection B of § 13.1-762.
B. The requirements of § 13.1-759 for obtaining an original certificate of authority apply to obtaining an amended certificate under this section.
C. Whenever the articles of incorporation of a foreign
corporation that is authorized to do transact business in
Virginia the Commonwealth are amended, within thirty 30
days after the amendment becomes effective, the foreign corporation shall file
with the Commission a copy of such amendment duly authenticated by the
Secretary of State or other official having custody of corporate records in the
state or country other jurisdiction under whose law it is
incorporated.
§ 13.1-762. Corporate name of foreign corporation.
A. No certificate of authority shall be issued to a foreign corporation unless the corporate name of such foreign corporation satisfies the requirements of § 13.1-630.
B. If the corporate name of a foreign corporation does not satisfy the requirements of § 13.1-630, to obtain or maintain a certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth:
1. The foreign corporation may add use a designated
name that adds the word "corporation," "incorporated,"
"company," or "limited," or the abbreviation
"corp.," "inc.," "co.," or "ltd.," to
its corporate name for use in the Commonwealth or, if it is a
professional corporation, the words "professional corporation" or
"a professional corporation" or the initials "P.C." or
"PC" at the end of its corporate name, if it informs the Commission
of the designated name; or
2. If its real name is unavailable, the foreign corporation may use a designated name that is available, and that satisfies the requirements of § 13.1-630, if it informs the Commission of the designated name.
§ 13.1-766.1. Merger of foreign corporation authorized to transact business in Commonwealth.
A. Whenever a foreign corporation authorized to transact business
in the Commonwealth is a party to a merger permitted by the laws of the state
or other jurisdiction under whose laws it is incorporated, and such corporation
is the surviving entity of the merger, it shall, within 30 days after such
merger becomes effective, file with the Commission a copy of the instrument of
merger duly authenticated by the Secretary of State or other official having
custody of corporate records in the state or other jurisdiction under whose
laws such merger was effected law it is incorporated; however, the
filing shall not be required when a foreign corporation merges with a domestic
corporation or eligible entity, the foreign corporation's articles of
incorporation are not amended by said merger, and the articles or statement of
merger filed on behalf of the domestic corporation or eligible entity pursuant
to § 13.1-720, 13.1-1072, 13.1-1261, 50-73.48:3, or 50-73.131 contains a
statement that the merger is permitted under the laws of the state or other
jurisdiction in which the foreign corporation is incorporated and that the
foreign corporation has complied with that law in effecting the merger.
B. Whenever a foreign corporation authorized to transact
business in the Commonwealth is a party to a merger permitted by the laws of
the state or other jurisdiction under the laws of which it is incorporated, and
such corporation is not the surviving entity of the merger or, whenever such a
foreign corporation is a party to a consolidation so permitted, the surviving
or resulting domestic or foreign corporation, limited liability company,
business trust, partnership or limited partnership shall, if not continuing to
transact business in the Commonwealth, within 30 days after such merger or
consolidation becomes effective, deliver to the Commission a copy of the
instrument of merger or consolidation duly authenticated by the Secretary of
State or other official having custody of corporate records in the state or
other jurisdiction under whose laws such merger or consolidation was
effected law it was incorporated, and comply in behalf of the
predecessor corporation with the provisions of § 13.1-767. If a surviving or
resulting corporation or limited liability company, business trust, registered
limited liability partnership or limited partnership is to continue to transact
business in the Commonwealth and has not received a certificate of authority to
transact business in the Commonwealth or registered as a foreign limited
liability company under § 13.1-1052, as a foreign business trust under § 13.1-1242,
as a foreign registered limited liability partnership under § 50-73.138, or as
a foreign limited partnership under § 50-73.54, then, within such 30 days, it
shall deliver to the Commission an application, if a foreign corporation, for a
certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth, if a foreign
limited liability company, for registration as a foreign limited liability
company, if a foreign business trust, for registration as a foreign business
trust, if a foreign registered limited liability partnership, for registration
as a foreign registered limited liability partnership, or, if a foreign limited
partnership, for registration as a foreign limited partnership, together with a
duly authenticated copy of the instrument of merger or consolidation and also,
in case of a merger, a copy of its articles of incorporation, certificate of
limited partnership, partnership certificate, statement of registered limited
liability partnership, articles of trust, or articles of organization and all
amendments thereto, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State or other
official having custody of corporate, limited partnership, registered limited
liability partnership, business trust, or limited liability company records in
the state or other jurisdiction under whose laws it is incorporated, formed,
registered, or organized.
C. Upon the merger or consolidation of a foreign corporation with one or more foreign corporations, partnerships, limited partnerships, business trusts, or limited liability companies, all property in the Commonwealth owned by any of the foreign corporations, partnerships, limited partnerships, business trusts, or limited liability companies shall pass to the surviving or resulting foreign corporation, limited liability company, business trust, or limited partnership except as otherwise provided by the laws of the state or other jurisdiction by which it is governed, but only from and after the time when a duly authenticated copy of the instrument of merger or consolidation is filed with the Commission.
§ 13.1-767. Withdrawal of foreign corporation.
A. A foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth may not withdraw from the Commonwealth until it obtains a certificate of withdrawal from the Commission.
B. A foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth may apply to the Commission for a certificate of withdrawal. The application shall be on a form prescribed and furnished by the Commission, which shall set forth:
1. The name of the foreign corporation and the name of the
state or country other jurisdiction under whose law it is
incorporated;
2. That If applicable, a statement that the
foreign corporation is in existence and has not been merged into or
consolidated with another entity or converted into another type of entity or,
if the foreign corporation has been merged into or consolidated with another
entity or converted into another type of entity, that the application is signed
on behalf of the foreign corporation by the surviving or resulting entity
was a party to a merger permitted by the laws of the state or other
jurisdiction under whose law it was incorporated and that it was not the
surviving entity of the merger, has consolidated with another entity, or has
converted to another type of entity under the laws of the state or other
jurisdiction under whose law it was incorporated;
3. That the foreign corporation is not transacting business in the Commonwealth and that it surrenders its authority to transact business in the Commonwealth;
4. That the foreign corporation revokes the authority of its registered agent to accept service on its behalf and appoints the clerk of the Commission as its agent for service of process in any proceeding based on a cause of action arising during the time it was authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth;
5. A mailing address to which the clerk of the Commission may mail a copy of any process served on the clerk under subdivision 4; and
6. A commitment to notify the clerk of the Commission in the future of any change in the mailing address of the corporation.
C. The Commission shall not allow any foreign corporation to withdraw from the Commonwealth unless such corporation files with the Commission a statement certifying that the corporation has filed returns and has paid all state taxes to the time of the certificate or a statement that no such returns are required to be filed or taxes are required to be paid. In such case the corporation may file returns and pay taxes before they would otherwise be due. If the Commission finds that the application complies with the requirements of law and that all required fees have been paid, it shall issue a certificate of withdrawal.
D. Before any foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth terminates its corporate existence, it shall file with the Commission an application for withdrawal. Whether or not such application is filed, the termination of the corporate existence of such foreign corporation shall not take away or impair any remedy available against such corporation for any right or claim existing or any liability incurred prior to such termination. Any such action or proceeding against such foreign corporation may be defended by such corporation in its corporate name. The shareholders, directors and officers shall have power to take such corporate or other action as shall be appropriate to protect such remedy, right or claim. The right of a foreign corporation that has terminated its corporate existence to institute and maintain in its corporate name actions, suits or proceedings in the courts of the Commonwealth shall be governed by the law of the state of its incorporation.
E. Service of process on the clerk of the Commission is service of process on a foreign corporation that has withdrawn pursuant to this section. Service upon the clerk shall be made in accordance with § 12.1-19.1 and service upon the foreign corporation may be made in any other manner permitted by law.
§ 13.1-769. Involuntary revocation of certificate of authority.
A. The certificate of authority to do business in the Commonwealth of any foreign corporation may be revoked by order of the Commission when it finds that the corporation:
1. Has continued to exceed the authority conferred upon it by law;
2. Has failed to maintain a registered office or a registered agent in the Commonwealth as required by law;
3. Has failed to file any document required by this chapter to be filed with the Commission;
4. No longer exists under the laws of the state or country of its incorporation; or
5. Has been convicted for a violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324a(f), as amended, for actions of its officers and directors constituting a pattern or practice of employing unauthorized aliens in the Commonwealth.
A certificate revoked pursuant to subdivision A 5 shall not be
eligible for reentry reinstatement for a period of not less than
one year.
B. Any foreign corporation convicted of the offense listed in subdivision A 5 shall immediately report such conviction to the Commission and file with the Commission an authenticated copy of the judgment or record of conviction.
C. Before entering any such order the Commission shall issue a rule against the corporation giving it an opportunity to be heard and show cause why such an order should not be entered. The Commission may issue the rule on its own motion or on motion of the Attorney General.
D. The authority of a foreign corporation to transact business in the Commonwealth ceases on the date shown on the order revoking its certificate of authority.
E. The Commission's revocation of a foreign corporation's certificate of authority appoints the clerk of the Commission the foreign corporation's agent for service of process in any proceeding based on a cause of action arising during the time the foreign corporation was authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth. Service of process on the clerk of the Commission under this subsection is service on the foreign corporation and shall be made on the clerk in accordance with § 12.1-19.1.
F. Revocation of a foreign corporation's certificate of authority does not terminate the authority of the registered agent of the corporation.
§ 13.1-769.1. Reinstatement of a foreign corporation whose certificate of authority has been withdrawn or revoked.
A. A foreign corporation whose certificate of authority
issued by the Commission to transact business in the Commonwealth
has been surrendered withdrawn or revoked may apply to
be relieved of the withdrawal or revocation and have its certificate of
authority reinstated by the Commission for reentry within five years
thereafter after the date of withdrawal or revocation unless the
certificate of authority was revoked by order of the Commission upon a
finding that the corporation has continued to exceed or abuse the authority
conferred upon it by law pursuant to subdivision A 1 of § 13.1-769.
The
B. To have its certificate of authority reinstated, a
foreign corporation shall provide the Commission shall enter an order
reentering the certificate of authority upon receiving an annual report,
together with payment of a reentry with the following:
1. An application for reinstatement, which shall include the identification number issued by the Commission to the corporation, and which may be in the form of a letter signed by an officer or director of the corporation, or which may be by affidavit signed by an agent of any shareholder's interests stating that after diligent search by such agent, no officer or director can be found;
2. A reinstatement fee of $100 plus all;
3. All annual registration fees and penalties that were
due before the certificate of withdrawal was issued or the certificate
of authority was surrendered or revoked and that would have become
due thereafter been assessed or imposed to the date of reinstatement
if the corporation had not withdrawn or had its certificate of authority
surrendered or revoked. The application for reentry may be by letter
signed by an officer or director of the corporation. A corporation need not
refile a copy of its charter or any amendment thereof that is then on file in
the office of the clerk of the Commission. After the authority of a foreign
corporation to transact business in the Commonwealth has been surrendered or
revoked, the clerk shall retain in the files of the clerk's office the charter
and amendments thereto filed by the corporation and its original application
for authority to transact business for a period of five years.;
4. An annual report for the calendar year that corresponds to the calendar year of the latest annual registration fee that was assessed or that would have been assessed to the date of reinstatement;
5. A duly authenticated copy of any amendments or
corrections made to the articles of incorporation by a or other
constituent documents of the foreign corporation and any mergers entered
into by a the foreign corporation from the date of surrender
withdrawal or revocation of its certificate of authority to the date of its
application for reentry shall be filed with the application for reentry.
reinstatement, along with an application for an amended certificate of
authority if required as a result of an amendment or a correction, and all fees
required by this chapter for the filing of such instruments;
6. If the name of a the foreign
corporation, whose certificate of authority issued by the Commission has
been surrendered or revoked, is not distinguishable upon the records of the
Commission does not comply with the provisions of § 13.1-762 at the
time application is made for reentry of reinstatement, such
foreign corporation shall an application for an amended certificate of
authority to adopt a designated name for use in the Commonwealth that is
distinguishable upon the records of the Commission. Upon compliance
satisfies the requirements of § 13.1-762, with the fee required by this chapter
for the filing of an application for an amended certificate of authority; and
7. If the foreign corporation's registered agent has filed a statement of resignation and a new registered agent has not been appointed, a statement of change pursuant to § 13.1-764.
C. If the foreign corporation complies with the
provisions of this section, the Commission shall enter an order
reentering of reinstatement, reinstating the foreign
corporation's certificate of authority to do transact
business in the Commonwealth.
§ 13.1-804. Filing requirements.
A. A document shall satisfy the requirements of this section, and of any other section that adds to or varies these requirements, to be entitled to be filed with the Commission.
B. The document shall be one that this Act requires or permits to be filed with the Commission.
C. The document shall contain the information required by this Act. It may contain other information as well.
D. The document shall be typewritten or printed or, if electronically transmitted, shall be in a format that can be retrieved or reproduced in typewritten or printed form. The typewritten or printed portion shall be in black. Photocopies, or other reproduced copies, of typewritten or printed documents may be filed. In every case, information in the document shall be legible and the document shall be capable of being reformatted and reproduced in copies of archival quality.
E. The document shall be in the English language. A corporate name need not be in English if written in English letters or Arabic or Roman numerals. The articles of incorporation, duly authenticated by the official having custody of corporate records in the state or country under whose law the corporation is incorporated, which are required of foreign corporations need not be in English if accompanied by a reasonably authenticated English translation.
F. The document shall be signed in the name of the domestic or foreign corporation:
1. By the chairman or any vice-chairman of the board of directors, the president, or any other of its officers authorized to act on behalf of the corporation;
2. If directors have not been selected or the corporation has not been formed, by an incorporator; or
3. If the corporation is in the hands of a receiver, trustee, or other court-appointed fiduciary, by that fiduciary.
G. Any annual report required to be filed by § 13.1-936 shall be signed in the name of the corporation by an officer or director listed in the report or, if the corporation is in the hands of a receiver, trustee, or other court-appointed fiduciary, by that fiduciary.
H. The person signing the document shall state beneath or opposite his signature his name and the capacity in which he signs. Any signature may be a facsimile. The document may but need not contain a corporate seal, attestation, acknowledgment, or verification.
I. If, pursuant to any provision of this Act, the Commission has prescribed a mandatory form for the document, the document shall be in or on the prescribed form.
J. The document shall be delivered to the Commission for filing and shall be accompanied by the required filing fee, and any charter or entrance fee or registration fee required by this Act.
K. The Commission may accept the electronic filing of any information required or permitted to be filed by this Act and may prescribe the methods of execution, recording, reproduction and certification of electronically filed information pursuant to § 59.1-496.
L. Whenever a provision of this Act permits any of the terms of a plan or a filed document to be dependent on facts objectively ascertainable outside the plan or filed document, the following provisions apply:
1. The plan or filed document shall specify the nationally recognized news or information medium in which the facts may be found or otherwise state the manner in which the facts can be objectively ascertained. The manner in which the facts will operate upon the terms of the plan or filed document shall be set forth in the plan or filed document.
2. The facts may include:
a. Any of the following that are available in a nationally recognized news or information medium either in print or electronically: statistical or market indices, market prices of any security or group of securities, interest rates, currency exchange rates, or similar economic or financial data;
b. A determination or action by any person or body, including the corporation or any other party to a plan or filed document; or
c. The terms of or actions taken under an agreement to which the corporation is a party, or any other agreement or document.
3. As used in this subsection:
a. "Filed document" means a document filed with the Commission under § 13.1-819 or Article 10 (§ 13.1-884 et seq.) or 11 (§ 13.1-894 et seq.) of this Act; and
b. "Plan" means a plan of merger.
4. The following terms of a plan or filed document may not be made dependent on facts outside the plan or filed document:
a. The name and address of any person required in a filed document;
b. The registered office of any entity required in a filed document;
c. The registered agent of any entity required in a filed document;
d. The number of members and designation of each class of members;
e. The effective date of a filed document; and
f. Any required statement in a filed document of the date on which the underlying transaction was approved or the manner in which that approval was given.
5. If a term of a filed document is made dependent on a fact objectively ascertainable outside of the filed document and that fact is not objectively ascertainable by reference to a source described in subdivision 2a or to a document that is a matter of public record, or if the affected members have not received notice of the fact from the corporation, then the corporation shall file with the Commission articles of amendment setting forth the fact promptly after the time when the fact referred to is first objectively ascertainable or thereafter changes. Articles of amendment under this subdivision are deemed to be authorized by the authorization of the original filed document or plan to which they relate and may be filed by the corporation without further action by the board of directors or the members.
6. The provisions of subdivisions 1, 2, and 5 of this subsection shall not be considered by the Commission in deciding whether the terms of a plan or filed document comply with the requirements of law.
§ 13.1-810.1. Number of members.
A. For purposes of this Act, the following identified as a member in a corporation's current record of members constitutes one member:
1. Two or more co-owners persons who together have a
single membership interest in the corporation;
2. A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, business trust, trust, estate, or other entity; or
3. The trustees, guardians, custodians, or other fiduciaries of a single trust, estate, or account.
B. For purposes of this Act, membership interests registered in substantially similar names constitute one member if it is reasonable to believe that the names represent the same person.
§ 13.1-813. Hearing and finality of Commission action; injunctions.
A. The Commission shall have no power to grant a hearing with respect to any certificate issued by the Commission with respect to any articles filed with the Commission except on a petition by a member or director, filed with the Commission and the corporation within 30 days after the effective date of the certificate, in which the member or director asserts that the certification of corporate action contained in the articles contains a misstatement of a material fact as to compliance with statutory requirements, specifying the particulars thereof. After hearing, on notice in writing to the corporation and the member or director, the Commission shall determine the issues and revoke or refuse to revoke its order accordingly.
B. No court within or without the Commonwealth shall have jurisdiction to enjoin or delay the holding of any meeting of directors or members for the purpose of authorizing or consummating any amendment, merger, domestication, or termination of corporate existence, or the execution or filing with the Commission of any articles or other documents for such purpose, except pursuant to subsection D of § 13.1-845 or for fraud. No court within or without the Commonwealth, except the Supreme Court by way of appeal as authorized by law, shall have jurisdiction to review, reverse, correct or annul any action of the Commission, within the scope of its authority, with regard to any articles, certificate, order, objection or petition, or to suspend or delay the execution or operation thereof, or to enjoin, restrain or interfere with the Commission in the performance of its official duties.
C. Notwithstanding any provision of subsection A to the contrary, the Commission shall have the power to act upon a petition filed by a corporation at any time to correct Commission records so as to eliminate the effects of clerical errors and of filings made by a person or persons without authority to act for the corporation, or of its own motion to correct Commission records so as to eliminate the effects of clerical errors committed by its staff.
§ 13.1-815. Fees to be collected by Commission; payment of fees prerequisite to Commission action; exceptions.
A. The Commission shall assess the registration fees and shall charge and collect the filing fees, charter fees and entrance fees imposed by law. The Commission shall have authority to certify to the Comptroller directing refund of any overpayment of a fee, or of any fee collected for a document that is not accepted for filing, at any time within one year from the date of its payment. When the Commission receives payment of an annual registration fee assessed against a domestic or foreign corporation, such payment shall be applied against any unpaid annual registration fees previously assessed against such corporation, including any penalties incurred thereon, beginning with the assessment or penalty that has remained unpaid for the longest period of time.
B. The Commission shall not file or issue with respect to any domestic or foreign corporation any document or certificate specified in this Act, except the annual report required by § 13.1-936, a statement of change pursuant to § 13.1-834 or 13.1-926, and a statement of resignation pursuant to § 13.1-835 or 13.1-927, until all fees, charges, fines, penalties, and interest assessed, imposed, charged, or to be collected by the Commission pursuant to this Act or Title 12.1 have been paid by or on behalf of such corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Commission may file or issue any document or certificate with respect to a domestic or foreign corporation that has been assessed an annual registration fee if the document or certificate is filed or issued with an effective date that is on or before the due date of the corporation's annual registration payment in any year, provided that the Commission shall not issue a certificate of domestication with respect to a foreign corporation until the annual registration fee has been paid by or on behalf of that corporation.
C. Any A domestic or foreign corporation
that has ceased to exist in the Commonwealth because of the issuance of a
certificate of termination of corporate existence or certificate of
incorporation surrender or any foreign corporation that has obtained a
certificate of withdrawal, effective on or before its annual report due date pursuant
to subsection C of § 13.1-936 in any year, shall not be required to pay the
registration fee for that year. Any domestic or foreign corporation that has
merged, effective on or before its annual report due date pursuant to
subsection C of § 13.1-936 in any year, into a surviving domestic corporation
or into a surviving foreign corporation that files with the Commission an
authenticated copy of the instrument of merger on or before such date,
shall not be required to pay the annual registration fee for that
assessed against it pursuant to subsection B of § 13.1-936.1 in any year
if (i) the Commission issues or files any of the following types of certificate
or instrument and (ii) the certificate or instrument is effective on or before
the annual registration fee due date:
1. A certificate of termination of corporate existence, a certificate of incorporation surrender, or a certificate of entity conversion for a domestic corporation;
2. A certificate of withdrawal for a foreign corporation;
3. A certificate of merger or an authenticated copy of an instrument of merger for a domestic or foreign corporation that has merged into a surviving domestic corporation or eligible entity, or into a surviving foreign corporation or eligible entity; or
4. An authenticated copy of an instrument of entity conversion for a foreign corporation that has converted to a different entity type.
The Commission shall cancel the annual registration fee assessments specified in this subsection that remain unpaid.
D. Registration Annual registration fee
assessments that have been paid shall not be refunded.
§ 13.1-818. Incorporators.
One or more persons may act as the incorporator or
incorporators of a corporation by signing and filing delivering
articles of incorporation with to the Commission for filing.
§ 13.1-885. Amendment of articles of incorporation by directors.
A. Where there are no members, or no members having voting rights, an amendment shall be adopted at a meeting of the board of directors upon receiving the vote of at least two-thirds of the directors in office. The board may adopt one or more amendments at any one meeting.
B. Unless the articles of incorporation provide otherwise, a corporation's board of directors may adopt one or more amendments to the corporation's articles of incorporation without member action:
1. To delete the names and addresses of the initial directors;
2. To delete the name and address of the initial
registered agent or the address of the initial registered office, if a
statement of change described in § 13.1-834 is on file with the
Commission;
3. To add, delete, or change a geographic attribution for the name; or
4. To make any other change expressly permitted by this Act to be made without member action.
§ 13.1-898.5. Surrender of articles of incorporation upon domestication.
A. Whenever a domestic corporation has adopted and approved, in the manner required by this article, a plan of domestication providing for the corporation to be domesticated under the laws of another jurisdiction, the corporation shall file with the Commission articles of incorporation surrender setting forth:
1. The name of the corporation;
2. The corporation's new jurisdiction of
incorporation in which the corporation is to be domesticated and the
name of the corporation upon its domestication under the laws of that
jurisdiction;
3. The plan of domestication;
4. A statement that the articles of incorporation surrender are being filed in connection with the domestication of the corporation as a foreign corporation to be incorporated under the laws of another jurisdiction and that the corporation is surrendering its charter under the laws of the Commonwealth;
5. Where the members of the corporation have voting rights, a statement:
a. That the plan was adopted by the unanimous consent of the members; or
b. That the plan was submitted to the members by the board of directors in accordance with this Act, and a statement of:
(1) The existence of a quorum of each voting group entitled to vote separately on the plan; and
(2) Either the total number of votes cast for and against the plan by each voting group entitled to vote separately on the plan or the total number of undisputed votes cast for the plan separately by each voting group and a statement that the number cast for the plan by each voting group was sufficient for approval by that voting group;
6. Where the corporation has no members, or no members having voting rights, then a statement of that fact, the date of the meeting of the board of directors at which the plan was adopted and a statement of the fact that such plan received the vote of a majority of the directors in office;
7. A statement that the domestic corporation revokes
the authority of its registered agent to accept service on its behalf and
appoints the clerk of the Commission as its agent for service of process in any
proceeding based on a cause of action arising during the time it was
incorporated in the Commonwealth;
8. A mailing address to which the clerk may mail a copy of any
process served on him the clerk under subdivision 7; and
9. A commitment by the corporation to notify the clerk of the Commission in the future of any change in the mailing address of the corporation.
B. If the Commission finds that the articles of incorporation surrender comply with the requirements of law and that all required fees have been paid, it shall issue a certificate of incorporation surrender.
C. The corporation shall automatically cease to be a domestic corporation when the certificate of incorporation surrender becomes effective.
D. If the former domestic corporation intends to continue to transact business in the Commonwealth, then, within 30 days after the effective date of the certificate of incorporation surrender, it shall deliver to the Commission an application for a certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth pursuant to § 13.1-921 together with a copy of its instrument of domestication and articles of incorporation and all amendments thereto, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State or other official having custody of corporate records in the state or country under whose laws it is incorporated or domesticated.
E. Service of process on the clerk of the Commission is service of process on a former domestic corporation that has surrendered its charter pursuant to this section. Service on the clerk shall be made in accordance with § 12.1-19.1 and service on the former domestic corporation may be made in any other manner permitted by law.
§ 13.1-898.7. Abandonment of domestication.
A. Unless otherwise provided in a plan of domestication
of a domestic corporation prohibits abandonment of the domestication without
member approval to become a foreign corporation, after the
domestication plan has been authorized approved and
adopted as required by this article, and at any time before the certificate
of domestication filed in the other jurisdiction incorporation
surrender has become effective, the domestication may be abandoned by
the domestic corporation without further member action by its
members in accordance with the procedure any procedures set
forth in the plan of domestication or, if none is no such
procedures are set forth in the plan of domestication, in the manner
determined by the board of directors.
B. If a domestication is abandoned as provided under subsection A after articles of incorporation surrender have been filed with the Commission but before the certificate of incorporation surrender has become effective, written notice that the domestication has been abandoned in accordance with this section shall be filed with the Commission prior to the effective date of the certificate of incorporation surrender. The notice shall take effect upon filing and the domestication shall be deemed abandoned and shall not become effective.
C. If the domestication of a foreign corporation into the
Commonwealth is abandoned in accordance with the laws of the foreign
jurisdiction in which the foreign corporation is incorporated after
articles of domestication have been filed with the Commission but before the
certificate of domestication has become effective in the Commonwealth,
written notice that the domestication has been abandoned shall be filed with
the Commission prior to the effective time and date of the certificate
of domestication. The notice shall take effect upon filing and the
domestication shall be deemed abandoned and shall not become effective.
§ 13.1-916. Reinstatement of a corporation that has ceased to exist.
A. A corporation that has ceased to exist pursuant
to this article may apply to the Commission for reinstatement within five
years thereafter unless the corporate existence was terminated by order of the
Commission (i) upon a finding that the corporation has continued to exceed or
abuse the authority conferred upon it by law or (ii) entered pursuant to §
13.1-911 and the circuit court's decree directing dissolution contains no
provision of reinstatement of corporate existence. The Commission shall
enter an order reinstating the
B. To have its corporate existence upon receiving an
annual report together with payment of a reinstated, the corporation
shall provide the Commission with the following:
1. An application for reinstatement, which shall include the identification number issued by the Commission to the corporation, and which may be in the form of a letter signed by an officer or director of the corporation, or which may be by affidavit signed by an agent of any member's interests stating that after diligent search by such agent, no officer or director can be found;
2. A reinstatement fee of $10 plus all;
3. All annual registration fees and penalties that were
due before the corporation ceased to exist and that would have become due
thereafter been assessed or imposed to the date of reinstatement if
the corporation corporation's existence had not ceased to
exist been terminated;
4. An annual report need not be submitted if such a
report previously was filed during for the calendar year in which
reinstatement is sought. The application for reinstatement may be by letter
signed by an officer or director of the corporation or may be by affidavit
signed by any member stating that after diligent search by such member no
officer or director could be found. The Commission shall assess the amounts
that would have become due. that corresponds to the calendar year of the
latest annual registration fee that was assessed or that would have been
assessed to the date of reinstatement;
5. If the name of the corporation does not comply with the provisions of § 13.1-829 at the time of reinstatement, articles of amendment to the articles of incorporation to change the corporation's name to a name that satisfies the provisions of § 13.1-829, with the fee required by this chapter for the filing of articles of amendment; and
6. If the corporation's registered agent has filed a statement of resignation and a new registered agent has not been appointed, a statement of change pursuant to § 13.1-834.
C. If the corporation complies with the provisions of this
section, the Commission shall enter an order of reinstatement of corporate
existence. Upon the entry by the Commission of an
the order of reinstatement, the corporate existence shall be deemed to have
continued from the date of termination of corporate existence as if
termination had never occurred, and any liability incurred by the
corporation or a director, officer, or other agent after the termination
of corporate existence and before the reinstatement shall be is
determined as if the termination of corporate the corporation's
existence had never occurred. If the name of a corporation that has ceased
to exist is not distinguishable upon the records of the Commission, the
reinstated corporation shall not engage in business until it has amended its
articles of incorporation to change its name to a name that is distinguishable
upon the records of the Commission.
§ 13.1-921. Application for certificate of authority.
A. A foreign corporation may apply to the Commission for a certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth. The application shall be made on forms prescribed and furnished by the Commission. The application shall set forth:
1. The name of the corporation, and if the corporation is
prevented by § 13.1-924 from using its own name in the Commonwealth, a
designated name that satisfies the requirements of subsection B of § 13.1-924;
2. The name of the state or other jurisdiction under whose laws it is incorporated, and if the corporation was previously authorized or registered to transact business in the Commonwealth as a foreign corporation, limited liability company, business trust, limited partnership, or registered limited liability partnership, with respect to every such prior authorization or registration, (i) the name of the entity; (ii) the entity type; (iii) the state or other jurisdiction of incorporation, organization, or formation; and (iv) the entity identification number issued to it by the Commission;
3. The date of incorporation and period of duration;
4. The street address of the foreign corporation's principal office;
5. The address of the proposed registered office of the foreign corporation in the Commonwealth, including both (i) the post office address with street and number, if any, and (ii) the name of the county or city in which it is located, and the name of its proposed registered agent in the Commonwealth at such address and that the registered agent is either (a) an individual who is a resident of Virginia and either an officer or director of the corporation or a member of the Virginia State Bar or (b) a domestic or foreign stock or nonstock corporation, limited liability company, or registered limited liability partnership authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth, the business office of which is identical with the registered office; and
6. The names and usual business addresses of the current directors and principal officers of the foreign corporation.
B. The foreign corporation shall deliver with the completed application a copy of its articles of incorporation and all amendments thereto, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State or other official having custody of corporate records in the state or other jurisdiction under whose laws it is incorporated.
C. If the Commission finds that the application complies with the requirements of law, and that all required fees have been paid, it shall issue a certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth.
§ 13.1-922. Amended certificate of authority.
A. A foreign corporation authorized to transact business in
the Commonwealth shall obtain an amended certificate of authority from the
Commission if:
1. If it changes its corporate name or the state or
country other jurisdiction of its incorporation; or
2. To abandon or change the designated name adopted by the corporation for use in the Commonwealth pursuant to subsection B of § 13.1-924.
B. The requirements of § 13.1-921 for obtaining an original certificate of authority apply to obtaining an amended certificate under this section.
C. Whenever the articles of incorporation of a foreign
corporation that is authorized to transact business in Virginia the
Commonwealth are amended, within 30 days after the amendment becomes
effective, the foreign corporation shall file with the Commission a copy of
such amendment duly authenticated by the Secretary of State or other official
having custody of corporate records in the state or country other
jurisdiction under whose law it is incorporated.
§ 13.1-928.1. Merger of foreign corporation authorized to transact business in Commonwealth.
A. Whenever a foreign corporation authorized to transact
business in the Commonwealth is a party to a merger permitted by the laws of
the state or other jurisdiction under whose laws it is incorporated, and such
corporation is the surviving entity of the merger, it shall, within 30 days
after such merger becomes effective, file with the Commission a copy of the
instrument of merger duly authenticated by the Secretary of State or other
official having custody of corporate records in the state or other jurisdiction
under whose laws such merger was effected law it is incorporated;
however, the filing shall not be required when a foreign corporation merges
with a domestic corporation, the foreign corporation's articles of
incorporation are not amended by said merger, and the articles of merger filed
on behalf of the domestic corporation pursuant to § 13.1-896 contain a
statement that the merger is permitted under the laws of the state or other
jurisdiction in which the foreign corporation is incorporated and that the
foreign corporation has complied with that law in effecting the merger.
B. Whenever a foreign corporation authorized to transact
business in the Commonwealth is a party to a merger permitted by the laws of
the state or other jurisdiction under the laws of which it is incorporated, and
such corporation is not the surviving entity of the merger or, whenever such a
foreign corporation is a party to a consolidation so permitted, the surviving
or resulting domestic or foreign corporation, limited liability company,
business trust, partnership, or limited partnership shall, if not continuing to
transact business in the Commonwealth, within 30 days after such merger or
consolidation becomes effective, deliver to the Commission a copy of the
instrument of merger or consolidation duly authenticated by the Secretary of
State or other official having custody of corporate records in the state or
other jurisdiction under whose laws such merger or consolidation was
effected law it was incorporated and comply in behalf of the
predecessor corporation with the provisions of § 13.1-929. If a surviving or
resulting corporation or limited liability company, business trust,
partnership, or limited partnership is to continue to transact business in the
Commonwealth and has not received a certificate of authority to transact
business in the Commonwealth, within such 30 days, deliver to the Commission an
application for a certificate of authority to transact business in the
Commonwealth, together with a duly authenticated copy of the instrument of
merger or consolidation and also, in case of a merger, a copy of its articles
of incorporation and all amendments thereto, duly authenticated by the
Secretary of State or other official having custody of corporate records in the
state or country under whose laws it is incorporated.
C. Upon the merger or consolidation of two or more foreign corporations any one of which owns property in the Commonwealth, all such property shall pass to the surviving or resulting corporation except as otherwise provided by the laws of the state by which it is governed, but only from the time when a duly authenticated copy of the instrument of merger or consolidation is filed with the Commission.
§ 13.1-929. Withdrawal of foreign corporation.
A. A foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth may not withdraw from the Commonwealth until it obtains a certificate of withdrawal from the Commission.
B. A foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth may apply to the Commission for a certificate of withdrawal. The application shall be on a form prescribed and furnished by the Commission and shall set forth:
1. The name of the foreign corporation and the name of the
state or country other jurisdiction under whose laws it is
incorporated;
2. That If applicable, a statement that the
foreign corporation is in existence and has not been merged into or
consolidated with another entity or converted into another type of entity or,
if the foreign corporation has been merged into or consolidated with another
entity or converted into another type of entity, that the application is signed
on behalf of the foreign corporation by the surviving or resulting entity
was a party to a merger permitted by the laws of the state or other
jurisdiction under whose law it was incorporated and that it was not the
surviving entity of the merger, has consolidated with another entity, or has
converted to another type of entity under the laws of the state or other
jurisdiction under whose law it was incorporated;
3. That the foreign corporation is not transacting business in the Commonwealth and that it surrenders its authority to transact business in the Commonwealth;
4. That the foreign corporation revokes the authority of its registered agent to accept service on its behalf and appoints the clerk of the Commission as its agent for service of process in any proceeding based on a cause of action arising during the time it was authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth;
5. A mailing address to which the clerk of the Commission may mail a copy of any process served on him under subdivision 4; and
6. A commitment to notify the clerk of the Commission in the future of any change in the mailing address of the corporation.
C. The Commission shall not allow any foreign corporation to withdraw from the Commonwealth unless such corporation files with the Commission a statement certifying that the corporation has filed returns and has paid all state taxes to the time of the certificate or a statement that no such returns are required to be filed or taxes are required to be paid. In such case the corporation may file returns and pay taxes before they would otherwise be due. If the Commission finds that the application complies with the requirements of law and that all required fees have been paid, it shall issue a certificate of withdrawal.
D. Before any foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth terminates its corporate existence, it shall file with the Commission an application for withdrawal. Whether or not such application is filed, the termination of the corporate existence of such foreign corporation shall not take away or impair any remedy available against such corporation for any right or claim existing or any liability incurred prior to such termination. Any such action or proceeding against such foreign corporation may be defended by such corporation in its corporate name. The members, directors and officers shall have power to take such corporate or other action as shall be appropriate to protect such remedy, right or claim. The right of a foreign corporation that has terminated its corporate existence to institute and maintain in its corporate name actions, suits or proceedings in the courts of the Commonwealth shall be governed by the law of the state of its incorporation.
E. Service of process on the clerk of the Commission is service of process on a foreign corporation that has withdrawn pursuant to this section. Service upon the clerk shall be made in accordance with § 12.1-19.1, and service upon the foreign corporation may be made in any other manner permitted by law.
§ 13.1-931. Involuntary revocation of certificate of authority.
A. The certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth of any foreign corporation may be revoked by order of the Commission when it finds that the corporation:
1. Has continued to exceed the authority conferred upon it by law;
2. Has failed to maintain a registered office or a registered agent in the Commonwealth as required by law;
3. Has failed to file any document required by this Act to be filed with the Commission;
4. No longer exists under the laws of the state or country of its incorporation; or
5. Has been convicted for a violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324a(f), as amended, for actions of its officers and directors constituting a pattern or practice of employing unauthorized aliens in the Commonwealth.
A certificate revoked pursuant to subdivision A 5 shall not be
eligible for reentry reinstatement for a period of not less than
one year.
B. Any foreign corporation convicted of the offense listed in subdivision A 5 shall immediately report such conviction to the Commission and file with the Commission an authenticated copy of the judgment or record of conviction.
C. Before entering any such order the Commission shall issue a rule against the corporation giving it an opportunity to be heard and show cause why such an order should not be entered. The Commission may issue the rule on its own motion or on motion of the Attorney General.
D. The authority of a foreign corporation to transact business in the Commonwealth ceases on the date shown on the order revoking its certificate of authority.
E. The Commission's revocation of a foreign corporation's certificate of authority appoints the clerk of the Commission the foreign corporation's agent for service of process in any proceeding based on a cause of action arising during the time the foreign corporation was authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth. Service of process on the clerk of the Commission under this subsection is service on the foreign corporation and shall be made on the clerk in accordance with § 12.1-19.1.
F. Revocation of a foreign corporation's certificate of authority does not terminate the authority of the registered agent of the corporation.
§ 13.1-931.1. Reinstatement of foreign corporation whose certificate of authority has been withdrawn or revoked.
A. A foreign corporation whose certificate of authority
issued by the Commission to transact business in the Commonwealth
has been surrendered withdrawn or revoked may apply to
be relieved of the withdrawal or revocation and have its certificate of
authority reinstated by the Commission for reentry within five years
thereafter after the date of withdrawal or revocation unless the
certificate of authority was revoked by order of the Commission upon a
finding that the corporation has continued to exceed or abuse the authority
conferred upon it by law pursuant to subdivision A 1 of § 13.1-931.
The B. To have its certificate of authority
reinstated, a foreign corporation shall provide the Commission shall
enter an order reentering the certificate of authority upon receiving an annual
report, together with payment of a reentry with the following:
1. An application for reinstatement, which shall include the identification number issued by the Commission to the corporation, and which may be in the form of a letter signed by an officer or director of the corporation, or which may be by affidavit signed by an agent of any member's interests stating that after diligent search by such agent, no officer or director can be found;
2. A reinstatement fee of $10 plus all;
3. All annual registration fees and penalties that were
due before the certificate of withdrawal was issued or the certificate
of authority was surrendered or revoked and that would have become
due thereafter been assessed or imposed to the date of reinstatement
if the corporation had not withdrawn or had its certificate of authority
surrendered or revoked. The application for reentry may be by letter
signed by an officer or director of the corporation. A corporation need not
refile a copy of its charter or any amendment thereof that is then on file in
the office of the clerk of the Commission. After the authority of a foreign
corporation to transact business in the Commonwealth has been surrendered or
revoked, the clerk shall retain in the files of his office the charter and
amendments thereto filed by the corporation and its original application for
authority to transact business for a period of five years.;
4. An annual report for the calendar year that corresponds to the calendar year of the latest annual registration fee that was assessed or that would have been assessed to the date of reinstatement;
5. A duly authenticated copy of any amendments or
corrections made to the articles of incorporation by a or other
constituent documents of the foreign corporation and any mergers entered
into by a the foreign corporation from the date of surrender
withdrawal or revocation of its certificate of authority to the date of its
application for reentry shall be filed with the application for reentry.
reinstatement, along with an application for an amended certificate of
authority if required as a result of an amendment or a correction, and all fees
required by this chapter for the filing of such instruments;
6. If the name of a the foreign
corporation, whose certificate of authority issued by the Commission has
been surrendered or revoked, is not distinguishable upon the records of the
Commission does not comply with the provisions of § 13.1-924 at the
time application is made for reentry, such foreign corporation shall
of reinstatement, an application for an amended certificate of authority to
adopt a designated name for use in the Commonwealth that is distinguishable
upon the records of the Commission satisfies the requirements of §
13.1-924, with the fee required by this chapter for the filing of an
application for an amended certificate of authority; and
7. If the foreign corporation's registered agent has filed a statement of resignation and a new registered agent has not been appointed, a statement of change pursuant to § 13.1-926.
Upon compliance C. If the foreign corporation
complies with the provisions of this section, the Commission shall
enter an order reentering of reinstatement, reinstating the foreign
corporation's certificate of authority to do transact
business in the Commonwealth.
§ 13.1-941.01. Conversion to a domestic stock corporation.
A domestic nonstock corporation may convert to a
domestic stock corporation by filing with the Commission articles of
amendment to its articles of incorporation, approved organized under
Chapter 9 (§ 13.1-601 et seq.) in accordance with § 13.1-885 or §
13.1-886 the provisions of this article.
§ 13.1-942. Articles of restatement.
A. A corporation converting to a domestic stock
corporation shall file with the Commission articles of amendment
restatement in accordance with § 13.1-888 13.1-889.
B. The In addition to the information required by
subsection D of § 13.1-889, if the corporation has one or more classes of
members, the articles of amendment restatement shall set
forth:
1. The name of the corporation, which satisfies the
requirements of § 13.1-630;
2. The number of shares the corporation will be authorized
to issue;
3. If more than one class of shares is to be authorized,
the number of authorized shares of each class and a distinguishing designation
for each class;
4. A provision or provisions, if any, defining or denying
the preemptive right of shareholders to acquire unissued shares of the
corporation;
5. A provision substituting the word
"shareholders" or other appropriate language for "members"
wherever "members" appears in the articles of incorporation;
6. Provisions not inconsistent with law which may be necessary
to bring the corporation into compliance with (i) the manner and basis
of converting the membership interests of each class of members of the
corporation into shares or other securities, obligations, rights to acquire
shares, or other securities, cash, other property, or any combination of the
foregoing or (ii) a statement that the membership interests of the members will
be canceled without consideration as a result of the corporation's conversion
to a domestic stock corporation.
C. The articles of restatement shall set forth the text of
the amended and restated articles of incorporation that comply with the
requirements of Chapter 9 (§ 13.1-601 et seq.) of this title or which
may be required for the regulation and governance of the corporation as a stock
corporation; and
7. Such provisions, if any, which are permitted by §
13.1-619 to be included in articles of incorporation of a Virginia stock
corporation as they will be in effect immediately upon the consummation
of the conversion.
C. D. If the Commission finds that the articles
of amendment restatement comply with the requirements of law and
bring the articles of incorporation into compliance with the requirements for a
Virginia stock corporation, and that all required fees have been paid, it
shall issue a certificate of amendment restatement in accordance with
§ 13.1-889.
§ 13.1-943. Fees.
Upon the filing of the articles of amendment
restatement to convert to a domestic stock corporation, in addition
to the fees required by § 13.1-816 for filing articles of amendment
restatement, a corporation shall also pay a fee equal to that required for
a newly chartered stock corporation authorized to issue the same number of
shares, as set forth in subsection A of § 13.1-615.1.
§ 13.1-944. Effect of conversion.
A. Upon the effective date of the certificate of amendment,
the When a conversion under this article becomes effective:
1. The corporation shall be converted to
continues its existence as a domestic stock corporation, and
thereafter be subject to the provisions of Chapter 9 (§ 13.1-601 et seq.)
of this title.;
B. 2. The directors of the corporation at the
time of conversion shall continue in office until their terms expire and
new directors are elected by the shareholders.;
3. The title to all real estate and other property remains in the domestic stock corporation without reversion or impairment;
4. The liabilities remain the liabilities of the domestic stock corporation;
5. A pending proceeding may be continued by or against the domestic stock corporation as if the conversion did not occur;
6. The amended and restated articles of incorporation set forth in the articles of restatement shall constitute the articles of incorporation of the domestic stock corporation;
7. The membership interests, if any, of the corporation are reclassified into shares or other property, or canceled, in accordance with the articles of restatement, and the members of the corporation are entitled only to the rights provided in the articles of restatement;
8. The domestic stock corporation is deemed to:
a. Be a domestic stock corporation for all purposes;
b. Be the same corporation without interruption as the converting corporation that existed prior to the conversion; and
c. Have been incorporated on the date that the converting corporation was originally incorporated; and
9. The corporation shall cease to be a corporation organized under the provisions of this chapter.
B. Any member of a corporation that converts to a domestic stock corporation who, prior to the conversion, was liable for the liabilities or obligations of the corporation is not released from those liabilities or obligations by reason of the conversion.
§ 13.1-944.5. Articles of entity conversion.
A. After the conversion of a corporation into a limited liability company has been adopted and approved as required by this article, the converting entity shall file with the Commission articles of entity conversion setting forth:
1. The name of the corporation immediately prior to the filing of the articles of entity conversion and the name to which the name of the converting entity is to be changed, which name shall satisfy the requirements of the laws of the Commonwealth;
2. The plan of entity conversion, including the full text of the articles of organization of the resulting entity that comply with the requirements of Chapter 12 (§ 13.1-1000 et seq.), as they will be in effect immediately after consummation of the conversion;
3. A statement:
a. That the plan was adopted by the vote of at least two-thirds of the directors in office, including the reason member approval was not required;
b. That the plan was adopted by the unanimous consent of the members having voting rights; or
c. That the plan was proposed by the board of directors and submitted to the members in accordance with this chapter, and a statement of:
(1) The existence of a quorum of each voting group entitled to vote separately on the plan; and
(2) Either the total number of votes cast for and against the plan by each voting group entitled to vote separately on the plan or the total number of undisputed votes cast for the plan separately by each voting group and a statement that the number cast for the plan by each voting group was sufficient for approval by that voting group.
B. If the Commission finds that the articles of entity conversion comply with the requirements of law and that all required fees have been paid, it shall issue a certificate of entity conversion.
§ 13.1-944.6. Effect of entity conversion.
A. When an entity conversion under this article becomes effective, with respect to that entity:
1. The title to all real estate and other property remains in the resulting entity without reversion or impairment;
2. The liabilities remain the liabilities of the resulting entity;
3. A proceeding pending proceeding may be
continued by or against the resulting entity as if the conversion did not
occur;
4. The articles of organization attached to the articles of entity conversion constitute the articles of organization of the resulting entity;
5. The membership interests, if any, of the corporation are
reclassified into LLC membership interests in accordance with the plan of
entity conversion;, and the members of the corporation are
entitled only to the rights provided in the plan of entity conversion;
6. The resulting entity is deemed to:
a. Be a limited liability company for all purposes;
b. Be the same entity without interruption as the converting entity that existed prior to the conversion; and
c. Have been organized on the date that the converting entity was originally incorporated; and
7. The corporation shall cease to be a corporation when the certificate of entity conversion becomes effective.
B. Any member of a corporation that converts to a limited liability company who, prior to the conversion, was liable for the liabilities or obligations of the limited liability company is not released from those liabilities or obligations by reason of the entity conversion.
§ 13.1-944.7. Abandonment of entity conversion.
A. Unless otherwise provided in a plan of entity
conversion of a domestic corporation prohibits abandonment of the
conversion without member approval to become a limited liability company,
after the conversion plan has been authorized approved
and adopted as required by this article, and at any time before the
certificate of entity conversion has become effective, the conversion may be
abandoned by the corporation without further member action by
the members in accordance with the procedure any procedures
set forth in the plan of entity conversion or, if none is no
such procedures are set forth in the plan of entity conversion, in
the manner determined by the board of directors.
B. If an entity conversion is abandoned under subsection A after articles of entity conversion have been filed with the Commission but before the certificate of entity conversion has become effective, written notice that the entity conversion has been abandoned in accordance with this section shall be filed with the Commission prior to the effective time and date of the certificate of entity conversion. The notice shall take effect upon filing and the entity conversion shall be deemed abandoned and shall not become effective.
HOUSE BILL NO. 2176
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 13.1-604, 13.1-614, 13.1-615, 13.1-615.1, 13.1-618, 13.1-706, 13.1-710, 13.1-722.5, 13.1-722.7, 13.1-722.12, 13.1-722.13, 13.1-722.14, 13.1-754, 13.1-759, 13.1-760, 13.1-762, 13.1-766.1, 13.1-767, 13.1-769, 13.1-769.1, 13.1-804, 13.1-810.1, 13.1-813, 13.1-815, 13.1-818, 13.1-885, 13.1-898.5, 13.1-898.7, 13.1-916, 13.1-921, 13.1-922, 13.1-928.1, 13.1-929, 13.1-931, 13.1-931.1, 13.1-941.01 through 13.1-944, 13.1-944.5, 13.1-944.6, and 13.1-944.7 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 13.1-604. Filing requirements.
A. A document shall satisfy the requirements of this section, and of any other section that adds to or varies these requirements, to be entitled to be filed with the Commission.
B. The document shall be one that this chapter requires or permits to be filed with the Commission.
C. The document shall contain the information required by this chapter. It may contain other information as well.
D. The document shall be typewritten or printed or, if electronically transmitted, shall be in a format that can be retrieved or reproduced in typewritten or printed form. The typewritten or printed portion shall be in black. Photocopies, or other reproduced copies, of typewritten or printed documents may be filed. In every case, information in the document shall be legible and the document shall be capable of being reformatted and reproduced in copies of archival quality.
E. The document shall be in the English language. A corporate name need not be in English if written in English letters or Arabic or Roman numerals. The articles of incorporation, duly authenticated by the official having custody of corporate records in the state or country under whose law the corporation is incorporated, which are required of foreign corporations need not be in English if accompanied by a reasonably authenticated English translation.
F. The document shall be signed in the name of the domestic or foreign corporation:
1. By the chairman or any vice-chairman of the board of directors, the president, or any other of its officers authorized to act on behalf of the corporation;
2. If directors have not been selected or the corporation has not been formed, by an incorporator; or
3. If the corporation is in the hands of a receiver, trustee, or other court-appointed fiduciary, by that fiduciary.
G. Any annual report required to be filed by § 13.1-775 shall be signed in the name of the corporation by an officer or director listed in the report or, if the corporation is in the hands of a receiver, trustee, or other court-appointed fiduciary, by that fiduciary.
H. The person signing the document shall state beneath or opposite his signature his name and the capacity in which he signs. Any signature may be a facsimile. The document may but need not contain a corporate seal, attestation, acknowledgment, or verification.
I. If, pursuant to any provision of this chapter, the Commission has prescribed a mandatory form for the document, the document shall be in or on the prescribed form.
J. The document shall be delivered to the Commission for filing and shall be accompanied by the required filing fee, and any franchise tax, charter or entrance fee or registration fee required by this chapter.
K. The Commission may accept the electronic filing of any information required or permitted to be filed by this chapter and may prescribe the methods of execution, recording, reproduction and certification of electronically filed information pursuant to § 59.1-496.
L. Whenever a provision of this chapter permits any of the terms of a plan or a filed document to be dependent on facts objectively ascertainable outside the plan or filed document, the following provisions apply:
1. The plan or filed document shall specify the nationally recognized news or information medium in which the facts can be found or otherwise state the manner in which the facts can be objectively ascertained. The manner in which the facts will operate upon the terms of the plan or filed document shall be set forth in the plan or filed document.
2. The facts may include:
a. Any of the following that are available in a nationally recognized news or information medium either in print or electronically: statistical or market indices, market prices of any security or group of securities, interest rates, currency exchange rates or similar economic or financial data;
b. A determination or action by any person or body, including the corporation or any other party to a plan or filed document; or
c. The terms of, or actions taken under, an agreement to which the corporation is a party, or any other agreement or document.
3. As used in this subsection:
a. "Filed document" means a document filed with the Commission under § 13.1-619 or Article 11 (§ 13.1-705 et seq.) or 12 (§ 13.1-715.1 et seq.) of this chapter; and
b. "Plan" means a plan of merger or share exchange.
4. The following terms of a plan or filed document may not be made dependent on facts outside the plan or filed document:
a. The name and address of any person required in a filed document;
b. The registered office of any entity required in a filed document;
c. The registered agent of any entity required in a filed document;
d. The number of authorized shares and designation of each class or series of shares;
e. The effective date of a filed document; and
f. Any required statement in a filed document of the date on which the underlying transaction was approved or the manner in which that approval was given.
5. If a term of a filed document is made dependent on a fact objectively ascertainable outside of the filed document, and that fact is not objectively ascertainable by reference to a source described in subdivision 2 a of this subsection or a document that is a matter of public record, or the affected shareholders have not received notice of the fact from the corporation, then the corporation shall file with the Commission articles of amendment setting forth the fact promptly after the time when the fact referred to is first objectively ascertainable or thereafter changes. Articles of amendment under this subdivision are deemed to be authorized by the authorization of the original filed document or plan to which they relate and may be filed by the corporation without further action by the board of directors or the shareholders.
6. The provisions of subdivisions 1, 2, and 5 of this subsection shall not be considered by the Commission in deciding whether the terms of a plan or filed document comply with the requirements of law.
§ 13.1-614. Hearing and finality of Commission action; injunctions.
A. The Commission shall have no power to grant a hearing with respect to any certificate issued by the Commission with respect to any articles filed with the Commission except on a petition by a shareholder filed with the Commission and the corporation within 30 days after the effective date of the certificate, in which the shareholder asserts that the certification of corporate action contained in the articles contains a misstatement of a material fact as to compliance with statutory requirements, specifying the particulars thereof. After hearing, on notice in writing to the corporation and the shareholder, the Commission shall determine the issues and revoke or refuse to revoke its order accordingly.
B. No court within or without the Commonwealth shall have jurisdiction to enjoin or delay the holding of any meeting of directors or shareholders for the purpose of authorizing or consummating any amendment, merger, share exchange, domestication, conversion or termination of corporate existence or the execution or filing with the Commission of any articles or other documents for such purpose, except pursuant to subsection D of § 13.1-661 or for fraud. No court within or without the Commonwealth, except the Supreme Court by way of appeal as authorized by law, shall have jurisdiction to review, reverse, correct or annul any action of the Commission, within the scope of its authority, with regard to any articles, certificate, order, objection or petition, or to suspend or delay the execution or operation thereof, or to enjoin, restrain or interfere with the Commission in the performance of its official duties.
C. Notwithstanding any provision of subsection A to the contrary, the Commission shall have the power to act upon a petition filed by a corporation at any time to correct Commission records so as to eliminate the effects of clerical errors and of filings made by a person or persons without authority to act for the corporation, or of its own motion to correct Commission records so as to eliminate the effects of clerical errors committed by its staff.
§ 13.1-615. Fees to be collected by Commission; application of payment; payment of fees prerequisite to Commission action; exceptions.
A. The Commission shall assess the registration fees and shall charge and collect the filing fees, charter fees, and entrance fees imposed by law. The Commission shall have authority to certify to the Comptroller directing refund of any overpayment of a fee, or of any fee collected for a document that is not accepted for filing, at any time within one year from the date of its payment. When the Commission receives payment of an annual registration fee assessed against a domestic or foreign corporation, such payment shall be applied against any unpaid annual registration fees previously assessed against such corporation, including any penalties incurred thereon, beginning with the assessment or penalty that has remained unpaid for the longest period of time.
B. The Commission shall not file or issue with respect to any domestic or foreign corporation any document or certificate specified in this chapter, except the annual report required by § 13.1-775, a statement of change pursuant to § 13.1-635 or 13.1-764, and a statement of resignation pursuant to § 13.1-636 or 13.1-765, until all fees, fines, penalties, and interest assessed, imposed, charged, or to be collected by the Commission pursuant to this chapter or Title 12.1 have been paid by or on behalf of such corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Commission may file or issue any document or certificate with respect to a domestic or foreign corporation that has been assessed an annual registration fee if the document or certificate is filed or issued with an effective date that is on or before the due date of the corporation's annual registration fee payment in any year, provided that the Commission shall not issue a certificate of domestication with respect to a foreign corporation until the annual registration fee has been paid by or on behalf of that corporation.
C. Any A domestic or foreign
corporation that has ceased to exist in the Commonwealth
because of the issuance of a certificate of termination of corporate existence,
certificate of incorporation surrender or certificate of entity conversion or
any foreign corporation that has obtained a certificate of withdrawal,
effective on or before its annual report due date pursuant to subsection C of §
13.1-775 in any year, shall not be required to pay the registration fee for
that year. Any domestic or foreign corporation that has merged, effective on or
before its annual report due date pursuant to subsection C of § 13.1-775 in any
year, into a surviving domestic corporation or into a surviving foreign
corporation that files with the Commission an authenticated copy of the instrument
of merger on or before such date, shall not be required to pay the registration
fee for that year. Any foreign corporation that has converted, effective on or
before its annual report due date pursuant to subsection C of § 13.1-775 in any
year, to a different entity type that files with the Commission an
authenticated copy of the instrument of entity conversion on or before such
date, shall not be required to pay the annual registration
fee for that assessed against it
pursuant to subsection B of § 13.1-775.1 in any year if (i) the
Commission issues or files any of the
following types of certificate
or instrument and (ii) the certificate
or instrument is effective on or before the annual registration fee due date:
1. A certificate of termination of corporate existence, a certificate of incorporation surrender, or a certificate of entity conversion for a domestic corporation;
2. A certificate of withdrawal for a foreign corporation;
3. A certificate of merger or an authenticated copy of an instrument of merger for a domestic or foreign corporation that has merged into a surviving domestic corporation or eligible entity or into a surviving foreign corporation or eligible entity; or
4. An authenticated copy of an instrument of entity conversion for a foreign corporation that has converted to a different entity type.
The Commission shall cancel the annual registration fee assessments specified in this subsection that remain unpaid.
D. Any A foreign corporation that has
amended its articles of incorporation to reduce the number of shares it is
authorized to issue, effective prior to its annual
registration fee assessment date pursuant to subsection B
of § 13.1-775.1 of a given year, and has timely filed an authenticated copy of
the amendment with the Commission pursuant to § 13.1-760 after its annual registration fee assessment
date pursuant to subsection B of § 13.1-775.1,
shall have its annual registration fee
reassessed to reflect the new number of authorized shares.
E. Registration Annual registration fee
assessments that have been paid shall not be refunded.
§ 13.1-615.1. Charter and entrance fees for corporations.
A. Every domestic corporation, upon the granting of its charter or upon domestication, shall pay a charter fee into the state treasury, and every foreign corporation, when it obtains from the State Corporation Commission a certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth, shall pay an entrance fee into the state treasury. The fee in each case is to be ascertained and fixed as follows:
For any domestic or foreign corporation whose number of authorized shares is 1,000,000 or fewer shares - $50 for each 25,000 shares or fraction thereof;
For any domestic or foreign corporation whose number of authorized shares is more than 1,000,000 shares - $2,500.
B. For any foreign corporation that files articles of domestication and that had authority to transact business in the Commonwealth at the time of such filing, the charter fee to be charged upon domestication shall be an amount equal to the difference between the amount that would be required by this section and the amount already paid as an entrance fee by such corporation.
C. For any foreign corporation that files an application for a certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth and that had previously surrendered its articles of incorporation as a domestic corporation, the entrance fee to be charged upon obtaining a certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth shall be an amount equal to the difference between the amount that would be required by this section and the amount already paid as a charter fee by such corporation.
D. Whenever by articles of amendment or articles of merger, the number of authorized shares of any domestic or foreign corporation or of the surviving corporation is increased, the charter or entrance fee to be charged shall be an amount equal to the difference between the amount already paid as a charter or entrance fee by such corporation and the amount that would be required by this section to be paid if the increased number of authorized shares were being stated at that time in the original articles of incorporation.
E. For any domestic limited liability company that files articles of entity conversion to become a domestic corporation and that had previously converted from a domestic corporation, the charter fee to be charged upon entity conversion shall be an amount equal to the difference between the amount that would be required by this section and the amount already paid as a charter fee by the domestic limited liability company when it was a domestic corporation.
F. If no charter or entrance fee has been heretofore paid to the Commonwealth, the amount to be paid shall be the same as would have to be paid on original incorporation or application for authority to transact business.
§ 13.1-618. Incorporators.
One or more persons may act as the
incorporator or incorporators of a corporation by signing
and filing delivering
articles of incorporation with to the Commission for filing.
§ 13.1-706. Amendment of articles of incorporation by directors.
Unless the articles of incorporation provide otherwise, a corporation's board of directors may adopt one or more amendments to the corporation's articles of incorporation without shareholder action:
1. To delete the names and addresses of the initial directors;
2. To delete the name and address
of the initial registered agent or the address of the initial
registered office, if a statement of change described
in § 13.1-635 is on file with the Commission;
3. If the corporation has only one class of shares outstanding:
a. To change each issued and unissued authorized share of the class into a greater number of whole shares of that class; or
b. To increase the number of authorized shares of the class to the extent necessary to permit the issuance of shares as a share dividend;
4. To eliminate or change the par value of the shares of any class or series;
5. To change the corporate name by substituting the word "corporation," "incorporated," "company," or "limited," or the abbreviation "corp.," "inc.," "co." or "ltd.," or a similar word or abbreviation in the name, or by adding, deleting, or changing a geographic attribution for the name;
6. To make any
other If the corporation has or
will become a holding company under § 13.1-719.1, to change expressly permitted by this chapter to be made
without shareholder action the
corporate name to the former name of the constituent corporation; or
7. If the corporation is registered as an open-end management
investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, to increase or
decrease the aggregate number of shares or classes the number of shares of any class or series of shares within any class
that the corporation is authorized to issue; or
8. To make any other change expressly permitted by this chapter to be made without shareholder action.
§ 13.1-710. Articles of amendment.
A. A corporation amending its articles of incorporation shall file with the Commission articles of amendment setting forth:
1. The name of the corporation;
2. The text of each amendment adopted or the information required by subdivision L 5 of § 13.1-604;
3. If an amendment provides for an exchange, reclassification, or cancellation of issued shares, provisions for implementing the amendment if not contained in the amendment itself, which may be made dependent upon facts objectively ascertainable outside the articles of amendment in accordance with subsection L of § 13.1-604;
4. The date of each amendment's adoption;
5. If an amendment was adopted by the
incorporators or the board of directors or the
incorporators without shareholder approval, a statement that
the amendment was duly approved by the incorporators or by
the board of directors or by a majority of the
incorporators, as the case may be, including the reason
shareholder and, if applicable, director
approval was not required; and
6. If an amendment was approved by the shareholders, either:
a. A statement that the amendment was adopted by unanimous consent of the shareholders, or
b. A statement that the amendment was proposed by the board of directors and submitted to the shareholders in accordance with this chapter and a statement of:
(1) The designation, number of outstanding shares, and number of votes entitled to be cast by each voting group entitled to vote separately on the amendment;
(2) Either the total number of votes cast for and against the amendment by each voting group entitled to vote separately on the amendment or the total number of undisputed votes cast for the amendment by each voting group and a statement that the number cast for the amendment by each voting group was sufficient for approval by that voting group.
B. If the Commission finds that the articles of amendment comply with the requirements of law and that all required fees have been paid, it shall issue a certificate of amendment.
§ 13.1-722.5. Surrender of articles of incorporation upon domestication.
A. Whenever a domestic corporation has adopted and approved, in the manner required by this article, a plan of domestication providing for the corporation to be domesticated under the laws of another jurisdiction, the corporation shall file with the Commission articles of incorporation surrender setting forth:
1. The name of the corporation;
2. The corporation's new
jurisdiction of incorporation in which the corporation is to
be domesticated and the name of the corporation upon its domestication under
the laws of that jurisdiction;
3. The plan of domestication;
4. A statement that the articles of incorporation surrender are being filed in connection with the domestication of the corporation as a foreign corporation to be incorporated under the laws of another jurisdiction and that the corporation is surrendering its charter under the laws of this Commonwealth;
5. A statement:
a. That the plan was adopted by the unanimous consent of the shareholders; or
b. That the plan was submitted to the shareholders by the board of directors in accordance with this chapter, and a statement of:
(1) The designation, number of outstanding shares and number of votes entitled to be cast by each voting group entitled to vote separately on the plan; and
(2) Either the total number of votes cast for and against the plan by each voting group entitled to vote separately on the plan or the total number of undisputed votes cast for the plan separately by each voting group and a statement that the number cast for the plan by each voting group was sufficient for approval by that voting group;
6. A statement that the domestic
corporation revokes the authority of its registered agent to accept service on its
behalf and appoints the clerk of the Commission as its agent for service of
process in any proceeding based on a cause of action arising during the time it
was incorporated in this the Commonwealth;
7. A mailing address to which the clerk may mail a copy of any
process served on him the clerk under subdivision 6;
and
8. A commitment by the corporation to notify the clerk of the Commission in the future of any change in the mailing address of the corporation.
B. If the Commission finds that the articles of incorporation surrender comply with the requirements of law and that all required fees have been paid, it shall issue a certificate of incorporation surrender.
C. The corporation shall automatically cease to be a domestic corporation when the certificate of incorporation surrender becomes effective.
D. If the former domestic corporation intends to continue to
transact business in the Commonwealth, then, within
thirty 30
days after the effective date of the certificate of incorporation surrender, it
shall deliver to the Commission an application for a certificate of authority
to transact business in the Commonwealth pursuant to § 13.1-759 together with a
copy of its instrument of domestication and articles of incorporation and all
amendments thereto, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State or other
official having custody of corporate records in the state or country under
whose laws it is incorporated or domesticated.
E. Service of process on the clerk of the Commission is service of process on a former domestic corporation that has surrendered its charter pursuant to this section. Service on the clerk shall be made in accordance with § 12.1-19.1 and service on the former domestic corporation may be made in any other manner permitted by law.
§ 13.1-722.7. Abandonment of domestication.
A. Unless otherwise provided in
a plan of domestication of a domestic corporation prohibits
abandonment of the domestication without shareholder approval to become a foreign corporation,
after the domestication plan has been authorized approved
and adopted as required by this article, and at any time
before the certificate of domestication filed in the
other jurisdiction
incorporation surrender has become effective, the
domestication may be abandoned by the domestic corporation
without further shareholder action by the shareholders in
accordance with the procedure any procedures set forth in
the plan of domestication or, if none is no such
procedures are set forth in the
plan of domestication, in the manner determined by the
board of directors.
B. If a domestication is abandoned under subsection A after articles of incorporation surrender have been filed with the Commission but before the certificate of incorporation surrender has become effective, written notice that the domestication has been abandoned in accordance with this section shall be filed with the Commission prior to the effective time and date of the certificate of incorporation surrender. The notice shall take effect upon filing and the domestication shall be deemed abandoned and shall not become effective.
C. If the domestication of a foreign corporation into this the
Commonwealth is abandoned in accordance with the laws of the foreign jurisdiction in which the foreign corporation is incorporated
after articles of domestication have been filed with the Commission but before
the certificate of domestication has become effective in this
Commonwealth, written notice that the domestication has
been abandoned shall be filed with the Commission prior to the effective time and date of the
certificate of domestication. The notice shall take effect upon filing and the
domestication shall be deemed abandoned and shall not become effective.
§ 13.1-722.12. Articles of entity conversion.
A. After the conversion of a corporation into a limited liability company has been adopted and approved as required by this article, the converting entity shall file with the Commission articles of entity conversion setting forth:
1. The name of the corporation immediately prior to the filing of the articles of entity conversion and the name to which the name of the corporation is to be changed, which name shall satisfy the requirements of the laws of this Commonwealth;
2. The plan of entity conversion, including the full text of
the articles of organization of the surviving entity that comply with the
requirements of Chapter 12 (§ 13.1-1000 et seq.) of this
title, as they will be in effect immediately after
consummation of the conversion;
3. A statement If the plan of entity conversion was adopted by
the board of directors or the incorporators without shareholder approval, a
statement that the plan was duly approved by the board of directors or by a
majority of the incorporators, as the case may be, including the reason
shareholder and, if applicable, director approval was not required; and
4. If the plan of entity conversion was approved by the shareholders, either:
a. That A statement that the plan was
adopted by the unanimous consent of the shareholders; or
b. That A statement that the plan was
submitted to the shareholders by the board of directors in accordance with this
chapter, and a statement of:
(1) The designation, number of outstanding shares, and number of votes entitled to be cast by each voting group entitled to vote separately on the plan; and
(2) Either the total number of votes cast for and against the plan by each voting group entitled to vote separately on the plan or the total number of undisputed votes cast for the plan separately by each voting group and a statement that the number cast for the plan by each voting group was sufficient for approval by that voting group.
B. After the conversion of a limited liability company into a corporation has been adopted and approved as required by this article, the converting entity shall file with the Commission articles of entity conversion setting forth:
1. The name of the limited liability company immediately prior to the filing of the articles of entity conversion and the name to which the name of the limited liability company is to be changed, which name shall satisfy the requirements of § 13.1-630;
2. The plan of entity conversion, including the full text of the articles of incorporation of the surviving entity that comply with the requirements of this chapter, as they will be in effect immediately after the consummation of the conversion; and
3. A statement that the plan was adopted by the members of the limited liability company in the manner provided in the limited liability company's operating agreement or articles of organization for amendments, or, if no such provision is made in an operating agreement or articles of organization, by the unanimous vote of the members of the limited liability company.
C. If the Commission finds that the articles of entity conversion comply with the requirements of law and that all required fees have been paid, it shall issue a certificate of entity conversion.
§ 13.1-722.13. Effect of entity conversion.
A. When an entity conversion under this article becomes effective, with respect to that entity:
1. The title to all real estate and other property remains in the surviving entity without reversion or impairment;
2. The liabilities remain the liabilities of the surviving entity;
3. A proceeding
pending proceeding may be continued by
or against the surviving entity as if the conversion did not occur;
4. The articles of incorporation or articles of organization attached to the articles of conversion constitute the articles of incorporation or articles of organization of the surviving entity;
5. The shares or interests of the converting entity are
reclassified into shares or interests in accordance with the plan of entity
conversion; and the shareholders or members of the converting entity are
entitled only to the rights provided in the plan of entity conversion or, in
the case of a converting entity that is a corporation, to the rights, if any,
they may have under subdivision A 5 of § 13.1-730; and
6. The surviving entity is deemed to:
a. Be a corporation or limited liability company for all purposes;
b. Be the same corporation or limited liability company
without interruption as the converting entity that existed prior to the
conversion; and
c. Have been incorporated or otherwise organized on the date that the converting entity was originally incorporated or organized; and
7. The converting entity shall cease to be a corporation or a limited liability company, as the case may be, when the certificate of entity conversion becomes effective.
B. Any shareholder or member of a converting entity who, prior to the entity conversion, was liable for the liabilities or obligations of the converting entity is not released from those liabilities or obligations by reason of the entity conversion.
§ 13.1-722.14. Abandonment of entity conversion.
A. Unless otherwise provided in
a plan of entity conversion of a corporation prohibits
abandonment of the conversion without shareholder approval to become a limited liability company,
after the conversion plan
has been authorized approved
and adopted as required by this article, and at any time
before the certificate of entity conversion has become effective, the
conversion may be abandoned by the corporation
without further shareholder action by the shareholders in
accordance with the procedure any procedures set forth in
the plan of entity conversion
or, if none is no such
procedures are set forth in the
plan of entity conversion,
in the manner determined by the board of directors.
B. Unless the limited liability
company's articles of organization, operating agreement or otherwise provided in a plan
of entity conversion prohibits abandonment of the
conversion of a limited liability
company to become a corporation, after the conversion plan
has been authorized approved
and adopted as required by this
article, and at any time before the certificate of entity
conversion has become effective, the conversion may be abandoned in the manner
set forth in the plan of entity conversion
or, if none is no such
procedures are set forth in the
plan of entity conversion,
by majority a
vote of the members, managers, or organizers
of the limited liability company that is equal to or greater
than the vote cast for entity conversion pursuant to subsection B of §
13.1-722.11.
C. If an entity conversion is abandoned under subsection A or B after articles of entity conversion have been filed with the Commission but before the certificate of entity conversion has become effective, written notice that the entity conversion has been abandoned in accordance with this section shall be filed with the Commission prior to the effective time and date of the certificate of entity conversion. The notice shall take effect upon filing and the entity conversion shall be deemed abandoned and shall not become effective.
§ 13.1-754. Reinstatement of a corporation that has ceased to exist.
A. A
corporation that has ceased to exist pursuant to this article
may apply to the Commission for reinstatement within five years thereafter
unless the corporate existence was terminated by order of the Commission (i)
upon a finding that the corporation has continued to exceed or abuse the
authority conferred upon it by law or (ii) entered pursuant to § 13.1-749 and
the circuit court's decree directing dissolution contains no provision for
reinstatement of corporate existence. The Commission shall enter
an order reinstating the
B. To have its
corporate existence upon receiving an annual
report together with payment of a reinstated, the corporation shall provide the
Commission with the following:
1. An application for reinstatement, which shall include the identification number issued by the Commission to the corporation, and which may be in the form of a letter signed by an officer or director of the corporation, or which may be by affidavit signed by an agent of any shareholder's interests stating that after diligent search by such agent, no officer or director can be found;
2. A
reinstatement fee of $100 plus all;
3. All annual
registration fees and penalties that were due before the corporation ceased to
exist and that would have become due thereafter been assessed or imposed to the date of
reinstatement if the corporation corporation's existence had
not ceased to exist been terminated;
4. An
annual report need not be submitted if such a report
previously was filed during for
the calendar year in which reinstatement is
sought. The application for reinstatement may be by
letter signed by an officer or director of the corporation, or may be by
affidavit signed by an agent of any shareholder's interests stating that after
diligent search by such agent no officer or director can be found. The
Commission shall assess the amounts that would have become due that corresponds to the calendar
year of the latest annual registration fee that was assessed or that would have
been assessed to the date of reinstatement;
5. If the name of the corporation does not comply with the provisions of § 13.1-630 at the time of reinstatement, articles of amendment to the articles of incorporation to change the corporation's name to a name that satisfies the provisions of § 13.1-630, with the fee required by this chapter for the filing of articles of amendment; and
6. If the corporation's registered agent has filed a statement of resignation and a new registered agent has not been appointed, a statement of change pursuant to § 13.1-635.
C. If the corporation
complies with the provisions of this section, the Commission shall enter an
order of reinstatement of corporate existence. Upon the
entry by the Commission of an the
order of reinstatement, the
corporate existence shall be deemed to have continued from the date of
termination of corporate existence as if the termination had never occurred,
and any liability incurred by the corporation or a director, officer, or other
agent after the termination of corporate existence and
before the reinstatement shall be is determined as if the
termination of corporate the
corporation's existence had never occurred. If the name of a corporation that has ceased to
exist is not distinguishable upon the records of the Commission, the reinstated
corporation shall not engage in business until it has amended its articles of
incorporation to change its name to a name that is distinguishable upon the
records of the Commission.
§ 13.1-759. Application for certificate of authority.
A. A foreign corporation may apply to the Commission for a certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth. The application shall be made on forms prescribed and furnished by the Commission. The application shall set forth:
1. The name of the corporation, and if the corporation is
prevented by § 13.1-762 from using its own name
in the Commonwealth, a designated name that satisfies the requirements of
subsection B of § 13.1-762;
2. The name of the state or other jurisdiction under whose law it is incorporated, and if the corporation was previously authorized or registered to transact business in the Commonwealth as a foreign corporation, limited liability company, business trust, limited partnership, or registered limited liability partnership, with respect to every such prior authorization or registration, (i) the name of the entity; (ii) the entity type; (iii) the state or other jurisdiction of incorporation, organization, or formation; and (iv) the entity identification number issued to it by the Commission;
3. The date of incorporation and period of duration;
4. The street address of the foreign corporation's principal office;
5. The address of the proposed registered office of the foreign corporation in the Commonwealth (including both (i) the post office address with street and number, if any, and (ii) the name of the county or city in which it is located) and the name of its proposed registered agent in the Commonwealth at such address and that the registered agent is either (a) an individual who is a resident of Virginia and either an officer or director of the corporation or a member of the Virginia State Bar or (b) a domestic or foreign stock or nonstock corporation, limited liability company, or registered limited liability partnership authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth, the business office of which is identical with the registered office;
6. The names and usual business addresses of the current directors and principal officers of the foreign corporation; and
7. The number of shares the corporation is authorized to
issue, itemized by classes and series, if any,
within a class.
B. The foreign corporation shall deliver with the completed application a copy of its articles of incorporation and all amendments thereto duly authenticated by the Secretary of State or other official having custody of corporate records in the state or other jurisdiction under whose law it is incorporated.
C. If the Commission finds that the application complies with the requirements of law and that all required fees have been paid, it shall issue a certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth.
§ 13.1-760. Amended certificate of authority.
A. A foreign corporation authorized to transact business in
this Commonwealth shall obtain an amended certificate of authority from the
Commission if:
1. If it
changes its corporate name or the state or country other jurisdiction of its
incorporation; or
2. To abandon or change the designated name adopted by the corporation for use in the Commonwealth pursuant to subsection B of § 13.1-762.
B. The requirements of § 13.1-759 for obtaining an original certificate of authority apply to obtaining an amended certificate under this section.
C. Whenever the articles of incorporation of a foreign
corporation that is authorized to do transact business in Virginia the
Commonwealth are amended, within thirty 30 days after the amendment
becomes effective, the foreign corporation shall file with the Commission a
copy of such amendment duly authenticated by the Secretary of State or other
official having custody of corporate records in the state or country other
jurisdiction under whose law it is incorporated.
§ 13.1-762. Corporate name of foreign corporation.
A. No certificate of authority shall be issued to a foreign corporation unless the corporate name of such foreign corporation satisfies the requirements of § 13.1-630.
B. If the corporate name of a foreign corporation does not satisfy the requirements of § 13.1-630, to obtain or maintain a certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth:
1. The foreign corporation may add use a designated name that adds
the word "corporation," "incorporated,"
"company," or "limited," or the abbreviation
"corp.," "inc.," "co.," or "ltd.," to
its corporate name for use in the Commonwealth or, if it is a professional corporation, the
words "professional corporation" or "a professional
corporation" or the initials "P.C." or "PC" at the end
of its corporate name, if it informs the Commission of the designated name;
or
2. If its real name is unavailable, the foreign corporation may use a designated name that is available, and that satisfies the requirements of § 13.1-630, if it informs the Commission of the designated name.
§ 13.1-766.1. Merger of foreign corporation authorized to transact business in Commonwealth.
A. Whenever a foreign corporation authorized to transact
business in the Commonwealth is a party to a merger permitted by the laws of
the state or other jurisdiction under whose laws it is incorporated, and such
corporation is the surviving entity of the merger, it shall, within 30 days
after such merger becomes effective, file with the Commission a copy of the
instrument of merger duly authenticated by the Secretary of State or other
official having custody of corporate records in the state or other jurisdiction
under whose laws such merger was effected law it is incorporated;
however, the filing shall not be required when a foreign corporation merges
with a domestic corporation or eligible entity, the foreign corporation's
articles of incorporation are not amended by said merger, and the articles or
statement of merger filed on behalf of the domestic corporation or eligible
entity pursuant to § 13.1-720, 13.1-1072, 13.1-1261, 50-73.48:3, or 50-73.131
contains a statement that the merger is permitted under the laws of the state
or other jurisdiction in which the foreign corporation is incorporated and that
the foreign corporation has complied with that law in effecting the merger.
B. Whenever a foreign corporation authorized to transact
business in the Commonwealth is a party to a merger permitted by the laws of
the state or other jurisdiction under the laws of which it is incorporated, and
such corporation is not the surviving entity of the merger or, whenever such a
foreign corporation is a party to a consolidation so permitted, the surviving
or resulting domestic or foreign corporation, limited liability company,
business trust, partnership or limited partnership shall, if not continuing to
transact business in the Commonwealth, within 30 days after such merger or
consolidation becomes effective, deliver to the Commission a copy of the
instrument of merger or consolidation duly authenticated by the Secretary of
State or other official having custody of corporate records in the state or
other jurisdiction under whose laws such merger or
consolidation was effected law it was
incorporated, and comply in behalf of the predecessor
corporation with the provisions of § 13.1-767. If a surviving or resulting
corporation or limited liability company, business trust, registered limited
liability partnership or limited partnership is to continue to transact
business in the Commonwealth and has not received a certificate of authority to
transact business in the Commonwealth or registered as a foreign limited
liability company under § 13.1-1052, as a foreign business trust under §
13.1-1242, as a foreign registered limited liability partnership under §
50-73.138, or as a foreign limited partnership under § 50-73.54, then, within
such 30 days, it shall deliver to the Commission an application, if a foreign
corporation, for a certificate of authority to transact business in the
Commonwealth, if a foreign limited liability company, for registration as a
foreign limited liability company, if a foreign business trust, for
registration as a foreign business trust, if a foreign registered limited
liability partnership, for registration as a foreign registered limited
liability partnership, or, if a foreign limited partnership, for registration
as a foreign limited partnership, together with a duly authenticated copy of
the instrument of merger or consolidation and also, in case of a merger, a copy
of its articles of incorporation, certificate of limited partnership,
partnership certificate, statement of registered limited liability partnership,
articles of trust, or articles of organization and all amendments thereto, duly
authenticated by the Secretary of State or other official having custody of
corporate, limited partnership, registered limited liability partnership,
business trust, or limited liability company records in the state or other
jurisdiction under whose laws it is incorporated, formed, registered, or
organized.
C. Upon the merger or consolidation of a foreign corporation with one or more foreign corporations, partnerships, limited partnerships, business trusts, or limited liability companies, all property in the Commonwealth owned by any of the foreign corporations, partnerships, limited partnerships, business trusts, or limited liability companies shall pass to the surviving or resulting foreign corporation, limited liability company, business trust, or limited partnership except as otherwise provided by the laws of the state or other jurisdiction by which it is governed, but only from and after the time when a duly authenticated copy of the instrument of merger or consolidation is filed with the Commission.
§ 13.1-767. Withdrawal of foreign corporation.
A. A foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth may not withdraw from the Commonwealth until it obtains a certificate of withdrawal from the Commission.
B. A foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth may apply to the Commission for a certificate of withdrawal. The application shall be on a form prescribed and furnished by the Commission, which shall set forth:
1. The name of the foreign corporation and the name of the
state or country other
jurisdiction under whose law it is incorporated;
2. That If applicable, a statement that
the foreign corporation is in
existence and has not been merged into or consolidated with another entity or
converted into another type of entity or, if the foreign corporation has been
merged into or consolidated with another entity or converted into another type
of entity, that the application is signed on behalf of the foreign corporation
by the surviving or resulting entity was a
party to a merger permitted by the laws of the state or other jurisdiction
under whose law it was incorporated and that it was not the surviving entity of
the merger, has consolidated with another entity, or has converted to another
type of entity under the laws of the state or other jurisdiction under whose
law it was incorporated;
3. That the foreign corporation is not transacting business in the Commonwealth and that it surrenders its authority to transact business in the Commonwealth;
4. That the foreign corporation revokes the authority of its registered agent to accept service on its behalf and appoints the clerk of the Commission as its agent for service of process in any proceeding based on a cause of action arising during the time it was authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth;
5. A mailing address to which the clerk of the Commission may mail a copy of any process served on the clerk under subdivision 4; and
6. A commitment to notify the clerk of the Commission in the future of any change in the mailing address of the corporation.
C. The Commission shall not allow any foreign corporation to withdraw from the Commonwealth unless such corporation files with the Commission a statement certifying that the corporation has filed returns and has paid all state taxes to the time of the certificate or a statement that no such returns are required to be filed or taxes are required to be paid. In such case the corporation may file returns and pay taxes before they would otherwise be due. If the Commission finds that the application complies with the requirements of law and that all required fees have been paid, it shall issue a certificate of withdrawal.
D. Before any foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth terminates its corporate existence, it shall file with the Commission an application for withdrawal. Whether or not such application is filed, the termination of the corporate existence of such foreign corporation shall not take away or impair any remedy available against such corporation for any right or claim existing or any liability incurred prior to such termination. Any such action or proceeding against such foreign corporation may be defended by such corporation in its corporate name. The shareholders, directors and officers shall have power to take such corporate or other action as shall be appropriate to protect such remedy, right or claim. The right of a foreign corporation that has terminated its corporate existence to institute and maintain in its corporate name actions, suits or proceedings in the courts of the Commonwealth shall be governed by the law of the state of its incorporation.
E. Service of process on the clerk of the Commission is service of process on a foreign corporation that has withdrawn pursuant to this section. Service upon the clerk shall be made in accordance with § 12.1-19.1 and service upon the foreign corporation may be made in any other manner permitted by law.
§ 13.1-769. Involuntary revocation of certificate of authority.
A. The certificate of authority to do business in the Commonwealth of any foreign corporation may be revoked by order of the Commission when it finds that the corporation:
1. Has continued to exceed the authority conferred upon it by law;
2. Has failed to maintain a registered office or a registered agent in the Commonwealth as required by law;
3. Has failed to file any document required by this chapter to be filed with the Commission;
4. No longer exists under the laws of the state or country of its incorporation; or
5. Has been convicted for a violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324a(f), as amended, for actions of its officers and directors constituting a pattern or practice of employing unauthorized aliens in the Commonwealth.
A certificate revoked pursuant to subdivision A 5 shall not be
eligible for reentry
reinstatement for a period of not less than one year.
B. Any foreign corporation convicted of the offense listed in subdivision A 5 shall immediately report such conviction to the Commission and file with the Commission an authenticated copy of the judgment or record of conviction.
C. Before entering any such order the Commission shall issue a rule against the corporation giving it an opportunity to be heard and show cause why such an order should not be entered. The Commission may issue the rule on its own motion or on motion of the Attorney General.
D. The authority of a foreign corporation to transact business in the Commonwealth ceases on the date shown on the order revoking its certificate of authority.
E. The Commission's revocation of a foreign corporation's certificate of authority appoints the clerk of the Commission the foreign corporation's agent for service of process in any proceeding based on a cause of action arising during the time the foreign corporation was authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth. Service of process on the clerk of the Commission under this subsection is service on the foreign corporation and shall be made on the clerk in accordance with § 12.1-19.1.
F. Revocation of a foreign corporation's certificate of authority does not terminate the authority of the registered agent of the corporation.
§ 13.1-769.1. Reinstatement of a foreign corporation whose certificate of authority has been withdrawn or revoked.
A. A
foreign corporation whose certificate of authority issued by
the Commission to transact business in the
Commonwealth has been
surrendered withdrawn
or revoked may apply to be relieved of the
withdrawal or revocation and have its certificate of
authority reinstated by the Commission for
reentry within five years thereafter after the date of withdrawal or revocation
unless the certificate of authority was revoked by order of the Commission upon a finding that the
corporation has continued to exceed or abuse the authority conferred upon it by
law pursuant to subdivision A 1
of § 13.1-769. The
B. To have its certificate of
authority reinstated, a foreign corporation shall provide the
Commission shall enter an order reentering
the certificate of authority upon receiving an annual report, together with
payment of a reentry with the following:
1. An application for reinstatement, which shall include the identification number issued by the Commission to the corporation, and which may be in the form of a letter signed by an officer or director of the corporation, or which may be by affidavit signed by an agent of any shareholder's interests stating that after diligent search by such agent, no officer or director can be found;
2. A reinstatement
fee of $100 plus all;
3. All annual
registration fees and penalties that were due before the
certificate of withdrawal was issued or the certificate of
authority was surrendered or revoked and
that would have become due thereafter been assessed or imposed to the date of
reinstatement if the corporation had not withdrawn or had its certificate of authority
surrendered or revoked. The application
for reentry may be by letter signed by an officer or director of the
corporation. A corporation need not refile a copy of its charter or any amendment
thereof that is then on file in the office of the clerk of the Commission.
After the authority of a foreign corporation to transact business in the
Commonwealth has been surrendered or revoked, the clerk shall retain in the
files of the clerk's office the charter and amendments thereto filed by the
corporation and its original application for authority to transact business for
a period of five years.;
4. An annual report for the calendar year that corresponds to the calendar year of the latest annual registration fee that was assessed or that would have been assessed to the date of reinstatement;
5. A duly
authenticated copy of any amendments or corrections
made to the articles of incorporation by a or other constituent documents
of the foreign corporation and any mergers entered into by a the
foreign corporation from the date of surrender withdrawal or revocation of
its certificate of authority to the date of its application
for reentry shall be filed with the application for
reentry. reinstatement,
along with an application for an amended certificate of authority if required
as a result of an amendment or a correction, and all fees required by this
chapter for the filing of such instruments;
6.
If the name of a the
foreign corporation, whose certificate of
authority issued by the Commission has been surrendered or revoked, is not
distinguishable upon the records of the Commission does not comply with the provisions of § 13.1-762
at the time application is made for reentry of reinstatement, such foreign corporation shall an application for an amended certificate of
authority to adopt a designated name for use in the
Commonwealth that is distinguishable upon the
records of the Commission. Upon compliance satisfies the requirements of § 13.1-762, with the
fee required by this chapter for the filing of an application for an amended
certificate of authority; and
7. If the foreign corporation's registered agent has filed a statement of resignation and a new registered agent has not been appointed, a statement of change pursuant to § 13.1-764.
C. If the
foreign corporation complies with the provisions of this
section, the Commission shall enter an
order reentering of
reinstatement, reinstating the foreign
corporation's certificate of authority to do transact
business in the Commonwealth.
§ 13.1-804. Filing requirements.
A. A document shall satisfy the requirements of this section, and of any other section that adds to or varies these requirements, to be entitled to be filed with the Commission.
B. The document shall be one that this Act requires or permits to be filed with the Commission.
C. The document shall contain the information required by this Act. It may contain other information as well.
D. The document shall be typewritten or printed or, if electronically transmitted, shall be in a format that can be retrieved or reproduced in typewritten or printed form. The typewritten or printed portion shall be in black. Photocopies, or other reproduced copies, of typewritten or printed documents may be filed. In every case, information in the document shall be legible and the document shall be capable of being reformatted and reproduced in copies of archival quality.
E. The document shall be in the English language. A corporate name need not be in English if written in English letters or Arabic or Roman numerals. The articles of incorporation, duly authenticated by the official having custody of corporate records in the state or country under whose law the corporation is incorporated, which are required of foreign corporations need not be in English if accompanied by a reasonably authenticated English translation.
F. The document shall be signed in the name of the domestic or foreign corporation:
1. By the chairman or any vice-chairman of the board of directors, the president, or any other of its officers authorized to act on behalf of the corporation;
2. If directors have not been selected or the corporation has not been formed, by an incorporator; or
3. If the corporation is in the hands of a receiver, trustee, or other court-appointed fiduciary, by that fiduciary.
G. Any annual report required to be filed by § 13.1-936 shall be signed in the name of the corporation by an officer or director listed in the report or, if the corporation is in the hands of a receiver, trustee, or other court-appointed fiduciary, by that fiduciary.
H. The person signing the document shall state beneath or opposite his signature his name and the capacity in which he signs. Any signature may be a facsimile. The document may but need not contain a corporate seal, attestation, acknowledgment, or verification.
I. If, pursuant to any provision of this Act, the Commission has prescribed a mandatory form for the document, the document shall be in or on the prescribed form.
J. The document shall be delivered to the Commission for filing and shall be accompanied by the required filing fee, and any charter or entrance fee or registration fee required by this Act.
K. The Commission may accept the electronic filing of any information required or permitted to be filed by this Act and may prescribe the methods of execution, recording, reproduction and certification of electronically filed information pursuant to § 59.1-496.
L. Whenever a provision of this Act permits any of the terms of a plan or a filed document to be dependent on facts objectively ascertainable outside the plan or filed document, the following provisions apply:
1. The plan or filed document shall specify the nationally recognized news or information medium in which the facts may be found or otherwise state the manner in which the facts can be objectively ascertained. The manner in which the facts will operate upon the terms of the plan or filed document shall be set forth in the plan or filed document.
2. The facts may include:
a. Any of the following that are available in a nationally recognized news or information medium either in print or electronically: statistical or market indices, market prices of any security or group of securities, interest rates, currency exchange rates, or similar economic or financial data;
b. A determination or action by any person or body, including the corporation or any other party to a plan or filed document; or
c. The terms of or actions taken under an agreement to which the corporation is a party, or any other agreement or document.
3. As used in this subsection:
a. "Filed document" means a document filed with the Commission under § 13.1-819 or Article 10 (§ 13.1-884 et seq.) or 11 (§ 13.1-894 et seq.) of this Act; and
b. "Plan" means a plan of merger.
4. The following terms of a plan or filed document may not be made dependent on facts outside the plan or filed document:
a. The name and address of any person required in a filed document;
b. The registered office of any entity required in a filed document;
c. The registered agent of any entity required in a filed document;
d. The number of members and designation of each class of members;
e. The effective date of a filed document; and
f. Any required statement in a filed document of the date on which the underlying transaction was approved or the manner in which that approval was given.
5. If a term of a filed document is made dependent on a fact objectively ascertainable outside of the filed document and that fact is not objectively ascertainable by reference to a source described in subdivision 2a or to a document that is a matter of public record, or if the affected members have not received notice of the fact from the corporation, then the corporation shall file with the Commission articles of amendment setting forth the fact promptly after the time when the fact referred to is first objectively ascertainable or thereafter changes. Articles of amendment under this subdivision are deemed to be authorized by the authorization of the original filed document or plan to which they relate and may be filed by the corporation without further action by the board of directors or the members.
6. The provisions of subdivisions 1, 2, and 5 of this subsection shall not be considered by the Commission in deciding whether the terms of a plan or filed document comply with the requirements of law.
§ 13.1-810.1. Number of members.
A. For purposes of this Act, the following identified as a member in a corporation's current record of members constitutes one member:
1. Two or more co-owners persons who together have a
single membership interest in the corporation;
2. A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, business trust, trust, estate, or other entity; or
3. The trustees, guardians, custodians, or other fiduciaries of a single trust, estate, or account.
B. For purposes of this Act, membership interests registered in substantially similar names constitute one member if it is reasonable to believe that the names represent the same person.
§ 13.1-813. Hearing and finality of Commission action; injunctions.
A. The Commission shall have no power to grant a hearing with respect to any certificate issued by the Commission with respect to any articles filed with the Commission except on a petition by a member or director, filed with the Commission and the corporation within 30 days after the effective date of the certificate, in which the member or director asserts that the certification of corporate action contained in the articles contains a misstatement of a material fact as to compliance with statutory requirements, specifying the particulars thereof. After hearing, on notice in writing to the corporation and the member or director, the Commission shall determine the issues and revoke or refuse to revoke its order accordingly.
B. No court within or without the Commonwealth shall have jurisdiction to enjoin or delay the holding of any meeting of directors or members for the purpose of authorizing or consummating any amendment, merger, domestication, or termination of corporate existence, or the execution or filing with the Commission of any articles or other documents for such purpose, except pursuant to subsection D of § 13.1-845 or for fraud. No court within or without the Commonwealth, except the Supreme Court by way of appeal as authorized by law, shall have jurisdiction to review, reverse, correct or annul any action of the Commission, within the scope of its authority, with regard to any articles, certificate, order, objection or petition, or to suspend or delay the execution or operation thereof, or to enjoin, restrain or interfere with the Commission in the performance of its official duties.
C. Notwithstanding any provision of subsection A to the contrary, the Commission shall have the power to act upon a petition filed by a corporation at any time to correct Commission records so as to eliminate the effects of clerical errors and of filings made by a person or persons without authority to act for the corporation, or of its own motion to correct Commission records so as to eliminate the effects of clerical errors committed by its staff.
§ 13.1-815. Fees to be collected by Commission; payment of fees prerequisite to Commission action; exceptions.
A. The Commission shall assess the registration fees and shall charge and collect the filing fees, charter fees and entrance fees imposed by law. The Commission shall have authority to certify to the Comptroller directing refund of any overpayment of a fee, or of any fee collected for a document that is not accepted for filing, at any time within one year from the date of its payment. When the Commission receives payment of an annual registration fee assessed against a domestic or foreign corporation, such payment shall be applied against any unpaid annual registration fees previously assessed against such corporation, including any penalties incurred thereon, beginning with the assessment or penalty that has remained unpaid for the longest period of time.
B. The Commission shall not file or issue with respect to any domestic or foreign corporation any document or certificate specified in this Act, except the annual report required by § 13.1-936, a statement of change pursuant to § 13.1-834 or 13.1-926, and a statement of resignation pursuant to § 13.1-835 or 13.1-927, until all fees, charges, fines, penalties, and interest assessed, imposed, charged, or to be collected by the Commission pursuant to this Act or Title 12.1 have been paid by or on behalf of such corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Commission may file or issue any document or certificate with respect to a domestic or foreign corporation that has been assessed an annual registration fee if the document or certificate is filed or issued with an effective date that is on or before the due date of the corporation's annual registration payment in any year, provided that the Commission shall not issue a certificate of domestication with respect to a foreign corporation until the annual registration fee has been paid by or on behalf of that corporation.
C. Any A domestic or foreign
corporation that has ceased to exist in the
Commonwealth because of the issuance of a certificate of termination of
corporate existence or certificate of incorporation surrender or any foreign
corporation that has obtained a certificate of withdrawal, effective on or
before its annual report due date pursuant to subsection C of § 13.1-936 in any
year, shall not be required to pay the registration fee for that year. Any
domestic or foreign corporation that has merged, effective on or before its
annual report due date pursuant to subsection C of § 13.1-936 in any year, into
a surviving domestic corporation or into a surviving foreign corporation that
files with the Commission an authenticated copy of the instrument of merger on
or before such date, shall not be required to pay the annual registration fee for that assessed
against it pursuant to subsection B of § 13.1-936.1 in any
year if (i) the Commission issues or
files any of the following types of
certificate or instrument and (ii) the certificate or
instrument is effective on or before the annual registration fee due date:
1. A certificate of termination of corporate existence, a certificate of incorporation surrender, or a certificate of entity conversion for a domestic corporation;
2. A certificate of withdrawal for a foreign corporation;
3. A certificate of merger or an authenticated copy of an instrument of merger for a domestic or foreign corporation that has merged into a surviving domestic corporation or eligible entity, or into a surviving foreign corporation or eligible entity; or
4. An authenticated copy of an instrument of entity conversion for a foreign corporation that has converted to a different entity type.
The Commission shall cancel the annual registration fee assessments specified in this subsection that remain unpaid.
D. Registration Annual registration fee
assessments that have been paid shall not be refunded.
§ 13.1-818. Incorporators.
One or more persons may act as the
incorporator or incorporators of a corporation by signing
and filing delivering
articles of incorporation with to the Commission for filing.
§ 13.1-885. Amendment of articles of incorporation by directors.
A. Where there are no members, or no members having voting rights, an amendment shall be adopted at a meeting of the board of directors upon receiving the vote of at least two-thirds of the directors in office. The board may adopt one or more amendments at any one meeting.
B. Unless the articles of incorporation provide otherwise, a corporation's board of directors may adopt one or more amendments to the corporation's articles of incorporation without member action:
1. To delete the names and addresses of the initial directors;
2. To delete the name and address
of the initial registered agent or the address of the initial
registered office, if a statement of change described
in § 13.1-834 is on file with the Commission;
3. To add, delete, or change a geographic attribution for the name; or
4. To make any other change expressly permitted by this Act to be made without member action.
§ 13.1-898.5. Surrender of articles of incorporation upon domestication.
A. Whenever a domestic corporation has adopted and approved, in the manner required by this article, a plan of domestication providing for the corporation to be domesticated under the laws of another jurisdiction, the corporation shall file with the Commission articles of incorporation surrender setting forth:
1. The name of the corporation;
2. The corporation's new
jurisdiction of incorporation in which the corporation is to
be domesticated and the name of the corporation upon its domestication under
the laws of that jurisdiction;
3. The plan of domestication;
4. A statement that the articles of incorporation surrender are being filed in connection with the domestication of the corporation as a foreign corporation to be incorporated under the laws of another jurisdiction and that the corporation is surrendering its charter under the laws of the Commonwealth;
5. Where the members of the corporation have voting rights, a statement:
a. That the plan was adopted by the unanimous consent of the members; or
b. That the plan was submitted to the members by the board of directors in accordance with this Act, and a statement of:
(1) The existence of a quorum of each voting group entitled to vote separately on the plan; and
(2) Either the total number of votes cast for and against the plan by each voting group entitled to vote separately on the plan or the total number of undisputed votes cast for the plan separately by each voting group and a statement that the number cast for the plan by each voting group was sufficient for approval by that voting group;
6. Where the corporation has no members, or no members having voting rights, then a statement of that fact, the date of the meeting of the board of directors at which the plan was adopted and a statement of the fact that such plan received the vote of a majority of the directors in office;
7. A statement that the domestic
corporation revokes the authority of its registered agent to accept service on
its behalf and appoints the clerk of the Commission as its agent for service of
process in any proceeding based on a cause of action arising during the time it
was incorporated in the Commonwealth;
8. A mailing address to which the clerk may mail a copy of any
process served on him the clerk under subdivision 7;
and
9. A commitment by the corporation to notify the clerk of the Commission in the future of any change in the mailing address of the corporation.
B. If the Commission finds that the articles of incorporation surrender comply with the requirements of law and that all required fees have been paid, it shall issue a certificate of incorporation surrender.
C. The corporation shall automatically cease to be a domestic corporation when the certificate of incorporation surrender becomes effective.
D. If the former domestic corporation intends to continue to transact business in the Commonwealth, then, within 30 days after the effective date of the certificate of incorporation surrender, it shall deliver to the Commission an application for a certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth pursuant to § 13.1-921 together with a copy of its instrument of domestication and articles of incorporation and all amendments thereto, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State or other official having custody of corporate records in the state or country under whose laws it is incorporated or domesticated.
E. Service of process on the clerk of the Commission is service of process on a former domestic corporation that has surrendered its charter pursuant to this section. Service on the clerk shall be made in accordance with § 12.1-19.1 and service on the former domestic corporation may be made in any other manner permitted by law.
§ 13.1-898.7. Abandonment of domestication.
A. Unless otherwise provided in
a plan of domestication of a domestic corporation prohibits
abandonment of the domestication without member approval to become a foreign corporation,
after the domestication plan has been authorized approved
and adopted as required by this article, and at any time
before the certificate of domestication filed in
the other jurisdiction
incorporation surrender has become effective, the
domestication may be abandoned by the domestic corporation
without further member action by its members
in accordance with the procedure any procedures set forth in
the plan of domestication or, if none is no such
procedures are set forth in the
plan of domestication, in the manner determined by the
board of directors.
B. If a domestication is abandoned as provided under subsection A after articles of incorporation surrender have been filed with the Commission but before the certificate of incorporation surrender has become effective, written notice that the domestication has been abandoned in accordance with this section shall be filed with the Commission prior to the effective date of the certificate of incorporation surrender. The notice shall take effect upon filing and the domestication shall be deemed abandoned and shall not become effective.
C. If the domestication of a foreign corporation into the
Commonwealth is abandoned in accordance with the laws of the foreign jurisdiction in which the foreign corporation is incorporated
after articles of domestication have been filed with the Commission but before
the certificate of domestication has become effective in the
Commonwealth, written notice that the domestication has
been abandoned shall be filed with the Commission prior to the effective time and date of the
certificate of domestication. The notice shall take effect upon filing and the
domestication shall be deemed abandoned and shall not become effective.
§ 13.1-916. Reinstatement of a corporation that has ceased to exist.
A. A
corporation that has ceased to exist pursuant to this article
may apply to the Commission for reinstatement within five years thereafter
unless the corporate existence was terminated by order of the Commission (i)
upon a finding that the corporation has continued to exceed or abuse the
authority conferred upon it by law or (ii) entered pursuant to § 13.1-911 and
the circuit court's decree directing dissolution contains no provision of
reinstatement of corporate existence. The Commission shall enter
an order reinstating the
B. To have its
corporate existence upon receiving an annual
report together with payment of a
reinstated, the corporation shall provide the Commission with the following:
1. An application for reinstatement, which shall include the identification number issued by the Commission to the corporation, and which may be in the form of a letter signed by an officer or director of the corporation, or which may be by affidavit signed by an agent of any member's interests stating that after diligent search by such agent, no officer or director can be found;
2. A
reinstatement fee of $10 plus all;
3. All annual
registration fees and penalties that were due before the corporation ceased to
exist and that would have become due thereafter been assessed or imposed to the date of
reinstatement if the corporation corporation's existence had
not ceased to exist been terminated;
4. An
annual report need not be submitted if such a report
previously was filed during for
the calendar year in which reinstatement is
sought. The application for reinstatement may be by
letter signed by an officer or director of the corporation or may be by
affidavit signed by any member stating that after diligent search by such
member no officer or director could be found. The Commission shall assess the
amounts that would have become due. that
corresponds to the calendar year of the latest annual registration fee that was
assessed or that would have been assessed to the date of reinstatement;
5. If the name of the corporation does not comply with the provisions of § 13.1-829 at the time of reinstatement, articles of amendment to the articles of incorporation to change the corporation's name to a name that satisfies the provisions of § 13.1-829, with the fee required by this chapter for the filing of articles of amendment; and
6. If the corporation's registered agent has filed a statement of resignation and a new registered agent has not been appointed, a statement of change pursuant to § 13.1-834.
C. If the corporation
complies with the provisions of this section, the Commission shall enter an
order of reinstatement of corporate existence. Upon the entry by the
Commission of an the order of reinstatement,
the corporate existence shall be deemed to have continued from the date of
termination of corporate existence as if termination had never occurred,
and any liability incurred by the corporation or a director, officer, or other
agent after the termination of corporate existence and
before the reinstatement shall be is determined as if the
termination of corporate the
corporation's existence had never occurred. If the name of a corporation that has ceased to
exist is not distinguishable upon the records of the Commission, the reinstated
corporation shall not engage in business until it has amended its articles of
incorporation to change its name to a name that is distinguishable upon the
records of the Commission.
§ 13.1-921. Application for certificate of authority.
A. A foreign corporation may apply to the Commission for a certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth. The application shall be made on forms prescribed and furnished by the Commission. The application shall set forth:
1. The name of the corporation, and if the corporation is
prevented by § 13.1-924 from using its own name in the
Commonwealth, a designated name that satisfies the requirements of subsection B
of § 13.1-924;
2. The name of the state or other jurisdiction under whose laws it is incorporated, and if the corporation was previously authorized or registered to transact business in the Commonwealth as a foreign corporation, limited liability company, business trust, limited partnership, or registered limited liability partnership, with respect to every such prior authorization or registration, (i) the name of the entity; (ii) the entity type; (iii) the state or other jurisdiction of incorporation, organization, or formation; and (iv) the entity identification number issued to it by the Commission;
3. The date of incorporation and period of duration;
4. The street address of the foreign corporation's principal office;
5. The address of the proposed registered office of the foreign corporation in the Commonwealth, including both (i) the post office address with street and number, if any, and (ii) the name of the county or city in which it is located, and the name of its proposed registered agent in the Commonwealth at such address and that the registered agent is either (a) an individual who is a resident of Virginia and either an officer or director of the corporation or a member of the Virginia State Bar or (b) a domestic or foreign stock or nonstock corporation, limited liability company, or registered limited liability partnership authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth, the business office of which is identical with the registered office; and
6. The names and usual business addresses of the current directors and principal officers of the foreign corporation.
B. The foreign corporation shall deliver with the completed application a copy of its articles of incorporation and all amendments thereto, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State or other official having custody of corporate records in the state or other jurisdiction under whose laws it is incorporated.
C. If the Commission finds that the application complies with the requirements of law, and that all required fees have been paid, it shall issue a certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth.
§ 13.1-922. Amended certificate of authority.
A. A foreign corporation authorized to transact business in
the Commonwealth shall obtain an amended certificate of authority from the
Commission if:
1. If it
changes its corporate name or the state or country other jurisdiction of its
incorporation; or
2. To abandon or change the designated name adopted by the corporation for use in the Commonwealth pursuant to subsection B of § 13.1-924.
B. The requirements of § 13.1-921 for obtaining an original certificate of authority apply to obtaining an amended certificate under this section.
C. Whenever the articles of incorporation of a foreign
corporation that is authorized to transact business in Virginia the Commonwealth are amended,
within 30 days after the amendment becomes effective, the foreign corporation
shall file with the Commission a copy of such amendment duly authenticated by
the Secretary of State or other official having custody of corporate records in
the state or country other
jurisdiction under whose law it is incorporated.
§ 13.1-928.1. Merger of foreign corporation authorized to transact business in Commonwealth.
A. Whenever a foreign corporation authorized to transact
business in the Commonwealth is a party to a merger permitted by the laws of
the state or other jurisdiction under whose laws it is incorporated, and such
corporation is the surviving entity of the merger, it shall, within 30 days
after such merger becomes effective, file with the Commission a copy of the
instrument of merger duly authenticated by the Secretary of State or other
official having custody of corporate records in the state or other jurisdiction
under whose laws such merger was effected law it is incorporated;
however, the filing shall not be required when a foreign corporation merges
with a domestic corporation, the foreign corporation's articles of
incorporation are not amended by said merger, and the articles of merger filed
on behalf of the domestic corporation pursuant to § 13.1-896 contain a
statement that the merger is permitted under the laws of the state or other
jurisdiction in which the foreign corporation is incorporated and that the
foreign corporation has complied with that law in effecting the merger.
B. Whenever a foreign corporation authorized to transact
business in the Commonwealth is a party to a merger permitted by the laws of
the state or other jurisdiction under the laws of which it is incorporated, and
such corporation is not the surviving entity of the merger or, whenever such a
foreign corporation is a party to a consolidation so permitted, the surviving
or resulting domestic or foreign corporation, limited liability company,
business trust, partnership, or limited partnership shall, if not continuing to
transact business in the Commonwealth, within 30 days after such merger or
consolidation becomes effective, deliver to the Commission a copy of the
instrument of merger or consolidation duly authenticated by the Secretary of
State or other official having custody of corporate records in the state or
other jurisdiction under whose laws such merger or
consolidation was effected law it was
incorporated and comply in behalf of the predecessor
corporation with the provisions of § 13.1-929. If a surviving or resulting
corporation or limited liability company, business trust, partnership, or
limited partnership is to continue to transact business in the Commonwealth and
has not received a certificate of authority to transact business in the
Commonwealth, within such 30 days, deliver to the Commission an application for
a certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth, together
with a duly authenticated copy of the instrument of merger or consolidation and
also, in case of a merger, a copy of its articles of incorporation and all
amendments thereto, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State or other
official having custody of corporate records in the state or country under
whose laws it is incorporated.
C. Upon the merger or consolidation of two or more foreign corporations any one of which owns property in the Commonwealth, all such property shall pass to the surviving or resulting corporation except as otherwise provided by the laws of the state by which it is governed, but only from the time when a duly authenticated copy of the instrument of merger or consolidation is filed with the Commission.
§ 13.1-929. Withdrawal of foreign corporation.
A. A foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth may not withdraw from the Commonwealth until it obtains a certificate of withdrawal from the Commission.
B. A foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth may apply to the Commission for a certificate of withdrawal. The application shall be on a form prescribed and furnished by the Commission and shall set forth:
1. The name of the foreign corporation and the name of the
state or country other
jurisdiction under whose laws it is incorporated;
2. That If applicable, a statement that
the foreign corporation is in existence and has not
been merged into or consolidated with another entity or converted into another
type of entity or, if the foreign corporation has been merged into or
consolidated with another entity or converted into another type of entity, that
the application is signed on behalf of the foreign corporation by the surviving
or resulting entity was a party to
a merger permitted by the laws of the state or other jurisdiction under whose
law it was incorporated and that it was not the surviving entity of the merger,
has consolidated with another entity, or has converted to another type of
entity under the laws of the state or other jurisdiction under whose law it was
incorporated;
3. That the foreign corporation is not transacting business in the Commonwealth and that it surrenders its authority to transact business in the Commonwealth;
4. That the foreign corporation revokes the authority of its registered agent to accept service on its behalf and appoints the clerk of the Commission as its agent for service of process in any proceeding based on a cause of action arising during the time it was authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth;
5. A mailing address to which the clerk of the Commission may mail a copy of any process served on him under subdivision 4; and
6. A commitment to notify the clerk of the Commission in the future of any change in the mailing address of the corporation.
C. The Commission shall not allow any foreign corporation to withdraw from the Commonwealth unless such corporation files with the Commission a statement certifying that the corporation has filed returns and has paid all state taxes to the time of the certificate or a statement that no such returns are required to be filed or taxes are required to be paid. In such case the corporation may file returns and pay taxes before they would otherwise be due. If the Commission finds that the application complies with the requirements of law and that all required fees have been paid, it shall issue a certificate of withdrawal.
D. Before any foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth terminates its corporate existence, it shall file with the Commission an application for withdrawal. Whether or not such application is filed, the termination of the corporate existence of such foreign corporation shall not take away or impair any remedy available against such corporation for any right or claim existing or any liability incurred prior to such termination. Any such action or proceeding against such foreign corporation may be defended by such corporation in its corporate name. The members, directors and officers shall have power to take such corporate or other action as shall be appropriate to protect such remedy, right or claim. The right of a foreign corporation that has terminated its corporate existence to institute and maintain in its corporate name actions, suits or proceedings in the courts of the Commonwealth shall be governed by the law of the state of its incorporation.
E. Service of process on the clerk of the Commission is service of process on a foreign corporation that has withdrawn pursuant to this section. Service upon the clerk shall be made in accordance with § 12.1-19.1, and service upon the foreign corporation may be made in any other manner permitted by law.
§ 13.1-931. Involuntary revocation of certificate of authority.
A. The certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth of any foreign corporation may be revoked by order of the Commission when it finds that the corporation:
1. Has continued to exceed the authority conferred upon it by law;
2. Has failed to maintain a registered office or a registered agent in the Commonwealth as required by law;
3. Has failed to file any document required by this Act to be filed with the Commission;
4. No longer exists under the laws of the state or country of its incorporation; or
5. Has been convicted for a violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324a(f), as amended, for actions of its officers and directors constituting a pattern or practice of employing unauthorized aliens in the Commonwealth.
A certificate revoked pursuant to subdivision A 5 shall not be
eligible for reentry
reinstatement for a period of not less than one year.
B. Any foreign corporation convicted of the offense listed in subdivision A 5 shall immediately report such conviction to the Commission and file with the Commission an authenticated copy of the judgment or record of conviction.
C. Before entering any such order the Commission shall issue a rule against the corporation giving it an opportunity to be heard and show cause why such an order should not be entered. The Commission may issue the rule on its own motion or on motion of the Attorney General.
D. The authority of a foreign corporation to transact business in the Commonwealth ceases on the date shown on the order revoking its certificate of authority.
E. The Commission's revocation of a foreign corporation's certificate of authority appoints the clerk of the Commission the foreign corporation's agent for service of process in any proceeding based on a cause of action arising during the time the foreign corporation was authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth. Service of process on the clerk of the Commission under this subsection is service on the foreign corporation and shall be made on the clerk in accordance with § 12.1-19.1.
F. Revocation of a foreign corporation's certificate of authority does not terminate the authority of the registered agent of the corporation.
§ 13.1-931.1. Reinstatement of foreign corporation whose certificate of authority has been withdrawn or revoked.
A. A
foreign corporation whose certificate of authority issued by
the Commission to transact business in the
Commonwealth has been
surrendered withdrawn
or revoked may apply to be relieved of the withdrawal or revocation and
have its certificate of authority reinstated by the
Commission for reentry within five years thereafter after the
date of withdrawal or revocation unless the certificate of
authority was revoked by order of the Commission upon a
finding that the corporation has continued to exceed or abuse the authority
conferred upon it by law pursuant
to subdivision A 1 of § 13.1-931.
The B. To have its certificate of
authority reinstated, a foreign corporation shall provide the Commission shall enter an order reentering the certificate of
authority upon receiving an annual report, together with payment of a reentry with the following:
1. An application for reinstatement, which shall include the identification number issued by the Commission to the corporation, and which may be in the form of a letter signed by an officer or director of the corporation, or which may be by affidavit signed by an agent of any member's interests stating that after diligent search by such agent, no officer or director can be found;
2. A reinstatement
fee of $10 plus all;
3. All annual
registration fees and penalties that were due before the certificate
of withdrawal was issued or the certificate of authority
was surrendered or revoked and
that would have become due thereafter been assessed or imposed to the date of
reinstatement if the corporation had not withdrawn or had its certificate of authority
surrendered or revoked. The
application for reentry may be by letter signed by an officer or director of
the corporation. A corporation need not refile a copy of its charter or any
amendment thereof that is then on file in the office of the clerk of the
Commission. After the authority of a foreign corporation to transact business
in the Commonwealth has been surrendered or revoked, the clerk shall retain in
the files of his office the charter and amendments thereto filed by the
corporation and its original application for authority to transact business for
a period of five years.;
4. An annual report for the calendar year that corresponds to the calendar year of the latest annual registration fee that was assessed or that would have been assessed to the date of reinstatement;
5. A duly
authenticated copy of any amendments or corrections
made to the articles of incorporation by a or other constituent documents
of the foreign corporation and any mergers entered into by a the
foreign corporation from the date of surrender withdrawal or revocation of
its certificate of authority to the date of its application
for reentry shall be filed with the application
for reentry. reinstatement, along with an
application for an amended certificate of authority if required as a result of
an amendment or a correction, and all fees required by this chapter for the
filing of such instruments;
6.
If the name of a the
foreign corporation, whose
certificate of authority issued by the Commission has been surrendered or
revoked, is not distinguishable upon the records of the Commission does not comply with the provisions of § 13.1-924
at the time application is made for reentry, such foreign
corporation shall of reinstatement, an
application for an amended certificate of
authority to adopt a designated name for use in the
Commonwealth that is distinguishable upon the
records of the Commission satisfies the
requirements of § 13.1-924, with the fee required by this chapter for the
filing of an application for an amended certificate of authority; and
7. If the foreign corporation's registered agent has filed a statement of resignation and a new registered agent has not been appointed, a statement of change pursuant to § 13.1-926.
Upon compliance C. If the foreign corporation complies with
the provisions of this section, the
Commission shall enter an order reentering of reinstatement, reinstating
the foreign corporation's
certificate of authority to do transact business in the
Commonwealth.
§ 13.1-941.01. Conversion to a domestic stock corporation.
A domestic nonstock
corporation may convert to a domestic stock corporation by filing
with the Commission articles of amendment to its articles of incorporation,
approved organized under Chapter 9 (§
13.1-601 et seq.) in accordance with § 13.1-885
or § 13.1-886 the provisions of this
article.
§ 13.1-942. Articles of restatement.
A. A corporation converting to a domestic
stock corporation shall file with the Commission articles of amendment restatement
in accordance with § 13.1-888 13.1-889.
B. The In addition to the information
required by subsection D of § 13.1-889, if the corporation has one or more
classes of members, the articles of amendment restatement shall set forth:
1. The name of the corporation,
which satisfies the requirements of § 13.1-630;
2. The number of shares the
corporation will be authorized to issue;
3. If more than one class of
shares is to be authorized, the number of authorized shares of each class and a
distinguishing designation for each class;
4. A provision or provisions,
if any, defining or denying the preemptive right of shareholders to acquire
unissued shares of the corporation;
5. A provision substituting
the word "shareholders" or other appropriate language for
"members" wherever "members" appears in the articles of
incorporation;
6. Provisions not
inconsistent with law which may be necessary to bring the corporation into
compliance with (i) the manner and
basis of converting the membership interests of each class of members of the
corporation into shares or other securities, obligations, rights to acquire
shares, or other securities, cash,
other property, or any combination of the foregoing or (ii) a statement
that the membership interests of the members will be canceled without
consideration as a result of the corporation's
conversion to a domestic stock corporation.
C. The articles of
restatement shall set forth the text of the amended and restated articles of
incorporation that comply with the requirements of Chapter
9 (§ 13.1-601 et seq.) of this title or which
may be required for the regulation and governance of the corporation as a stock
corporation; and
7. Such provisions, if any,
which are permitted by § 13.1-619 to be included in articles of incorporation
of a Virginia stock corporation as they
will be in effect immediately upon the consummation of the conversion.
C. D. If
the Commission finds that the articles of amendment restatement comply with the
requirements of law and bring the articles of
incorporation into compliance with the requirements for a Virginia stock
corporation, and that all required fees have been paid, it
shall issue a certificate of amendment restatement in accordance with § 13.1-889.
§ 13.1-943. Fees.
Upon the filing of the articles of amendment restatement to convert to a domestic stock corporation, in
addition to the fees required by § 13.1-816 for filing articles of amendment
restatement, a corporation shall also pay a fee equal to
that required for a newly chartered stock corporation authorized to issue the
same number of shares, as set forth in subsection A of § 13.1-615.1.
§ 13.1-944. Effect of conversion.
A. Upon the effective date of
the certificate of amendment, the When a
conversion under this article becomes effective:
1. The
corporation shall be converted to continues its existence as a domestic stock corporation, and thereafter be subject to
the provisions of Chapter 9 (§ 13.1-601 et seq.) of this
title.;
B. 2. The
directors of the corporation at the time of conversion
shall continue in office until their terms expire and new
directors are elected by the shareholders.;
3. The title to all real estate and other property remains in the domestic stock corporation without reversion or impairment;
4. The liabilities remain the liabilities of the domestic stock corporation;
5. A pending proceeding may be continued by or against the domestic stock corporation as if the conversion did not occur;
6. The amended and restated articles of incorporation set forth in the articles of restatement shall constitute the articles of incorporation of the domestic stock corporation;
7. The membership interests, if any, of the corporation are reclassified into shares or other property, or canceled, in accordance with the articles of restatement, and the members of the corporation are entitled only to the rights provided in the articles of restatement;
8. The domestic stock corporation is deemed to:
a. Be a domestic stock corporation for all purposes;
b. Be the same corporation without interruption as the converting corporation that existed prior to the conversion; and
c. Have been incorporated on the date that the converting corporation was originally incorporated; and
9. The corporation shall cease to be a corporation organized under the provisions of this chapter.
B. Any member of a corporation that converts to a domestic stock corporation who, prior to the conversion, was liable for the liabilities or obligations of the corporation is not released from those liabilities or obligations by reason of the conversion.
§ 13.1-944.5. Articles of entity conversion.
A. After the conversion of a corporation into a limited liability company has been adopted and approved as required by this article, the converting entity shall file with the Commission articles of entity conversion setting forth:
1. The name of the corporation immediately prior to the filing of the articles of entity conversion and the name to which the name of the converting entity is to be changed, which name shall satisfy the requirements of the laws of the Commonwealth;
2. The plan of entity conversion, including the full text of the articles of organization of the resulting entity that comply with the requirements of Chapter 12 (§ 13.1-1000 et seq.), as they will be in effect immediately after consummation of the conversion;
3. A statement:
a. That the plan was adopted by the vote of at least two-thirds of the directors in office, including the reason member approval was not required;
b. That the plan was adopted by the unanimous consent of the members having voting rights; or
c. That the plan was proposed by the board of directors and submitted to the members in accordance with this chapter, and a statement of:
(1) The existence of a quorum of each voting group entitled to vote separately on the plan; and
(2) Either the total number of votes cast for and against the plan by each voting group entitled to vote separately on the plan or the total number of undisputed votes cast for the plan separately by each voting group and a statement that the number cast for the plan by each voting group was sufficient for approval by that voting group.
B. If the Commission finds that the articles of entity conversion comply with the requirements of law and that all required fees have been paid, it shall issue a certificate of entity conversion.
§ 13.1-944.6. Effect of entity conversion.
A. When an entity conversion under this article becomes effective, with respect to that entity:
1. The title to all real estate and other property remains in the resulting entity without reversion or impairment;
2. The liabilities remain the liabilities of the resulting entity;
3. A proceeding
pending proceeding may be continued by
or against the resulting entity as if the conversion did not occur;
4. The articles of organization attached to the articles of entity conversion constitute the articles of organization of the resulting entity;
5. The membership interests, if any, of the corporation are
reclassified into LLC membership interests in accordance with the plan of
entity conversion;, and the members of the
corporation are entitled only to the rights provided in the plan of entity
conversion;
6. The resulting entity is deemed to:
a. Be a limited liability company for all purposes;
b. Be the same entity without interruption as the converting entity that existed prior to the conversion; and
c. Have been organized on the date that the converting entity was originally incorporated; and
7. The corporation shall cease to be a corporation when the certificate of entity conversion becomes effective.
B. Any member of a corporation that converts to a limited liability company who, prior to the conversion, was liable for the liabilities or obligations of the limited liability company is not released from those liabilities or obligations by reason of the entity conversion.
§ 13.1-944.7. Abandonment of entity conversion.
A. Unless otherwise provided in
a plan of entity conversion of a domestic corporation prohibits abandonment of the conversion without
member approval to become a limited
liability company, after the conversion plan has been authorized approved
and adopted as required by this article, and at any time
before the certificate of entity conversion has become effective, the
conversion may be abandoned by the corporation
without further member action by the members in accordance
with the procedure any procedures set forth in
the plan of entity conversion or, if none is no such procedures are set
forth in the plan of entity conversion,
in the manner determined by the board of directors.
B. If an entity conversion is abandoned under subsection A after articles of entity conversion have been filed with the Commission but before the certificate of entity conversion has become effective, written notice that the entity conversion has been abandoned in accordance with this section shall be filed with the Commission prior to the effective time and date of the certificate of entity conversion. The notice shall take effect upon filing and the entity conversion shall be deemed abandoned and shall not become effective.