(a) A corporation that desires to convert to a domestic other business entity, foreign other business entity, or foreign corporation shall approve a plan of conversion. The plan of conversion shall state all of the following:
(1) The terms and conditions of the conversion.
(2) The name, form, and jurisdiction of organization of the converted entity after conversion.
(3) The manner of converting the shares of each of the shareholders of the converting corporation into securities of, or interests in, the converted entity.
(4) The provisions of the governing documents for the converted entity, including the partnership agreement if the converted entity is a partnership, the articles of organization or certificate of formation and operating agreement if the converted entity is a limited liability company, or the articles or certificate of incorporation if the converted entity is a corporation, to which the holders of interests in the converted entity are to be bound.
(5) Any other details or provisions that are required by the laws under which the converted entity is organized, or that are desired by the converting corporation.
(b) The plan of conversion shall be approved by the board of the converting corporation (Section 151), and the principal terms of the plan of the conversion shall be approved by the outstanding shares (Section 152) of each class of the converting corporation. The approval of the outstanding shares may be given before or after approval by the board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a converting corporation is a close corporation, the conversion shall be approved by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of each class, or a greater vote if required in the articles, of outstanding shares (Section 152) of that converting corporation; provided, however, that the articles may provide for a lesser vote, but not less than a majority of the outstanding shares of each class.
(c) If the corporation is converting into a general or limited partnership or a foreign general or limited partnership or into a limited liability company or a foreign limited liability company, then in addition to the approval of the shareholders set forth in subdivision (b), the plan of conversion shall be approved by each shareholder who will become a general partner or manager, as applicable, of the converted entity pursuant to the plan of conversion unless the shareholders have dissenters’ rights pursuant to Section 1159 and Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 1300).
(d) Upon the effectiveness of the conversion, all shareholders of the converting corporation, except those that exercise dissenters’ rights as provided in Section 1159 and Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 1300), shall be deemed parties to any agreement or agreements constituting the governing documents for the converted entity adopted as part of the plan of conversion, irrespective of whether a shareholder has executed the plan of conversion or those governing documents for the converted entity. Any adoption of governing documents made pursuant thereto shall be effective at the effective time or date of the conversion.
(e) Notwithstanding its prior approval by the board and the outstanding shares or either of them, a plan of conversion may be amended before the conversion takes effect if the amendment is approved by the board and, if it changes any of the principal terms of the plan of conversion, by the shareholders of the converting corporation in the same manner and to the same extent as was required for approval of the original plan of conversion.
(f) A plan of conversion may be abandoned by the board of a converting corporation, or by the shareholders of a converting corporation if the abandonment is approved by the outstanding shares, in each case in the same manner as required for approval of the plan of conversion, subject to the contractual rights of third parties, at any time before the conversion is effective.
(g) The converted entity shall keep the plan of conversion at (1) the principal place of business of the converted entity if the converted entity is a domestic partnership, (2) the office at which records are to be kept under Section 15901.11 if the converted entity is a domestic limited partnership, (3) the office at which records are to be kept under Section 17701.13 if the converted entity is a domestic limited liability company, or (4) the office at which records are to be kept under the laws of the jurisdiction applicable to the converted entity if the converted entity is a foreign other business entity or foreign corporation. Upon the request of a shareholder of a converting corporation, the authorized person on behalf of the converted entity shall promptly deliver to the shareholder, at the expense of the converted entity, a copy of the plan of conversion. A waiver by a shareholder of the rights provided in this subdivision shall be unenforceable.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 237, Sec. 3. (SB 49) Effective January 1, 2023.)