(a) The principal terms of a reorganization shall be approved by the outstanding shares of each class of each social purpose corporation the approval of whose board is required under Section 3400, except as provided in subdivision (b) and except that, unless otherwise provided in the articles, no approval of any class of outstanding preferred shares of the surviving or acquiring social purpose corporation or parent party shall be required if the rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions granted to or imposed upon that class of shares remain unchanged, subject to the provisions of subdivision (c). For the purpose of this subdivision, two classes of common shares differing only as to voting rights shall be considered as a single class of shares.
(b) No approval of the outstanding shares is required by subdivision (a) if the social purpose corporation, or its shareholders immediately before the reorganization, or both, shall own, immediately after the reorganization, equity securities, other than any warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase those equity securities, of the surviving or acquiring social purpose corporation or a parent party possessing more than five-sixths of the voting power of the surviving or acquiring social purpose corporation or parent party. In making the determination of ownership by the shareholders of a social purpose corporation, immediately after the reorganization, of equity securities pursuant to the preceding sentence, equity securities that they owned immediately before the reorganization as shareholders of another party to the transaction shall be disregarded. For the purpose of this section, the voting power of a social purpose corporation shall be calculated by assuming the conversion of all equity securities convertible, immediately or at some future time, into shares entitled to vote but not assuming the exercise of any warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase those shares.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b), the principal terms of a reorganization shall be approved by the outstanding shares of the surviving social purpose corporation in a merger reorganization, as otherwise required by Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 3400), if any amendment is made to its articles that would otherwise require that approval.
(d) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b), the principal terms of a reorganization 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 the outstanding shares of any class of a social purpose corporation that is a party to a merger or sale-of-assets reorganization if holders of shares of that class receive shares of the surviving or acquiring social purpose corporation or parent party having different rights, preferences, privileges, or restrictions than those surrendered. Shares in a foreign corporation received in exchange for shares in a domestic social purpose corporation shall be deemed to have different rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions within the meaning of the preceding sentence.
(e) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b), the principal terms of a reorganization 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 the outstanding shares of any social purpose corporation that is a close social purpose corporation if the reorganization would result in the holders receiving shares or other interests of a corporation or other business entity that is not a close social purpose corporation. The articles may provide for a lesser vote, but not less than a majority of the outstanding shares of each class.
(f) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b), the principal terms of a reorganization shall be approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of each class, or a greater vote if required in the articles, of a social purpose corporation that is a party to a merger reorganization, regardless of whether that class is entitled to vote thereon by the provisions of the articles, if holders of shares of that class receive interests of a surviving other business entity in the merger that is not a social purpose corporation, or receive interests of a surviving social purpose corporation the articles of incorporation of which specify a materially different purpose as part of the reorganization.
(g) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b), the principal terms of a reorganization shall be approved by all shareholders of any class or series if, as a result of the reorganization, the holders of that class or series become personally liable for any obligations of a party to the reorganization, unless all holders of that class or series have the dissenters’ rights provided in Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 1300) of Division 1.
(h) Any approval required by this section may be given before or after the approval by the board. Notwithstanding approval required by this section, the board may abandon the proposed reorganization without further action by the shareholders, subject to the contractual rights, if any, of third parties.
(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 694, Sec. 63. (SB 1301) Effective January 1, 2015.)