NY Bus Corp L § 623 (2021)
2021 New York Laws BSC - Business Corporation Article 6 - Shareholders 623 - Procedure to Enforce Shareholder's Right to Receive Payment for Shares.

§ 623. Procedure  to  enforce shareholder's right to receive payment for          shares.  (a) A shareholder intending to enforce his right under  a  section  of this chapter to receive payment for his shares if the proposed corporate action  referred  to  therein  is taken shall file with the corporation, before the meeting of shareholders at which the action is submitted to a vote, or at such meeting but before the vote, written objection  to  the action. The objection shall include a notice of his election to dissent, his  name  and residence address, the number and classes of shares as to which he dissents and a demand for payment of  the  fair  value  of  his shares  if the action is taken.  Such objection is not required from any shareholder to whom the corporation did not give notice of such  meeting in  accordance  with  this  chapter  or  where  the  proposed  action is authorized by written consent of shareholders without a meeting.  (b) Within ten days after the shareholders' authorization date,  which term  as  used in this section means the date on which the shareholders' vote authorizing such action was  taken,  or  the  date  on  which  such consent  without a meeting was obtained from the requisite shareholders, the corporation shall give  written  notice  of  such  authorization  or consent  by  registered  mail  to  each  shareholder  who  filed written objection or from whom written objection was not required, excepting any shareholder who voted for or consented in writing to the proposed action and who thereby is deemed to have elected not to enforce  his  right  to receive payment for his shares.  (c) Within  twenty  days  after  the  giving  of  notice  to  him, any shareholder from whom written objection was not required and who  elects to  dissent  shall  file  with  the corporation a written notice of such election, stating his name and residence address, the number and classes of shares as to which he dissents and a demand for payment of  the  fair value of his shares. Any shareholder who elects to dissent from a merger under section 905 (Merger of subsidiary corporation) or paragraph (c) of section   907   (Merger   or   consolidation  of  domestic  and  foreign corporations) or from a share exchange under paragraph  (g)  of  section 913  (Share  exchanges)  shall file a written notice of such election to dissent within twenty days after the giving to him of a copy of the plan of merger or exchange or an outline of  the  material  features  thereof under section 905 or 913.  (d) A  shareholder  may not dissent as to less than all of the shares, as to which he has a right to dissent, held by him of  record,  that  he owns  beneficially.  A nominee or fiduciary may not dissent on behalf of any beneficial owner as to less than all of the shares of such owner, as to which such nominee or fiduciary has  a  right  to  dissent,  held  of record by such nominee or fiduciary.  (e) Upon  consummation  of the corporate action, the shareholder shall cease to have any of the rights of a shareholder except the right to  be paid  the  fair  value  of  his  shares  and any other rights under this section. A notice of election may be withdrawn by the shareholder at any time prior to his  acceptance  in  writing  of  an  offer  made  by  the corporation,  as  provided  in  paragraph (g), but in no case later than sixty days from the date of consummation of the corporate action  except that  if  the  corporation  fails to make a timely offer, as provided in paragraph (g), the time for withdrawing a notice of  election  shall  be extended  until  sixty  days  from  the  date  an  offer  is  made. Upon expiration of such time,  withdrawal  of  a  notice  of  election  shall require  the  written  consent  of  the  corporation.  In  order  to  be effective, withdrawal of a notice of election must be accompanied by the return to the corporation of any advance payment made to the shareholder as provided in paragraph (g).  If a notice of election is withdrawn,  or  the  corporate  action is rescinded, or a court shall determine that the shareholder is not entitled to receive payment for his  shares,  or  the shareholder  shall  otherwise  lose his dissenters' rights, he shall not have  the  right  to  receive  payment  for  his  shares and he shall be reinstated to all his rights as a shareholder as of the consummation  of the  corporate  action,  including any intervening preemptive rights and the right to payment of any intervening dividend or  other  distribution or, if any such rights have expired or any such dividend or distribution other  than in cash has been completed, in lieu thereof, at the election of the corporation, the fair value thereof in cash as determined by  the board  as  of  the  time  of  such expiration or completion, but without prejudice otherwise to any corporate  proceedings  that  may  have  been taken in the interim.  (f) At  the time of filing the notice of election to dissent or within one  month  thereafter  the  shareholder  of   shares   represented   by certificates  shall  submit  the certificates representing his shares to the corporation, or to its transfer agent, which  shall  forthwith  note conspicuously thereon that a notice of election has been filed and shall return the certificates to the shareholder or other person who submitted them   on   his   behalf.  Any  shareholder  of  shares  represented  by certificates who fails to submit his certificates for such  notation  as herein  specified  shall,  at the option of the corporation exercised by written notice to him within forty-five days from the date of filing  of such notice of election to dissent, lose his dissenter's rights unless a court,  for good cause shown, shall otherwise direct. Upon transfer of a certificate bearing such notation, each new certificate issued  therefor shall  bear  a  similar  notation together with the name of the original dissenting holder of the shares and a transferee shall acquire no rights in  the  corporation  except  those  which   the   original   dissenting shareholder had at the time of transfer.  (g) Within  fifteen  days  after  the  expiration of the period within which shareholders may file their notices of  election  to  dissent,  or within  fifteen days after the proposed corporate action is consummated, whichever is later (but in no case  later  than  ninety  days  from  the shareholders'  authorization date), the corporation or, in the case of a merger or consolidation, the surviving or new corporation, shall make  a written  offer by registered mail to each shareholder who has filed such notice of election to pay for his shares at a specified price which  the corporation  considers  to  be  their  fair  value.  Such offer shall be accompanied by a statement setting forth the aggregate number of  shares with  respect to which notices of election to dissent have been received and the aggregate number of holders of such  shares.  If  the  corporate action has been consummated, such offer shall also be accompanied by (1) advance   payment  to  each  such  shareholder  who  has  submitted  the certificates representing his shares to the corporation, as provided  in paragraph  (f),  of  an  amount equal to eighty percent of the amount of such offer, or (2) as to each shareholder who has not yet submitted  his certificates  a statement that advance payment to him of an amount equal to eighty percent of the amount of  such  offer  will  be  made  by  the corporation  promptly  upon  submission  of  his  certificates.  If  the corporate action has not been consummated at the time of the  making  of the offer, such advance payment or statement as to advance payment shall be sent to each shareholder entitled thereto forthwith upon consummation of  the  corporate  action.  Every  advance  payment  or statement as to advance payment shall include advice to the shareholder  to  the  effect that  acceptance  of  such  payment  does not constitute a waiver of any dissenters' rights. If the corporate action  has  not  been  consummated upon  the  expiration  of  the ninety day period after the shareholders'  authorization date, the offer may be conditioned upon  the  consummation of  such action. Such offer shall be made at the same price per share to all dissenting shareholders of  the  same  class,  or  if  divided  into series,  of  the same series and shall be accompanied by a balance sheet of the corporation whose shares the dissenting shareholder holds  as  of the latest available date, which shall not be earlier than twelve months before  the  making  of  such  offer, and a profit and loss statement or statements for not less than a twelve month period ended on the date  of such  balance  sheet  or,  if  the  corporation  was  not  in  existence throughout such twelve month period,  for  the  portion  thereof  during which   it   was   in  existence.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the corporation shall not be required to furnish a balance sheet  or  profit and loss statement or statements to any shareholder to whom such balance sheet  or  profit  and  loss  statement  or  statements  were previously furnished,  nor  if  in  connection  with  obtaining  the  shareholders' authorization  for  or  consent  to  the  proposed  corporate action the shareholders were furnished with a proxy or information statement, which included financial statements, pursuant to Regulation 14A or  Regulation 14C  of  the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. If within thirty days after the making of such offer, the corporation  making  the offer  and  any  shareholder  agree  upon  the  price to be paid for his shares, payment therefor shall be  made  within  sixty  days  after  the making  of  such  offer  or  the  consummation of the proposed corporate action, whichever is later, upon the surrender of the  certificates  for any such shares represented by certificates.  (h) The  following  procedure  shall apply if the corporation fails to make such offer within such period of fifteen days, or if it  makes  the offer  and any dissenting shareholder or shareholders fail to agree with it within the period of thirty days thereafter upon the price to be paid for their shares:  (1) The corporation shall, within twenty days after the expiration  of whichever  is  applicable of the two periods last mentioned, institute a special proceeding in the supreme court  in  the  judicial  district  in which  the  office of the corporation is located to determine the rights of dissenting shareholders and to fix the fair value  of  their  shares. If,  in  the  case  of  merger  or  consolidation,  the surviving or new corporation is a foreign corporation without an office  in  this  state, such  proceeding  shall be brought in the county where the office of the domestic corporation, whose shares are to be valued, was located.  (2) If the corporation fails to institute such proceeding within  such period  of  twenty  days,  any dissenting shareholder may institute such proceeding for the same purpose not later than  thirty  days  after  the expiration  of  such  twenty  day  period.  If  such  proceeding  is not instituted within such thirty day period, all dissenter's  rights  shall be  lost unless the supreme court, for good cause shown, shall otherwise direct.  (3) All dissenting shareholders, excepting those who, as  provided  in paragraph  (g),  have  agreed  with the corporation upon the price to be paid for their shares, shall be made parties to such  proceeding,  which shall  have  the  effect of an action quasi in rem against their shares. The corporation shall serve a copy of the petition  in  such  proceeding upon  each dissenting shareholder who is a resident of this state in the manner provided by law for the service  of  a  summons,  and  upon  each nonresident   dissenting  shareholder  either  by  registered  mail  and publication, or in such  other  manner  as  is  permitted  by  law.  The jurisdiction of the court shall be plenary and exclusive.  (4) The  court shall determine whether each dissenting shareholder, as to whom the corporation requests the court to make  such  determination,  is  entitled  to receive payment for his shares. If the corporation does not request any such determination  or  if  the  court  finds  that  any dissenting shareholder is so entitled, it shall proceed to fix the value of  the  shares,  which,  for the purposes of this section, shall be the fair value as of  the  close  of  business  on  the  day  prior  to  the shareholders'  authorization  date.  In  fixing  the  fair  value of the shares, the court shall consider the nature of  the  transaction  giving rise  to  the  shareholder's right to receive payment for shares and its effects on the  corporation  and  its  shareholders,  the  concepts  and methods  then customary in the relevant securities and financial markets for determining fair value of shares of  a  corporation  engaging  in  a similar   transaction  under  comparable  circumstances  and  all  other relevant factors. The court shall determine the fair value of the shares without a jury and without referral to an appraiser or  referee.    Upon application  by  the corporation or by any shareholder who is a party to the proceeding, the  court  may,  in  its  discretion,  permit  pretrial disclosure,  including,  but  not limited to, disclosure of any expert's reports relating to the fair value of the shares whether or not intended for use at the trial in the proceeding and  notwithstanding  subdivision (d) of section 3101 of the civil practice law and rules.  (5) The  final  order  in  the proceeding shall be entered against the corporation in favor of each dissenting shareholder who is  a  party  to the  proceeding  and  is entitled thereto for the value of his shares so determined.  (6) The final order shall include an allowance for  interest  at  such rate  as  the  court  finds to be equitable, from the date the corporate action was consummated to the date of payment. In determining  the  rate of  interest,  the  court shall consider all relevant factors, including the rate of interest which the corporation would  have  had  to  pay  to borrow  money  during the pendency of the proceeding. If the court finds that the refusal of any shareholder to accept  the  corporate  offer  of payment for his shares was arbitrary, vexatious or otherwise not in good faith, no interest shall be allowed to him.  (7) Each  party  to  such  proceeding  shall  bear  its  own costs and expenses, including the fees and expenses of  its  counsel  and  of  any experts employed by it. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the court may, in its  discretion,  apportion  and  assess  all  or any part of the costs, expenses and fees incurred by the corporation against any or all of  the dissenting shareholders who are parties to the proceeding, including any who  have  withdrawn  their notices of election as provided in paragraph (e), if the court finds that their refusal to accept the corporate offer was arbitrary, vexatious or otherwise not in good faith. The court  may, in  its  discretion,  apportion and assess all or any part of the costs, expenses and fees incurred by any or all of the dissenting  shareholders who  are  parties to the proceeding against the corporation if the court finds any of the following: (A) that the fair value  of  the  shares  as determined  materially  exceeds the amount which the corporation offered to pay; (B) that no offer or required advance payment was  made  by  the corporation;  (C)  that  the corporation failed to institute the special proceeding within the period specified therefor; or (D) that the  action of the corporation in complying with its obligations as provided in this section  was  arbitrary,  vexatious  or  otherwise not in good faith. In making any determination as  provided  in  clause  (A),  the  court  may consider the dollar amount or the percentage, or both, by which the fair value of the shares as determined exceeds the corporate offer.  (8) Within sixty days after final determination of the proceeding, the corporation shall pay to each dissenting shareholder the amount found to  be  due  him,  upon  surrender  of  the certificates for any such shares represented by certificates.  (i) Shares  acquired by the corporation upon the payment of the agreed value therefor or of the amount due under the final order,  as  provided in  this  section,  shall  become  treasury  shares  or  be cancelled as provided in section 515 (Reacquired shares), except that, in the case of a merger or consolidation, they may be held and disposed of as the  plan of merger or consolidation may otherwise provide.  (j) No  payment  shall  be made to a dissenting shareholder under this section at a time when the corporation is insolvent or when such payment would make it insolvent.  In  such  event,  the  dissenting  shareholder shall, at his option:  (1) Withdraw  his  notice  of  election,  which shall in such event be deemed withdrawn with the written consent of the corporation; or  (2) Retain his status as a claimant against the corporation and, if it is liquidated, be  subordinated  to  the  rights  of  creditors  of  the corporation,   but   have   rights   superior   to   the  non-dissenting shareholders, and if it is not liquidated, retain his right to  be  paid for  his shares, which right the corporation shall be obliged to satisfy when the restrictions of this paragraph do not apply.  (3) The  dissenting  shareholder  shall  exercise  such  option  under subparagraph  (1)  or  (2)  by written notice filed with the corporation within thirty days after the corporation has given  him  written  notice that  payment  for his shares cannot be made because of the restrictions of this paragraph. If the dissenting shareholder fails to exercise  such option as provided, the corporation shall exercise the option by written notice  given  to  him  within  twenty days after the expiration of such period of thirty days.  (k) The enforcement by a shareholder of his right to  receive  payment for  his  shares  in  the  manner  provided  herein  shall  exclude  the enforcement by such shareholder of any other right  to  which  he  might otherwise  be  entitled by virtue of share ownership, except as provided in paragraph (e), and except that this section  shall  not  exclude  the right  of such shareholder to bring or maintain an appropriate action to obtain relief on the ground that such corporate action  will  be  or  is unlawful or fraudulent as to him.  (l) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this section, any notice to  be  given by a corporation to a shareholder under this section shall be given in the manner provided in section 605 (Notice  of  meetings  of shareholders).  (m) This  section  shall  not  apply to foreign corporations except as provided in subparagraph (e) (2) of section 907 (Merger or consolidation of domestic and foreign corporations).