2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 35. Corporations, Partnerships, and Associations › Chapter 2. Nonprofit Corporations › Part 6. Merger, Consolidation, and Sale of Assets › 35-2-610. Action on plan by board, members, and third persons

35-2-610. Action on plan by board, members, and third persons.
(1) Unless this chapter, the articles, the bylaws, or the board of directors or members, acting pursuant to subsection (3), require a greater vote or voting by class to be adopted, a plan of merger must be approved:
(a) by the board;
(b) by the members, if any, by two-thirds of the votes cast or a majority of the voting power, whichever is less; and
(c) in writing by any person or persons whose approval is required by a provision of the articles, as authorized by 35-2-232, for an amendment to the articles or bylaws.
(2) If the corporation does not have members, the merger must be approved by a majority of the directors in office at the time the merger is approved. In addition, the corporation shall provide notice, in accordance with 35-2-429(3), of any directors' meeting at which approval is to be obtained. The notice must also state that the purpose or one of the purposes of the meeting is to consider the proposed merger.
(3) The board may condition its submission of the proposed merger and the members may condition their approval of the merger on receipt of a higher percentage of affirmative votes or on any other basis.
(4) If the board seeks to have the plan approved by the members at a membership meeting, the corporation shall give notice to its members of the proposed membership meeting in accordance with 35-2-530. The notice must state that the purpose or one of the purposes of the meeting is to consider the plan of merger and contain or be accompanied by a copy or summary of the plan. The copy or summary of the plan for members of the surviving corporation must include any provision that, if contained in a proposed amendment to the articles of incorporation or bylaws, would entitle members to vote on the provision. The copy or summary of the plan for members of the disappearing corporation must include a copy or summary of the articles and bylaws that will be in effect immediately after the merger takes effect.
(5) If the board seeks to have the plan approved by the members by written consent or written ballot, the material soliciting the approval must contain or be accompanied by a copy or summary of the plan. The copy or summary of the plan for members of the surviving corporation must include any provision that, if contained in a proposed amendment to the articles of incorporation or bylaws, would entitle members to vote on the provision. The copy or summary of the plan for members of the disappearing corporation must include a copy or summary of the articles and bylaws that will be in effect immediately after the merger takes effect.
(6) Voting by a class of members is required on a plan of merger if the plan contains a provision that, if contained in a proposed amendment to articles of incorporation or bylaws, would entitle the class of members to vote as a class on the proposed amendment under 35-2-224 or 35-2-231. The plan is approved by a class of members by two-thirds of the votes cast by the class or a majority of the voting power of the class, whichever is less.
(7) After a merger is adopted and at any time before articles of merger are filed, the planned merger may be abandoned, subject to any contractual rights, without further action by members or other persons who approved the plan in accordance with the procedure set forth in the plan of merger or, if no procedure is set forth, in the manner determined by the board of directors.
History: En. Sec. 125, Ch. 411, L. 1991.