2007 California Corporations Code Chapter 20. General Provisions Relating To Dissolution

CA Codes (corp:2000-2011)

2000.  (a) Subject to any contrary provision in the articles, in any
suit for involuntary dissolution, or in any proceeding for voluntary
dissolution initiated by the vote of shareholders representing only
50 percent of the voting power, the corporation or, if it does not
elect to purchase, the holders of 50 percent or more of the voting
power of the corporation (the "purchasing parties") may avoid the
dissolution of the corporation and the appointment of any receiver by
purchasing for cash the shares owned by the plaintiffs or by the
shareholders so initiating the proceeding (the "moving parties") at
their fair value.  The fair value shall be determined on the basis of
the liquidation value as of the valuation date but taking into
account the possibility, if any, of sale of the entire business as a
going concern in a liquidation.  In fixing the value, the amount of
any damages resulting if the initiation of the dissolution is a
breach by any moving party or parties of an agreement with the
purchasing party or parties may be deducted from the amount payable
to such moving party or parties, unless the ground for dissolution is
that specified in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 1800.
The election of the corporation to purchase may be made by the
approval of the outstanding shares (Section 152) excluding shares
held by the moving parties.
   (b) If the purchasing parties (1) elect to purchase the shares
owned by the moving parties, and (2) are unable to agree with the
moving parties upon the fair value of such shares, and (3) give bond
with sufficient security to pay the estimated reasonable expenses
(including attorneys' fees) of the moving parties if such expenses
are recoverable under subdivision (c), the court upon application of
the purchasing parties, either in the pending action or in a
proceeding initiated in the superior court of the proper county by
the purchasing parties in the case of a voluntary election to wind up
and dissolve, shall stay the winding up and dissolution proceeding
and shall proceed to ascertain and fix the fair value of the shares
owned by the moving parties.
   (c) The court shall appoint three disinterested appraisers to
appraise the fair value of the shares owned by the moving parties,
and shall make an order referring the matter to the appraisers so
appointed for the purpose of ascertaining such value.  The order
shall prescribe the time and manner of producing evidence, if
evidence is required.  The award of the appraisers or of a majority
of them, when confirmed by the court, shall be final and conclusive
upon all parties.  The court shall enter a decree which shall provide
in the alternative for winding up and dissolution of the corporation
unless payment is made for the shares within the time specified by
the decree.  If the purchasing parties do not make payment for the
shares within the time specified, judgment shall be entered against
them and the surety or sureties on the bond for the amount of the
expenses (including attorneys' fees) of the moving parties.  Any
shareholder aggrieved by the action of the court may appeal
therefrom.
   (d) If the purchasing parties desire to prevent the winding up and
dissolution, they shall pay to the moving parties the value of their
shares ascertained and decreed within the time specified pursuant to
this section, or, in case of an appeal, as fixed on appeal.  On
receiving such payment or the tender thereof, the moving parties
shall transfer their shares to the purchasing parties.
   (e) For the purposes of this section, "shareholder" includes a
beneficial owner of shares who has entered into an agreement under
Section 300 or 706.
   (f) For the purposes of this section, the valuation date shall be
(1) in the case of a suit for involuntary dissolution under Section
1800, the date upon which that action was commenced, or (2) in the
case of a proceeding for voluntary dissolution initiated by the vote
of shareholders representing only 50 percent of the voting power, the
date upon which that proceeding was initiated.  However, in either
case the court may, upon the hearing of a motion by any party, and
for good cause shown, designate some other date as the valuation
date.



2001.  The powers and duties of the directors (or other persons
appointed by the court pursuant to Section 1805) and officers after
commencement of a dissolution proceeding include, but are not limited
to, the following acts in the name and on behalf of the corporation:

   (a) To elect officers and to employ agents and attorneys to
liquidate or wind up its affairs.
   (b) To continue the conduct of the business insofar as necessary
for the disposal or winding up thereof.
   (c) To carry out contracts and collect, pay, compromise and settle
debts and claims for or against the corporation.
   (d) To defend suits brought against the corporation.
   (e) To sue, in the name of the corporation, for all sums due or
owing to the corporation or to recover any of its property.
   (f) To collect any amounts remaining unpaid on subscriptions to
shares or to recover unlawful distributions.
   (g) To sell at public or private sale, exchange, convey or
otherwise dispose of all or any part of the assets of the corporation
for cash in an amount deemed reasonable by the board without
compliance with the provisions of Section 1001 (except subdivision
(d) thereof), or (subject to compliance with the provisions of
Sections 1001, 1200 and 1201, but Chapter 13 (commencing with Section
1300) shall not be applicable thereto) upon such other terms and
conditions and for such other considerations as the board deems
reasonable or expedient; and to execute bills of sale and deeds of
conveyance in the name of the corporation.
   (h) In general, to make contracts and to do any and all things in
the name of the corporation which may be proper or convenient for the
purposes of winding up, settling and liquidating the affairs of the
corporation.


2002.  A vacancy on the board may be filled during a winding up
proceeding in the manner provided in Section 305.



2003.  When the identity of the directors or their right to hold
office is in doubt, or if they are dead or unable to act, or they
fail or refuse to act or their whereabouts cannot be ascertained, any
interested person may petition the superior court of the proper
county to determine the identity of the directors or, if there are no
directors, to appoint directors to wind up the affairs of the
corporation, after hearing upon such notice to such persons as the
court may direct.



2004.  After determining that all the known debts and liabilities of
a corporation in the process of winding up have been paid or
adequately provided for, the board shall distribute all the remaining
corporate assets among the shareholders according to their
respective rights and preferences or, if there are no shareholders,
to the persons entitled thereto.  If the winding up is by court
proceeding or subject to court supervision, the distribution shall
not be made until after the expiration of any period for the
presentation of claims which has been prescribed by order of the
court.



2005.  The payment of a debt or liability, whether the whereabouts
of the creditor is known or unknown, has been adequately provided for
if the payment has been provided for by either of the following
means:
   (a) Payment thereof has been assumed or guaranteed in good faith
by one or more financially responsible corporations or other persons
or by the United States government or any agency thereof, and the
provision (including the financial responsibility of such
corporations or other persons) was determined in good faith and with
reasonable care by the board to be adequate at the time of any
distribution of the assets by the board pursuant to this chapter.
   (b) The amount of the debt or liability has been deposited as
provided in Section 2008.
   This section does not prescribe the exclusive means of making
adequate provision for debts and liabilities.



2006.  Distribution may be made either in money or in property or
securities and either in installments from time to time or as a
whole, if this can be done fairly and ratably and in conformity with
the provisions of the articles and the rights of the shareholders,
and shall be made as soon as reasonably consistent with the
beneficial liquidation of the corporate assets.



2007.  (a) If the corporation in process of winding up has both
preferred and  common shares outstanding, a plan of distribution of
the shares, obligations or securities of any other corporation,
domestic or foreign, or assets other than money which is not in
accordance with the liquidation rights of the preferred shares as
specified in the articles may nevertheless be adopted if approved by
(1) the board and (2) by approval of the outstanding shares (Section
152) of each class.  The plan may provide that such distribution is
in complete or partial satisfaction of the rights of any of such
shareholders upon distribution and liquidation of the assets.
   (b) A plan of distribution so approved shall be binding upon all
the shareholders except as provided in subdivision (c).  The board
shall cause notice of the adoption of the plan to be given by mail
within 20 days after its adoption to all holders of shares having a
liquidation preference.
   (c) Shareholders having a liquidation preference who dissent from
the plan of distribution are entitled to be paid the amount of their
liquidation preference in cash if they file written demand for
payment with the corporation within 30 days after the date of mailing
of the notice of the adoption of the plan of distribution, unless
the plan of distribution is abandoned.  The demand shall state the
number and class of the shares held of record by the shareholder in
respect of which the shareholder claims payment.
   (d) If any such demand for cash payment is filed, the board in its
discretion may abandon the plan without further approval by the
outstanding shares (Section 152), and all shareholders shall then be
entitled to distribution according to their rights and liquidation
preferences in the process of winding up.
   (e) This section shall not apply to a distribution in accordance
with a reorganization the principal terms of which have been approved
pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1202.



2008.  (a) If any shareholders or creditors are unknown or fail or
refuse to accept their payment, dividend, or distribution in cash or
property or their whereabouts cannot be ascertained after diligent
inquiry, or the existence or amount of a claim of a creditor or
shareholder is contingent, contested, or not determined, or if the
ownership of any shares of stock is in dispute, the corporation may
deposit any such payment, dividend, distribution, or the maximum
amount of the claim with the Controller in trust for the benefit of
those lawfully entitled to the payment, dividend, distribution, or
the amount of the claim.  The payment, dividend, or distribution
shall be paid over by the depositary to the lawful owners, their
representatives or assigns, upon satisfactory proof of title.
   (b) For the purpose of providing for the transmittal, receipt,
accounting for, claiming, management, and investment of all money or
other property deposited with the Controller under subdivision (a),
the money or other property shall be deemed to be paid or delivered
for deposit with the Controller under Chapter 7 (commencing with
Section 1500) of Title 10 of Part 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure,
and may be recovered in the manner prescribed in that chapter.



2009.  (a) Whenever in the process of winding up a corporation any
distribution of assets has been made, otherwise than under an order
of court, without prior payment or adequate provision for payment of
any of the debts and liabilities of the corporation, any amount so
improperly distributed to any shareholder may be recovered by the
corporation.  Any of such shareholders may be joined as defendants in
the same action or brought in on the motion of any other defendant.

   (b) Suit may be brought in the name of the corporation to enforce
the liability under subdivision (a) against any or all shareholders
receiving the distribution by any one or more creditors of the
corporation, whether or not they have reduced their claims to
judgment.
   (c) Shareholders who satisfy any liability under this section
shall have the right of ratable contribution from other distributees
similarly liable.  Any shareholder who has been compelled to return
to the corporation more than the shareholder's ratable share of the
amount needed to pay the debts and liabilities of the corporation may
require that the corporation recover from any or all of the other
distributees such proportion of the amounts received by them upon the
improper distribution as to give contribution to those held liable
under this section and make the distribution of the assets fair and
ratable, according to the respective rights and preferences of the
shares, after payment or adequate provision for payment of all the
debts and liabilities of the corporation.
   (d) As used in this section, "process of winding up" includes
proceedings under Chapters 18 and 19 and also any other distribution
of assets to shareholders made in contemplation of termination or
abandonment of the corporate business.



2010.  (a) A corporation which is dissolved nevertheless continues
to exist for the purpose of winding up its affairs, prosecuting and
defending actions by or against it and enabling it to collect and
discharge obligations, dispose of and convey its property and collect
and divide its assets, but not for the purpose of continuing
business except so far as necessary for the winding up thereof.
   (b) No action or proceeding to which a corporation is a party
abates by the dissolution of the corporation or by reason of
proceedings for winding up and dissolution thereof.
   (c) Any assets inadvertently or otherwise omitted from the winding
up continue in the dissolved corporation for the benefit of the
persons entitled thereto upon dissolution of the corporation and on
realization shall be distributed accordingly.



2011.  (a) (1) Causes of action against a dissolved corporation,
whether arising before or after the dissolution of the corporation,
may be enforced against any of the following:
   (A) Against the dissolved corporation, to the extent of its
undistributed assets, including, without limitation, any insurance
assets held by the corporation that may be available to satisfy
claims.
   (B) If any of the assets of the dissolved corporation have been
distributed to shareholders, against shareholders of the dissolved
corporation to the extent of their pro rata share of the claim or to
the extent of the corporate assets distributed to them upon
dissolution of the corporation, whichever is less.
   A shareholder's total liability under this section may not exceed
the total amount of assets of the dissolved corporation distributed
to the shareholder upon dissolution of the corporation.
   (2) Except as set forth in subdivision (c), all causes of action
against a shareholder of a dissolved corporation arising under this
section are extinguished unless the claimant commences a proceeding
to enforce the cause of action against that shareholder of a
dissolved corporation prior to the earlier of the following:
   (A) The expiration of the statute of limitations applicable to the
cause of action.
   (B) Four years after the effective date of the dissolution of the
corporation.
   (3) As a matter of procedure only, and not for purposes of
determining liability, shareholders of the dissolved corporation may
be sued in the corporate name of the corporation upon any cause of
action against the corporation. This section does not affect the
rights of the corporation or its creditors under Section 2009, or the
rights, if any, of creditors under the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer
Act, which may arise against the shareholders of a corporation.
   (4) This subdivision applies to corporations dissolved on and
after January 1, 1992. Corporations dissolved prior to that date are
subject to the law in effect prior to that date.
   (b) Summons or other process against such a corporation may be
served by delivering a copy thereof to an officer, director or person
having charge of its assets or, if no such person can be found, to
any agent upon whom process might be served at the time of
dissolution. If none of such persons can be found with due diligence
and it is so shown by affidavit to the satisfaction of the court,
then the court may make an order that summons or other process be
served upon the dissolved corporation by personally delivering a copy
thereof, together with a copy of the order, to the Secretary of
State or an assistant or deputy secretary of state. Service in this
manner is deemed complete on the 10th day after delivery of the
process to the Secretary of State.
   (c) Every such corporation shall survive and continue to exist
indefinitely for the purpose of being sued in any quiet title action.
Any judgment rendered in any such action shall bind each and all of
its shareholders or other persons having any equity or other interest
in such corporation, to the extent of their interest therein, and
such action shall have the same force and effect as an action brought
under the provisions of Sections 410.50 and 410.60 of the Code of
Civil Procedure. Service of summons or other process in any such
action may be made as provided in Chapter 4 (commencing with Section
413.10) of Title 5 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure or as
provided in subdivision (b).
   (d) Upon receipt of such process and the fee therefor, the
Secretary of State forthwith shall give notice to the corporation as
provided in Section 1702.
   (e) For purposes of Article 4 (commencing with Section 19071) of
Chapter 4 of Part 10.2 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation
Code, the liability described in this section shall be considered a
liability at law with respect to a dissolved corporation.