4940-4952
FINANCIAL CODE
SECTION 4940-4952
4940. In this article, unless the context otherwise requires, "conversion" means any of the conversions described in Section 4941. 4941. With the approval of the commissioner: (a) A national banking association may convert into a California state bank pursuant to this article and federal law. (b) A federal depository corporation of any class may convert into a California state depository corporation of another class pursuant to federal law and this article. 4942. A converting depository corporation shall adopt a plan of conversion pursuant to the provisions of federal law. 4943. In obtaining any approval of outstanding shares required for a plan of conversion, a converting depository corporation shall provide to its shareholders information as the commissioner may require. In determining the information to be required, the commissioner shall give due consideration to regulations relating to proxy statements issued under Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. Sec. 78n) by (a) the Securities and Exchange Commission, (b) in the case of a depository corporation that is a bank, the federal bank regulatory agencies, and (c) in the case of a depository corporation that is a savings association, the Office of Thrift Supervision. 4944. A converting depository corporation shall file the following with the commissioner: (a) The plan of conversion. (b) An officer's certificate certifying that the plan of conversion has been approved as required by federal law. (c) An application for approval of the conversion. 4945. If the commissioner finds all of the factors set forth in Section 4925 with respect to an application for approval of a conversion, the commissioner shall approve the application. If the commissioner finds otherwise, the commissioner shall deny the application for approval of the conversion. 4946. After an application for approval of a conversion has been approved by the commissioner but before the conversion becomes effective, the converting depository corporation shall file with the commissioner an application for approval of the articles of the resulting depository corporation. When the commissioner approves the articles, the commissioner shall endorse the approval on the articles. After the articles are filed with the Secretary of State, the resulting depository corporation shall file with the commissioner a copy of the articles certified by the Secretary of State. 4948. (a) After an application for approval of a conversion has been approved and all conditions precedent to the conversion have been fulfilled, the commissioner shall: (1) In case the resulting depository corporation is a California state bank, issue to the resulting depository corporation a certificate of authority authorizing it to transact commercial banking business or commercial banking business and trust business, as the case may be. (2) In case the resulting depository corporation is a California state savings association, issue to the resulting depository corporation a license authorizing it to transact business as a California state savings association. (3) In case the resulting depository corporation is a California industrial loan company, issue to the resulting depository corporation a certificate of authority authorizing it to transact business as an industrial loan company. (b) Upon the issuance of the certificate of authority or license pursuant to subdivision (a), the conversion shall become effective for all purposes. 4949. When a conversion becomes effective, the commissioner shall issue to the resulting depository corporation certificates of authority, licenses, or other appropriate authorizations for the branch offices, places of business, extensions of offices, and other facilities, if any, that the converting depository corporation was operating and that the resulting depository corporation is to continue to operate. 4950. When a conversion becomes effective: (a) The converting depository corporation shall cease to exist. (b) The resulting depository corporation shall succeed, without other transfer, to all the rights and property of the converting depository corporation and shall be subject to all the debts and liabilities of the converting depository corporation in the same manner as if the resulting depository corporation had itself incurred them. (c) All rights of creditors of the converting depository corporation and all liens upon the property of the converting depository corporation shall be preserved unimpaired, provided that such liens upon the property of the converting depository corporation shall be limited to the property affected thereby immediately prior to the time when the conversion becomes effective. (d) Any action or proceeding pending by or against the converting depository corporation may be prosecuted to judgment, which shall bind the resulting depository corporation, or the resulting depository corporation may be proceeded against or substituted in place of the converting depository corporation. (e) Any reference to the converting depository corporation in any writing, whether executed or taking effect before or after the conversion, shall be deemed a reference to the resulting depository corporation if not inconsistent with the other provisions of such writing. (f) In case the converting depository corporation was transacting trust business, the resulting depository corporation shall succeed, without further transfer, to the rights, obligations, properties, assets, investments, deposits, demands, agreements, and trusts of the converting depository corporation under all trusts, executorships, administrations, guardianships, agencies, and all other fiduciary or representative capacities to the same extent as if the resulting depository corporation had originally assumed such fiduciary or representative capacities, and the resulting depository corporation shall be entitled to take and execute the appointment to all executorships, trusteeships, guardianships, and other fiduciary or representative capacities to which the converting depository corporation is or may be named in wills, whenever probated, or to which the converting depository corporation is or may be named or appointed by any other instrument. 4951. Promptly after a conversion becomes effective, the resulting depository corporation shall: (a) Surrender to the regulator of the converting depository corporation for cancellation the certificates of authority or licenses issued to the converting depository corporation by the regulator; and (b) File with the regulator of the converting depository corporation such report regarding the conversion as the regulator may require. 4952. (a) After a conversion becomes effective, the commissioner shall issue, upon application, a certificate under his or her official seal, stating that the converting depository corporation was converted into the resulting depository corporation and specifying the time at which the conversion became effective. (b) Any certificate issued pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be prima facie evidence of the fact of the conversion and of the regularity of the proceedings taken for the conversion and shall be conclusive evidence of such matters in favor of any innocent purchaser or encumbrancer for value.