CHAPTER 40. MERGER AND SHARE EXCHANGE
IC 23-1-40
Chapter 40. Merger and Share Exchange
IC 23-1-40-1
Right to merge; plan of merger
Sec. 1. (a) One (1) or more corporations may merge into another
corporation if the board of directors of each corporation adopts and
its shareholders (if required by section 3 of this chapter) approve a
plan of merger.
(b) The plan of merger must set forth:
(1) the name of each corporation planning to merge and the
name of the surviving corporation into which each other
corporation plans to merge;
(2) the terms and conditions of the merger; and
(3) the manner and basis of converting the shares of each
corporation into shares, obligations, or other securities of the
surviving or any other corporation or into cash or other property
in whole or in part.
(c) The plan of merger may set forth:
(1) amendments to the articles of incorporation of the surviving
corporation; and
(2) other provisions relating to the merger.
As added by P.L.149-1986, SEC.24.
IC 23-1-40-2
Acquisition of shares of another corporation; plan of exchange
Sec. 2. (a) A corporation may acquire all of the outstanding shares
of one (1) or more classes or series of another corporation if the
board of directors of each corporation adopts and its shareholders (if
required by section 3 of this chapter) approve the exchange.
(b) The plan of exchange must set forth:
(1) the name of the corporation whose shares will be acquired
and the name of the acquiring corporation;
(2) the terms and conditions of the exchange; and
(3) the manner and basis of exchanging the shares to be
acquired for shares, obligations, or other securities of the
acquiring or any other corporation or for cash or other property
in whole or in part.
(c) The plan of exchange may set forth other provisions relating
to the exchange.
(d) This section does not limit the power of a corporation to
acquire all or part of the shares of one (1) or more classes or series
of another corporation through a voluntary exchange or otherwise.
As added by P.L.149-1986, SEC.24.
IC 23-1-40-3
Shareholder approval of plan of merger or share exchange;
procedure; abandonment of plan
Sec. 3. (a) After adopting a plan of merger or share exchange, the
board of directors of each corporation party to the merger, and the
board of directors of the corporation whose shares will be acquired
in the share exchange, shall submit the plan of merger (except as
provided in subsection (g)) or share exchange for approval by its
shareholders.
(b) For a plan of merger or share exchange to be approved:
(1) the board of directors must recommend the plan of merger
or share exchange to the shareholders, unless the board of
directors determines that because of conflict of interest or other
special circumstances it should make no recommendation and
communicates the basis for its determination to the shareholders
with the plan; and
(2) the shareholders entitled to vote must approve the plan.
(c) The board of directors may condition its submission of the
proposed merger or share exchange on any basis.
(d) The corporation shall notify each shareholder, whether or not
entitled to vote, of the proposed shareholders' meeting in accordance
with IC 23-1-29-5. The notice must also state that the purpose, or one
(1) of the purposes, of the meeting is to consider the plan of merger
or share exchange and must contain or be accompanied by a copy or
summary of the plan.
(e) Unless this article, the articles of incorporation, or the board
of directors (acting under subsection (c)) requires a greater vote or
a vote by voting groups, the plan of merger or share exchange to be
authorized must be approved by each voting group entitled to vote
separately on the plan by a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast
on the plan by that voting group.
(f) Separate voting by voting groups is required:
(1) on a plan of merger if the plan contains a provision that, if
contained in a proposed amendment to articles of incorporation,
would require action by one (1) or more separate voting groups
on the proposed amendment under IC 23-1-38-4; or
(2) on a plan of share exchange by each class or series of shares
included in the exchange, with each class or series constituting
a separate voting group.
(g) Action by the shareholders of the surviving corporation on a
plan of merger is not required if:
(1) the articles of incorporation of the surviving corporation
will not differ (except for amendments enumerated in
IC 23-1-38-2) from its articles before the merger;
(2) each shareholder of the surviving corporation whose shares
were outstanding immediately before the effective date of the
merger will hold the same proportionate number of shares
relative to the number of shares held by all such shareholders
(except for shares of the surviving corporation received solely
as a result of the shareholder's proportionate shareholdings in
the other corporations party to the merger), with identical
designations, preferences, limitations, and relative rights,
immediately after;
(3) the number of voting shares outstanding immediately after
the merger, plus the number of voting shares issuable as a result
of the merger (either by the conversion of securities issued
pursuant to the merger or the exercise of rights and warrants
issued pursuant to the merger), will not exceed by more than
twenty percent (20%) the total number of voting shares
(adjusted to reflect any forward or reverse share split that
occurs under the plan of merger) of the surviving corporation
outstanding immediately before the merger; and
(4) the number of participating shares outstanding immediately
after the merger, plus the number of participating shares
issuable as a result of the merger (either by the conversion of
securities issued pursuant to the merger or the exercise of rights
and warrants issued pursuant to the merger), will not exceed by
more than twenty percent (20%) the total number of
participating shares (adjusted to reflect any forward or reverse
share split that occurs under the plan of merger) outstanding
immediately before the merger.
(h) As used in subsection (g):
(1) "Participating shares" means shares that entitle their holders
to participate without limitation in distributions.
(2) "Voting shares" means shares that entitle their holders to
vote unconditionally in elections of directors.
(i) After a merger or share exchange is authorized, and at any time
before articles of merger or share exchange are filed, the planned
merger or share exchange may be abandoned (subject to any
contractual rights), without further shareholder action, in accordance
with the procedure set forth in the plan of merger or share exchange
or, if none is set forth, in the manner determined by the board of
directors.
As added by P.L.149-1986, SEC.24. Amended by P.L.107-1987,
SEC.16; P.L.3-2008, SEC.165.
IC 23-1-40-4
Merger of subsidiary and parent corporation
Sec. 4. (a) A parent corporation owning at least ninety percent
(90%) of the outstanding shares of each class of a subsidiary
corporation may merge the subsidiary and the parent corporation
without approval of the shareholders of the parent or subsidiary.
(b) If the parent corporation will be the surviving corporation, the
board of directors of the parent shall adopt a plan of merger that sets
forth:
(1) the names of the parent and subsidiary; and
(2) the manner and basis of converting the shares of the
subsidiary into shares, obligations, or other securities of the
parent or any other corporation or into cash or other property in
whole or in part.
(c) The parent shall mail a copy or summary of the plan of merger
to each shareholder of the subsidiary who does not waive the mailing
requirement in writing.
(d) The parent may not deliver articles of merger to the secretary
of state for filing until at least thirty (30) days after the date it mailed
a copy of the plan of merger to each shareholder of the subsidiary
who did not waive the mailing requirement.
(e) The articles of incorporation of the parent corporation that are
in effect immediately before the effective date of the merger
constitute the articles of incorporation of the surviving corporation,
and articles of merger under this section may not contain
amendments to the articles of incorporation of the parent corporation
(except for amendments enumerated in IC 23-1-38-2). If the
subsidiary is a domestic corporation and will be the surviving
corporation of a merger with a parent that is a foreign corporation,
the articles of incorporation of the parent corporation that will be
inherited by the subsidiary upon the effective date of the merger shall
be delivered to the secretary of state for filing together with the
articles of merger to be delivered for filing under section 5(a) of this
chapter.
(f) If the parent corporation will not be the surviving corporation,
the board of directors of the parent shall adopt a plan of merger that
sets forth:
(1) the names of the parent and subsidiary; and
(2) the manner and basis of converting the shares of the parent
into shares of the surviving corporation.
(g) A plan adopted under subsection (f) must ensure that each
shareholder of the parent corporation whose shares were outstanding
immediately before the effective date of the merger will hold the
same proportionate number of shares relative to the number of shares
held by all such shareholders (except for shares of the surviving
corporation received solely as a result of the shareholder's
proportionate shareholdings in any other corporations besides the
parent which are parties to the merger), with identical designations,
preferences, limitations, and relative rights, of the surviving
corporation immediately after that effective date. If the plan provides
that the shareholders of the subsidiary (other than the parent) will not
be shareholders of the surviving corporation immediately after that
effective date, the plan must also set forth the manner and basis of
converting the shares of the subsidiary held by such shareholders into
obligations or other securities of the surviving corporation or shares,
obligations, or other securities of any other corporation or into cash
or other property in whole or in part.
As added by P.L.149-1986, SEC.24. Amended by P.L.107-1987,
SEC.17; P.L.145-1988, SEC.5.
IC 23-1-40-5
Surviving corporation; filing of articles of merger or share
exchange
Sec. 5. (a) After a plan of merger or share exchange is approved
by the shareholders, or adopted by the board of directors if
shareholder approval is not required, the surviving or acquiring
corporation shall deliver to the secretary of state for filing articles of
merger or share exchange setting forth:
(1) the name of the surviving or acquiring corporation following
the merger or share exchange;
(2) if shareholder approval was not required, a statement to that
effect;
(3) if approval of the shareholders of one (1) or more
corporations party to the merger or share exchange was
required:
(A) the designation, number of outstanding shares, and
number of votes entitled to be cast by each voting group
entitled to vote separately on the merger or share exchange
as to each corporation; and
(B) either the total number of votes cast for and against the
merger or share exchange by each voting group entitled to
vote separately on the merger or share exchange or the total
number of undisputed votes cast for the merger or share
exchange separately by each voting group and a statement
that the number cast for the merger or share exchange by
each voting group was sufficient for approval by that voting
group.
(b) Unless a delayed effective date is specified, a merger or share
exchange takes effect when the articles of merger or share exchange
are filed.
(c) The surviving corporation resulting from a merger may, after
the merger has become effective, file for record with the county
recorder of each county in Indiana in which the corporation has real
property at the time of the merger, the title to which will be
transferred by the merger, a file-stamped copy of the articles of
merger. If the articles of merger set forth amendments to the articles
of incorporation of the surviving corporation that change its
corporate name, a file-stamped copy of the articles of merger may be
filed for record with the county recorder of each county in Indiana in
which the surviving or acquiring corporation has any real property at
the time the merger becomes effective. A failure to record a copy of
the articles of merger under this subsection does not affect the
validity of the merger or the change in corporate name.
As added by P.L.149-1986, SEC.24. Amended by P.L.133-2009,
SEC.33.
IC 23-1-40-6
Effect of merger
Sec. 6. (a) When a merger takes effect:
(1) every other corporation party to the merger merges into the
surviving corporation and the separate existence of every
corporation except the surviving corporation ceases;
(2) the title to all real estate and other property owned by each
corporation party to the merger is vested in the surviving
corporation without reversion or impairment;
(3) the surviving corporation has all liabilities of each
corporation party to the merger;
(4) a proceeding pending against any corporation party to the
merger may be continued as if the merger did not occur or the
surviving corporation may be substituted in the proceeding for
the corporation whose existence ceased;
(5) the articles of incorporation of the surviving corporation are
amended to the extent provided in the plan of merger; and
(6) the shares of each corporation party to the merger that are to
be converted into shares, obligations, or other securities of the
surviving or any other corporation or into cash or other property
are converted and the former holders of the shares are entitled
only to the rights provided in the articles of merger or to their
rights under IC 23-1-44.
(b) When a share exchange takes effect, the shares of each
acquired corporation are exchanged as provided in the plan and the
former holders of the shares are entitled only to the exchange rights
provided in the articles of share exchange or to their rights under
IC 23-1-44.
(c) After a merger or share exchange takes effect as provided in
this section, any terms of the plan of merger or plan of share
exchange that are not included in the articles of incorporation shall
be considered to be contract rights only, and not part of the
governing documents of the corporation.
As added by P.L.149-1986, SEC.24. Amended by P.L.107-1987,
SEC.18.
IC 23-1-40-7
Foreign corporations; participation in merger or share exchange
Sec. 7. (a) One (1) or more foreign corporations may participate
in a merger or a share exchange with one (1) or more domestic
corporations if:
(1) in a merger, the merger is permitted by the law of the state
or country under whose law each foreign corporation is
incorporated and each foreign corporation complies with that
law in effecting the merger;
(2) in a share exchange, the corporation whose shares will be
acquired in the share exchange is a domestic corporation,
whether or not a share exchange is permitted by the law of the
state or country under whose law the acquiring corporation is
incorporated;
(3) the foreign corporation complies with section 5 of this
chapter if it is the surviving corporation of the merger or
acquiring corporation of the share exchange; and
(4) each domestic corporation complies with the applicable
provisions of sections 1 through 4 of this chapter and, if it is the
surviving corporation of the merger or acquiring corporation of
the share exchange, with section 5 of this chapter.
(b) Upon the merger or share exchange taking effect, the surviving
foreign corporation of a merger and the acquiring foreign corporation
of a share exchange is deemed:
(1) to appoint the secretary of state as its agent for service of
process in a proceeding to enforce any obligation or the rights
of dissenting shareholders of each domestic corporation party
to the merger or share exchange; and
(2) to agree that it will promptly pay to the dissenting
shareholders of each domestic corporation party to the merger
or share exchange the amount, if any, to which they are entitled
under IC 23-1-44.
(c) This section does not limit the power of a foreign corporation
to acquire all or part of the shares of one (1) or more classes or series
of a domestic corporation through a voluntary exchange or otherwise.
As added by P.L.149-1986, SEC.24.
IC 23-1-40-8
Requirements for merger of domestic corporation with other
business entity; plan of merger; conditions for merger to become
effective; merger of other business entities
Sec. 8. (a) As used in this section, "other business entity" means
a limited liability company, limited liability partnership, limited
partnership, business trust, real estate investment trust, or any other
entity that is formed under the requirements of applicable law and is
not otherwise subject to section 1 of this chapter.
(b) As used in this section, "surviving entity" means the
corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership,
limited partnership, business trust, real estate investment trust, or any
other entity that is in existence immediately after consummation of
a merger under this section.
(c) One (1) or more domestic corporations may merge with or into
one (1) or more other business entities formed, organized, or
incorporated under the laws of Indiana or any other state, the United
States, a foreign country, or a foreign jurisdiction if the following
requirements are met:
(1) Each domestic corporation that is a party to the merger
complies with the applicable provisions of this chapter.
(2) Each domestic other business entity that is a party to the
merger complies with the requirements of applicable law.
(3) The merger is permitted by the laws of the state, country, or
jurisdiction under which each other business entity that is a
party to the merger is formed, organized, or incorporated, and
each other business entity complies with the laws in effecting
the merger.
(4) The merging entities approve a plan of merger that sets forth
the following:
(A) The name of each domestic corporation and the name
and jurisdiction of formation, organization, or incorporation
of each other business entity planning to merge, and the
name of the surviving or resulting domestic corporation or
other business entity into which each other domestic
corporation or other business entity plans to merge.
(B) The terms and conditions of the merger.
(C) The manner and basis of converting the shares of each
domestic corporation that is a party to the merger and the
partnership interests, shares, obligations, or other securities
of each other business entity that is a party to the merger into
partnership interests, interests, shares, obligations, or other
securities of the surviving entity or any other domestic
corporation or other business entity or, in whole or in part,
into cash or other property, and the manner and basis of
converting rights to acquire the shares of each domestic
corporation that is a party to the merger and rights to acquire
partnership interests, interests, shares, obligations, or other
securities of each other business entity that is a party to the
merger into rights to acquire partnership interests, interests,
shares, obligations, or other securities of the surviving entity
or any other domestic corporation or other business entity or,
in whole or in part, into cash or other property.
(D) If a partnership is to be the surviving entity, the names
and business addresses of the general partners of the
surviving entity.
(E) If a limited liability company is to be the surviving entity
and management of the limited liability company is vested
in one (1) or more managers, the names and business
addresses of the managers.
(F) All statements required to be set forth in the plan of
merger by the laws under which each other business entity
that is a party to the merger is formed, organized, or
incorporated.
(5) The plan of merger may set forth the following:
(A) If a domestic corporation is to be the surviving entity,
any amendments to, or a restatement of, the articles of
incorporation of the surviving entity, and the amendments or
restatement will be effective at the effective date of the
merger.
(B) Any other provisions relating to the merger.
(d) One (1) or more other business entities may merge with or into
one (1) or more other business entities formed, organized, or
incorporated under the laws of Indiana or under the laws of another
jurisdiction, if the following requirements are met:
(1) Each business entity that is a party to the merger complies
with the applicable provisions of this chapter.
(2) Merger is permitted by the laws of the jurisdiction under
which each other entity that is a party to the merger is formed,
organized, or incorporated, and each other business entity
complies with the laws in effecting the merger.
(3) The merging entities approve a plan of merger that sets forth
the following:
(A) The name and jurisdiction of formation, organization, or
incorporation of each other business entity intending to
merge, and the name of the surviving or resulting other
business entity into which each other business entity plans
to merge.
(B) The terms and conditions of the merger.
(C) The manner and basis of converting the partnership
interests, shares, obligations, or other securities of the
surviving entity or other business entity, in whole or in part,
into cash or other property, and the manner and basis of
converting rights to acquire partnership interests, shares,
obligations, or other securities of the surviving entity or any
other business entity, in whole or in part, into cash or other
property.
(D) If a partnership is to be the surviving entity, the names
and business addresses of the general partners of the
surviving entity.
(E) If a limited liability company is to be the surviving entity
and management of the limited liability company is vested
in one (1) or more managers, the names and business
addresses of the managers.
(F) All statements required to be set forth in the plan of
merger by the laws under which each other business entity
that is a party to the merger is formed, organized, or
incorporated.
(4) The plan of merger may set forth any other provisions
related to the merger.
(e) The plan of merger required by subsection (c)(4) must be
adopted and approved by each domestic corporation that is a party to
the merger in the same manner as is provided in this chapter.
(f) Notwithstanding subsection (c)(4), if the surviving entity is a
partnership, a shareholder of a domestic corporation that is a party to
the merger does not, as a result of the merger, become a general
partner of the surviving entity, and the merger does not become
effective under this chapter, unless:
(1) the shareholder specifically consents in writing to become
a general partner of the surviving entity; and
(2) written consent is obtained from each shareholder who, as
a result of the merger, would become a general partner of the
surviving entity.
A shareholder providing written consent under this subsection is
considered to have voted in favor of the plan of merger for purposes
of this chapter.
(g) This section, to the extent applicable, applies to the merger of
one (1) or more domestic corporations with or into one (1) or more
other business entities.
(h) Notwithstanding any other law, a merger consisting solely of
the merger of one (1) or more domestic corporations with or into one
(1) or more foreign corporations must be consummated solely
according to the requirements of this section.
As added by P.L.178-2002, SEC.100. Amended by P.L.178-2005,
SEC.6.