ORS 60.952
Court proceeding by shareholder in close corporation

  • conditions
  • court-ordered remedies
  • share purchase
  • expenses

(1)

In a proceeding by a shareholder in a corporation that does not have shares that are listed on a national securities exchange or that are regularly traded in a market maintained by one or more members of a national or affiliated securities association, the circuit court may order one or more of the remedies listed in subsection (2) of this section if it is established that:

(a)

The directors are deadlocked in the management of the corporate affairs, the shareholders are unable to break the deadlock and irreparable injury to the corporation is threatened or being suffered, or the business and affairs of the corporation can no longer be conducted to the advantage of the shareholders generally, because of the deadlock;

(b)

The directors or those in control of the corporation have acted, are acting or will act in a manner that is illegal, oppressive or fraudulent;

(c)

The shareholders are deadlocked in voting power and have failed, for a period that includes at least two consecutive annual meeting dates, to elect successors to directors whose terms have expired; or

(d)

The corporate assets are being misapplied or wasted.

(2)

The remedies that the court may order in a proceeding under subsection (1) of this section include but are not limited to the following:

(a)

The performance, prohibition, alteration or setting aside of any action of the corporation or of its shareholders, directors or officers or any other party to the proceeding;

(b)

The cancellation or alteration of any provision in the corporation’s articles of incorporation or bylaws;

(c)

The removal from office of any director or officer;

(d)

The appointment of any individual as a director or officer;

(e)

An accounting with respect to any matter in dispute;

(f)

The appointment of a custodian to manage the business and affairs of the corporation, to serve for the term and under the conditions prescribed by the court;

(g)

The appointment of a provisional director to serve for the term and under the conditions prescribed by the court;

(h)

The submission of the dispute to mediation or another form of nonbinding alternative dispute resolution;

(i)

The issuance of distributions;

(j)

The award of damages to any aggrieved party;

(k)

The purchase by the corporation or one or more shareholders of all of the shares of one or more other shareholders for their fair value and on the terms determined under subsection (5) of this section;

(L)

The retention of jurisdiction of the case by the court for the protection of the shareholder who filed the proceeding; or

(m)

The dissolution of the corporation if the court determines that no remedy specified in paragraphs (a) to (L) of this subsection or other alternative remedy is sufficient to resolve the matters in dispute. In determining whether to dissolve the corporation, the court shall consider among other relevant evidence the financial condition of the corporation but may not refuse to dissolve the corporation solely because it has accumulated earnings or current operating profits.

(3)

The remedies set forth in subsection (2) of this section shall not be exclusive of other legal and equitable remedies that the court may impose. Except as provided in this subsection, the shareholders of a corporation may, pursuant to an agreement described in ORS 60.265 (Validity of shareholder agreements inconsistent with chapter), agree to limit or eliminate any of the remedies set forth in subsection (2) of this section. The remedies set forth in subsection (2)(e), (j) and (m) of this section may not be eliminated.

(4)

In determining the appropriate remedies to order under subsection (2) of this section, the court may take into consideration the reasonable expectations of the corporation’s shareholders as they existed at the time the corporation was formed and developed during the course of the shareholders’ relationship with the corporation and with each other. The court shall endeavor to minimize the harm to the business of the corporation.

(5)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

If the court orders a share purchase, the court shall:

(A)

Determine the fair value of the shares, with or without the assistance of appraisers, taking into account any impact on the value of the shares resulting from the actions giving rise to a proceeding under subsection (1) of this section;

(B)

Consider any financial or legal constraints on the ability of the corporation or the purchasing shareholder to purchase the shares;

(C)

Specify the terms of the purchase, including, if appropriate, terms for installment payments, interest at the rate and from the date determined by the court to be equitable, subordination of the purchase obligation to the rights of the corporation’s other creditors, security for a deferred purchase price and a covenant not to compete or other restriction on the seller;

(D)

Require the seller to deliver all of the seller’s shares to the purchaser upon receipt of the purchase price or the first installment of the purchase price; and

(E)

Retain jurisdiction to enforce the purchase order by, among other remedies, ordering the corporation to be dissolved if the purchase is not completed in accordance with the terms of the purchase order.

(b)

The share purchase ordered under this subsection shall be consummated within 20 days after the date the order becomes final unless before that time the corporation files with the court a notice of its intention to dissolve and articles of dissolution are properly filed with the Secretary of State within 50 days after filing the notice with the court.

(c)

After the purchase order is entered and before the purchase price is fully paid, any party may petition the court to modify the terms of the purchase, and the court may do so if the court finds that the modifications are equitable.

(d)

Unless the purchase order is modified by the court, the selling shareholder shall have no further rights as a shareholder from the date the seller delivers all of the shareholder’s shares to the purchaser or such other date specified by the court.

(e)

If the court orders shares to be purchased by one or more other shareholders, in allocating the shares to be purchased by the other shareholders, unless equity requires otherwise, the court shall attempt to preserve the existing distribution of voting rights and other designations, preferences, qualifications, limitations, restrictions and special or relative rights among the holders of the class or classes of shares and may direct that holders of a specific class or classes not participate in the purchase.

(6)

At any time within 90 days after the filing of a proceeding under subsection (1) of this section, or at such time determined by the court to be equitable, the corporation or one or more shareholders may elect to purchase all of the shares owned by the shareholder who filed the proceeding for their fair value. An election to purchase under this subsection shall state in writing the amount that the electing party will pay for the shares. The following apply:

(a)

The election to purchase shall be irrevocable unless the court determines that it is equitable to set aside or modify the election.

(b)

If the election to purchase is filed by one or more shareholders, the corporation shall, within 10 days thereafter, give written notice to all shareholders. The notice shall state the name of the shareholder who filed the proceeding under subsection (1) of this section and the number of shares owned by that shareholder, the name of each electing shareholder and the number of shares owned by that electing shareholder and the amount that each electing shareholder will pay for the shares. The notice also must advise the recipients of their right to join in the election to purchase shares. Shareholders who wish to participate must file notice of their intention to join in the election to purchase not later than 30 days after the date of the notice to them or at such time as the court in its discretion may allow. All shareholders who have filed an election or notice of their intention to participate in the election to purchase thereby become parties to the proceeding under subsection (1) of this section and shall participate in the purchase in proportion to their ownership of shares as of the date the first election was filed, unless the shareholders otherwise agree or the court otherwise directs.

(c)

The court in its discretion may allow the corporation and shareholders to file an election to purchase the shares of the shareholder who filed the proceeding under subsection (1) of this section at a price higher than the amount previously offered. If the court does so, it shall allow other shareholders an opportunity to join in the election to purchase at the higher price in accordance with their proportionate ownership interest.

(d)

After an election to purchase has been filed by the corporation or one or more shareholders, the proceeding filed under subsection (1) of this section may not be discontinued or settled, nor may the shareholder who filed the proceeding sell or otherwise dispose of the shareholder’s shares, unless the court determines that it would be equitable to the corporation and the shareholders, other than the petitioner, to permit the discontinuance, settlement, sale or other disposition. In considering whether equity exists to approve any settlement, the court may take into consideration the reasonable expectations of the shareholders as referred to in subsection (4) of this section, including any existing agreement among the shareholders.

(e)

If, within 30 days of the filing of the latest election to purchase allowed by the court, the parties reach agreement as to the fair value and terms of purchase of the shares of the shareholder who filed the proceeding under subsection (1) of this section, the court shall enter an order directing the purchase of shares upon the terms and conditions agreed to by the parties.

(f)

If the parties are unable to reach an agreement as described in paragraph (e) of this subsection, the court, upon application of any party, shall stay the proceeding under subsection (1) of this section and shall, under subsection (5) of this section, determine the fair value and terms of purchase of the shares of the shareholder who filed the proceeding as of the day before the date on which the proceeding was filed or as of such other date as the court deems appropriate under the circumstances.

(7)

In any proceeding under subsection (1) of this section, the court shall allow reasonable compensation to the custodian, provisional director, appraiser or other such person appointed by the court for services rendered and reimbursement or direct payment of reasonable costs and expenses. Amounts described in this subsection shall be paid by the corporation. [2001 c.315 §60]

Source: Section 60.952 — Court proceeding by shareholder in close corporation; conditions; court-ordered remedies; share purchase; expenses, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors060.­html.

Notes of Decisions

Court not required to hold hearing on modifying terms of purchase upon receiving petition to modify such terms. Marker v. Marker, 238 Or App 65, 242 P3d 638 (2010)

Where controlling shareholder of closely held corporation lawfully obtained preferred shares but engaged in self-dealing and oppressive conduct, trial court’s remedy that eliminated all voting rights from shareholder’s shares, significantly diminishing value of shares, which did not appropriately correspond to wrongful conduct as implicitly required by this section. Hickey v. Hickey, 269 Or App 258, 344 P3d 512 (2015), Sup Ct review denied

If minority shareholder’s complaint does not seek relief for oppressive conduct or seek statutory remedies, even if it could support those claims and remedies, it does not trigger majority shareholder’s buyout election under subsection (6) of this section, especially where minority shareholder’s complaint arises as third-party claims defensive to majority’s squeezeout attempts. Graydog Internet, Inc. v. Giller, 362 Or 177, 406 P3d 45 (2017)

60.001
Definitions
60.004
Filing requirements
60.007
Filing, service, copying and certification fees
60.011
Effective time and date of document
60.014
Correcting filed document
60.016
Forms
60.017
Filing duty of Secretary of State
60.021
Appeal from Secretary of State’s refusal to file document
60.024
Evidentiary effect of copy of filed document
60.027
Certificate of existence or authorization
60.031
Powers
60.032
Investigations of violations of chapter
60.034
Notice
60.044
Incorporators
60.047
Articles of incorporation
60.051
Incorporation
60.054
Liability for preincorporation transactions
60.057
Organization of corporation
60.061
Bylaws
60.064
Emergency bylaws
60.074
Purposes
60.077
General powers
60.081
Emergency powers
60.084
Challenges to validity of corporate acts
60.094
Corporate name
60.097
Reserved name
60.101
Registered name
60.111
Registered office and registered agent
60.114
Change of registered office or registered agent
60.117
Resignation of registered agent
60.121
Service on corporation
60.131
Authorized shares
60.134
Terms of class or series determined by board of directors
60.137
Issued and outstanding shares
60.141
Fractional shares
60.144
Subscription for shares before incorporation
60.147
Issuance of shares
60.151
Liability of shareholders
60.154
Share dividends
60.157
Share rights, options, warrants and other equity compensation
60.161
Form and content of certificates
60.164
Shares without certificates
60.167
Restriction on transfer of shares and other securities
60.171
Expense of issue
60.174
Preemptive rights of shareholders
60.177
Corporation’s acquisition of its own shares
60.181
Distributions to shareholders
60.201
Annual meeting
60.204
Special meeting
60.207
Court-ordered meeting
60.209
Meeting chairperson
60.211
Action without meeting
60.214
Notice of meeting
60.217
Waiver of notice
60.219
Adjournment of meeting
60.221
Record date
60.222
Participation at meeting
60.223
Meeting inspectors
60.224
Shareholders’ list for meeting
60.227
Voting entitlement of shares
60.231
Proxies
60.234
Shares held by nominees
60.237
Corporations’ acceptance or rejection of votes, consents, waivers or proxy authorizations
60.241
Quorum and voting requirements for voting groups
60.244
Action by single and multiple voting groups
60.247
Modification of quorum or voting requirements
60.251
Voting for directors
60.254
Voting trusts
60.257
Voting agreements
60.261
Derivative proceedings
60.265
Validity of shareholder agreements inconsistent with chapter
60.270
Definitions for ORS 60.270 to 60.291
60.273
Defective corporate action
60.276
Ratification by board of directors
60.279
Quorum
60.282
Notice of ratification by board of directors
60.285
Corrected corporate action
60.288
Articles of validation
60.291
Judicial review of corporate action
60.301
Requirement for and duties of board of directors
60.304
Qualifications of directors
60.307
Number and election of directors
60.311
Election of directors by certain classes of shareholders
60.314
Terms of directors generally
60.317
Staggered terms for directors
60.321
Resignation of directors
60.324
Removal of directors by shareholders
60.327
Removal of directors by judicial proceeding
60.331
Vacancy on board
60.334
Compensation of directors
60.337
Meetings
60.341
Action without meeting
60.344
Notice of meeting
60.347
Waiver of notice
60.351
Quorum and voting
60.354
Committees
60.357
General standards for directors
60.361
Conflict of interest
60.364
Loans to directors
60.367
Liability for unlawful distributions
60.371
Required officers
60.374
Duties of officers
60.377
Standard of conduct for officers
60.381
Resignation and removal of officers
60.384
Contract right of officers
60.387
Definitions for ORS 60.387 to 60.414
60.391
Authority to indemnify directors
60.394
Mandatory indemnification
60.397
Payment of director’s expenses in connection with proceeding
60.401
Court-ordered indemnification
60.404
Determination and authorization of indemnification
60.407
Indemnification of officers, employees and agents
60.411
Insurance
60.414
Application of ORS 60.387 to 60.411
60.431
Authority
60.434
Amendment by board of directors
60.437
Amendment by board of directors and shareholders
60.441
Voting on amendments by voting groups
60.444
Amendment before issuance of shares
60.447
Articles of amendment
60.451
Restated articles of incorporation
60.454
Amendment pursuant to reorganization
60.457
Effect of amendment
60.461
Amendment or repeal by board of directors or shareholders
60.464
Bylaw increasing quorum or voting requirement for shareholders
60.467
Bylaw increasing quorum or voting requirement for directors
60.470
Definitions for ORS 60.470 to 60.501
60.472
Conversion
60.474
Action on plan of conversion
60.476
Articles and plan of conversion
60.478
Effect of conversion
60.481
Merger
60.484
Share exchange
60.487
Action on plan of merger or share exchange
60.491
Merger with subsidiary
60.494
Articles and plan of merger or share exchange
60.497
Effect of merger or share exchange
60.501
Merger or share exchange with foreign corporation
60.531
Sale of assets in regular course of business
60.534
Sale of assets other than in regular course of business
60.551
Definitions for ORS 60.551 to 60.594
60.554
Right to dissent
60.557
Dissent by nominees and beneficial owners
60.561
Notice of dissenters’ rights
60.564
Notice of intent to demand payment
60.567
Dissenters’ notice
60.571
Duty to demand payment
60.574
Share restrictions
60.577
Payment
60.581
Failure to take action
60.584
After-acquired shares
60.587
Procedure if shareholder dissatisfied with payment or offer
60.591
Court action
60.594
Court costs and counsel fees
60.621
Dissolution by incorporators or initial directors
60.624
Voluntary dissolution by consent of shareholders
60.627
Dissolution by board of directors and shareholders
60.631
Articles of dissolution
60.634
Revocation of dissolution
60.637
Effect of dissolution
60.641
Known claims against dissolved corporation
60.644
Unknown claims against dissolved corporation
60.645
Enforcement of claims against dissolved corporation
60.647
Grounds for administrative dissolution
60.651
Procedure
60.654
Reinstatement following administrative dissolution
60.657
Appeal from denial of reinstatement
60.661
Grounds for judicial dissolution
60.664
Procedure for judicial dissolution
60.667
Receivership or custodianship
60.671
Judgment of dissolution
60.674
Asset distribution
60.701
Authority to transact business required
60.704
Consequences of transacting business without authority
60.707
Application for authority to transact business
60.711
Amendment to application for authority
60.714
Effect of authority
60.717
Corporate name of foreign corporation
60.721
Registered office and registered agent of foreign corporation
60.724
Change of registered office or registered agent of foreign corporation
60.727
Resignation of registered agent of foreign corporation
60.731
Service on foreign corporation
60.734
Withdrawal of foreign corporation
60.737
Grounds for revocation
60.741
Procedure for and effect of revocation
60.744
Appeal from revocation
60.747
Reinstatement of authority
60.750
Definitions for ORS 60.750 to 60.770
60.752
Application of benefit company laws
60.754
Status as benefit company
60.756
Minimum status vote required to approve certain actions
60.758
Benefit company purposes and powers
60.760
Duties of, standard of conduct for and liabilities of governor of benefit company
60.762
Benefit company board of governors
60.764
Duties of, standard of conduct for and liabilities of officers and managers of benefit company
60.766
Proceedings against benefit company
60.768
Benefit report
60.770
Assessment of public benefit
60.771
Corporate records
60.774
Inspection of records by shareholders
60.777
Scope of inspection right
60.781
Court-ordered inspection
60.784
Reports to shareholders of indemnification
60.787
Annual report
60.801
Definitions for ORS 60.801 to 60.816
60.804
Applicability of ORS 60.801 to 60.816
60.807
Voting rights of control shares
60.810
Acquiring person statement
60.813
Dissenters’ rights
60.816
Short title
60.825
Definitions for ORS 60.825 to 60.845
60.830
Ownership of shares
60.835
Prohibited business combinations
60.840
Exceptions to ORS 60.835
60.845
Greater vote of shareholders prohibited
60.951
Short title
60.952
Court proceeding by shareholder in close corporation
60.954
Reservation of power to amend or repeal
60.957
Application to existing domestic corporation
60.961
Application to qualified foreign corporations
60.964
Saving provisions
60.967
Corporations incorporated under special acts
60.971
Severability
60.992
Penalty for signing false document
60.994
Liability for certain actions in connection with operation of shell entity
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