(1) In a proceeding under section 7-114-301 (2) to dissolve a corporation, unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the corporation, the corporation may elect or, if it fails to elect, one or more shareholders may elect, to purchase all shares owned by the petitioning shareholder at the fair value of the shares. An election pursuant to this section is irrevocable unless the court determines that it is equitable to set aside or modify the election.
(2) (a) An election to purchase pursuant to this section may be filed with the court at any time within ninety days after the filing of the petition under section 7-114-301 (2) or at such later time as the court in its discretion may allow. If the election to purchase is filed by one or more shareholders, the corporation shall, within ten days after the filing, give written notice to all shareholders other than the petitioner. The notice must state the name and number of shares owned by the petitioner and the name and number of shares owned by each electing shareholder and must advise the recipients of their right to join in the election to purchase shares in accordance with this section.
Shareholders that wish to participate must file notice of their intention to join in thepurchase no later than thirty days after the effective date of the notice to them. All shareholders who have filed an election or notice of their intention to participate in the election to purchase become parties to the proceeding and participate in the purchase in proportion to their ownership of shares as of the date the first election was filed unless they otherwise agree or the court otherwise directs.
After an election has been filed by the corporation or one or more shareholders, theproceeding under section 7-114-302 (2) may not be discontinued or settled, nor may the petitioning shareholder 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.
If, within sixty days after the filing of the first election, the parties reach agreementas to the fair value and terms of purchase of the petitioner's shares, the court shall enter an order directing the purchase of the petitioner's shares upon the terms and conditions agreed to by the parties.
If the parties are unable to reach an agreement as provided for in subsection (3) ofthis section, the court, upon application of any party, shall stay the proceedings held pursuant to section 7-114-302 and determine the fair value of the petitioner's shares as of the day before the date on which the petition under section 7-114-302 was filed or as of such other date as the court deems appropriate under the circumstances.
(a) Upon determining the fair value of the shares, the court shall enter an order directing the purchase upon such terms and conditions as the court deems appropriate, which may include payment of the purchase price in installments where necessary in the interests of equity, provision for security to assure payment of the purchase price and any additional expenses as may have been awarded, and, if the shares are to be purchased by shareholders, the allocation of shares among the shareholders. In allocating the petitioner's shares among holders of different classes of shares, the court shall attempt to preserve the existing distribution of voting rights among holders of different classes insofar as practicable and may direct that holders of a specific class or classes not participate in the purchase.
Interest may be allowed at the rate and from the date determined by the court to beequitable, but if the court finds that the refusal of the petitioning shareholder to accept an offer of payment was arbitrary or otherwise not in good faith, no interest shall be allowed.
If the court finds that the petitioning shareholder had probable grounds for reliefunder section 7-114-301 (2)(b) or (2)(d), it may award expenses to the petitioning shareholder.
Upon entry of an order under subsection (3) or (5) of this section, the court shalldismiss the petition to dissolve the corporation under section 7-114-302 and the petitioning shareholder no longer has any rights or status as a shareholder of the corporation other than the right to receive the amounts awarded by the order of the court, which is enforceable in the same manner as any other judgment.
The purchase ordered pursuant to subsection (5) of this section must be made withinten days after the date the order becomes final unless, before that time, the corporation files with the court a notice of its intention to adopt articles of dissolution pursuant to sections 7-114-102 and 7-114-103, which articles must then be adopted and filed within fifty days after the filing of the notice. Upon filing of the articles of dissolution, the corporation is dissolved in accordance with sections 7-90-910 to 7-90-914 and the order entered pursuant to subsection (5) of this section is no longer of any force or effect; except that the court may award the petitioning shareholder expenses in accordance with subsection (5)(c) of this section and the petitioner may continue to pursue any claims previously asserted on behalf of the corporation.
Any payment by the corporation pursuant to an order under subsection (3) or (5) ofthis section, other than an award of expenses pursuant to subsection (5) of this section, is subject to section 7-106-401.
Source: L. 2019: Entire section added, (SB 19-086), ch. 166, p. 1962, § 60, effective July 1, 2020.