(1) A cooperative may be formed pursuant to this article for the transaction of any lawful business. One or more persons may act as the incorporator or incorporators of a cooperative by delivering articles for the cooperative to the secretary of state for filing pursuant to part 3 of article 90 of this title. An incorporator who is an individual shall be eighteen years of age or older.
(2) The articles shall state:
The domestic entity name of the cooperative, which domestic entity name shall comply with part 6 of article 90 of this title;
The principal office address of the cooperative's principal office;
The registered agent name and registered agent address of the cooperative's initialregistered agent;
Repealed.
If formed without common voting stock, whether the property rights and interests ofeach member are equal or unequal and, if unequal, the general rule or rules applicable to all members by which the property rights and interests of each member are determined and fixed; provisions for the admission of new members who are entitled to share in the property of the cooperative with the old members in accordance with such general rules; and whether the cooperative is authorized to issue one or more classes of preferred stock or other equity interests and, if so authorized, a statement as to the number of shares of stock of each class or other equity interests and the nature and extent of the preferences, limitations, relative rights, and privileges granted to each;
If formed with stock, the classes of shares and the number of shares of each class thecooperative is authorized to issue. The stock may be divided into preferred and common stock, voting and nonvoting stock, or into any other class of stock. If so divided, the articles must contain a statement as to the number of shares of stock in each class and the nature and extent of the preferences, limitations, relative rights, and privileges granted to each.
The true name and mailing address of each incorporator.
(3) The articles may state:
A provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director as provided in
this article;
A provision permitting proportional voting rights based solely upon the patronage ofa member with the cooperative, the amount of equity held by the member in the cooperative, or some combination of these methods, as provided in section 7-56-305 (3);
The number and terms of the board of directors, which number shall be not less thanthree, together with the names and the street addresses of the initial directors. If the names of the initial directors are not stated in the articles, the initial board of directors shall be designated by the incorporator or incorporators following the delivery of the articles to the secretary of state for filing.
The purpose or purposes for which the cooperative is incorporated which may stateany lawful business;
A par value for authorized shares of stock or classes of shares;
Provisions defining, limiting, and regulating the powers of the cooperative, its board,and its members;
Provisions limiting membership to producers of agricultural products;
A limitation on the handling of products or services for its own members only, or formembers and nonmembers, and whether nonmembers are entitled to share in allocations of net margins or are subject to per unit retains;
Provisions for the removal for cause of any director by the members at any regular orspecial members' meeting;
A provision eliminating or limiting the indemnification of directors, officers, employees, or agents of the cooperatives as otherwise provided in this article;
Any provision that under this article is required or permitted to be stated in the bylaws;
Any other provision not inconsistent with law.
(Deleted by amendment, L. 2004, p. 1410, § 39, effective July 1, 2004.)
When incorporated, no member or shareholder as such shall be liable directly orindirectly, including by way of indemnification, contribution, or otherwise, under a judgment, decree, or order of a court, or in any other manner, for a debt, obligation, or liability of or chargeable to the cooperative.
A member does not have any vested property right resulting from any provision inthe articles that may exist from time to time or at any time, including any provision relating to management, control, capital structure, dividend entitlement, purpose, or duration of the cooperative.
Source: L. 96: Entire article R&RE, p. 484, § 1, effective July 1. L. 98: (3)(c) amended, p. 611, § 2, effective July 1. L. 2000: (2)(a) amended, p. 950, § 7, effective July 1. L. 2002: (1) amended, p. 1816, § 18, effective July 1; (1) amended, p. 1680, § 16, effective October 1. L. 2003: (1), IP(2), (2)(a) to (2)(f), IP(3), (3)(c), and (3)(k) amended, p. 2221, § 71, effective July 1, 2004. L. 2004: (1), (2)(b), (2)(d), (2)(g), and (4) amended, p. 1410, § 39, effective July 1. L. 2009: (2)(d) repealed, (HB 09-1248), ch. 252, p. 1129, § 3, effective December 1.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 7-56-109 as it existed prior to 1996.