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17-6701. Merger or consolidation of domestic corporations. (a) Any two or more corporations of this state may merge into a single surviving corporation that may be any one of the constituent corporations or may consolidate into a new resulting corporation formed by the consolidation, pursuant to an agreement of merger or consolidation, as the case may be, complying and approved in accordance with this section.

(b) The board of directors of each corporation that desires to merge or consolidate shall adopt a resolution approving an agreement of merger or consolidation and declaring its advisability. The agreement shall state: (1) The terms and conditions of the merger or consolidation; (2) the mode of carrying the same into effect; (3) in the case of a merger, such amendments or changes in the articles of incorporation of the surviving corporation as are desired to be effected by the merger, which may amend and restate the articles of incorporation of the surviving corporation in their entirety, or, if no such amendments or changes are desired, a statement that the articles of incorporation of the surviving corporation shall be its articles of incorporation; (4) in the case of a consolidation, that the articles of incorporation of the resulting corporation shall be as are set forth in an attachment to the agreement; (5) the manner, if any, of converting the shares of each of the constituent corporations into shares or other securities of the corporation surviving or resulting from the merger or consolidation, or of cancelling some or all of such shares and, if any shares of any of the constituent corporations are not to remain outstanding, to be converted solely into shares or other securities of the surviving or resulting corporation or to be cancelled, the cash, property, rights or securities of any other corporation or entity that the holders of such shares are to receive in exchange for, or upon conversion of, such shares and the surrender of any certificates evidencing them, and such cash, property, rights or securities of any other corporation or entity may be in addition to or in lieu of shares or other securities of the surviving or resulting corporation; and (6) such other details or provisions as are deemed desirable, including, without limiting the generality of this subsection, a provision for the payment of cash in lieu of the issuance or recognition of fractional shares or rights or other securities of the surviving or resulting corporation or of any other corporation or entity the shares, rights or other securities of which are to be received in the merger or consolidation, or for any other arrangement with respect thereto, consistent with the provisions of K.S.A. 17-6405, and amendments thereto. The agreement so adopted shall be executed by an authorized person, except that if the agreement is filed, it shall be executed in accordance with K.S.A. 17-7908, and amendments thereto. Any terms of the agreement of merger or consolidation may be made dependent upon facts ascertainable outside of such agreement if the manner in which such facts shall operate upon the terms of the agreement is clearly and expressly set forth in the agreement of merger or consolidation. "Facts," as used in the preceding sentence, includes, but is not limited to, the occurrence of any event, including a determination or action by any person or body, including the corporation.

(c) (1) The agreement required by subsection (b) shall be submitted to the stockholders of each constituent corporation at an annual or special meeting for the purpose of acting on the agreement.

(2) Due notice of the time, place and purpose of the meeting shall be given to each holder of stock, whether voting or nonvoting, of the corporation at the stockholder's postal address as it appears on the records of the corporation, at least 20 days prior to the date of the meeting. The notice shall contain a copy of the agreement or a brief summary thereof.

(3) At the meeting the agreement shall be considered and a vote taken for its adoption or rejection. If a majority of the outstanding stock of the corporation entitled to vote thereon shall be voted for the adoption of the agreement, that fact shall be certified on the agreement by the secretary or assistant secretary of the corporation, except that such certification on the agreement shall not be required if a certificate of merger or consolidation is filed in lieu of filing the agreement. If the agreement shall be so adopted and certified by each constituent corporation, it shall then be filed, and shall become effective, in accordance with K.S.A. 17-7910 and 17-7911, and amendments thereto.

(4) In lieu of filing the agreement of merger or consolidation required by this section, the surviving or resulting corporation may file a certificate of merger or consolidation, executed in accordance with K.S.A. 17-7908, and amendments thereto, that states:

(A) The name and state of incorporation of each of the constituent corporations;

(B) that an agreement of merger or consolidation has been approved, adopted, certified and executed by each of the constituent corporations in accordance with this section;

(C) the name of the surviving or resulting corporation;

(D) in the case of a merger, such amendments or changes in the articles of incorporation of the surviving corporation as are desired to be effected by the merger, which may amend and restate the articles of incorporation of the surviving corporation in their entirety, or, if no such amendments or changes are desired, a statement that the articles of incorporation shall be the articles of incorporation of the surviving corporation;

(E) in the case of a consolidation, that the articles of incorporation of the resulting corporation shall be as are set forth in an attachment to the certificate;

(F) that the executed agreement of consolidation or merger is on file at the principal place of business of the surviving or resulting corporation, stating the address thereof; and

(G) that a copy of the agreement of consolidation or merger will be furnished by the surviving or resulting corporation, on request and without cost, to any stockholder of any constituent corporation.

(d) (1) Any agreement of merger or consolidation may contain a provision that at any time prior to the time that the agreement, or a certificate in lieu thereof, filed with the secretary of state becomes effective in accordance with K.S.A. 17-7911, and amendments thereto, the agreement may be terminated by the board of directors of any constituent corporation notwithstanding approval of the agreement by the stockholders of all or any of the constituent corporations; in the event the agreement of merger or consolidation is terminated after the filing of the agreement, or a certificate in lieu thereof, with the secretary of state but before the agreement, or a certificate in lieu thereof, has become effective, a certificate of termination of merger or consolidation shall be filed in accordance with K.S.A. 17-7910, and amendments thereto.

(2) Any agreement of merger or consolidation may contain a provision that the boards of directors of the constituent corporations may amend the agreement at any time prior to the time that the agreement, or a certificate in lieu thereof, filed with the secretary of state becomes effective in accordance with K.S.A. 17-7911, and amendments thereto, except that an amendment made subsequent to the adoption of the agreement by the stockholders of any constituent corporation shall not:

(A) Alter or change the amount or kind of shares, securities, cash, property or rights to be received in exchange for or on conversion of all or any of the shares of any class or series thereof of such constituent corporation;

(B) alter or change any term of the articles of incorporation of the surviving or resulting corporation to be effected by the merger or consolidation; or

(C) alter or change any of the terms and conditions of the agreement if such alteration or change would adversely affect the holders of any class or series thereof of such constituent corporation. In the event the agreement of merger or consolidation is amended after the filing thereof with the secretary of state but before the agreement has become effective, a certificate of amendment of merger or consolidation shall be filed in accordance with K.S.A. 17-7910, and amendments thereto.

(e) In the case of a merger, the articles of incorporation of the surviving corporation shall automatically be amended to the extent, if any, that changes in the articles of incorporation are set forth in the agreement of merger.

(f) (1) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (c), unless required by its articles of incorporation, no vote of stockholders of a constituent corporation surviving a merger shall be necessary to authorize a merger if:

(A) The agreement of merger does not amend in any respect the articles of incorporation of such constituent corporation;

(B) each share of stock of such constituent corporation outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger is to be an identical outstanding or treasury share of the surviving corporation after the effective date of the merger; and

(C) either no shares of common stock of the surviving corporation and no shares, securities or obligations convertible into such stock are to be issued or delivered under the plan of merger, or the authorized unissued shares or the treasury shares of common stock of the surviving corporation to be issued or delivered under the plan of merger plus those initially issuable upon conversion of any other shares, securities or obligations to be issued or delivered under such plan do not exceed 20% of the shares of common stock of such constituent corporation outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger.

(2) No vote of stockholders of a constituent corporation shall be necessary to authorize a merger or consolidation if no shares of the stock of such corporation shall have been issued prior to the adoption by the board of directors of the resolution approving the agreement of merger or consolidation.

(3) If an agreement of merger is adopted by the constituent corporation surviving the merger, by action of its board of directors and without any vote of its stockholders pursuant to this subsection, the secretary or assistant secretary of that corporation shall certify on the agreement that the agreement has been adopted pursuant to this subsection and:

(A) If it has been adopted pursuant to subsection (f)(1), that the conditions specified in that subsection have been satisfied; or

(B) if it has been adopted pursuant to subsection (f)(2), that no shares of stock of such corporation were issued prior to the adoption by the board of directors of the resolution approving the agreement of merger or consolidation.

(4) The agreement so adopted and certified shall then be executed and filed, and shall become effective, in accordance with K.S.A. 17-7908 through 17-7911, and amendments thereto. Such filing shall constitute a representation by the person who executes the agreement that the facts stated in the certificate remain true immediately prior to such filing.

(g) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (c), unless expressly required by its articles of incorporation, no vote of stockholders of a constituent corporation shall be necessary to authorize a merger with or into a single direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of such constituent corporation if:

(1) Such constituent corporation and the direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of such constituent corporation are the only constituent entities to the merger;

(2) each share or fraction of a share of the capital stock of the constituent corporation outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the merger is converted in the merger into a share or equal fraction of share of capital stock of a holding company having the same designations, rights, powers and preferences, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as the share of stock of the constituent corporation being converted in the merger;

(3) the holding company and the constituent corporation are corporations of this state and the direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary that is the other constituent entity to the merger is a corporation or limited liability company of this state;

(4) the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the holding company immediately following the effective time of the merger contain provisions identical to the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the constituent corporation immediately prior to the effective time of the merger, other than provisions, if any, regarding the incorporator or incorporators, the corporate name, the registered office and agent, the initial board of directors and the initial subscribers for shares and such provisions contained in any amendment to the articles of incorporation as were necessary to effect a change, exchange, reclassification, subdivision, combination or cancellation of stock, if such change, exchange, reclassification, subdivision, combination or cancellation has become effective;

(5) as a result of the merger the constituent corporation or its successor becomes or remains a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the holding company;

(6) the directors of the constituent corporation become or remain the directors of the holding company upon the effective time of the merger;

(7) (A) with respect to a merger or consolidation consummated pursuant to an agreement entered into or resolutions of the board of directors adopted on or after July 1, 2023, the organizational documents of the surviving entity immediately following the effective time of the merger contain provisions requiring that:

(i) Any act or transaction by or involving the surviving entity, other than the election or removal of directors or managers, managing members or other members of the governing body of the surviving entity, that, if taken by the constituent corporation immediately prior to the effective time of the merger, would require, for its adoption under this code or under the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the constituent corporation immediately prior to the effective time of the merger, the approval of the stockholders of the constituent corporation shall, by specific reference to this subsection, require, in addition to approval of the stockholders or members of the surviving entity, the approval of the stockholders of the holding company, or any successor by merger, by the same vote as is required by this code or by the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the constituent corporation immediately prior to the effective time of the merger, or both. For purposes of this clause, any amendment of the organizational documents of a surviving entity that is not a corporation that would, if adopted by a corporation subject to this code, be required to be included in the articles of incorporation of such corporation, shall, by specific reference to this subsection, require, in addition, the approval of the stockholders of the holding company, or any successor by merger, by the same vote as is required by this code or by the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the constituent corporation immediately prior to the effective time of the merger, or both; and

(ii) the business and affairs of a surviving entity that is not a corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of a board of directors, board of managers or other governing body consisting of individuals who are subject to the same fiduciary duties applicable to, and who are liable for breach of such duties to the same extent as, directors of a corporation subject to this code; and

(B) with respect to mergers or consolidations consummated prior to July 1, 2023:

(i) The organizational documents of the surviving entity immediately following the effective time of the merger contain provisions identical to the articles of incorporation of the constituent corporation immediately prior to the effective time of the merger, other than provisions, if any, regarding the incorporator or incorporators, the corporate or entity name, the registered office and agent, the initial board of directors and the initial subscribers for shares, references to members rather than stockholders or shareholders, references to interests, units or the like rather than stock or shares, references to managers, managing members or other members of the governing body rather than directors and such provisions contained in any amendment to the articles of incorporation as were necessary to effect a change, exchange, reclassification, subdivision, combination or cancellation of stock, if such change, exchange, reclassification, subdivision, combination or cancellation has become effective;

(ii) if the organizational documents of the surviving entity do not contain the following provisions, such documents shall be amended in the merger to contain provisions requiring that:

(a) Any act or transaction by or involving the surviving entity, other than the election or removal of directors or managers, managing members or other members of the governing body of the surviving entity, that requires for its adoption under this code or its organizational documents the approval of the stockholders or members of the surviving entity shall, by specific reference to this subsection, require, in addition, the approval of the stockholders of the holding company, or any successor by merger, by the same vote as is required by this code or by the organizational documents of the surviving entity, or both. For purposes of this subclause, any surviving entity that is not a corporation shall include in such amendment a requirement that the approval of the stockholders of the holding company be obtained for any act or transaction by or involving the surviving entity, other than the election or removal of directors or managers, managing members or other members of the governing body of the surviving entity, that would require the approval of the stockholders of the surviving entity if the surviving entity were a corporation subject to this code;

(b) any amendment of the organizational documents of a surviving entity that is not a corporation that would, if adopted by a corporation subject to this code, be required to be included in the articles of incorporation of such corporation, shall require, by specific reference to this subsection, the approval of the stockholders of the holding company, or any successor by merger, by the same vote as is required by this code or by the organizational documents of the surviving entity or both; and

(c) the business and affairs of a surviving entity that is not a corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of a board of directors, board of managers or other governing body consisting of individuals who are subject to the same fiduciary duties applicable to, and who are liable for breach of such duties to the same extent as, directors of a corporation subject to this code; and

(iii) the organizational documents of the surviving entity may be amended in the merger to:

(a) Reduce the number of classes and shares of capital stock or other equity interests or units that the surviving entity is authorized to issue; and

(b) eliminate any provision authorized by K.S.A. 17-6301(d), and amendments thereto; and

(8) the stockholders of the constituent corporation do not recognize gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as determined by the board of directors of the constituent corporation. Neither subsection (g)(7) nor any provision of a surviving entity's organizational documents required by subsection (g)(7) shall be deemed or construed to require approval of the stockholders of the holding company to elect or remove directors or managers, managing members or other members of the governing body of the surviving entity.

"Organizational documents," as used in subsections (g)(7) and (g)(8), when used in reference to a corporation, means the articles of incorporation of such corporation and, when used in reference to a limited liability company, means the articles of organization or operating agreement of such limited liability company.

As used in this subsection, "holding company" means a corporation that, from its incorporation until consummation of a merger governed by this subsection, was at all times a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the constituent corporation and whose capital stock is issued in such merger. From and after the effective time of a merger adopted by a constituent corporation by action of its board of directors and without any vote of stockholders pursuant to this subsection: (1) To the extent the restriction of K.S.A. 17-6427, and amendments thereto, applied to the constituent corporation and its stockholders at the effective time of the merger, such restrictions shall apply to the holding company and its stockholders immediately after the effective time of the merger as though it were the constituent corporation, and all shares of stock of the holding company acquired in the merger shall for purposes of K.S.A. 17-6427, and amendments thereto, be deemed to have been acquired at the time that the shares of stock of the constituent corporation converted in the merger were acquired. Any stockholder who immediately prior to the effective time of the merger was not an interested stockholder within the meaning of K.S.A. 17-6427, and amendments thereto, shall not solely by reason of the merger become an interested stockholder of the holding company; (2) if the corporate name of the holding company immediately following the effective time of the merger is the same as the corporate name of the constituent corporation immediately prior to the effective time of the merger, the shares of capital stock of the holding company into which the shares of capital stock of the constituent corporation are converted in the merger shall be represented by the stock certificates that previously represented shares of capital stock of the constituent corporation; and (3) to the extent a stockholder of the constituent corporation immediately prior to the merger had standing to institute or maintain derivative litigation on behalf of the constituent corporation, nothing in this section shall be deemed to limit or extinguish such standing. If an agreement of merger is adopted by a constituent corporation by action of its board of directors and without any vote of stockholders pursuant to this subsection, the secretary or assistant secretary of the constituent corporation shall certify on the agreement that the agreement has been adopted pursuant to this subsection and that the conditions specified in the first sentence of this subsection have been satisfied, except that such certification on the agreement shall not be required if a certificate of merger or consolidation is filed in lieu of filing the agreement. The agreement so adopted and certified shall then be executed, filed and become effective, in accordance with K.S.A. 17-7908 through 17-7911, and amendments thereto. Such filing shall constitute a representation by the person who executes the agreement that the facts stated in the certificate remain true immediately prior to such filing.

(h) (1) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (c), unless expressly required by its articles of incorporation, no vote of stockholders of a constituent corporation that has a class or series of stock that is listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by more than 2,000 holders immediately prior to the execution of the agreement of merger by such constituent corporation shall be necessary to authorize a merger if:

(A) The agreement of merger expressly:

(i) Permits or requires such merger to be effected under this subsection; and

(ii) provides that such merger shall be effected as soon as practicable following the consummation of the offer referred to in subsection (h)(1)(B) if such merger is effected under this subsection;

(B) a corporation consummates an offer for all of the outstanding stock of such constituent corporation on the terms provided in such agreement of merger that, absent this subsection, would be entitled to vote on the adoption or rejection of the agreement of merger, except that such offer may be conditioned on the tender of a minimum number or percentage of shares of stock of such constituent corporation, or of any class or series thereof, and such offer may exclude any excluded stock. The corporation may consummate separate offers for separate classes or series of the stock of such constituent corporation;

(C) immediately following the consummation of the offer referred to in subsection (h)(1)(B), the stock irrevocably accepted for purchase or exchange pursuant to such offer and received by the depository prior to expiration of such offer, together with the stock otherwise owned by the consummating corporation or its affiliates and any rollover stock, equals at least such percentage of the shares of stock of such constituent corporation, and of each class or series thereof, that, absent this subsection, would be required to adopt the agreement of merger by this code and by the articles of incorporation of such constituent corporation;

(D) the corporation consummating the offer described in subsection (h)(1)(B) merges with or into such constituent corporation pursuant to such agreement; and

(E) each outstanding share, other than shares of excluded stock, of each class or series of stock of such constituent corporation that is the subject of and is not irrevocably accepted for purchase or exchange in the offer referred to in subsection (h)(1)(B) is to be converted in such merger into, or into the right to receive, the same amount and kind of cash, property, rights or securities to be paid for shares of such class or series of stock of such constituent corporation irrevocably accepted for purchase or exchange in such offer.

(2) As used in this subsection:

(A) "Affiliate" means, in respect of the corporation making the offer referred to in subsection (h)(1)(B), any person that:

(i) Owns, directly or indirectly, all of the outstanding stock of such corporation; or

(ii) is a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of such corporation or of any person referred to in clause (i);

(B) "consummates," and with correlative meaning, "consummation" and "consummating," means irrevocably accepts for purchase or exchange stock tendered pursuant to an offer;

(C) "depository" means an agent, including a depository, appointed to facilitate consummation of the offer referred to in subsection (h)(1)(B);

(D) "excluded stock" means:

(i) Stock of such constituent corporation that is owned at the commencement of the offer referred to in subsection (h)(1)(B) by such constituent corporation, the corporation making the offer referred to in subsection (h)(1)(B), any person that owns, directly or indirectly, all of the outstanding stock of the corporation making such offer or any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of any of the foregoing; and

(ii) rollover stock;

(E) "person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, unincorporated association or other entity; and

(F) "received," solely for purposes of subsection (h)(1)(C), means:

(i) With respect to certificated shares, physical receipt of a stock certificate accompanied by an executed letter of transmittal;

(ii) with respect to uncertificated shares held of record by a clearing corporation as nominee, transfer into the depository's account by means of an agent's message; and

(iii) with respect to uncertificated shares held of record by a person other than a clearing corporation as nominee, physical receipt of an executed letter of transmittal by the depository, except that shares shall cease to be "received" pursuant to the following:

(a) With respect to certificated shares, if the certificate representing such shares was canceled prior to consummation of the offer referred to in subsection (h)(1)(B); or

(b) with respect to uncertificated shares, to the extent such uncertificated shares have been reduced or eliminated due to any sale of such shares prior to consummation of the offer referred to in subsection (h)(1)(B); and

(G) "rollover stock" means any shares of stock of such constituent corporation that are the subject of a written agreement requiring such shares to be transferred, contributed or delivered to the consummating corporation or any of its affiliates in exchange for stock or other equity interests in such consummating corporation or an affiliate thereof, except that such shares of stock shall cease to be rollover stock for purposes of subsection (h)(1)(C) if, immediately prior to the time the merger becomes effective under this code, such shares have not been transferred, contributed or delivered to the consummating corporation or any of its affiliates pursuant to such written agreement.

(3) If an agreement of merger is adopted without the vote of stockholders of a corporation pursuant to this subsection, the secretary or assistant secretary of the surviving corporation shall certify on the agreement that the agreement has been adopted pursuant to this subsection and that the conditions specified in this subsection, other than the condition listed in subsection (h)(1)(D), have been satisfied, except that such certification on the agreement shall not be required if a certificate of merger is filed in lieu of filing the agreement. The agreement so adopted and certified shall then be executed and filed and shall become effective, in accordance with K.S.A. 17-7908 through 17-7911, and amendments thereto. Such filing shall constitute a representation by the person who executes the agreement that the facts stated in the certificate remain true immediately prior to such filing.

(4) This subsection shall be effective only with respect to merger agreements entered into on or after July 1, 2023. This subsection, prior to its amendment by this act, shall be effective with respect to merger agreements entered into before July 1, 2023.

History: L. 1972, ch. 52, § 79; L. 1986, ch. 399, § 10; L. 1988, ch. 99, § 39; Revived and amended, L. 1988, ch. 100, § 39; L. 1992, ch. 270, § 15; L. 1993, ch. 163, § 4; L. 1998, ch. 189, § 13; L. 2000, ch. 39, § 28; L. 2004, ch. 143, § 49; L. 2016, ch. 110, § 69; L. 2023, ch. 66, § 29; July 1.