As Introduced

129th General Assembly
Regular Session
2011-2012
H. B. No. 48


Representatives Mecklenborg, Carney 

Cosponsors: Representatives Beck, Combs, DeGeeter, Dovilla, Garland, McGregor, Pillich, Stautberg, Stebelton, Stinziano 



A BILL
To amend sections 1701.13, 1701.59, 1701.66, 1701.74, 1
1701.76, 1701.84, 1701.85, 1701.86, 1701.87, 2
1701.88, 1701.89, 1701.90, 1701.91, 1701.911, 3
1702.12, 1702.30, and 1705.61 and to enact 4
sections 1701.881, 1701.882, and 1701.883 of the 5
Revised Code to make changes to the law governing 6
corporations including dissenting shareholders, 7
the dissolution of a corporation, rights to 8
indemnification or advancement of expenses, 9
directors' fiduciary duties, and recording of 10
corporate mortgages.11


BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

       Section 1.  That sections 1701.13, 1701.59, 1701.66, 1701.74, 12
1701.76, 1701.84, 1701.85, 1701.86, 1701.87, 1701.88, 1701.89, 13
1701.90, 1701.91, 1701.911, 1702.12, 1702.30, and 1705.61 be 14
amended and sections 1701.881, 1701.882, and 1701.883 of the 15
Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:16

       Sec. 1701.13.  (A) A corporation may sue and be sued.17

       (B) A corporation may adopt and alter a corporate seal and 18
use the same or a facsimile of the corporate seal, but failure to 19
affix the corporate seal shall not affect the validity of any 20
instrument.21

       (C) At the request or direction of the United States 22
government or any agency of the United States government, a 23
corporation may transact any lawful business in aid of national 24
defense or in the prosecution of any war in which the nation is 25
engaged.26

       (D) Unless otherwise provided in the articles, a corporation 27
may take property of any description, or any interest in property, 28
by gift, devise, or bequest, and may make donations for the public 29
welfare or for charitable, scientific, or educational purposes.30

       (E)(1) A corporation may indemnify or agree to indemnify any 31
person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, 32
to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or 33
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or 34
investigative, other than an action by or in the right of the 35
corporation, by reason of the fact that hethe person is or was a 36
director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or is or 37
was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, 38
trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent of another 39
corporation, domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit, a 40
limited liability company, or a partnership, joint venture, trust, 41
or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorney's fees, 42
judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and 43
reasonably incurred by himthe person in connection with such 44
action, suit, or proceeding, if hethe person acted in good faith 45
and in a manner hethe person reasonably believed to be in or not 46
opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with 47
respect to any criminal action or proceeding, if hethe person had 48
no reasonable cause to believe histhe person's conduct was 49
unlawful. The termination of any action, suit, or proceeding by 50
judgment, order, settlement, or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo 51
contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a 52
presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a 53
manner hethe person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed 54
to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any 55
criminal action or proceeding, hethe person had reasonable cause 56
to believe that histhe person's conduct was unlawful.57

       (2) A corporation may indemnify or agree to indemnify any 58
person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, 59
to any threatened, pending, or completed action or suit by or in 60
the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, 61
by reason of the fact that hethe person is or was a director, 62
officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or is or was 63
serving at the request of the corporation as a director, trustee, 64
officer, employee, member, manager, or agent of another 65
corporation, domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit, a 66
limited liability company, or a partnership, joint venture, trust, 67
or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorney's fees, 68
actually and reasonably incurred by himthe person in connection 69
with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, if hethe 70
person acted in good faith and in a manner hethe person71
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests 72
of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made 73
in respect of any of the following:74

       (a) Any claim, issue, or matter as to which such person is 75
adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the 76
performance of histhe person's duty to the corporation unless, 77
and only to the extent that, the court of common pleas or the 78
court in which such action or suit was brought determines, upon 79
application, that, despite the adjudication of liability, but in 80
view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly 81
and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the 82
court of common pleas or such other court shall deem proper;83

       (b) Any action or suit in which the only liability asserted 84
against a director is pursuant to section 1701.95 of the Revised 85
Code.86

       (3) To the extent that a director, trustee, officer, 87
employee, member, manager, or agent has been successful on the 88
merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit, or proceeding 89
referred to in division (E)(1) or (2) of this section, or in 90
defense of any claim, issue, or matter thereinin the action, 91
suit, or proceeding, hethe person shall be indemnified against 92
expenses, including attorney's fees, actually and reasonably 93
incurred by himthe person in connection with the action, suit, or 94
proceeding.95

       (4) Any indemnification under division (E)(1) or (2) of this 96
section, unless ordered by a court, shall be made by the 97
corporation only as authorized in the specific case, upon a 98
determination that indemnification of the director, trustee, 99
officer, employee, member, manager, or agent is proper in the 100
circumstances because hethe person has met the applicable 101
standard of conduct set forth in division (E)(1) or (2) of this 102
section. Such determination shall be made as follows:103

       (a) By a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors of 104
the indemnifying corporation who were not and are not parties to 105
or threatened with the action, suit, or proceeding referred to in 106
division (E)(1) or (2) of this section;107

       (b) If the quorum described in division (E)(4)(a) of this 108
section is not obtainable or if a majority vote of a quorum of 109
disinterested directors so directs, in a written opinion by 110
independent legal counsel other than an attorney, or a firm having 111
associated with it an attorney, who has been retained by or who 112
has performed services for the corporation or any person to be 113
indemnified within the past five years;114

       (c) By the shareholders;115

       (d) By the court of common pleas or the court in which the 116
action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division (E)(1) or (2) 117
of this section was brought.118

       Any determination made by the disinterested directors under 119
division (E)(4)(a) or by independent legal counsel under division 120
(E)(4)(b) of this section shall be promptly communicated to the 121
person who threatened or brought the action or suit by or in the 122
right of the corporation under division (E)(2) of this section, 123
and, within ten days after receipt of suchthat notification, such124
the person shall have the right to petition the court of common 125
pleas or the court in which suchthe action or suit was brought to 126
review the reasonableness of suchthat determination.127

       (5)(a) Unless at the time of a director's act or omission 128
that is the subject of an action, suit, or proceeding referred to 129
in division (E)(1) or (2) of this section, the articles or the 130
regulations of a corporation state, by specific reference to this 131
division, that the provisions of this division do not apply to the 132
corporation and unless the only liability asserted against a 133
director in an action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division 134
(E)(1) or (2) of this section is pursuant to section 1701.95 of 135
the Revised Code, expenses, including attorney's fees, incurred by 136
a director in defending the action, suit, or proceeding shall be 137
paid by the corporation as they are incurred, in advance of the 138
final disposition of the action, suit, or proceeding, upon receipt 139
of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director in which hethe 140
director agrees to do both of the following:141

       (i) Repay suchthat amount if it is proved by clear and 142
convincing evidence in a court of competent jurisdiction that his143
the director's action or failure to act involved an act or 144
omission undertaken with deliberate intent to cause injury to the 145
corporation or undertaken with reckless disregard for the best 146
interests of the corporation;147

       (ii) Reasonably cooperate with the corporation concerning the 148
action, suit, or proceeding.149

       (b) Expenses, including attorney's fees, incurred by a 150
director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent in 151
defending any action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division 152
(E)(1) or (2) of this section, may be paid by the corporation as 153
they are incurred, in advance of the final disposition of the 154
action, suit, or proceeding, as authorized by the directors in the 155
specific case, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of 156
the director, trustee, officer, employee, member, manager, or 157
agent to repay suchthat amount, if it ultimately is determined 158
that hethe person is not entitled to be indemnified by the 159
corporation.160

       (6) The indemnification or advancement of expenses authorized 161
by this section shall not be exclusive of, and shall be in 162
addition to, any other rights granted to those seeking 163
indemnification or advancement of expenses under the articles, the 164
regulations, any agreement, a vote of shareholders or 165
disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in their 166
official capacities and as to action in another capacity while 167
holding their offices or positions, and shall continue as to a 168
person who has ceased to be a director, trustee, officer, 169
employee, member, manager, or agent and shall inure to the benefit 170
of the heirs, executors, and administrators of such athat person. 171
A right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses arising 172
under a provision of the articles or the regulations shall not be 173
eliminated or impaired by an amendment to that provision after the 174
occurrence of the act or omission that becomes the subject of the 175
civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative action, suit, or 176
proceeding for which the indemnification or advancement of 177
expenses is sought, unless the provision in effect at the time of 178
that act or omission explicitly authorizes that elimination or 179
impairment after the act or omission has occurred.180

       (7) A corporation may purchase and maintain insurance or 181
furnish similar protection, including, but not limited to, trust 182
funds, letters of credit, or self-insurance, on behalf of or for 183
any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent 184
of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the 185
corporation as a director, trustee, officer, employee, member, 186
manager, or agent of another corporation, domestic or foreign, 187
nonprofit or for profit, a limited liability company, or a 188
partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against 189
any liability asserted against himthe person and incurred by him190
the person in any such capacity, or arising out of histhe 191
person's status as such, whether or not the corporation would have 192
the power to indemnify himthe person against suchthat liability 193
under this section. Insurance may be purchased from or maintained 194
with a person in which the corporation has a financial interest.195

       (8) The authority of a corporation to indemnify persons 196
pursuant to division (E)(1) or (2) of this section does not limit 197
the payment of expenses as they are incurred, indemnification, 198
insurance, or other protection that may be provided pursuant to 199
divisions (E)(5), (6), and (7) of this section. Divisions (E)(1) 200
and (2) of this section do not create any obligation to repay or 201
return payments made by the corporation pursuant to division 202
(E)(5), (6), or (7).203

       (9) As used in division (E) of this section, "corporation" 204
includes all constituent entities in a consolidation or merger and 205
the new or surviving corporation, so that any person who is or was 206
a director, officer, employee, trustee, member, manager, or agent 207
of such a constituent entity, or is or was serving at the request 208
of such constituent entity as a director, trustee, officer, 209
employee, member, manager, or agent of another corporation, 210
domestic or foreign, nonprofit or for profit, a limited liability 211
company, or a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other 212
enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this section 213
with respect to the new or surviving corporation as hethe person214
would if hethe person had served the new or surviving corporation 215
in the same capacity.216

       (F) In carrying out the purposes stated in its articles and 217
subject to limitations prescribed by law or in its articles, a 218
corporation may:219

       (1) Purchase or otherwise acquire, lease as lessee, invest 220
in, hold, use, lease as lessor, encumber, sell, exchange, 221
transfer, and dispose of property of any description or any 222
interest in such property;223

       (2) Make contracts;224

       (3) Form or acquire the control of other corporations, 225
domestic or foreign, whether nonprofit or for profit;226

       (4) Be a partner, member, associate, or participant in other 227
enterprises or ventures, whether profit or nonprofit;228

       (5) Conduct its affairs in this state and elsewhere;229

       (6) Borrow money, and issue, sell, and pledge its notes, 230
bonds, and other evidences of indebtedness, and secure any of its 231
obligations by mortgage, pledge, or deed of trust of all or any of 232
its property, and guarantee or secure obligations of any person;233

       (7) Resist a change or potential change in control of the 234
corporation if the directors by a majority vote of a quorum 235
determine that the change or potential change is opposed to or not 236
in the best interests of the corporation:237

       (a) Upon consideration of the interests of the corporation's 238
shareholders and any of the matters set forth in division (E)(F)239
of section 1701.59 of the Revised Code; or240

       (b) Because the amount or nature of the indebtedness and 241
other obligations to which the corporation or any successor or the 242
property of either may become subject in connection with the 243
change or potential change in control provides reasonable grounds 244
to believe that, within a reasonable period of time, any of the 245
following would apply:246

       (i) The assets of the corporation or any successor would be 247
or become less than its liabilities plus its stated capital, if 248
any;249

       (ii) The corporation or any successor would be or become 250
insolvent;251

       (iii) Any voluntary or involuntary proceeding under the 252
federal bankruptcy laws concerning the corporation or any 253
successor would be commenced by any person.254

       (8) Do all things permitted by law and exercise all authority 255
within the purposes stated in its articles or incidental to its 256
articles.257

       (G) Irrespective of the purposes stated in its articles, but 258
subject to limitations stated in its articles, a corporation, in 259
addition to the authority conferred by division (F) of this 260
section, may invest its funds not currently needed in its business 261
in any shares or other securities, to such extent that as a result 262
of the investment the corporation shall not acquire control of 263
another corporation, business, or undertaking the activities and 264
operations of which are not incidental to the purposes stated in 265
its articles.266

       (H) No lack of, or limitation upon, the authority of a 267
corporation shall be asserted in any action except (1) by the 268
state in an action by it against the corporation, (2) by or on 269
behalf of the corporation against a director, an officer, or any 270
shareholder as such, (3) by a shareholder as such or by or on 271
behalf of the holders of shares of any class against the 272
corporation, a director, an officer, or any shareholder as such, 273
or (4) in an action involving an alleged overissue of shares. This 274
division shall apply to any action brought in this state upon any 275
contract made in this state by a foreign corporation.276

       Sec. 1701.59.  (A) Except where the law, the articles, or the 277
regulations require action to be authorized or taken by 278
shareholders, all of the authority of a corporation shall be 279
exercised by or under the direction of its directors. For their 280
own government, the directors may adopt bylaws that are not 281
inconsistent with the articles or the regulations. The selection 282
of a time frame for the achievement of corporate goals shall be 283
the responsibility of the directors.284

       (B) A director shall perform the director's duties as a 285
director, including the duties as a member of any committee of the 286
directors upon which the director may serve, in good faith, in a 287
manner the director reasonably believes to be in or not opposed to 288
the best interests of the corporation, and with the care that an 289
ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under 290
similar circumstances. InA director serving on a committee of 291
directors is acting as a director.292

       (C) In performing a director's duties, a director is entitled 293
to rely on information, opinions, reports, or statements, 294
including financial statements and other financial data, that are 295
prepared or presented by any of the following:296

       (1) One or more directors, officers, or employees of the 297
corporation who the director reasonably believes are reliable and 298
competent in the matters prepared or presented;299

       (2) Counsel, public accountants, or other persons as to 300
matters that the director reasonably believes are within the 301
person's professional or expert competence;302

       (3) A committee of the directors upon which the director does 303
not serve, duly established in accordance with a provision of the 304
articles or the regulations, as to matters within its designated 305
authority, which committee the director reasonably believes to 306
merit confidence.307

       (C)(D) For purposes of division (B) of this section, the 308
following apply:309

       (1) A director shall not be found to have violated the 310
director's duties under division (B) of this section unless it is 311
proved by clear and convincing evidence that the director has not 312
acted in good faith, in a manner the director reasonably believes 313
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, 314
or with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like 315
position would use under similar circumstances, in any action 316
brought against a director, including actions involving or 317
affecting any of the following:318

       (a) A change or potential change in control of the 319
corporation, including a determination to resist a change or 320
potential change in control made pursuant to division (F)(7) of 321
section 1701.13 of the Revised Code;322

       (b) A termination or potential termination of the director's 323
service to the corporation as a director;324

       (c) The director's service in any other position or 325
relationship with the corporation.326

       (2) A director shall not be considered to be acting in good 327
faith if the director has knowledge concerning the matter in 328
question that would cause reliance on information, opinions, 329
reports, or statements that are prepared or presented by the 330
persons described in divisions (B)(C)(1) to (3) of this section to 331
be unwarranted.332

       (3) Nothing contained in this division limits relief 333
available under section 1701.60 of the Revised Code.334

       (D)(E) A director shall be liable in damages for any action 335
that the director takes or fails to take as a director only if it 336
is proved by clear and convincing evidence in a court of competent 337
jurisdiction that the director's action or failure to act involved 338
an act or omission undertaken with deliberate intent to cause 339
injury to the corporation or undertaken with reckless disregard 340
for the best interests of the corporation. Nothing contained in 341
this division affects the liability of directors under section 342
1701.95 of the Revised Code or limits relief available under 343
section 1701.60 of the Revised Code. This division does not apply 344
if, and only to the extent that, at the time of a director's act 345
or omission that is the subject of complaint, the articles or the 346
regulations of the corporation state by specific reference to this 347
division that the provisions of this division do not apply to the 348
corporation.349

       (E)(F) For purposes of this section, a director, in 350
determining what the director reasonably believes to be in the 351
best interests of the corporation, shall consider the interests of 352
the corporation's shareholders and, in the director's discretion, 353
may consider any of the following:354

       (1) The interests of the corporation's employees, suppliers, 355
creditors, and customers;356

       (2) The economy of the state and nation;357

       (3) Community and societal considerations;358

       (4) The long-term as well as short-term interests of the 359
corporation and its shareholders, including the possibility that 360
these interests may be best served by the continued independence 361
of the corporation.362

       (F)(G) Nothing contained in division (C)(D) or (D)(E) of this 363
section affects the duties of either of the following:364

       (1) A director who acts in any capacity other than the 365
director's capacity as a director;366

       (2) A director of a corporation that does not have issued and 367
outstanding shares that are listed on a national securities 368
exchange or are regularly quoted in an over-the-counter market by 369
one or more members of a national or affiliated securities 370
association, who votes for or assents to any action taken by the 371
directors of the corporation that, in connection with a change in 372
control of the corporation, directly results in the holder or 373
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the corporation 374
receiving a greater consideration for their shares than other 375
shareholders.376

       Sec. 1701.66.  (A) A mortgage of property of any description, 377
or any interest thereinin the property, made (1) by a corporation378
whichthat is a railroad or a public utility as defined by 379
sections 4907.02, 4905.02, and 4905.03 of the Revised Code; or (2) 380
by a corporation, domestic or foreign, organized for the purpose 381
of constructing, acquiring, owning, or operating a railroad or 382
public utility, as so defined, or any part thereofof a railroad 383
or public utility, or, as a common carrier, a trolley bus system, 384
in whole or in part in this state; or (3) by a municipal 385
corporation pursuant to Section 12 of Article XVIII, Ohio 386
Constitution; or (4) by the state, a county, or a municipal 387
corporation, pursuant to Chapter 165. of the Revised Code, or a 388
port authority pursuant to section 4582.06 or 4582.31 of the 389
Revised Code; or (5) by an electric cooperative as defined by 390
section 4928.01 of the Revised Code, shall be recorded in the 391
office of the county recorder of each county in this state in 392
which any of saidthat property is situated or employed; but. 393
However, a mortgage by such mortgagor whichthat includes rolling 394
stock or movable equipment such as cars, locomotives, or trolley 395
buses, motor buses, or other vehicles, or machines for aerial 396
transportation, may be filed in the office of the secretary of 397
state, and when so filed shall have the same effect, as to the 398
lien created therebyby the mortgage on suchthat rolling stock, 399
movable equipment, or machines, as though filed in the office of 400
the recorder of each such county in which suchthe rolling stock, 401
movable equipment, or machines are situated or employed. In lieu 402
of filing an original of saidthe mortgage described in this 403
division, a true copy thereofof the mortgage, with an affidavit 404
by the mortgagor, the mortgagee, or an agent of either that it is 405
a true copy, may be filed.406

       (B) Any such mortgage described in division (A) of this 407
section shall be a lien on the property therein described in the 408
mortgage from the respective times of the filing of suchthe409
mortgage for record with the recorders of saidthe appropriate410
counties; but any such mortgage covering such rolling stock, 411
movable equipment, or machines described in division (A) of this 412
section shall be a lien thereonon that stock or equipment or 413
those machines from the time of the filing of suchthe mortgage, 414
or a true copy thereofof the mortgage, with the secretary of 415
state.416

       (C) If any mortgage by its terms creates a lien upon any 417
property, whichthat may thereafter be acquired by the mortgagor, 418
it shall be a lien upon all the interest of the mortgagor in such419
that after-acquired property from the date of its acquisition, if 420
suchthe mortgage was or is recorded or filed as provided in this 421
section.422

       (D) The secretary of state shall charge and collect, for 423
every such mortgage or true copy thereofof the mortgage filed in 424
the secretary of state's office under this section, a fee of ten 425
dollars and, for each page in excess of twenty-five pages an 426
additional fee of one dollar. The secretary of state shall endorse 427
on the mortgage or true copy the time of its filing and shall keep 428
a record of the filing in a book to be kept for saidthat purpose, 429
giving the names of all parties to the mortgage, alphabetically 430
arranged, the date of the mortgage, and the time of its filing. 431
The mortgage or true copy and the record of its filing shall be 432
open to public inspection. When the mortgage is canceled, the date 433
of cancellation shall be entered on the margin of the record434
thereofof the mortgage.435

       (E) Mortgages of the character described in this section need 436
not be otherwise filed or refiled as security interests under 437
Chapter 1309. of the Revised Code.438

       (F) Nothing contained in this section shall make inapplicable 439
the provisions of Chapters 4505. to 4519. of the Revised Code, 440
relating to motor vehicles.441

       Sec. 1701.74.  (A) If an amendment does any of the following, 442
then shareholders are entitled to relief to the extent provided in 443
division (B) of this section:444

       (1) Changes issued shares of a particular class that have 445
preference in dividends or distributions or on liquidation over 446
shares of any other class into shares of any other class, or 447
changes any of the express terms of issued shares of such 448
particular class, and the holders of the shares of such particular 449
class are substantially prejudiced thereby and the articles do not 450
expressly or by implication provide for or permit such amendment;451

       (2) Changes the express terms of issued shares of a 452
particular class that have preference in dividends or 453
distributions or on liquidation over shares of any other class, in 454
such manner as to discharge without payment of, or to adjust or 455
eliminate rights to, accrued undeclared cumulative dividends or 456
distributions on the shares of any such class;457

       (3) Changes substantially the purposes of the corporation or 458
provides that thereafter an amendment to change substantially the 459
purposes of the corporation may be adopted;460

       (4) Changes the corporation into a nonprofit corporation.461

       (B) In the cases provided for in divisions (A)(1) and (2) of 462
this section, dissenting holders of shares of such particular 463
class, and, in the cases provided for in divisions (A)(3) and (4) 464
of this section, dissenting holders of shares of any class, shall 465
be entitled to relief under section 1701.85 of the Revised Code, 466
subject to the following exceptions:467

       (1) If the articles of the corporation in effect at the time 468
of the adoption of an amendment that changes substantially the 469
purposes of the corporation expressly provide that such an 470
amendment may be adopted, then dissenting shareholders shall not 471
be entitled to relief under section 1701.85 of the Revised Code 472
with respect to the adoption of such amendment;.473

       (2) Division (A)(3) of this section does not apply to any 474
corporation incorporated after December 31, 1970.475

       (3) No amendment that eliminates or creates cumulative voting 476
rights as permitted by division (B)(10) of section 1701.69 of the 477
Revised Code, entitles any dissenting shareholder to relief under 478
section 1701.85 of the Revised Code with respect to the adoption 479
of such amendment.480

       (4) No relief as a dissenting shareholder shall be available 481
if the shares of the corporation for which the dissenting 482
shareholder would otherwise be entitled to relief are listed on a 483
national securities exchange as of the day immediately preceding 484
the date of the vote and no proceedings have been commenced to 485
delist the shares from the national securities exchange as of the 486
time of the vote or, if division (A)(1) of this section applies 487
and the shares to be received are listed on a national securities 488
exchange and no proceedings are pending to delist the shares, as 489
of the effective time of the amendment.490

       Sec. 1701.76.  (A)(1) Provided the provisions of Chapter 491
1704. of the Revised Code do not prevent the transaction from 492
being effected, a lease, sale, exchange, transfer, or other 493
disposition of all, or substantially all, of the assets, with or 494
without the good will, of a corporation, if not made in the usual 495
and regular course of its business, may be made upon the terms and 496
conditions and for the consideration, that may consist, in whole 497
or in part, of money or other property of any description, 498
including shares or other securities or promissory obligations of 499
any other corporation, domestic or foreign, that may be authorized 500
as follows:501

       (a) By the directors, either before or after authorization by 502
the shareholders as required in this section; and503

       (b) At a meeting of the shareholders held for that purpose, 504
by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitling them to 505
exercise two-thirds of the voting power of the corporation on the 506
proposal, or, if the articles so provide or permit, by the 507
affirmative vote of a greater or lesser proportion, but not less 508
than a majority, of the voting power, and by the affirmative vote 509
of the holders of shares of any particular class that is required 510
by the articles.511

       (2) At the shareholder meeting described in division 512
(A)(1)(b) of this section or at any subsequent shareholder 513
meeting, shareholders, by the same vote that is required to 514
authorize the lease, sale, exchange, transfer, or other 515
disposition of all, or substantially all, of the assets, with or 516
without the good will, of the corporation, may grant authority to 517
the directors to establish or amend any of the terms and 518
conditions of the transaction, except that the shareholders shall 519
not authorize the directors to do any of the following:520

       (a) Alter or change the amount or kind of shares, securities, 521
money, property, or rights to be received in exchange for the 522
assets;523

       (b) Alter or change to any material extent the amount or kind 524
of liabilities to be assumed in exchange for the assets;525

       (c) Alter or change any other terms and conditions of the 526
transaction if any of the alterations or changes, alone or in the 527
aggregate, would materially adversely affect the shareholders or 528
the corporation.529

       (3) Notice of the meeting of the shareholders described in 530
division (A)(1)(b) of this section shall be given to all 531
shareholders whether or not entitled to vote at the meeting and 532
shall be accompanied by a copy or summary of the terms of the 533
transaction.534

       (B) The corporation by its directors may abandon the 535
transaction under this section, subject to the contract rights of 536
other persons, if the power of abandonment is conferred upon the 537
directors either by the terms of the transaction or by the same 538
vote of shareholders and at the same meeting of shareholders as 539
that referred to in division (A)(1)(b) of this section or at any 540
subsequent meeting.541

       (C) Dissenting holders of shares of any class, whether or not 542
entitled to vote, shall be entitled to relief under section 543
1701.85 of the Revised Code, unless both of the following apply:544

       (1) The shares of the corporation for which the dissenting 545
shareholder would otherwise be entitled to relief are listed on a 546
national securities exchange as of the day immediately preceding 547
the date of the vote described in division (A)(1)(b) of this 548
section.549

       (2) The consideration to be received by the shareholders 550
consists of shares or shares and cash in lieu of fractional shares 551
that, immediately following the time of the vote described in 552
division (A)(1)(b) of this section, are listed on a national 553
securities exchange, and no proceedings are pending to delist the 554
shares from the national securities exchange as of the time of the 555
vote.556

       (D) An action to set aside a conveyance by a corporation, on 557
the ground that any section of the Revised Code applicable to the 558
lease, sale, exchange, transfer, or other disposition of all, or 559
substantially all, of the assets of that corporation has not been 560
complied with, shall be brought within ninety days after that 561
transaction, or the action shall be forever barred.562

       (E) If a resolution of dissolution is adopted pursuant to 563
section 1701.86 of the Revised Code, the directors may dispose of 564
all, or substantially all, of the corporation's assets without the 565
necessity of a shareholders' authorization under this section.566

       (F) The terms and conditions of any transaction under this 567
section shall be subject to the limitations specified in section 568
2307.97 of the Revised Code.569

       (G) This section does not apply to the distribution, pursuant 570
to section 1701.33 of the Revised Code, to the shareholders of an 571
issuing public corporation of shares owned by the issuing public 572
corporation in one or more of its domestic or foreign subsidiary 573
corporations, unless either of the following applies:574

       (1) The former subsidiary is a party to one or more 575
agreements pursuant to which it is obligated to engage in an 576
additional transaction that, if the transaction were authorized 577
after the time at which the distribution becomes effective, would 578
require the approval of its shareholders.579

       (2) Immediately prior to the time at which the distribution 580
becomes effective, the issuing public corporation has more than 581
one class of shares outstanding.582

       (H) For purposes of this section only, the assets of a 583
corporation include the assets of any other entity that is wholly 584
owned, directly or indirectly, by the corporation. Unless 585
otherwise provided in the articles, this section does not apply to 586
any lease, sale, exchange, transfer, or other disposition of all, 587
or substantially all, of the assets of a corporation to any entity 588
that is wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by the corporation.589

       Sec. 1701.84. The(A) Except as provided in division (B) of 590
this section, the following are entitled to relief as dissenting 591
shareholders under section 1701.85 of the Revised Code:592

       (A)(1) Shareholders of a domestic corporation that is being 593
merged or consolidated into a surviving or new entity, domestic or 594
foreign, pursuant to section 1701.78, 1701.781, 1701.79, 1701.791, 595
or 1701.801 of the Revised Code;596

       (B)(2) In the case of a merger into a domestic corporation, 597
shareholders of the surviving corporation who under section 598
1701.78 or 1701.781 of the Revised Code are entitled to vote on 599
the adoption of an agreement of merger, but only as to the shares 600
so entitling them to vote;601

       (C)(3) Shareholders, other than the parent corporation, of a 602
domestic subsidiary corporation that is being merged into the 603
domestic or foreign parent corporation pursuant to section 1701.80 604
of the Revised Code;605

       (D)(4) In the case of a combination or a majority share 606
acquisition, shareholders of the acquiring corporation who under 607
section 1701.83 of the Revised Code are entitled to vote on such 608
transaction, but only as to the shares so entitling them to vote;609

       (E)(5) Shareholders of a domestic subsidiary corporation into 610
which one or more domestic or foreign corporations are being 611
merged pursuant to section 1701.801 of the Revised Code;612

       (F)(6) Shareholders of a domestic corporation that is being 613
converted pursuant to section 1701.792 of the Revised Code.614

       (B) All of the following shareholders shall not be entitled 615
to relief as dissenting shareholders under section 1701.85 of the 616
Revised Code:617

       (1) Shareholders described in division (A)(1) or (6) of this 618
section, if both of the following apply:619

       (a) The shares of the corporation for which the dissenting 620
shareholder would otherwise be entitled to relief under division 621
(A)(1) or (6) of this section are listed on a national securities 622
exchange as of the day immediately preceding the date on which the 623
vote on the proposal is taken at the meeting of the shareholders.624

       (b) The consideration to be received by the shareholders 625
consists of shares or shares and cash in lieu of fractional shares 626
that, immediately following the effective time of a merger, 627
consolidation, or conversion, as applicable, are listed on a 628
national securities exchange and for which no proceedings are 629
pending to delist the shares from the national securities exchange 630
as of the effective time of the merger, consolidation, or 631
conversion.632

       (2) Shareholders described in division (A)(2) of this 633
section, if the shares so entitling them to vote are listed on a 634
national securities exchange both as of the day immediately 635
preceding the date on which the vote on the proposal is taken at 636
the meeting of the shareholders and immediately following the 637
effective time of the merger and there are no proceedings pending 638
to delist the shares from the national securities exchange as of 639
the effective time of the merger;640

       (3) The shareholders described in division (A)(4) of this 641
section, if the shares so entitling them to vote are listed on a 642
national securities exchange both as of the day immediately 643
preceding the date on which the vote on the proposal is taken at 644
the meeting of the shareholders and immediately following the 645
effective time of the combination or majority share acquisition, 646
and there are no proceedings pending to delist the shares from the 647
national securities exchange as of the effective time of the 648
combination or majority share acquisition.649

       Sec. 1701.85.  (A)(1) A shareholder of a domestic corporation 650
is entitled to relief as a dissenting shareholder in respect of 651
the proposals described in sections 1701.74, 1701.76, and 1701.84 652
of the Revised Code, only in compliance with this section.653

       (2) If the proposal must be submitted to the shareholders of 654
the corporation involved, the dissenting shareholder shall be a 655
record holder of the shares of the corporation as to which the 656
dissenting shareholder seeks relief as of the date fixed for the 657
determination of shareholders entitled to notice of a meeting of 658
the shareholders at which the proposal is to be submitted, and 659
such shares shall not have been voted in favor of the proposal. 660
Not661

       (3) Not later than twenty days before the date of the meeting 662
at which the proposal will be submitted to the shareholders, the 663
corporation may notify the corporation's shareholders that relief 664
under this section is available. The notice shall include or be 665
accompanied by all of the following:666

       (a) A copy of this section;667

       (b) A statement that the proposal can give rise to rights 668
under this section if the proposal is approved by the required 669
vote of the shareholders;670

       (c) A statement that the shareholder will be eligible as a 671
dissenting shareholder under this section only if the shareholder 672
delivers to the corporation a written demand with the information 673
provided for in division (A)(4) of this section before the vote on 674
the proposal will be taken at the meeting of the shareholders and 675
the shareholder does not vote in favor of the proposal.676

       (4) If the corporation delivers notice to its shareholders as 677
provided in division (A)(3) of this section, a shareholder 678
electing to be eligible as a dissenting shareholder under this 679
section shall deliver to the corporation before the vote on the 680
proposal is taken a written demand for payment of the fair cash 681
value of the shares as to which the shareholder seeks relief. The 682
demand for payment shall include the shareholder's address, the 683
number and class of such shares, and the amount claimed by the 684
shareholder as the fair cash value of the shares.685

       (5) If the corporation does not notify the corporation's 686
shareholders pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section, not687
later than ten days after the date on which the vote on the 688
proposal was taken at the meeting of the shareholders, the 689
dissenting shareholder shall deliver to the corporation a written 690
demand for payment to the dissenting shareholder of the fair cash 691
value of the shares as to which the dissenting shareholder seeks 692
relief, which demand shall state the dissenting shareholder's 693
address, the number and class of such shares, and the amount 694
claimed by the dissenting shareholder as the fair cash value of 695
the shares.696

       (3)(6) If a signatory, designated and approved by the 697
dissenting shareholder, executes the demand, then at any time 698
after receiving the demand, the corporation may make a written 699
request that the dissenting shareholder provide evidence of the 700
signatory's authority. The shareholder shall provide the evidence 701
within a reasonable time but not sooner than twenty days after the 702
dissenting shareholder has received the corporation's written 703
request for evidence.704

       (7) The dissenting shareholder entitled to relief under 705
division (C)(A)(3) of section 1701.84 of the Revised Code in the 706
case of a merger pursuant to section 1701.80 of the Revised Code 707
and a dissenting shareholder entitled to relief under division 708
(E)(A)(5) of section 1701.84 of the Revised Code in the case of a 709
merger pursuant to section 1701.801 of the Revised Code shall be a 710
record holder of the shares of the corporation as to which the 711
dissenting shareholder seeks relief as of the date on which the 712
agreement of merger was adopted by the directors of that 713
corporation. Within twenty days after the dissenting shareholder 714
has been sent the notice provided in section 1701.80 or 1701.801 715
of the Revised Code, the dissenting shareholder shall deliver to 716
the corporation a written demand for payment with the same 717
information as that provided for in division (A)(2)(4) of this 718
section.719

       (4)(8) In the case of a merger or consolidation, a demand 720
served on the constituent corporation involved constitutes service 721
on the surviving or the new entity, whether the demand is served 722
before, on, or after the effective date of the merger or 723
consolidation. In the case of a conversion, a demand served on the 724
converting corporation constitutes service on the converted 725
entity, whether the demand is served before, on, or after the 726
effective date of the conversion.727

       (5)(9) If the corporation sends to the dissenting 728
shareholder, at the address specified in the dissenting 729
shareholder's demand, a request for the certificates representing 730
the shares as to which the dissenting shareholder seeks relief, 731
the dissenting shareholder, within fifteen days from the date of 732
the sending of such request, shall deliver to the corporation the 733
certificates requested so that the corporation may endorse on them 734
a legend to the effect that demand for the fair cash value of such 735
shares has been made. The corporation promptly shall return the 736
endorsed certificates to the dissenting shareholder. A dissenting 737
shareholder's failure to deliver the certificates terminates the 738
dissenting shareholder's rights as a dissenting shareholder, at 739
the option of the corporation, exercised by written notice sent to 740
the dissenting shareholder within twenty days after the lapse of 741
the fifteen-day period, unless a court for good cause shown 742
otherwise directs. If shares represented by a certificate on which 743
such a legend has been endorsed are transferred, each new 744
certificate issued for them shall bear a similar legend, together 745
with the name of the original dissenting holder of the shares. 746
Upon receiving a demand for payment from a dissenting shareholder 747
who is the record holder of uncertificated securities, the 748
corporation shall make an appropriate notation of the demand for 749
payment in its shareholder records. If uncertificated shares for 750
which payment has been demanded are to be transferred, any new 751
certificate issued for the shares shall bear the legend required 752
for certificated securities as provided in this paragraph. A 753
transferee of the shares so endorsed, or of uncertificated 754
securities where such notation has been made, acquires only the 755
rights in the corporation as the original dissenting holder of 756
such shares had immediately after the service of a demand for 757
payment of the fair cash value of the shares. A request under this 758
paragraph by the corporation is not an admission by the 759
corporation that the shareholder is entitled to relief under this 760
section.761

       (B) Unless the corporation and the dissenting shareholder 762
have come to an agreement on the fair cash value per share of the 763
shares as to which the dissenting shareholder seeks relief, the 764
dissenting shareholder or the corporation, which in case of a 765
merger or consolidation may be the surviving or new entity, or in 766
the case of a conversion may be the converted entity, within three 767
months after the service of the demand by the dissenting 768
shareholder, may file a complaint in the court of common pleas of 769
the county in which the principal office of the corporation that 770
issued the shares is located or was located when the proposal was 771
adopted by the shareholders of the corporation, or, if the 772
proposal was not required to be submitted to the shareholders, was 773
approved by the directors. Other dissenting shareholders, within 774
that three-month period, may join as plaintiffs or may be joined 775
as defendants in any such proceeding, and any two or more such 776
proceedings may be consolidated. The complaint shall contain a 777
brief statement of the facts, including the vote and the facts 778
entitling the dissenting shareholder to the relief demanded. No 779
answer to a complaint is required. Upon the filing of a complaint, 780
the court, on motion of the petitioner, shall enter an order 781
fixing a date for a hearing on the complaint and requiring that a 782
copy of the complaint and a notice of the filing and of the date 783
for hearing be given to the respondent or defendant in the manner 784
in which summons is required to be served or substituted service 785
is required to be made in other cases. On the day fixed for the 786
hearing on the complaint or any adjournment of it, the court shall 787
determine from the complaint and from evidence submitted by either 788
party whether the dissenting shareholder is entitled to be paid 789
the fair cash value of any shares and, if so, the number and class 790
of such shares. If the court finds that the dissenting shareholder 791
is so entitled, the court may appoint one or more persons as 792
appraisers to receive evidence and to recommend a decision on the 793
amount of the fair cash value. The appraisers have power and 794
authority specified in the order of their appointment. The court 795
thereupon shall make a finding as to the fair cash value of a 796
share and shall render judgment against the corporation for the 797
payment of it, with interest at a rate and from a date as the 798
court considers equitable. The costs of the proceeding, including 799
reasonable compensation to the appraisers to be fixed by the 800
court, shall be assessed or apportioned as the court considers 801
equitable. The proceeding is a special proceeding and final orders 802
in it may be vacated, modified, or reversed on appeal pursuant to 803
the Rules of Appellate Procedure and, to the extent not in 804
conflict with those rules, Chapter 2505. of the Revised Code. If, 805
during the pendency of any proceeding instituted under this 806
section, a suit or proceeding is or has been instituted to enjoin 807
or otherwise to prevent the carrying out of the action as to which 808
the shareholder has dissented, the proceeding instituted under 809
this section shall be stayed until the final determination of the 810
other suit or proceeding. Unless any provision in division (D) of 811
this section is applicable, the fair cash value of the shares that 812
is agreed upon by the parties or fixed under this section shall be 813
paid within thirty days after the date of final determination of 814
such value under this division, the effective date of the 815
amendment to the articles, or the consummation of the other action 816
involved, whichever occurs last. Upon the occurrence of the last 817
such event, payment shall be made immediately to a holder of 818
uncertificated securities entitled to payment. In the case of 819
holders of shares represented by certificates, payment shall be 820
made only upon and simultaneously with the surrender to the 821
corporation of the certificates representing the shares for which 822
the payment is made.823

       (C)(1) If the proposal was required to be submitted to the 824
shareholders of the corporation, fair cash value as to those 825
shareholders shall be determined as of the day prior to the day on 826
which the vote by the shareholders was taken and, in the case of a 827
merger pursuant to section 1701.80 or 1701.801 of the Revised 828
Code, fair cash value as to shareholders of a constituent 829
subsidiary corporation shall be determined as of the day before 830
the adoption of the agreement of merger by the directors of the 831
particular subsidiary corporation. The fair cash value of a share 832
for the purposes of this section is the amount that a willing 833
seller who is under no compulsion to sell would be willing to 834
accept and that a willing buyer who is under no compulsion to 835
purchase would be willing to pay, but in no event shall the fair 836
cash value of a share exceed the amount specified in the demand of 837
the particular shareholder. In computing fair cash value, anyboth 838
of the following shall be excluded:839

       (a) Any appreciation or depreciation in market value 840
resulting from the proposal submitted to the directors or to the 841
shareholders shall be excluded;842

       (b) Any premium associated with control of the corporation, 843
or any discount for lack of marketability or minority status.844

        (2) For the purposes of this section, the fair cash value of 845
a share that was listed on a national securities exchange at any 846
of the following times shall be the closing sale price on the 847
national securities exchange as of the applicable date provided in 848
division (C)(1) of this section:849

       (a) Immediately before the effective time of a merger or 850
consolidation;851

       (b) Immediately before the filing of an amendment to the 852
articles of incorporation as described in division (A) of section 853
1701.74 of the Revised Code;854

       (c) Immediately before the time of the vote described in 855
division (A)(1)(b) of section 1701.76 of the Revised Code.856

       (D)(1) The right and obligation of a dissenting shareholder 857
to receive fair cash value and to sell such shares as to which the 858
dissenting shareholder seeks relief, and the right and obligation 859
of the corporation to purchase such shares and to pay the fair 860
cash value of them terminates if any of the following applies:861

       (a) The dissenting shareholder has not complied with this 862
section, unless the corporation by its directors waives such 863
failure;864

       (b) The corporation abandons the action involved or is 865
finally enjoined or prevented from carrying it out, or the 866
shareholders rescind their adoption of the action involved;867

       (c) The dissenting shareholder withdraws the dissenting 868
shareholder's demand, with the consent of the corporation by its 869
directors;870

       (d) The corporation and the dissenting shareholder have not 871
come to an agreement as to the fair cash value per share, and 872
neither the shareholder nor the corporation has filed or joined in 873
a complaint under division (B) of this section within the period 874
provided in that division.875

       (2) For purposes of division (D)(1) of this section, if the 876
merger, consolidation, or conversion has become effective and the 877
surviving, new, or converted entity is not a corporation, action 878
required to be taken by the directors of the corporation shall be 879
taken by the partners of a surviving, new, or converted 880
partnership or the comparable representatives of any other 881
surviving, new, or converted entity.882

       (E) From the time of the dissenting shareholder's giving of 883
the demand until either the termination of the rights and 884
obligations arising from it or the purchase of the shares by the 885
corporation, all other rights accruing from such shares, including 886
voting and dividend or distribution rights, are suspended. If 887
during the suspension, any dividend or distribution is paid in 888
money upon shares of such class or any dividend, distribution, or 889
interest is paid in money upon any securities issued in 890
extinguishment of or in substitution for such shares, an amount 891
equal to the dividend, distribution, or interest which, except for 892
the suspension, would have been payable upon such shares or 893
securities, shall be paid to the holder of record as a credit upon 894
the fair cash value of the shares. If the right to receive fair 895
cash value is terminated other than by the purchase of the shares 896
by the corporation, all rights of the holder shall be restored and 897
all distributions which, except for the suspension, would have 898
been made shall be made to the holder of record of the shares at 899
the time of termination.900

       Sec. 1701.86.  (A) A corporation may be dissolved voluntarily 901
in the manner provided in this section, provided the provisions of 902
Chapter 1704. of the Revised Code do not prevent the dissolution 903
from being effected.904

       (B) A resolution of dissolution for a corporation shall set 905
forth:906

       (1) Thatthat the corporation elects to be dissolved;907

       (2). The resolution also may include any of the following:908

       (1) The date on which the certificate of dissolution is to be 909
filed or the conditions or events that will result in the filing 910
of the certificate;911

       (2) Authorization for the officers or directors to abandon 912
the proposed dissolution before the filing of the certificate of 913
dissolution;914

       (3) Any additional provision considered necessary with 915
respect to the proposed dissolution and winding up.916

       (C) If an initial stated capital is not set forth in the 917
articles then before the corporation begins business, or if an 918
initial stated capital is set forth in the articles then before 919
subscriptions to shares shall have been received in the amount of 920
that initial stated capital, the incorporators or a majority of 921
them may adopt, by a writing signed by each of them, a resolution 922
of dissolution.923

       (D) The directors may adopt a resolution of dissolution in 924
any of the following cases:925

       (1) When the corporation has been adjudged bankrupt or has 926
made a general assignment for the benefit of creditors;927

       (2) By leave of the court, when a receiver has been appointed 928
in a general creditors' suit or in any suit in which the affairs 929
of the corporation are to be wound up;930

       (3) When substantially all of the assets have been sold at 931
judicial sale or otherwise;932

       (4) When the articles have been canceled for failure to file 933
annual franchise or excise tax returns or for failure to pay 934
franchise or excise taxes and the corporation has not been 935
reinstated or does not desire to be reinstated;936

       (5) When the period of existence of the corporation specified 937
in its articles has expired.938

       (E) The shareholders at a meeting held for such purpose may 939
adopt a resolution of dissolution by the affirmative vote of the 940
holders of shares entitling them to exercise two-thirds of the 941
voting power of the corporation on such proposal or, if the 942
articles provide or permit, by the affirmative vote of a greater 943
or lesser proportion, though not less than a majority, of such 944
voting power, and by such affirmative vote of the holders of 945
shares of any particular class as is required by the articles. 946
Notice of the meeting of the shareholders shall be given to all 947
the shareholders whether or not entitled to vote at it.948

       (F) Upon the adoption of a resolution of dissolution, a 949
certificate shall be prepared, on a form prescribed by the 950
secretary of state, setting forth all of the following:951

       (1) The name of the corporation;952

       (2) A statement that a resolution of dissolution has been 953
adopted;954

       (3) A statement of the manner of adoption of such resolution, 955
and, in the case of its adoption by the incorporators or 956
directors, a statement of the basis for such adoption;957

       (4) The place in this state where its principal office is or 958
is to be located;959

       (5) The names and addresses of its directors and officers, 960
unless the resolution of dissolution is adopted by the 961
incorporators, in which event the names and addresses of the 962
incorporators shall be set forth in the certificateinternet 963
address of each domain name held or maintained by or on behalf of 964
the corporation;965

       (6) The name and address of its statutory agent;966

       (7) The date of dissolution, if other than the filing date. 967
The date of dissolution shall not be more than ninety days after 968
the filing of the certificate of dissolution.969

       (G) Such certificate shall be signed as follows:970

       (1) When the resolution of dissolution is adopted by the 971
incorporators or a majority of them, the certificate shall be 972
signed by not less than a majority of them;973

       (2) When the resolution is adopted by the directors or by the 974
shareholders. In all other cases, the certificate shall be signed 975
by any authorized officer, unless the officer fails to execute and 976
file such certificate within thirty days after the adoption of the 977
resolution or upon any date specified in the resolution as the 978
date upon which such certificate is to be filed or upon the 979
expiration of any period specified in the resolution as the period 980
within which such certificate is to be filed, whichever is latest, 981
in which. In that latter event, the certificate of dissolution may 982
be signed by any three shareholders or, if there are less than 983
three shareholders, all of the shareholders and shall set forth a 984
statement that the persons signing the certificate are 985
shareholders and are filing the certificate because of the failure 986
of the officers to do so.987

       (H) AExcept as otherwise provided in division (I) of this 988
section, a certificate of dissolution, filed with the secretary of 989
state, shall be accompanied by all of the following:990

       (1) An affidavit of one or more of the persons executing the 991
certificate of dissolution or of an officer of the corporation 992
containing a statement of the counties, if any, in this state in 993
which the corporation has personal property or a statement that 994
the corporation is of a type required to pay personal property 995
taxes to state authorities only;996

       (2) A receipt, certificate, or other evidence from the 997
department of taxation showing the payment of all franchise, 998
sales, use, and highway use taxes accruing up to the date of such 999
filing or, if applicable, to the later date specified in the 1000
certificate of dissolution in accordance with division (F) of this 1001
section, or showing that such payment has been adequately 1002
guaranteed, or an affidavit of one or more of the persons 1003
executing the certificate of dissolution or of an officer of the 1004
corporation containing a statement that the corporation is not 1005
required to pay any tax for which such a certificate or other 1006
evidence is not provided;1007

       (3) A receipt, certificate, or other evidence showing the 1008
payment of all personal property and commercial activity taxes 1009
accruing up to the date of such filing or, if applicable, to the 1010
later date specified in the certificate of dissolution in 1011
accordance with division (F) of this section, or showing that such 1012
payment has been adequately guaranteed, or an affidavit of one or 1013
more of the persons executing the certificate of dissolution or of 1014
an officer of the corporation containing a statement that the 1015
corporation is not required to pay any tax for which such a 1016
certificate or other evidence is not provided;1017

       (4) A receipt, certificate, or other evidence from the 1018
director of job and family services showing that all contributions 1019
due from the corporation as an employer have been paid, or that 1020
such payment has been adequately guaranteed, or that the 1021
corporation is not subject to such contributions;1022

       (5) A receipt, certificate, or other evidence from the bureau 1023
of workers' compensation showing that all premiums due from the 1024
corporation as an employer have been paid, or that such payment 1025
has been adequately guaranteed, or that the corporation is not 1026
subject to such premium payments;.1027

       (6)(I) In lieu of the receipt, certificate, or other evidence 1028
described in division (H)(2), (3), (4), or (5) of this section, an 1029
affidavit of one or more persons executing the certificate of 1030
dissolution or of an officer of the corporation containing a 1031
statement of the date upon which the particular department, 1032
agency, or authority was advised in writing of the scheduled 1033
effective date of the dissolution and was advised in writing of 1034
the acknowledgment by the corporation of the applicability of the 1035
provisions of section 1701.95 of the Revised Code.1036

       (I)(J) Upon the filing of a certificate of dissolution and 1037
such accompanying documents or on a later date specified in the 1038
certificate that is not more than ninety days after the filing, 1039
the corporation shall be dissolved.1040

       Sec. 1701.87. Following the filing of the certificate of 1041
dissolution, the directors or the incorporators, as the case may 1042
be, shall forthwith cause a notice of voluntary dissolution to be 1043
published(A) A corporation shall give notice of a dissolution by 1044
certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to each 1045
known creditor and to each person that has a claim against the 1046
corporation, including claims that are conditional, unmatured, or 1047
contingent upon the occurrence or nonoccurrence of future events.1048

       (B) The notice shall state all of the following:1049

       (1) That all claims shall be presented in writing and shall 1050
identify the claimant and contain sufficient information to 1051
reasonably inform the corporation of the substance of the claim;1052

       (2) The mailing address to which the person must send the 1053
claim;1054

       (3) The deadline, which shall be not less than sixty days 1055
after the date the notice is given, by which the corporation must 1056
receive the claim;1057

       (4) That the claim will be barred if the corporation does not 1058
receive the claim by the deadline;1059

       (5) That the corporation may make distributions to other 1060
creditors or claimants, including distributions to shareholders of 1061
the corporation, without further notice to the claimant.1062

       (C) Giving any notice or making any offer under this chapter 1063
shall not revive any claim then barred or constitute 1064
acknowledgment by the corporation that any person to whom the 1065
corporation sent notice under this section is a proper claimant 1066
and shall not operate as a waiver of any defense or counterclaim.1067

       (D) A claim is barred if a claimant that was given written 1068
notice under division (A) of this section does not deliver the 1069
claim to the dissolved corporation by the deadline stated in the 1070
notice.1071

       (E) The corporation shall post the notice described in 1072
division (B) of this section on any web site the corporation 1073
maintains in the corporation's name and shall provide a copy of 1074
the notice to the secretary of state to be posted on the web site 1075
maintained by the secretary of state in accordance with division 1076
(F) of this section.1077

       (F)(1) Except as provided in division (F)(2) of this section, 1078
the secretary of state shall make both of the following available 1079
to the public in a format that is searchable, viewable, and 1080
accessible through the internet:1081

       (a) A list of all domestic corporations that have filed a 1082
certificate of dissolution;1083

       (b) For each corporation on the list described in division 1084
(F)(1)(a) of this section, a copy of both the certificate of 1085
dissolution and the notice delivered under division (B) of this 1086
section.1087

       (2) After the materials relating to any dissolved corporation 1088
have been posted for four years, the secretary of state may remove 1089
from the web site the information that the secretary posted 1090
pursuant to division (F)(1) of this section that relates to that 1091
corporation.1092

       (G) If the certificate of dissolution is filed five years or 1093
less after the effective date of this amendment, the corporation 1094
shall publish the notice described in division (B) of this section 1095
at least once a week on the same day of each week for two 1096
successive weeks, in a newspaper published and of general 1097
circulation in the county in which the principal office of the 1098
corporation was to be or is located, and shall forthwith cause 1099
written notice of dissolution to be given either personally or by 1100
mail to all known creditors of, and to all known claimants 1101
against, the dissolved corporation.1102

       Sec. 1701.88.  (A) When a corporation is dissolved 1103
voluntarily, when the articles of a corporation have been 1104
canceled, or when the period of existence of the corporation 1105
specified in its articles has expired, the corporation shall cease 1106
to carry on business and shall do only such acts as are required 1107
to wind up its affairs, or to obtain reinstatement of the articles 1108
in accordance with section 1701.07, 1701.921, 1785.06, or 5733.22 1109
of the Revised Code, or are permitted upon reinstatement by 1110
division (C) of section 1701.922 of the Revised Code, and for such 1111
purposes it shall continue as a corporation for a period of four 1112
years from the dissolution, expiration, or cancellation. A court 1113
acting pursuant to section 1701.89 of the Revised Code may extend 1114
the four-year period allowed under this division.1115

       (B) The voluntary dissolution of a corporation, cancellation 1116
of the articles of a corporation, expiration of the period of 1117
existence of a corporation, appointment of a receiver to wind up 1118
the affairs of the corporation, or other action to dissolve a 1119
corporation under this chapter shall not eliminate or impair any 1120
remedy available to or against the corporation or its directors, 1121
officers, or shareholders for any right or claim existing, or 1122
liability incurred, prior to the dissolution, if either of the 1123
following brings such an action:1124

       (1) The corporation within the time limits otherwise 1125
permitted by law;1126

       (2) Any other person before four years after the date of the 1127
dissolution or within the time limits otherwise required by 1128
section 1701.881 of the Revised Code or any other provision of 1129
law, whichever is less.1130

       (C) Any claim existing or action or proceeding pending by or 1131
against the corporation or which would have accrued against it may 1132
be prosecuted to judgment, with right of appeal as in other cases, 1133
but any proceeding, execution, or process, or the satisfaction or 1134
performance of any order, judgment, or decree, may be stayed as 1135
provided in section 1701.89 of the Revised Code. Any action, suit, 1136
or proceeding begun by or against the corporation within the time 1137
limits established in division (B) of this section shall not 1138
abate, and the corporation shall, solely for the purpose of such 1139
action, suit, or proceeding, be continued as a body corporate 1140
beyond the four-year period and until any judgments, orders, or 1141
decrees are fully executed, without the necessity for any court 1142
order required under division (A) of this section.1143

       (C) Any process, notice, or demand against the corporation 1144
may be served by delivering a copy to an officer, director, 1145
liquidator, or person having charge of its assets or, if no such 1146
person can be found, to the statutory agent.1147

       (D) The directors of the corporation and their survivors or1148
successors shall act as a board of directors in accordance with 1149
the articles and regulations and bylaws until the affairs of the 1150
corporation are completely wound up. Subject to the orders of 1151
courts of this state having jurisdiction over the corporation 1152
acting pursuant to section 1701.89 of the Revised Code, the 1153
directors shall proceed as speedily as is practicable to a 1154
complete winding up of the affairs of the corporation and, to the 1155
extent necessary or expedient to that end, shall. For that 1156
purpose, the directors may exercise all the authority of the 1157
corporation. Without limiting the generality of such authority, 1158
they may filldo all of the following:1159

       (1) Fill vacancies, elect;1160

       (2) Elect officers, carry;1161

       (3) Appoint agents, liquidators, or other entities or persons 1162
to carry out the winding up of the corporation's business;1163

       (4) Carry out contracts of the corporation, make;1164

       (5) Make new contracts, borrow;1165

       (6) Borrow money, mortgage;1166

       (7) Mortgage or pledge the property of the corporation as 1167
security, sell;1168

       (8) Sell its assets at public or private sale, make;1169

       (9) Make conveyances in the corporate name, lease;1170

       (10) Lease real estate for any term, including ninety-nine 1171
years renewable forever, settle;1172

       (11) Settle or compromise claims in favor of or against the 1173
corporation, employ;1174

       (12) Employ one or more persons as liquidators to wind up the 1175
affairs of the corporation with such authority as the directors 1176
see fit to grant, cause;1177

       (13) Cause the title to any of the assets of the corporation 1178
to be conveyed to such liquidators for that purpose, apply;1179

       (14) Apply assets to the payment of obligations, and, after 1180
paying or adequately providing for the payment of all known 1181
obligations of the corporation, distribute;1182

       (15) Distribute the remainder of the assets either in cash or 1183
in kind among the shareholders according to their respective 1184
rights and interests. In addition, they may performafter paying 1185
or adequately providing for the payment of all known obligations 1186
of the corporation under section 1701.882 of the Revised Code and 1187
for claims that have not been made known to the corporation or 1188
that have not arisen but that, based on facts known to the 1189
corporation, are likely to arise or to become known to the 1190
corporation within five years after the date of dissolution or 1191
such longer period of time as the directors or a court acting 1192
under section 1701.89 of the Revised Code may determine, not to 1193
exceed ten years after the date of dissolution;1194

       (16) Perform all other acts necessary or expedient to the 1195
winding up of the affairs of the corporation.1196

       Division (E) of section 1701.76 of the Revised Code applies 1197
to the disposition of a voluntarily dissolved corporation's assets 1198
by its directors.1199

       (E) Without limiting the authority of the directors and 1200
subject to division (E) of section 1701.76 of the Revised Code, 1201
any action within the purview of this section which is authorized 1202
or approved at a meeting held for such purpose by the holders of 1203
shares entitling them to receive two-thirds of the value of the 1204
remaining assets shall be conclusive for all purposes upon all 1205
shareholders of the corporation.1206

       (F) All deeds and other instruments of the corporation shall 1207
be in the name of the corporation and shall be executed, 1208
acknowledged, and delivered by the officers appointed by the 1209
directors.1210

       (G) At any time during the winding up of its affairs, the 1211
corporation by its directors may make application to the court of 1212
common pleas of the county in this state in which the principal 1213
office of the corporation is located to have the winding up 1214
continued under supervision of the court, as provided in section 1215
1701.89 of the Revised Code.1216

       (F) If any property right of a corporation is discovered 1217
after the winding up of the corporation, any member or members of 1218
the board of directors that wound up the affairs of the 1219
corporation, or a receiver appointed by the court, may enforce the 1220
property right, collect and divide the assets discovered among the 1221
persons entitled to those assets, and prosecute actions or 1222
proceedings in the corporate name of the corporation. Any assets 1223
collected under this division shall be distributed and disposed of 1224
in accordance with any applicable court order or, in the absence 1225
of a court order, in accordance with this section.1226

       Sec. 1701.881. (A) A corporation that has given notice under 1227
division (A) of section 1701.87 of the Revised Code may reject, in 1228
whole or in part, any matured claim made by a claimant by sending 1229
notice of the rejection by certified or registered mail, return 1230
receipt requested, to the claimant within ninety days after 1231
receipt of the claim and at least thirty days before the 1232
expiration of the four-year period specified in division (A) of 1233
section 1701.88 of the Revised Code. A notice sent pursuant to 1234
this section shall include or be accompanied by a copy of this 1235
division and of section 1701.89 of the Revised Code. A claim 1236
against a corporation is barred if a claimant whose claim is 1237
rejected by the corporation does not commence an action to enforce 1238
the claim within thirty days after the corporation mails the 1239
rejection notice.1240

       (B) A corporation that has given notice under division (A) of 1241
section 1701.87 of the Revised Code may offer security to any 1242
claimant whose claim is contingent, conditional, or unmatured as 1243
the corporation determines is sufficient to provide compensation 1244
to the claimant if the claim matures. The corporation shall send 1245
the corporation's offer to the claimant by certified or registered 1246
mail, return receipt requested, within ninety days after receipt 1247
of the claim and at least thirty days before the expiration of the 1248
four-year period specified in division (A) of section 1701.88 of 1249
the Revised Code. A notice sent pursuant to this section shall 1250
include or be accompanied by a copy of this division and of 1251
section 1701.89 of the Revised Code. If the claimant offered the 1252
security does not deliver to the corporation a written notice 1253
rejecting the offer within thirty days after the corporation mails 1254
the offer for security, the claimant shall be deemed to have 1255
accepted the security as the sole source from which to satisfy 1256
claimant's claim against the corporation.1257

       (C) A corporation that has given notice under division (A) of 1258
section 1701.87 of the Revised Code may file an application with 1259
the court having jurisdiction under section 1701.89 of the Revised 1260
Code for a determination of the amount and form of insurance or 1261
other security that satisfies both of the following requirements:1262

       (1) The insurance or other security will be sufficient to 1263
provide compensation to any claimant who has rejected the offer 1264
for security made pursuant to this section.1265

       (2) The insurance or other security will be reasonably likely 1266
to be sufficient to provide compensation for claims that have not 1267
been made known to the corporation or that have not arisen but 1268
that, based on the facts known to the corporation, are likely to 1269
arise or to become known to the corporation within five years 1270
after the date of dissolution or such longer period of time as the 1271
directors or a court acting under section 1701.89 of the Revised 1272
Code may determine, not to exceed ten years after the date of 1273
dissolution.1274

       Sec. 1701.882. (A) A dissolved corporation shall do all of 1275
the following:1276

       (1) Pay the claims made and not rejected under division (A) 1277
of section 1701.881 of the Revised Code;1278

       (2) Post the security offered and not rejected under division 1279
(B) of section 1701.881 of the Revised Code;1280

       (3) Post security ordered by the court in any proceeding 1281
under division (C) of section 1701.881 of the Revised Code;1282

       (4) Make any payment required by a court acting under section 1283
1701.89 of the Revised Code;1284

       (5) Pay or make provision by insurance or otherwise for all 1285
other claims that are mature, known, and uncontested or that have 1286
been finally determined to be owing by the corporation and any 1287
other claims described in division (C)(2) of section 1701.881 of 1288
the Revised Code.1289

       (B) A corporation shall pay in full any claims and 1290
liabilities or provide for those payments in full by insurance or 1291
otherwise if the corporation has sufficient assets. If the 1292
corporation does not have sufficient assets, a corporation shall 1293
pay claims and liabilities or provide for those payments by 1294
insurance or otherwise in order of their priority. Among claims of 1295
equal priority, the corporation shall apportion those payments to 1296
the extent of funds legally available for the payment of those 1297
claims. Any remaining assets shall be distributed to the 1298
shareholders of the corporation according to their respective 1299
rights and preferences.1300

       (C) In the absence of fraud, the judgment of the board of 1301
directors of the dissolved corporation as to the provision the 1302
corporation made for the payment of all claims under division 1303
(A)(5) of this section shall be conclusive.1304

       Sec. 1701.883. (A) The dissolution of a corporation shall not 1305
affect the limited liability of a shareholder with respect to 1306
transactions occurring or acts or omissions done or omitted in the 1307
name of or by the corporation.1308

       (B) A shareholder who receives a distribution of assets from 1309
a dissolved corporation shall not be liable for any claim against 1310
the corporation in an amount in excess of the amount of 1311
shareholder's pro rata share of the claim or the amount 1312
distributed to the shareholder, whichever is less. The aggregate 1313
liability of any shareholder for claims against a dissolved 1314
corporation shall not exceed the amount distributed to that 1315
stockholder after the dissolution.1316

       (C) A shareholder of a dissolved corporation, the assets of 1317
which were distributed pursuant to this chapter, may be liable for 1318
a claim against the corporation only if an action on that claim is 1319
commenced before expiration of the period specified in division 1320
(B)(2) of section 1701.88 of the Revised Code.1321

       Sec. 1701.89.  (A) Without limiting the generality of its 1322
authority, the court of common pleas of the county in this state 1323
in which is located the principal office of a voluntarily 1324
dissolved corporation oris located, in which the principal office 1325
was to be located, or in which the principal office of a 1326
corporation whose articles have been canceled or whose period of 1327
existence has expired is located, upon the complaint of the 1328
corporation, a majority of the directors, or a creditor or 1329
shareholderclaimant, and upon such notice to all the directors 1330
and such other persons interested as the court considers proper, 1331
at any time may order and adjudge in respect of all of the 1332
following matters:1333

       (1) Any proceedings or actions under division (C) of section 1334
1701.881 of the Revised Code;1335

       (2) The presentation and proof of all claims and demands 1336
against the corporation and of all rights, interests, or liens in 1337
or on any of its property including property described in division 1338
(F) of section 1701.88 of the Revised Code; the fixing of the time 1339
within which and the manner in which such proof shall be made and 1340
the person to whom such presentation shall be made; and the 1341
barring from participation in any distribution of assets of all 1342
persons failing to make and present proofs as required by the 1343
order of the court;1344

       (2)(3) The stay of the prosecution of any proceeding against 1345
the corporation or involving any of its property, and the 1346
requirement that the parties to it present and prove their claims, 1347
demands, rights, interests, or liens at the time and in the manner 1348
required of creditors or others; or the grant toof leave to bring 1349
or maintain an independent proceeding to enforce liens;1350

       (3)(4) The settlement or determination of all claims of every 1351
nature against the corporation or any of its property; the 1352
determination of the assets required to be retained or insurance 1353
to be obtained to pay or provide for the payment of such claims or 1354
any claim; the determination of the assets available for 1355
distribution among shareholders; and the making of new parties to 1356
the proceeding so far as the court considers proper for the 1357
determination of all matters;1358

       (4)(5) The determination of the rights of holders of shares 1359
of all classes in and to the assets of the corporation;1360

       (5)(6) The presentation and filing of intermediate and final 1361
accounts of the directors or of the liquidators and hearings on 1362
them; the allowance, disallowance, or settlement of such accounts; 1363
and the discharge of the directors, the liquidators, or any of 1364
them from their duties and liabilities;1365

       (6)(7) The appointment of a special master commissioner or 1366
guardian ad litem to hear and determine any such matters with such 1367
authority as the court considers proper;. The applicant in the 1368
proceeding shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the 1369
special master commissioner or guardian ad litem, including all 1370
reasonable expert witness fees, unless otherwise ordered by the 1371
court.1372

       (7)(8) The filling of any vacancies in the number of 1373
directors or liquidators when the directors are unable to act on 1374
the vacancies for want of a quorum or for any other reason;1375

       (8)(9) The appointment of a receiver, in accordance with the 1376
usages of a court in equitable matters, to wind up the affairs of 1377
the corporation, to take custody of any of its property, or for 1378
any other purpose;1379

       (9)(10) The issuance or entry of any injunction or any other 1380
order which the court considers proper in the administration of 1381
the trust involved in the winding up of the affairs of the 1382
corporation and the giving of notice of it;1383

       (10)(11) The allowance and payment of compensation to the 1384
directors or any of them, to liquidators, to a receiver, to the 1385
attorney for the complainant, or to any person properly rendering 1386
services beneficial to the corporation or to those interested in 1387
it;1388

       (11)(12) The entry of a judgment or decree which, if it so 1389
provides, may operate as the deed or other instrument ordered to 1390
be executed, or the appointment of a master or guardian ad litem1391
to execute such deed or instrument in the name of the corporation 1392
with the same effect as if executed by an authorized officer 1393
pursuant to authority conferred by the directors or the 1394
shareholders of the corporation, whenever there is no officer or 1395
agent competent to execute such deed or instrument, whenever the 1396
corporation or its officers do not perform or comply with a 1397
judgment or decree of court, or whenever the court considers it 1398
proper.1399

       (B) A judicial proceeding under this section concerning the 1400
winding up of the affairs of a corporation is a special 1401
proceeding, and final orders in the proceeding may be vacated, 1402
modified, or reversed on appeal pursuant to the Rules of Appellate 1403
Procedure and, to the extent not in conflict with those rules, 1404
Chapter 2505. of the Revised Code.1405

       Sec. 1701.90.  (A) Whenever, after a corporation is dissolved 1406
voluntarily or the articles of a corporation have been cancelled 1407
or the period of existence of a corporation has expired, a 1408
receiver is appointed to wind up the affairs of the corporation, 1409
all the claims, demands, rights, interests, or liens of creditors, 1410
claimants, and shareholders shall be determined as of the day on 1411
which the receiver was appointed unless those claims, demands, 1412
rights, interests, or liens have already been determined under 1413
section 1701.881 of the Revised Code. Unless it is otherwise 1414
ordered, such appointment vests in the receiver and histhe 1415
receiver's successors the right to the immediate possession of all 1416
the property of the corporation, which shall, if so ordered, 1417
execute and deliver conveyances of such property to the receiver 1418
or histhe receiver's nominee.1419

       (B) Any officer, director, shareholder, or other person, 1420
whether a resident of the state or a non-resident and however 1421
interested, may be appointed as receiver.1422

       (C) TheUnless otherwise ordered, the receiver shall have all 1423
the authority vested in the directors and officers of the 1424
corporation, shall exercise such authority subject to such orders 1425
as are made by the court, and may be required to qualify by giving 1426
bond to the state in such amount as the court fixes, with surety 1427
to the satisfaction of the clerk of the court, conditioned for the 1428
faithful discharge of histhe receiver's duties and for a due 1429
accounting for all money or property received by himthe receiver.1430

       Sec. 1701.91.  (A) A corporation may be dissolved judicially 1431
and its affairs wound up:1432

       (1) By an order of the supreme court or of a court of appeals 1433
in an action in quo warranto brought as provided by sections 1434
2733.02 to 2733.39 of the Revised Code, in which event the court 1435
may order the affairs of the corporation to be wound up by its 1436
directors as in the case of voluntary dissolution, or by 1437
proceedings in, and under the order of, the court of common pleas 1438
of the county in this state in which the corporation has its 1439
principal office;1440

       (2) By an order of the court of common pleas of the county in 1441
this state in which such corporation has its principal office, in 1442
an action brought by holders of shares entitled to dissolve the 1443
corporation voluntarily, when it is established that any of the 1444
following are true:1445

       (a) That its articles have been canceled or its period of 1446
existence has expired and that it is necessary in order to protect 1447
the shareholders that the corporation be judicially dissolved;1448

       (b) That the corporation is insolvent or is unable to afford 1449
reasonable security to those who may deal with it and that it is 1450
necessary in order to protect the creditors of the corporation 1451
that the corporation be judicially dissolved;1452

       (c) That the objects of the corporation have wholly failed or 1453
are entirely abandoned or that their accomplishment is 1454
impracticable;1455

       (3) By an order of the court of common pleas of the county in 1456
this state in which the corporation has its principal office, in 1457
an action brought by the holders of shares entitling them to 1458
exercise a majorityat least two-thirds of the voting power of the 1459
corporation on such proposal, or the holders of such lesser 1460
proportion as are entitled by the articles to dissolve the 1461
corporation voluntarily, when it is established that it is 1462
beneficial to the shareholders that the corporation be judicially 1463
dissolved, or the holders of such lesser proportion as are 1464
entitled by the articles to dissolve the corporation voluntarily;1465

       (4) By an order of the court of common pleas of the county in 1466
this state in which the corporation has its principal office, in 1467
an action brought by one-half of the directors when there is an 1468
even number of directors or by the holders of shares entitling 1469
them to exercise one-halfat least two-thirds of the voting power, 1470
when it is established that the corporation has an even number of 1471
directors who are deadlocked in the management of the corporate 1472
affairs and the shareholders are unable to break the deadlock, or 1473
when it is established that the corporation has an uneven number 1474
of directors and that the shareholders are deadlocked in voting 1475
power and unable to agree upon or vote for the election of 1476
directors as successors to directors whose terms normally would 1477
expire upon the election of their successors. Under these 1478
circumstances, dissolution of the corporation shall not be denied 1479
on the ground that the corporation is solvent or on the ground 1480
that the business of the corporation has been or could be 1481
conducted at a profit.1482

       (5) By an order of the court of common pleas of the county in 1483
which the corporation, whether for profit or nonprofit, has its 1484
principal office, in an action brought by the prosecuting attorney 1485
of the county, when it is found that the corporation was organized 1486
or systematically used to further criminal purposes, or as a 1487
subterfuge to engage in prostitution, gambling, loan sharking, 1488
drug abuse, illegal drug distribution, counterfeiting, obscenity, 1489
extortion, corruption of law enforcement officers or other public 1490
officers, officials, or any employees, or any other criminal 1491
activity.1492

       (B) A complaint for judicial dissolution shall be verified by 1493
any of the complainants and shall set forth facts showing that the 1494
case is one of those specified in this section. Unless the 1495
complainants set forth in the complaint that they are unable to 1496
annex a list of shareholders, a schedule shall be annexed to the 1497
complaint setting forth the name of each shareholder, his address 1498
if it is known or the fact that it is not known, the number of 1499
shares owned by him, and any balance unpaid on his shares.1500

       (C) Upon the filing of a complaint for judicial dissolution, 1501
the court with which it is filed shall have power to issue 1502
injunctions, to appoint a receiver with such authority and duties 1503
as the court from time to time may direct, to take such other 1504
proceedings as may be necessary to protect the property or the 1505
rights of the complainants or of the persons interested, and to 1506
carry on the business of the corporation until a full hearing can 1507
be had. Upon or after the filing of a complaint for judicial 1508
dissolution, the court, by injunction or order, may stay the 1509
prosecution of any proceeding against the corporation or involving 1510
any of its property and require the parties to the proceeding to 1511
present and prove their claims, demands, rights, interests, or 1512
liens, at the time and in the manner required of creditors or 1513
others. The court may refer the complaint to a special master 1514
commissioner.1515

       (D) After a hearing had upon such notice as the court may 1516
direct to be given to all parties to the proceeding and to any 1517
other parties in interest designated by the court, a final order 1518
based either upon the evidence, or upon the report of the special 1519
master commissioner if one has been appointed, shall be made 1520
dissolving the corporation or dismissing the complaint. An order 1521
or judgment for the judicial dissolution of a corporation shall 1522
contain a concise statement of the proceedings leading up to the 1523
order or judgment; the name of the corporation; the place in this 1524
state where its principal office is located; the names and 1525
addresses of its directors and officers; the name and address of a 1526
statutory agent; and, if desired, such other provisions with 1527
respect to the judicial dissolution and winding up as are 1528
considered necessary or desirable. A certified copy of such order 1529
forthwith shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state, 1530
whereupon the corporation shall be dissolved. To the extent 1531
consistent with orders entered in such proceeding, the effect of 1532
such judicial dissolution shall be the same as in the case of 1533
voluntary dissolution, and the provisions of sections 1701.87,1534
1701.88, 1701.89, and 1701.90 of the Revised Code relating to the 1535
authority and duties of directors during the winding up of the 1536
affairs of a corporation dissolved voluntarily, with respect to 1537
the jurisdiction of courts over the winding up of the affairs of a 1538
corporation, and with respect to receivers for winding up the 1539
affairs of a corporation shall be applicable to corporations 1540
judicially dissolved.1541

       (E) A judicial proceeding under this section concerning the 1542
judicial dissolution of a corporation is a special proceeding, and 1543
final orders in it may be vacated, modified, or reversed on appeal 1544
pursuant to the Rules of Appellate Procedure or the Rules of 1545
Practice of the Supreme Court, whichever are applicable, and, to 1546
the extent not in conflict with those rules, Chapter 2505. of the 1547
Revised Code.1548

       Sec. 1701.911.  (A) Upon the complaint of not less than 1549
one-fourth of the directors of a corporation or upon the complaint 1550
of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise not less than 1551
one-fifth of the voting power of a corporation in the election of 1552
directors, the court of common pleas of the county in which the 1553
corporation maintains its principal office may order the 1554
appointment of a provisional director for that corporation if the 1555
articles or regulations of the corporation expressly provide for 1556
such an appointment. No appointment shall be made until a hearing 1557
is held by the court. Notice of the hearing shall be given to each 1558
director and the secretary of the corporation in any manner that 1559
the court may direct. If directed by the court, the notice also 1560
shall be given to each of the shareholders. The complainants shall 1561
establish at the hearing that, because of irreconcilable 1562
differences among the existing directors or because there are no 1563
directors and the shareholders are unable to elect any directors, 1564
the continued operation of the corporation has been substantially 1565
impeded or made impossible.1566

       (B) A provisional director shall have the same rights and 1567
duties as other directors and shall serve until removed by the 1568
appointing court or by the holders of shares entitling them to 1569
exercise a majority of the voting power of the corporation in the 1570
election of directors, or until histhe provisional director's1571
earlier resignation or death. If the provisional director dies or 1572
resigns, the court, pursuant to divisions (A) and (C) of this 1573
section, may appoint a replacement provisional director, upon its 1574
own motion and without the filing of a complaint for the 1575
appointment of a provisional director. If the appointing court 1576
finds that the irreconcilable differences no longer exist, it 1577
shall order the removal of the provisional director.1578

       (C) No person shall be appointed as a provisional director 1579
unless hethe person is generally conversant with corporate 1580
affairs, has no legal or equitable interest in the shares or 1581
obligations of the corporation of which hethe person is to be 1582
appointed a director, and is not indebted to such corporation. The 1583
compensation of a provisional director shall be determined by 1584
agreement with the corporation for which hethe provisional 1585
director is serving, subject to the approval of the appointing 1586
court, except that the appointing court may fix histhe 1587
provisional director's compensation in the absence of agreement or 1588
in the event of disagreement between the provisional director and 1589
the corporation.1590

       (D) A proceeding concerning the appointment of a provisional 1591
director of a corporation is a special proceeding, and final 1592
orders issued in the proceeding may be vacated, modified, or 1593
reversed on appeal pursuant to the Rules of Appellate Procedure 1594
and, to the extent not in conflict with those rules, Chapter 2505. 1595
of the Revised Code.1596

       Sec. 1702.12.  (A) A corporation may sue and be sued.1597

       (B) A corporation may adopt and alter a corporate seal and 1598
use it or a facsimile of it, but failure to affix the corporate 1599
seal shall not affect the validity of any instrument.1600

       (C) Unless otherwise provided in the articles, a corporation 1601
may take property of any description, or any interest in property, 1602
by gift, devise, or bequest.1603

       (D) Subject to limitations prescribed by law or in its 1604
articles, a corporation may make donations for the public welfare, 1605
for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational 1606
purposes, or in furtherance of any of its purposes.1607

       (E)(1) A corporation may indemnify or agree to indemnify any 1608
person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, 1609
to any threatened, pending, or completed civil, criminal, 1610
administrative, or investigative action, suit, or proceeding, 1611
other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, by 1612
reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, 1613
employee, or agent of or a volunteer of the corporation, or is or 1614
was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, 1615
officer, employee, member, manager, or agent of or a volunteer of 1616
another domestic or foreign nonprofit corporation or business 1617
corporation, a limited liability company, or a partnership, joint 1618
venture, trust, or other enterprise, against expenses, including 1619
attorney's fees, judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement 1620
actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with 1621
such action, suit, or proceeding, if the person acted in good 1622
faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or 1623
not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with 1624
respect to any criminal action or proceeding, if the person had no 1625
reasonable cause to believe the person's conduct was unlawful. The 1626
termination of any action, suit, or proceeding by judgment, order, 1627
settlement, or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or 1628
its equivalent, shall not create, of itself, a presumption that 1629
the person did not act in good faith and in a manner the person 1630
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests 1631
of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or 1632
proceeding, a presumption that the person had reasonable cause to 1633
believe that the person's conduct was unlawful.1634

       (2) A corporation may indemnify or agree to indemnify any 1635
person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, 1636
to any threatened, pending, or completed action or suit by or in 1637
the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, 1638
by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, 1639
officer, employee, or agent of or a volunteer of the corporation, 1640
or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a 1641
director, officer, employee, member, manager, or agent of or a 1642
volunteer of another domestic or foreign nonprofit corporation or 1643
business corporation, a limited liability company, or a 1644
partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise against 1645
expenses, including attorney's fees, actually and reasonably 1646
incurred by the person in connection with the defense or 1647
settlement of such action or suit, if the person acted in good 1648
faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or 1649
not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that 1650
no indemnification shall be made in respect of any of the 1651
following:1652

       (a) Any claim, issue, or matter as to which the person is 1653
adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the 1654
performance of the person's duty to the corporation unless, and 1655
only to the extent that, the court of common pleas or the court in 1656
which the action or suit was brought determines, upon application, 1657
that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the 1658
circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably 1659
entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court of common 1660
pleas or such other court considers proper;1661

       (b) Any action or suit in which liability is asserted against 1662
a director and that liability is asserted only pursuant to section 1663
1702.55 of the Revised Code.1664

       (3) To the extent that a director, officer, employee, member, 1665
manager, agent, or volunteer has been successful on the merits or 1666
otherwise in defense of any action, suit, or proceeding referred 1667
to in division (E)(1) or (2) of this section, or in defense of any 1668
claim, issue, or matter in such an action, suit, or proceeding, 1669
the person shall be indemnified against expenses, including 1670
attorney's fees, actually and reasonably incurred by the person in 1671
connection with that action, suit, or proceeding.1672

       (4) Unless ordered by a court and subject to division (E)(3) 1673
of this section, any indemnification under division (E)(1) or (2) 1674
of this section shall be made by the corporation only as 1675
authorized in the specific case, upon a determination that 1676
indemnification of the director, officer, employee, member, 1677
manager, agent, or volunteer is proper in the circumstances 1678
because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set 1679
forth in division (E)(1) or (2) of this section. Such 1680
determination shall be made in any of the following manners:1681

       (a) By a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors of 1682
the indemnifying corporation who were not and are not parties to 1683
or threatened with the action, suit, or proceeding referred to in 1684
division (E)(1) or (2) of this section;1685

       (b) Whether or not a quorum as described in division 1686
(E)(4)(a) of this section is obtainable, and if a majority of a 1687
quorum of disinterested directors so directs, in a written opinion 1688
by independent legal counsel other than an attorney, or a firm 1689
having associated with it an attorney, who has been retained by or 1690
who has performed services for the corporation or any person to be 1691
indemnified within the past five years;1692

       (c) By the members;1693

       (d) By the court of common pleas or the court in which the 1694
action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division (E)(1) or (2) 1695
of this section was brought.1696

       If an action or suit by or in the right of the corporation is 1697
involved, any determination made by the disinterested directors 1698
under division (E)(4)(a) of this section or by independent legal 1699
counsel under division (E)(4)(b) of this section shall be 1700
communicated promptly to the person who threatened or brought the 1701
action or suit under division (E)(2) of this section, and, within 1702
ten days after receipt of suchthat notification, suchthe person 1703
shall have the right to petition the court of common pleas or the 1704
court in which suchthe action or suit was brought to review the 1705
reasonableness of suchthat determination.1706

       (5)(a)(i) Unless, at the time of a director's or volunteer's 1707
act or omission that is the subject of an action, suit, or 1708
proceeding referred to in division (E)(1) or (2) of this section, 1709
the articles or regulations of the corporation state, by specific 1710
reference to this division, that its provisions do not apply to 1711
the corporation, or unless the only liability asserted against a 1712
director in an action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division 1713
(E)(1) or (2) of this section is pursuant to section 1702.55 of 1714
the Revised Code, or unless division (E)(5)(a)(ii) of this section 1715
applies, the expenses incurred by the director or volunteer in 1716
defending the action, suit, or proceeding, including attorney's 1717
fees, shall be paid by the corporation. Upon the request of the 1718
director or volunteer and in accordance with division (E)(5)(b) of 1719
this section, those expenses shall be paid as they are incurred, 1720
in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit, or 1721
proceeding.1722

       (ii) Notwithstanding division (E)(5)(a)(i) of this section, 1723
the expenses incurred by a director or volunteer in defending an 1724
action, suit, or proceeding referred to in division (E)(1) or (2) 1725
of this section, including attorney's fees, shall not be paid by 1726
the corporation upon the final disposition of the action, suit, or 1727
proceeding, or, if paid in advance of the final disposition of the 1728
action, suit, or proceeding, shall be repaid to the corporation by 1729
the director or volunteer, if it is proved, by clear and 1730
convincing evidence, in a court with jurisdiction that the act or 1731
omission of the director or volunteer was one undertaken with a 1732
deliberate intent to cause injury to the corporation or was one 1733
undertaken with a reckless disregard for the best interests of the 1734
corporation.1735

       (b) Expenses, including attorney's fees, incurred by a 1736
director, officer, employee, member, manager, agent, or volunteer 1737
in defending any action, suit, or proceeding referred to in 1738
division (E)(1) or (2) of this section may be paid by the 1739
corporation as they are incurred, in advance of the final 1740
disposition of the action, suit, or proceeding, as authorized by 1741
the directors in the specific case, upon receipt of an undertaking 1742
by or on behalf of the director, officer, employee, member, 1743
manager, agent, or volunteer to repay the amount if it ultimately 1744
is determined that the person is not entitled to be indemnified by 1745
the corporation.1746

       (6) The indemnification or advancement of expenses authorized 1747
by this section is not exclusive of, and shall be in addition to, 1748
any other rights granted to those seeking indemnification or 1749
advancement of expenses, pursuant to the articles, the 1750
regulations, any agreement, a vote of members or disinterested 1751
directors, or otherwise, both as to action in their official 1752
capacities and as to action in another capacity while holding 1753
their offices or positions, and shall continue as to a person who 1754
has ceased to be a director, officer, employee, member, manager, 1755
agent, or volunteer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, 1756
executors, and administrators of such athat person. A right to 1757
indemnification or to advancement of expenses arising under a 1758
provision of the articles or the regulations shall not be 1759
eliminated or impaired by an amendment to that provision after the 1760
occurrence of the act or omission that becomes the subject of the 1761
civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative action, suit, or 1762
proceeding for which the indemnification or advancement of 1763
expenses is sought, unless the provision in effect at the time of 1764
that act or omission explicitly authorizes that elimination or 1765
impairment after the act or omission has occurred.1766

       (7) A corporation may purchase and maintain insurance, or 1767
furnish similar protection, including, but not limited to, trust 1768
funds, letters of credit, or self-insurance, for or on behalf of 1769
any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, agent, or 1770
volunteer of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request 1771
of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, member, 1772
manager, agent, or volunteer of another domestic or foreign 1773
nonprofit corporation or business corporation, a limited liability 1774
company, or a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other 1775
enterprise, against any liability asserted against the person and 1776
incurred by the person in any such capacity, or arising out of the 1777
person's status as such, whether or not the corporation would have 1778
the power to indemnify the person against that liability under 1779
this section. Insurance may be so purchased from or so maintained 1780
with a person in which the corporation has a financial interest.1781

       (8) The authority of a corporation to indemnify persons 1782
pursuant to division (E)(1) or (2) of this section does not limit 1783
the payment of expenses as they are incurred, in advance of the 1784
final disposition of an action, suit, or proceeding, pursuant to 1785
division (E)(5) of this section or the payment of indemnification, 1786
insurance, or other protection that may be provided pursuant to 1787
division (E)(6) or (7) of this section. Divisions (E)(1) and (2) 1788
of this section do not create any obligation to repay or return 1789
payments made by a corporation pursuant to division (E)(5), (6), 1790
or (7) of this section.1791

       (9) As used in division (E) of this section, "corporation" 1792
includes all constituent corporations in a consolidation or 1793
merger, and the new or surviving corporation, so that any person 1794
who is or was a director, officer, employee, agent, or volunteer 1795
of a constituent corporation or is or was serving at the request 1796
of a constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee, 1797
member, manager, agent, or volunteer of another domestic or 1798
foreign nonprofit corporation or business corporation, a limited 1799
liability company, or a partnership, joint venture, trust, or 1800
other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this 1801
section with respect to the new or surviving corporation as the 1802
person would if the person had served the new or surviving 1803
corporation in the same capacity.1804

       (F) In carrying out the purposes stated in its articles and 1805
subject to limitations prescribed by law or in its articles, a 1806
corporation may do the following:1807

       (1) Purchase or otherwise acquire, lease as lessee, invest 1808
in, hold, use, lease as lessor, encumber, sell, exchange, 1809
transfer, and dispose of property of any description or any 1810
interest in property of any description;1811

       (2) Make contracts;1812

       (3) Form or acquire the control of other domestic or foreign 1813
nonprofit corporations or business corporations;1814

       (4) Be a partner, member, associate, or participant in other 1815
enterprises or ventures, whether profit or nonprofit;1816

       (5) Borrow money, and issue, sell, and pledge its notes, 1817
bonds, and other evidences of indebtedness, and secure any of its 1818
obligations by mortgage, pledge, or deed of trust, of all or any 1819
of its property, and guarantee or secure obligations of any 1820
person;1821

       (6) Become a member of another corporation;1822

       (7) Conduct its affairs in this state and elsewhere;1823

       (8) Resist a change or potential change in control of the 1824
corporation, if the directors, by a majority vote of a quorum, 1825
determine that the change or potential change is opposed to or not 1826
in the best interests of the corporation, upon consideration of 1827
any of the matters set forth in division (E)(F) of section 1702.30 1828
of the Revised Code;1829

       (9) Do all things permitted by law and exercise all authority 1830
within the purposes stated in its articles or incidental to those 1831
purposes.1832

       (G) Irrespective of the purposes stated in its articles, but 1833
subject to limitations or prohibitions stated in its articles, a 1834
corporation, in addition to the authority conferred by division 1835
(F) of this section, may invest its funds not currently needed in 1836
carrying out its purposes in any shares or other securities of 1837
another nonprofit corporation or business corporation, or another 1838
business or undertaking.1839

       (H)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to 1840
the contrary, no corporation that is a "private foundation," as 1841
defined in section 509 of the Internal Revenue Code, shall do the 1842
following:1843

       (a) Engage in any act of "self-dealing," as defined in 1844
section 4941 (d) of the Internal Revenue Code, that would give 1845
rise to any liability for any tax imposed by section 4941 of the 1846
Internal Revenue Code;1847

       (b) Retain any "excess business holdings," as defined in 1848
section 4943 (c) of the Internal Revenue Code, that would give 1849
rise to any liability for any tax imposed by section 4943 of the 1850
Internal Revenue Code;1851

       (c) Make any investment that would jeopardize the carrying 1852
out of any of its exempt purposes, within the meaning of section 1853
4944 of the Internal Revenue Code, so as to give rise to any 1854
liability for any tax imposed by that section;1855

       (d) Make any "taxable expenditures," as defined in section 1856
4945 (d) of the Internal Revenue Code, that would give rise to any 1857
liability for any tax imposed by section 4945 of the Internal 1858
Revenue Code.1859

       (2) Each corporation that is a "private foundation," as 1860
defined in section 509 of the Internal Revenue Code, shall, for 1861
the purposes specified in its articles, distribute at such time 1862
and in such manner, for each taxable year, amounts at least 1863
sufficient to avoid liability for any tax imposed by section 4942 1864
of the Internal Revenue Code.1865

       (3) Divisions (H)(1) and (2) of this section apply to all 1866
corporations described in them, whether or not contrary to the 1867
provisions of the articles or regulations of such a corporation, 1868
except that divisions (H)(1) and (2) of this section do not apply 1869
to a corporation in existence on September 17, 1971, to the extent 1870
that such corporation provides to the contrary by amendment to its 1871
articles adopted after that date.1872

       (4) Violation of a provision of division (H)(1) or (2) of 1873
this section by a corporation to which the provisions of those 1874
divisions are applicable is not cause for cancellation of its 1875
articles. No director or officer of a corporation to which the 1876
provisions of division (H)(1) or (2) of this section are 1877
applicable is personally liable for a violation of a prohibition 1878
or requirement of those provisions, unless the director or officer 1879
participated in such violation knowing that it was a violation, 1880
and no director or officer is personally liable if such violation 1881
was not willful and was due to reasonable cause, except that this 1882
division does not exonerate a director or officer from any 1883
responsibility or liability to which the director or officer is 1884
subject under any other rule of law, whether or not duplicated in 1885
division (H)(1) or (2) of this section.1886

       (5) Except as provided in division (H)(4) of this section, 1887
nothing in division (H) of this section impairs the rights and 1888
powers of the courts or the attorney general of this state with 1889
respect to any corporation.1890

       (6) As used in division (H) of this section, "Internal 1891
Revenue Code" means the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 1892
2085, 26 U.S.C. 1, as amended.1893

       (I)(1) No lack of, or limitation upon, the authority of a 1894
corporation shall be asserted in any action except as follows:1895

       (a) By the state in an action by it against the corporation;1896

       (b) By or on behalf of the corporation against a director, an 1897
officer, or a member as such;1898

       (c) By a member as such or by or on behalf of the members 1899
against the corporation, a director, an officer, or a member as 1900
such.1901

       (2) Division (I)(1) of this section shall apply to any action 1902
brought in this state upon any contract made in this state by a 1903
foreign corporation.1904

       Sec. 1702.30.  (A) Except where the law, the articles, or the 1905
regulations require that action be otherwise authorized or taken, 1906
all of the authority of a corporation shall be exercised by or 1907
under the direction of its directors. For their own government, 1908
the directors may adopt bylaws that are not inconsistent with the 1909
articles or the regulations.1910

       (B) A director shall perform the duties of a director, 1911
including the duties as a member of any committee of the directors 1912
upon which the director may serve, in good faith, in a manner the 1913
director reasonably believes to be in or not opposed to the best 1914
interests of the corporation, and with the care that an ordinarily 1915
prudent person in a like position would use under similar 1916
circumstances. InA director serving on a committee of directors 1917
is acting as a director.1918

       (C) In performing the duties of a director, a director is 1919
entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports, or statements, 1920
including financial statements and other financial data, that are 1921
prepared or presented by the following:1922

       (1) One or more directors, officers, or employees of the 1923
corporation who the director reasonably believes are reliable and 1924
competent in the matters prepared or presented;1925

       (2) Counsel, public accountants, or other persons as to 1926
matters that the director reasonably believes are within the 1927
person's professional or expert competence;1928

       (3) A committee of the directors upon which the director does 1929
not serve, duly established in accordance with a provision of the 1930
articles or the regulations, as to matters within its designated 1931
authority, which committee the director reasonably believes to 1932
merit confidence.1933

       (C)(D) For purposes of division (B) of this section:1934

       (1) A director shall not be found to have failed to perform 1935
the director's duties in accordance with that division, unless it 1936
is proved, by clear and convincing evidence, in an action brought 1937
against the director that the director has not acted in good 1938
faith, in a manner the director reasonably believes to be in or 1939
not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, or with the 1940
care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would 1941
use under similar circumstances. Such an action includes, but is 1942
not limited to, an action that involves or affects any of the 1943
following:1944

       (a) A change or potential change in control of the 1945
corporation;1946

       (b) A termination or potential termination of the director's 1947
service to the corporation as a director;1948

       (c) The director's service in any other position or 1949
relationship with the corporation.1950

       (2) A director shall not be considered to be acting in good 1951
faith if the director has knowledge concerning the matter in 1952
question that would cause reliance on information, opinions, 1953
reports, or statements that are prepared or presented by the 1954
persons described in divisions (B)(C)(1) to (3) of this section, 1955
to be unwarranted.1956

       (3) The provisions of this division do not limit relief 1957
available under section 1702.301 of the Revised Code.1958

       (D)(E)(1) Subject to divisions (D)(E)(2) and (3) of this 1959
section, a director is liable in damages for any act that the 1960
director takes or fails to take as director only if it is proved, 1961
by clear and convincing evidence, in a court with jurisdiction 1962
that the act or omission of the director was one undertaken with a 1963
deliberate intent to cause injury to the corporation or was one 1964
undertaken with a reckless disregard for the best interests of the 1965
corporation.1966

       (2) Division (D)(E)(1) of this section does not affect the 1967
liability of a director under section 1702.55 of the Revised Code.1968

       (3) Subject to division (D)(E)(2) of this section, division1969
(D)(E)(1) of this section does not apply if, and only to the 1970
extent that, at the time of an act or omission of a director that 1971
is the subject of complaint, the articles or the regulations of 1972
the corporation state, by specific reference to that division, 1973
that its provisions do not apply to the corporation.1974

       (E)(F) For purposes of this section, in determining what a 1975
director reasonably believes to be in or not opposed to the best 1976
interests of the corporation, a director shall consider the 1977
purposes of the corporation and may consider any of the following:1978

       (1) The interests of the employees, suppliers, creditors, and 1979
customers of the corporation;1980

       (2) The economy of this state and of the nation;1981

       (3) Community and societal considerations;1982

       (4) The long-term and short-term best interests of the 1983
corporation, including, but not limited to, the possibility that 1984
those interests may be best served by the continued independence 1985
of the corporation.1986

       (F)(G) Divisions (C)(D) and (D)(E) of this section do not 1987
affect the duties of a director who acts in any capacity other 1988
than in the capacity as a director.1989

       Sec. 1705.61. (A) Absent an express agreement to the 1990
contrary, a person providing goods to or performing services for a 1991
limited liability company owes no duty to, incurs no liability or 1992
obligation to, and is not in privity with the members or creditors 1993
of the limited liability company by reason of providing goods to 1994
or performing services for the limited liability company.1995

       (B) Absent an express agreement to the contrary, a person 1996
providing goods to or performing services for a member or group of 1997
members of a limited liability company owes no duty to, incurs no 1998
liability or obligation to, and is not in privity with the limited 1999
liability company, any other members of the limited liability 2000
company, or the creditors of the limited liability company by 2001
reason of providing goods to or performing services for the member 2002
or group of members of the limited liability company.2003

       Section 2.  That existing sections 1701.13, 1701.59, 1701.66, 2004
1701.74, 1701.76, 1701.84, 1701.85, 1701.86, 1701.87, 1701.88, 2005
1701.89, 1701.90, 1701.91, 1701.911, 1702.12, 1702.30, and 1705.61 2006
of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.2007