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HomeCorporations CodeCh. 8§ 3201 Social Purpose Corporation Merger Voting

§ 3201 Social Purpose Corporation Merger Voting

Corporations Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 3201 Social Purpose Corporation Merger Voting

Key Takeaways

  • •If a company that helps people (social purpose corporation) merges with another company that doesn't help people, the merger needs a big 'yes' vote from at least two-thirds of the shareholders.
  • •Even if some shareholders say 'no' to the merger, they can still get paid for their shares if they don't like the deal.
  • •The rules for saying 'no' and getting paid are in other parts of the law (Sections 1300 and 3305).

Example

A company that makes eco-friendly toys (helps people) wants to merge with a regular toy company that doesn't care about the environment.

The merger needs at least two-thirds of the eco-friendly company's shareholders to say 'yes.' If some shareholders say 'no,' they can still get money for their shares if they don't like the deal.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 3201 Social Purpose Corporation Merger Voting

If any disappearing corporation in a merger is a social purpose corporation and the surviving entity is not a social purpose corporation, or is a social purpose corporation the articles of incorporation of which set forth materially different purposes, the merger shall be approved by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of each class, or a greater vote if required in the articles, regardless of whether that class is entitled to vote thereon by the provisions of the articles, of the disappearing social purpose corporation. If the merger is approved, shareholders with dissenting shares, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 1300, may exercise dissenters’ rights pursuant to Section 3305 and Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 1300) of Division 1. (Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 694, Sec. 52. (SB 1301) Effective January 1, 2015.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

disappearing corporationsocial purpose corporationmaterially different purposesdissenting shares

Related Statutes

  • § 5813.5 Public Benefit Corporation Conversion
  • § 1112.5 Merger Approval For Social Purpose Corporations
  • § 3002 Social Purpose Corporation Conversion
  • § 12500 Corporate Articles Amendment Rules
  • § 12501 Amending Articles Before Directors

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Corporations Code. Section 3201.
View Official Source