(1) The plan of merger or the plan of share exchange shall first be adopted by the board of directors of such domestic corporation.

(2)(a) Except as provided in subsections (8), (10), and (11), and in ss. 607.11035 and 607.1104, the plan of merger or the plan of share exchange shall then be adopted by the shareholders.

(b) In submitting the plan of merger or the plan of share exchange to the shareholders for approval, the board of directors shall recommend that the shareholders approve the plan, or in the case of an offer referred to in s. 607.11035(1)(b), that the shareholders tender their shares to the offeror in response to the offer, unless:

1. The board of directors makes a determination that because of conflicts of interest or other special circumstances, it should not make such a recommendation; or

2. Section 607.0826 applies.

(c) If either subparagraph (b)1. or subparagraph (b)2. applies, the board shall inform the shareholders of the basis for its so proceeding without such recommendation.

(3) The board of directors may set conditions for the approval of the proposed merger or share exchange by the shareholders or the effectiveness of the plan of merger or the plan of share exchange.

(4) If the plan of merger or the plan of share exchange is required to be approved by the shareholders, and if the approval is to be given at a meeting, the corporation shall notify each shareholder, regardless of whether entitled to vote, of the meeting of shareholders at which the plan is submitted for approval in accordance with s. 607.0705. The notice shall also state that the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting is to consider the plan of merger or the plan of share exchange, regardless of whether or not the meeting is an annual or a special meeting, and contain or be accompanied by a copy of the plan. If the corporation is to be merged into an existing foreign or domestic eligible entity, the notice must also include or be accompanied by a copy of the articles of incorporation and bylaws or the organic rules of that eligible entity into which the corporation is to be merged. If the corporation is to be merged with a domestic or foreign eligible entity and a new domestic or foreign eligible entity is to be created pursuant to the merger, the notice must include or be accompanied by a copy of the articles of incorporation and bylaws or the organic rules of the new eligible entity. Furthermore, if applicable, the notice shall contain a clear and concise statement that, if the plan of merger or share exchange is effected, shareholders dissenting therefrom may be entitled, if they comply with the provisions of this chapter regarding appraisal rights, to be paid the fair value of their shares, and shall be accompanied by a copy of ss. 607.1301-607.1340.

(5) Unless this chapter, the articles of incorporation, or the board of directors (acting pursuant to subsection (3)) requires a greater vote or a greater quorum in the respective case, approval of the plan of merger or the plan of share exchange shall require the approval of the shareholders at a meeting at which a quorum exists by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the plan, and, if any class or series of shares is entitled to vote as a separate group on the plan of merger or the plan of share exchange, the approval of each such separate voting group at a meeting at which a quorum of the voting group is present by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the merger or share exchange by that voting group.

(6)(a) Subject to subsection (7), voting by a class or series as a separate voting group is required:

1. By each class or series of shares of the corporation that would be entitled to vote as a separate group on any provision in the plan which, if such provision had been contained in a proposed amendment to the articles of incorporation of a surviving corporation, would have entitled the class or series to vote as a separate voting group on the proposed amendment under s. 607.1004; or

2. If the plan contains a provision that would allow the plan to be amended to include the type of amendment to the articles of incorporation referenced in subparagraph 1., by each class or series of shares of the corporation that would have been entitled to vote as a separate group on any such amendment to the articles of incorporation; or

3. By each class or series of shares of the corporation that is to be converted under the plan of merger into shares; other securities; eligible interests; obligations; rights to acquire shares, other securities, or eligible interests; cash; property; or any combination of the foregoing; or

4. If the plan contains a provision that would allow the plan to be amended to convert other classes or series of shares of the corporation, by each class or series of shares of the corporation that would have been entitled to vote as a separate group if the plan were to be so amended.

(b) Subject to subsection (7), voting by a class or series as a separate voting group is required on a plan of share exchange:

1. By each class or series that is to be exchanged in the exchange, with each class or series constituting a separate voting group; or

2. If the plan contains a provision that would allow the plan to be amended to include the type of amendment to the articles of incorporation referenced in subparagraph (a)1., by each class or series of shares of the corporation that would have been entitled to vote as a separate group on any such amendment to the articles of incorporation.

(c) Subject to subsection (7), voting by a class or series as a separate voting group is required on a plan of merger or a plan of share exchange if the group is entitled under the articles of incorporation to vote as a voting group to approve the plan of merger or the plan of share exchange, respectively.

(7) The articles of incorporation may expressly limit or eliminate the separate voting rights provided in subparagraph (6)(a)3., subparagraph (6)(a)4., or subparagraph (6)(b)1. as to any class or series of shares, except when the plan of merger or the plan for share exchange:

(a) Includes what is or would be, in effect, an amendment subject to any one or more of subparagraphs (6)(a)1. and 2. and (6)(b)2.; and

(b) Will not affect a substantive business combination.

(8) Unless the corporation’s articles of incorporation provide otherwise, approval by the corporation’s shareholders of a plan of merger is not required if:

(a) The corporation will survive the merger;

(b) The articles of incorporation of the surviving corporation will not differ (except for amendments enumerated in s. 607.1002) from its articles of incorporation before the merger; and

(c) Each shareholder of the surviving corporation whose shares were outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger will hold the same number of shares, with identical designations, preferences, rights, and limitations, immediately after the effective date of the merger.

(9) If, as a result of a merger or share exchange, one or more shareholders of a domestic corporation would become subject to new interest holder liability, approval of the plan of merger or the plan of share exchange shall require, in connection with the transaction, the signing by each such shareholder of a separate written consent to become subject to such new interest holder liability, unless in the case of a shareholder that already has interest holder liability with respect to such domestic corporation:

(a) The new interest holder liability is with respect to a domestic or foreign corporation (which may be a different or the same domestic corporation in which the person is a shareholder); and

(b) The terms and conditions of the new interest holder liability are substantially identical to those of the existing interest holder liability (other than for changes that reduce or eliminate such interest holder liability).

(10) Unless the articles of incorporation otherwise provide, approval of a plan of share exchange by the shareholders of a domestic corporation is not required if the corporation is the acquiring eligible entity in the share exchange.

(11) Unless the articles of incorporation otherwise provide, shares in the acquired eligible entity not to be exchanged under the plan of share exchange are not entitled to vote on the plan.

History.—s. 111, ch. 89-154; s. 32, ch. 93-281; s. 16, ch. 2003-283; s. 134, ch. 2019-90.