A. Whenever a domestic corporation has adopted and approved, in the manner required by this article, a plan of domestication providing for the corporation to be domesticated under the laws of another jurisdiction, the corporation shall file with the Commission articles of incorporation surrender setting forth:

1. The name of the corporation;

2. The jurisdiction in which the corporation is to be domesticated and the name of the corporation upon its domestication under the laws of that jurisdiction;

3. The plan of domestication;

4. A statement that the articles of incorporation surrender are being filed in connection with the domestication of the corporation as a foreign corporation to be incorporated under the laws of another jurisdiction and that the corporation is surrendering its charter under the laws of this Commonwealth;

5. A statement:

a. That the plan was adopted by the unanimous consent of the shareholders; or

b. That the plan was submitted to the shareholders by the board of directors in accordance with this chapter, and a statement of:

(1) The designation, number of outstanding shares and number of votes entitled to be cast by each voting group entitled to vote separately on the plan; and

(2) Either the total number of votes cast for and against the plan by each voting group entitled to vote separately on the plan or the total number of undisputed votes cast for the plan separately by each voting group and a statement that the number cast for the plan by each voting group was sufficient for approval by that voting group;

6. A statement that the corporation revokes the authority of its registered agent to accept service on its behalf and appoints the clerk of the Commission as its agent for service of process in any proceeding based on a cause of action arising during the time it was incorporated in the Commonwealth;

7. A mailing address to which the clerk may mail a copy of any process served on the clerk under subdivision 6; and

8. A commitment by the corporation to notify the clerk of the Commission in the future of any change in the mailing address of the corporation.

B. If the Commission finds that the articles of incorporation surrender comply with the requirements of law and that all required fees have been paid, it shall issue a certificate of incorporation surrender.

C. The corporation shall automatically cease to be a domestic corporation when the certificate of incorporation surrender becomes effective.

D. If the former domestic corporation intends to continue to transact business in the Commonwealth, then, within 30 days after the effective date of the certificate of incorporation surrender, it shall deliver to the Commission an application for a certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth pursuant to § 13.1-759 together with a copy of its instrument of domestication and articles of incorporation and all amendments thereto, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State or other official having custody of corporate records in the state or country under whose laws it is incorporated or domesticated.

E. Service of process on the clerk of the Commission is service of process on a former domestic corporation that has surrendered its charter pursuant to this section. Service on the clerk shall be made in accordance with § 12.1-19.1 and service on the former domestic corporation may be made in any other manner permitted by law.

2001, c. 545; 2002, c. 1; 2012, c. 130.