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Delaware General Corporation Law- Section 262. Appraisal rights
(a) Any stockholder of a corporation of this State who holds shares of
stock on the date of the making of a demand pursuant to subsection (d) of this
section with respect to such shares, who continuously holds such shares through
the effective date of the merger or consolidation, who has otherwise complied
with subsection (d) of this section and who has neither voted in favor of the
merger or consolidation nor consented thereto in writing pursuant to Section 228
of this title shall be entitled to an appraisal by the Court of Chancery of the
fair value of the stockholder's shares of stock under the circumstances
described in subsections (b) and (c) of this section. As used in this section,
the word "stockholder" means a holder of record of stock in a stock corporation
and also a member of record of a nonstock corporation; the words "stock" and
"share" mean and include what is ordinarily meant by those words and also
membership or membership interest of a member of a nonstock corporation; and the
words "depository receipt" mean a receipt or other instrument issued by a
depository representing an interest in one or more shares, or fractions thereof,
solely of stock of a corporation, which stock is deposited with the depository.
(b) Appraisal rights shall be available for the shares of any class or
series of stock of a constituent corporation in a merger or consolidation to be
effected pursuant to Section 251 (other than a merger effected pursuant to
Sections 251(g) of this title), Sections 252, 254, 257, 258, 263 or 264 of this
title:
(1) Provided, however, that no appraisal rights under this
section shall be available for the shares of any class or series of
stock, which stock, or depository receipts in respect thereof, at the
record date fixed to determine the stockholders entitled to receive
notice of and to vote at the meeting of stockholders to act upon the
agreement of merger or consolidation, were either (i) listed on a
national securities exchange or designated as a national market system
security on an interdealer quotation system by the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. or (ii) held of record by more than 2,000
holders; and further provided that no appraisal rights shall be
available for any shares of stock of the constituent corporation
surviving a merger if the merger did not require for its approval the
vote of the stockholders of the surviving corporation as provided in
subsection (f) of Section 251 of this title.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection,
appraisal rights under this section shall be available for the shares
of any class or series of stock of a constituent corporation if the
holders thereof are required by the terms of an agreement of merger or
consolidation pursuant to Sections 251, 252, 254, 257, 258, 263 and 264
of this title to accept for such stock anything except:
a. Shares of stock of the corporation surviving or
resulting from such merger or consolidation, or depository
receipts in respect thereof;
b. Shares of stock of any other corporation, or
depository receipts in respect thereof, which shares of stock
(or depository receipts in respect thereof) or depository
receipts at the effective date of the merger or consolidation
will be
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either listed on a national securities exchange or designated
as a national market system security on an interdealer
quotation system by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. or held of record by more than 2,000 holders;
c. Cash in lieu of fractional shares or fractional
depository receipts described in the foregoing subparagraphs
a. and b. of this paragraph; or
d. Any combination of the shares of stock, depository
receipts and cash in lieu of fractional shares or fractional
depository receipts described in the foregoing subparagraphs
a., b. and c. of this paragraph.
(3) In the event all of the stock of a subsidiary Delaware
corporation party to a merger effected under Section 253 of this title
is not owned by the parent corporation immediately prior to the merger,
appraisal rights shall be available for the shares of the subsidiary
Delaware corporation.
(c) Any corporation may provide in its certificate of incorporation
that appraisal rights under this section shall be available for the shares of
any class or series of its stock as a result of an amendment to its certificate
of incorporation, any merger or consolidation in which the corporation is a
constituent corporation or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of
the corporation. If the certificate of incorporation contains such a provision,
the procedures of this section, including those set forth in subsections (d) and
(e) of this section, shall apply as nearly as is practicable.
(d) Appraisal rights shall be perfected as follows:
(1) If a proposed merger or consolidation for which appraisal
rights are provided under this section is to be submitted for approval
at a meeting of stockholders, the corporation, not less than 20 days
prior to the meeting, shall notify each of its stockholders who was
such on the record date for such meeting with respect to shares for
which appraisal rights are available pursuant to subsection (b) or (c)
hereof that appraisal rights are available for any or all of the shares
of the constituent corporations, and shall include in such notice a
copy of this section. Each stockholder electing to demand the appraisal
of such stockholder's shares shall deliver to the corporation, before
the taking of the vote on the merger or consolidation, a written demand
for appraisal of such stockholder's shares. Such demand will be
sufficient if it reasonably informs the corporation of the identity of
the stockholder and that the stockholder intends thereby to demand the
appraisal of such stockholder's shares. A proxy or vote against the
merger or consolidation shall not constitute such a demand. A
stockholder electing to take such action must do so by a separate
written demand as herein provided. Within 10 days after the effective
date of such merger or consolidation, the surviving or resulting
corporation shall notify each stockholder of each constituent
corporation who has complied with this subsection and has not voted in
favor of or consented to the merger or consolidation of the date that
the merger or consolidation has become effective; or
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(2) If the merger or consolidation was approved pursuant to
Section 228 or Section 253 of this title, each constituent corporation,
either before the effective date of the merger or consolidation or
within ten days thereafter, shall notify each of the holders of any
class or series of stock of such constituent corporation who are
entitled to appraisal rights of the approval of the merger or
consolidation and that appraisal rights are available for any or all
shares of such class or series of stock of such constituent
corporation, and shall include in such notice a copy of this section;
provided that, if the notice is given on or after the effective date of
the merger or consolidation, such notice shall be given by the
surviving or resulting corporation to all such holders of any class or
series of stock of a constituent corporation that are entitled to
appraisal rights. Such notice may, and, if given on or after the
effective date of the merger or consolidation, shall, also notify such
stockholders of the effective date of the merger or consolidation. Any
stockholder entitled to appraisal rights may, within 20 days after the
date of mailing of such notice, demand in writing from the surviving or
resulting corporation the appraisal of such holder's shares. Such
demand will be sufficient if it reasonably informs the corporation of
the identity of the stockholder and that the stockholder intends
thereby to demand the appraisal of such holder's shares. If such notice
did not notify stockholders of the effective date of the merger or
consolidation, either (i) each such constituent corporation shall send
a second notice before the effective date of the merger or
consolidation notifying each of the holders of any class or series of
stock of such constituent corporation that are entitled to appraisal
rights of the effective date of the merger or consolidation or (ii) the
surviving or resulting corporation shall send such a second notice to
all such holders on or within 10 days after such effective date;
provided, however, that if such second notice is sent more than 20 days
following the sending of the first notice, such second notice need only
be sent to each stockholder who is entitled to appraisal rights and who
has demanded appraisal of such holder's shares in accordance with this
subsection. An affidavit of the secretary or assistant secretary or of
the transfer agent of the corporation that is required to give either
notice that such notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud,
be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. For purposes of
determining the stockholders entitled to receive either notice, each
constituent corporation may fix, in advance, a record date that shall
be not more than 10 days prior to the date the notice is given,
provided, that if the notice is given on or after the effective date of
the merger or consolidation, the record date shall be such effective
date. If no record date is fixed and the notice is given prior to the
effective date, the record date shall be the close of business on the
day next preceding the day on which the notice is given.
(e) Within 120 days after the effective date of the merger or
consolidation, the surviving or resulting corporation or any stockholder who has
complied with subsections (a) and (d) hereof and who is otherwise entitled to
appraisal rights, may file a petition in the Court of Chancery demanding a
determination of the value of the stock of all such stockholders.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time within 60 days after the effective
date of the merger or consolidation, any stockholder shall have the right to
withdraw such stockholder's demand for appraisal and to accept the terms offered
upon the merger or consolidation. Within 120 days after the effective date of
the merger or consolidation, any stockholder who has complied with the
requirements of subsections (a) and (d) hereof, upon written request, shall be
entitled to
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receive from the corporation surviving the merger or resulting from the
consolidation a statement setting forth the aggregate number of shares not voted
in favor of the merger or consolidation and with respect to which demands for
appraisal have been received and the aggregate number of holders of such shares.
Such written statement shall be mailed to the stockholder within 10 days after
such stockholder's written request for such a statement is received by the
surviving or resulting corporation or within 10 days after expiration of the
period for delivery of demands for appraisal under subsection (d) hereof,
whichever is later.
(f) Upon the filing of any such petition by a stockholder, service of a
copy thereof shall be made upon the surviving or resulting corporation, which
shall within 20 days after such service file in the office of the Register in
Chancery in which the petition was filed a duly verified list containing the
names and addresses of all stockholders who have demanded payment for their
shares and with whom agreements as to the value of their shares have not been
reached by the surviving or resulting corporation. If the petition shall be
filed by the surviving or resulting corporation, the petition shall be
accompanied by such a duly verified list. The Register in Chancery, if so
ordered by the Court, shall give notice of the time and place fixed for the
hearing of such petition by registered or certified mail to the surviving or
resulting corporation and to the stockholders shown on the list at the addresses
therein stated. Such notice shall also be given by 1 or more publications at
least 1 week before the day of the hearing, in a newspaper of general
circulation published in the City of Wilmington, Delaware or such publication as
the Court deems advisable. The forms of the notices by mail and by publication
shall be approved by the Court, and the costs thereof shall be borne by the
surviving or resulting corporation.
(g) At the hearing on such petition, the Court shall determine the
stockholders who have complied with this section and who have become entitled to
appraisal rights. The Court may require the stockholders who have demanded an
appraisal for their shares and who hold stock represented by certificates to
submit their certificates of stock to the Register in Chancery for notation
thereon of the pendency of the appraisal proceedings; and if any stockholder
fails to comply with such direction, the Court may dismiss the proceedings as to
such stockholder.
(h) After determining the stockholders entitled to an appraisal, the
Court shall appraise the shares, determining their fair value exclusive of any
element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the merger or
consolidation, together with a fair rate of interest, if any, to be paid upon
the amount determined to be the fair value. In determining such fair value, the
Court shall take into account all relevant factors. In determining the fair rate
of interest, the Court may consider all relevant factors, including the rate of
interest which the surviving or resulting corporation would have had to pay to
borrow money during the pendency of the proceeding. Upon application by the
surviving or resulting corporation or by any stockholder entitled to participate
in the appraisal proceeding, the Court may, in its discretion, permit discovery
or other pretrial proceedings and may proceed to trial upon the appraisal prior
to the final determination of the stockholder entitled to an appraisal. Any
stockholder whose name appears on the list filed by the surviving or resulting
corporation pursuant to subsection (f) of this section and who has submitted
such stockholder's certificates of stock to the Register in Chancery, if such is
required, may participate fully in all proceedings until it is finally
determined that such stockholder is not entitled to appraisal rights under this
section.
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(i) The Court shall direct the payment of the fair value of the shares,
together with interest, if any, by the surviving or resulting corporation to the
stockholders entitled thereto. Interest may be simple or compound, as the Court
may direct. Payment shall be so made to each such stockholder, in the case of
holders of uncertificated stock forthwith, and the case of holders of shares
represented by certificates upon the surrender to the corporation of the
certificates representing such stock. The Court's decree may be enforced as
other decrees in the Court of Chancery may be enforced, whether such surviving
or resulting corporation be a corporation of this State or of any state.
(j) The costs of the proceeding may be determined by the Court and
taxed upon the parties as the Court deems equitable in the circumstances. Upon
application of a stockholder, the Court may order all or a portion of the
expenses incurred by any stockholder in connection with the appraisal
proceeding, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney's fees and the
fees and expenses of experts, to be charged pro rata against the value of all
the shares entitled to an appraisal.
(k) From and after the effective date of the merger or consolidation,
no stockholder who has demanded appraisal rights as provided in subsection (d)
of this section shall be entitled to vote such stock for any purpose or to
receive payment of dividends or other distributions on the stock (except
dividends or other distributions payable to stockholders of record at a date
which is prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation); provided,
however, that if no petition for an appraisal shall be filed within the time
provided in subsection (e) of this section, or if such stockholder shall deliver
to the surviving or resulting corporation a written withdrawal of such
stockholder's within 60 days after the effective date of the merger or
consolidation as provided in subsection (e) of this section or thereafter with
the written approval of the corporation, then the right of such stockholder to
an appraisal shall cease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no appraisal proceeding
in the Court of Chancery shall be dismissed as to any stockholder without the
approval of the Court, and such approval may be conditioned upon such terms as
the Court deems just.
(l) The shares of the surviving or resulting corporation to which the
shares of such objecting stockholders would have been converted had they
assented to the merger or consolidation shall have the status of authorized and
unissued shares of the surviving or resulting corporation.
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