(a) A notice under this chapter must be in writing unless oral notice is reasonable in the circumstances. Unless otherwise agreed between the sender and the recipient, words in a notice or other communication under this chapter must be in English.
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Terms Used In Alabama Code 10A-2A-1.41

  • certificate of incorporation: as used in this chapter is synonymous to the term "certificate of formation" used in Chapter 1. See Alabama Code 10A-2A-1.40
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • following: means next after. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • United States: includes the territories thereof and the District of Columbia. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • writing: includes typewriting and printing on paper. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(b) A notice or other communication may be given by any method of delivery, except that notice or other communication by electronic transmission must be in accordance with this section. If the methods of delivery are impracticable, a notice or other communication from the corporation may be given by means of a broad non-exclusionary distribution to the public (which may include a newspaper of general circulation in the area where published; radio, television, or other form of public broadcast communication; or other methods of distribution that the corporation has previously identified to its stockholders).
(c) A notice or other communication to a corporation or to a foreign corporation registered to transact business in this state may be delivered to the corporation’s registered agent at its registered office or to the secretary at the corporation’s principal office shown in its most recent annual report or, in the case of a foreign corporation that has not yet delivered an annual report, in its foreign registration under Chapter 1.
(d) A notice or other communications from the corporation to a stockholder may be delivered by electronic mail to the electronic mail address for that stockholder required to be included in the record of stockholders maintained pursuant to Section 10A-2A-16.01(d), unless that stockholder has previously notified the corporation in writing that the stockholder objects to receiving notices and other communications by electronic mail. Any notice or communication may be delivered by another form of electronic transmission if consented to by the stockholder or if authorized by subsection (j). Any notice or other communication from the corporation to any other person may be delivered by electronic transmission if consented to by the recipient or if authorized by subsection (j). Any consent given under this subsection or subsection (j) may be revoked with respect to future notices or communications by the person who consented by written notice to the person to whom the consent was delivered.
(e) A notice or other communication may no longer be delivered to an electronic mail address or other electronic transmission address pursuant to subsection (d) if (i) the corporation receives notice from the information processing system into which the notice or other communication was entered that two consecutive notices or other communications given by electronic transmissions have not been delivered to the electronic mail address or other electronic transmission address to which the notice or other communication was directed, and (ii) the notice of non-delivery becomes known to the secretary or an assistant secretary or to the transfer agent, or another person responsible for the giving of notices or other communications for the corporation; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to recognize the notice of non-delivery as a cessation of authority to provide a stockholder with notice by electronic mail or other electronic transmission shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.
(f) Unless otherwise agreed between the sender and the recipient, a notice or other communication by electronic transmission is received when:

(1) it enters an information processing system directed to (i) in the case of a stockholder, the electronic mail address for the stockholder required to be included in the record of stockholders maintained pursuant to Section 10A-2A-16.01(d) or other electronic transmission address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice or other communications by electronic transmission, or (ii) in the case of any other recipient, the electronic transmission address at which the recipient has consented to receive notice or other communications by electronic transmission; and
(2) it is in a form capable of being processed by that system.
(g) Receipt of an electronic acknowledgement from an information processing system described in subsection (f)(1) establishes that an electronic transmission was received but, by itself, does not establish that the content sent corresponds to the content received.
(h) An electronic transmission is received under this section even if no person is aware of its receipt.
(i) A notice or other communication, if in a comprehensible form or manner, is effective at the earliest of the following:

(1) if in a physical form, the earliest of when it is actually received, or when it is left at:

(i) a stockholder’s address included in the record of stockholders maintained pursuant to Section 10A-2A-16.01(d);
(ii) a director’s residence or usual place of business; or
(iii) the corporation’s principal office;
(2) if mailed by United States mail postage prepaid and addressed to a stockholder at the stockholder’s address included in the record of stockholders maintained pursuant to Section 10A-2A-16.01(d), upon deposit in the mail;
(3) if mailed by United States mail postage prepaid and addressed to a recipient other than a stockholder at the address included in the corporation’s records, the earliest of when it is actually received, or:

(i) if sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, the date shown on the return receipt signed by or on behalf of the addressee; or
(ii) five days after it is deposited in the United States mail;
(4) if sent by a nationally recognized commercial carrier that issues a receipt or other confirmation of delivery, the earliest of when it is actually received or the date shown on the receipt or other confirmation of delivery issued by the commercial carrier;
(5) if an electronic transmission, when it is received as provided in subsection (f); and
(6) if oral, when communicated.
(j) A notice or other communication may be in the form of an electronic transmission that cannot be directly reproduced in paper form by the recipient through an automated process used in conventional commercial practice only if (i) the electronic transmission is otherwise retrievable in perceivable form, and (ii) the sender and the recipient have consented in writing to the use of such form of electronic transmission.
(k) If this chapter prescribes requirements for notices or other communications in particular circumstances, those requirements govern. If the certificate of incorporation or bylaws prescribe requirements for notices or other communications, not inconsistent with this section or other provisions of this chapter, those requirements govern. The certificate of incorporation or bylaws may authorize or require delivery of notices of meetings of directors by electronic transmission.
(l) In the event that any provisions of this chapter are deemed to modify, limit, or supersede the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. §§7001 et seq., the provisions of this chapter shall control to the maximum extent permitted by Section 102(a)(2) of that federal act.
(m) Whenever a notice or communication would otherwise be required to be given under this chapter to a stockholder, the notice or communication need not be given if the corporation is not permitted to deliver the notice or communication by electronic transmission pursuant to subsections (d) and (e) and:

(1) notices and communications to stockholders of two consecutive annual meetings, and all notices and communications of meetings during the period between those two consecutive annual meetings, have been sent to that stockholder at that stockholder’s address included in the record of stockholders maintained pursuant to Section 10A-2A-16.01(d) and have been returned undeliverable or could not be delivered; or
(2) all, but not less than two, distributions to stockholders during a 12-month period, or two consecutive distributions to stockholders during a period of more than 12 months, have been sent to that stockholder at that stockholder’s address included in the record of stockholders maintained pursuant to Section 10A-2A-16.01(d) and have been returned undeliverable or could not be delivered; or
(3) no address has been provided to the corporation by or on behalf of a stockholder and the corporation has not otherwise obtained an address for that stockholder it believes to be reliable.

In addition, if any stockholder to which this subsection (m) applies delivers to the corporation a written notice or communication setting forth that stockholder’s then-current address, the requirement that notice and communication be given to that stockholder shall be reinstated.

(n) Whenever a notice or communication is required to be given, under this chapter or the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of any corporation, to any person with whom notice to or communication with is unlawful, the giving of the notice or communication to that person shall not be required and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental authority or agency for a license or permit to give the notice or communication to that person. Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice or communication to the person with whom notice to or communication with is unlawful shall have the same force and effect as if the notice or communication had been duly given. In the event that the action taken by the corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate or other filing instrument under any other sections of this chapter, the certificate or other filing instrument shall state, if that is the fact and if notice or communication is required, that notice or communication was given to all persons entitled to receive notice or communication except those persons with whom notice to or communication with is unlawful.
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