Arizona Laws 10-3833. Liability for unlawful distributions
A. A director who votes for or assents to a distribution made in violation of sections 10-11301 and 10-11302 or the articles of incorporation is personally liable to the corporation for the amount of the distribution that exceeds what could have been distributed without violating sections 10-11301 and 10-11302 or the articles of incorporation if it is established that the director’s duties were not performed in compliance with section 10-3830.
Terms Used In Arizona Laws 10-3833
- Action: includes any matter or proceeding in a court, civil or criminal. See Arizona Laws 1-215
- Articles of incorporation: means the original or restated articles of incorporation or articles of merger and all amendments to the articles of incorporation or merger and includes amended and restated articles of incorporation and articles of amendment and merger. See Arizona Laws 10-140
- Board of directors: means the group of persons vested with the management of the affairs of the corporation irrespective of the name by which the group is designated and includes the governing body or bodies of a water users' association if the articles of incorporation of the water users' association provide for a governing body or bodies denominated other than as a board of directors. See Arizona Laws 10-140
- Business day: means a day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or any other legal holiday in this state. See Arizona Laws 10-140
- 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.
- Distribution: means a direct or indirect transfer of money or other property, except its own shares, or incurrence of indebtedness by a corporation to or for the benefit of its shareholders in respect of any of its shares. See Arizona Laws 10-140
- Person: includes an individual and entity. See Arizona Laws 10-140
- Proceeding: includes a civil suit and a criminal, administrative and investigatory action. See Arizona Laws 10-140
- Secretary: means that officer designated as the secretary in the articles of incorporation or bylaws or that officer authorized in the articles of incorporation, the bylaws or otherwise to perform the functions of secretary, irrespective of the name by which designated. See Arizona Laws 10-140
- written: includes blockchain technology as defined in section 44-7061. See Arizona Laws 10-140
B. A director of a corporation who is present at a meeting of its board of directors at which action on any distribution in violation of section 10-11301 is taken is presumed to have assented to the action taken unless his dissent is entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless he files his written dissent to the action with the secretary of the meeting before the adjournment of the meeting or forwards the dissent by registered or certified mail to the secretary of the corporation before 5:00 p.m. of the next business day after the adjournment of the meeting. The right to dissent does not apply to a director who voted in favor of the action.
C. A director who is held liable under subsection A of this section for an unlawful distribution is entitled to contribution from:
1. Every other director who could be held liable under subsection A of this section for the unlawful distribution.
2. Each person who received an unlawful distribution for the amount of the distribution whether or not the person receiving the distribution knew it was made in violation of sections 10-11301 and 10-11302 or the articles of incorporation.
D. A proceeding under this section is barred unless it is commenced within two years after the date on which the distribution is made.