Current through 2024 NY Law Chapter 553
Section 602 - Meetings of shareholders(a)[Multiple versions] Meetings of shareholders may be held at such place, within or without this state, as may be fixed by or under the by-laws, or if not so fixed, as determined by the board of directors. For the duration of the state disaster emergency declared by executive order two hundred two that began on March seventh, two thousand twenty, or until December thirty-first, two thousand twenty-one, whichever is later, if, pursuant to this paragraph or the by-laws of the corporation, the board of directors is authorized to determine the place of a meeting of shareholders, the board of directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting be held solely by means of electronic communication, the platform/service of which shall be the place of the meeting for purpose of this article.(a)[Multiple versions] Meetings of shareholders may be held at such place, within or without this state, as may be fixed by or under the by-laws, or if not so fixed, as determined by the board of directors. If, pursuant to this paragraph or the by-laws of the corporation, the board of directors is authorized to determine the place of a meeting of shareholders, the board of directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting be held solely by means of electronic communication, the platform/service of which shall be the place of the meeting for purpose of this article.(b)(i) A corporation may, if authorized by the board of directors:(1) implement reasonable measures to provide shareholders not physically present at a shareholders' meeting a reasonable opportunity to participate in the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings; and/or (2) provide reasonable measures to enable shareholders to vote or grant proxies with respect to matters submitted to the shareholders at a shareholders' meeting by means of electronic communication; provided that the corporation shall, if applicable, (A) implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of electronic communication is a shareholder of record and (B) keep a record of any vote or other action taken by a shareholder participating and voting by means of electronic communications at a shareholders' meeting. A shareholder participating in a shareholders' meeting by this means is deemed to be present in person at the meeting.(ii) Nothing required in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall limit, restrict or supersede other forms of voting and participation.(iii) For purposes of this paragraph, "reasonable measures" with respect to participating in proceedings shall include, but not be limited to, audio webcast or other broadcast of the meeting and for voting shall include but not be limited to telephonic and internet voting.(c) A meeting of shareholders shall be held annually for the election of directors and the transaction of other business on a date fixed by or under the by-laws. A failure to hold the annual meeting on the date so fixed or to elect a sufficient number of directors to conduct the business of the corporation shall not work a forfeiture or give cause for dissolution of the corporation, except as provided in paragraph (c) of section 1104 (Petition in case of deadlock among directors or shareholders).(d) Special meetings of the shareholders may be called by the board and by such person or persons as may be so authorized by the certificate of incorporation or the by-laws. At any such special meeting only such business may be transacted which is related to the purpose or purposes set forth in the notice required by section 605 (Notice of meetings of shareholders).(e) Except as otherwise required by this chapter, the by-laws may designate reasonable procedures for the calling and conduct of a meeting of shareholders, including but not limited to specifying: (i) who may call and who may conduct the meeting, (ii) the means by which the order of business to be conducted shall be established, (iii) the procedures and requirements for the nomination of directors, (iv) the procedures with respect to the making of shareholder proposals, and (v) the procedures to be established for the adjournment of any meeting of shareholders. No amendment of the by-laws pertaining to the election of directors or the procedures for the calling and conduct of a meeting of shareholders shall affect the election of directors or the procedures for the calling or conduct in respect of any meeting of shareholders unless adequate notice thereof is given to the shareholders in a manner reasonably calculated to provide shareholders with sufficient time to respond thereto prior to such meeting. N.Y. Bus. Corp. Law § 602
Amended by New York Laws 2021, ch. 588, Secs. 2, 6 eff. 11/8/2021.Amended by New York Laws 2021, ch. 98, Sec. 2, eff. 4/6/2021.Amended by New York Laws 2020, ch. 122, Sec. 2, eff. 6/17/2020, exp. 12/31/2021.Amended by New York Laws 2019, ch. 384, Sec. 1, eff. 10/23/2019.