16601.

 Any person who sells the goodwill of a business, or any owner of a business entity selling or otherwise disposing of all of his or her ownership interest in the business entity, or any owner of a business entity that sells (a) all or substantially all of its operating assets together with the goodwill of the business entity, (b) all or substantially all of the operating assets of a division or a subsidiary of the business entity together with the goodwill of that division or subsidiary, or (c) all of the ownership interest of any subsidiary, may agree with the buyer to refrain from carrying on a similar business within a specified geographic area in which the business so sold, or that of the business entity, division, or subsidiary has been carried on, so long as the buyer, or any person deriving title to the goodwill or ownership interest from the buyer, carries on a like business therein.

For the purposes of this section, “business entity” means any partnership (including a limited partnership or a limited liability partnership), limited liability company (including a series of a limited liability company formed under the laws of a jurisdiction that recognizes such a series), or corporation.

For the purposes of this section, “owner of a business entity” means any partner, in the case of a business entity that is a partnership (including a limited partnership or a limited liability partnership), or any member, in the case of a business entity that is a limited liability company (including a series of a limited liability company formed under the laws of a jurisdiction that recognizes such a series), or any owner of capital stock, in the case of a business entity that is a corporation.

For the purposes of this section, “ownership interest” means a partnership interest, in the case of a business entity that is a partnership (including a limited partnership a limited liability partnership), a membership interest, in the case of a business entity that is a limited liability company (including a series of a limited liability company formed under the laws of a jurisdiction that recognizes such a series), or a capital stockholder, in the case of a business entity that is a corporation.

For the purposes of this section, “subsidiary” means any business entity over which the selling business entity has voting control or from which the selling business entity has a right to receive a majority share of distributions upon dissolution or other liquidation of the business entity (or has both voting control and a right to receive these distributions.)

16602.5.

 Any member may, upon or in anticipation of a dissolution of, or the termination of his or her interest in, a limited liability company (including a series of a limited liability company formed under the laws of a jurisdiction recognizing such a series), agree that he or she or it will not carry on a similar business within a specified geographic area where the limited liability company business has been transacted, so long as any other member of the limited liability company, or any person deriving title to the business or its goodwill from any such other member of the limited liability company, carries on a like business therein.

17900.

 (a) As used in this chapter, “fictitious business name” means:

(1) In the case of an individual, a name that does not include the surname of the individual or a name that suggests the existence of additional owners.

(2) In the case of a partnership or other association of persons, other than a limited partnership that has filed a certificate of limited partnership with the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 15621 or 15902.01 of the Corporations Code, a foreign limited partnership that has filed an application for registration with the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 15692 or 15909.02 of the Corporations Code, a registered limited liability partnership that has filed a registration pursuant to Section 15049 or 16953 of the Corporations Code, or a foreign limited liability partnership that has filed an application for registration pursuant to Section 15055 or 16959 of the Corporations Code, a name that does not include the surname of each general partner or a name that suggests the existence of additional owners.

(3) In the case of a corporation, any name other than the corporate name stated in its articles of incorporation.

(4) In the case of a limited partnership that has filed a certificate of limited partnership with the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 15621 or 15902.01 of the Corporations Code and in the case of a foreign limited partnership that has filed an application for registration with the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 15692 or 15902.02 of the Corporations Code, any name other than the name of the limited partnership as on file with the Secretary of State.

(5) In the case of a limited liability company, any name other than the name stated in its articles of organization and in the case of a foreign limited liability company that has filed an application for registration with the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 17451 of the Corporations Code, any name other than the name of the limited liability company as on file with the Secretary of State.

(b) A name that suggests the existence of additional owners within the meaning of subdivision (a) is one which includes such words as “Company,” “& Company,” “& Son,” “& Sons,” “& Associates,” “Brothers,” and the like, but not words that merely describe the business being conducted.

167.5.

 “Domestic limited partnership” means any limited partnership formed under the laws of this state.

171.05.

 “Foreign limited partnership” means any limited partnership, including a limited liability limited partnership, formed under the laws of any state other than this state or of the District of Columbia or under the laws of a foreign country.

1107.5.

 (a) Upon merger pursuant to this chapter, a surviving domestic or foreign corporation or other business entity shall be deemed to have assumed the liability of each disappearing domestic or foreign corporation or other business entity that is taxed under Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001) of, or under Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001) of, Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code for the following:

(1) To prepare and file, or to cause to be prepared and filed, tax and information returns otherwise required of that disappearing entity as specified in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 18501) of Part 10.2 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(2) To pay any tax liability determined to be due.

(b) Notwithstanding Sections 1103, 1108, 1110, 1113, 6014, 6018, 6019.1, 8014, 8018, 8019.1, 12535, 12539, 12540.1, 15678.4, 15911.14, and 17552 of this code and Sections 17945, 17948.1, and 23334 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, if the surviving entity is a domestic limited liability company, domestic corporation, or registered limited liability partnership or a foreign limited liability company, foreign limited liability partnership, or foreign corporation that is registered or qualified to do business in California, the Secretary of State shall file the merger without the certificate of satisfaction of the Franchise Tax Board and shall notify the Franchise Tax Board of the merger.

1107.5.

 (a) Upon merger pursuant to this chapter, a surviving domestic or foreign corporation or other business entity shall be deemed to have assumed the liability of each disappearing domestic or foreign corporation or other business entity that is taxed under Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001) of, or under Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001) of, Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code for the following:

(1) To prepare and file, or to cause to be prepared and filed, tax and information returns otherwise required of that disappearing entity as specified in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 18501) of Part 10.2 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(2) To pay any tax liability determined to be due.

(b) If the surviving entity is a domestic limited liability company, domestic corporation, or registered limited liability partnership or a foreign limited liability company, foreign limited liability partnership, or foreign corporation that is registered or qualified to do business in California, the Secretary of State shall notify the Franchise Tax Board of the merger.

1113.

 (a) Any one or more corporations may merge with one or more other business entities (Section 174.5). One or more domestic corporations (Section 167) not organized under this division and one or more foreign corporations (Section 171) may be parties to the merger. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the merger of any number of corporations with any number of other business entities may be effected only if:

(1) In a merger in which a domestic corporation not organized under this division or a domestic other business entity is a party, it is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(2) In a merger in which a foreign corporation is a party, it is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(3) In a merger in which a foreign other business entity is a party, it is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(b) Each corporation and each other party which desires to merge shall approve, and shall be a party to, an agreement of merger. Other persons, including a parent party (Section 1200), may be parties to the agreement of merger. The board of each corporation which desires to merge, and, if required the shareholders, shall approve the agreement of merger. The agreement of merger shall be approved on behalf of each party by those persons required to approve the merger by the laws under which it is organized. The agreement of merger shall state:

(1) The terms and conditions of the merger.

(2) The name and place of incorporation or organization of each party to the merger and the identity of the surviving party.

(3) The amendments, if any, subject to Sections 900 and 907, to the articles of the surviving corporation, if applicable, to be effected by the merger. If any amendment changes the name of the surviving corporation, if applicable, the new name may be, subject to subdivision (b) of Section 201, the same as or similar to the name of a disappearing party to the merger.

(4) The manner of converting the shares of each constituent corporation into shares, interests, or other securities of the surviving party. If any shares of any constituent corporation are not to be converted solely into shares, interests or other securities of the surviving party, the agreement of merger shall state (i) the cash, rights, securities, or other property which the holders of those shares are to receive in exchange for the shares, which cash, rights, securities, or other property may be in addition to or in lieu of shares, interests or other securities of the surviving party, or (ii) that the shares are canceled without consideration.

(5) Any other details or provisions required by the laws under which any party to the merger is organized, including, if a public benefit corporation or a religious corporation is a party to the merger, Section 6019.1, or, if a mutual benefit corporation is a party to the merger, Section 8019.1, or, if a consumer cooperative corporation is a party to the merger, Section 12540.1, or, if a domestic limited partnership is a party to the merger, Section 15678.2 or 15911.12, or, if a domestic partnership is a party to the merger, Section 16911, or, if a domestic limited liability company is a party to the merger, Section 17551.

(6) Any other details or provisions as are desired, including, without limitation, a provision for the payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares or for any other arrangement with respect thereto consistent with the provisions of Section 407.

(c) Each share of the same class or series of any constituent corporation (other than the cancellation of shares held by a party to the merger or its parent, or a wholly owned subsidiary of either, in another constituent corporation) shall, unless all shareholders of the class or series consent and except as provided in Section 407, be treated equally with respect to any distribution of cash, rights, securities, or other property. Notwithstanding paragraph (4) of subdivision (b), the unredeemable common shares of a constituent corporation may be converted only into unredeemable common shares of a surviving corporation or a parent party (Section 1200) or unredeemable equity securities of a surviving party other than a corporation if another party to the merger or its parent owns, directly or indirectly, prior to the merger shares of that corporation representing more than 50 percent of the voting power of that corporation, unless all of the shareholders of the class consent and except as provided in Section 407.

(d) Notwithstanding its prior approval, an agreement of merger may be amended prior to the filing of the agreement of merger or the certificate of merger, as is applicable, if the amendment is approved by the board of each constituent corporation and, if the amendment changes any of the principal terms of the agreement, by the outstanding shares (Section 152), if required by Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 1200), in the same manner as the original agreement of merger. If the agreement of merger as so amended and approved is also approved by each of the other parties to the agreement of merger, the agreement of merger as so amended shall then constitute the agreement of merger.

(e) The board of a constituent corporation may, in its discretion, abandon a merger, subject to the contractual rights, if any, of third parties, including other parties to the agreement of merger, without further approval by the outstanding shares (Section 152), at any time before the merger is effective.

(f) Each constituent corporation shall sign the agreement of merger by its chairperson of the board, president or a vice president and also by its secretary or an assistant secretary acting on behalf of their respective corporations.

(g) (1) If the surviving party is a corporation or a foreign corporation, or if a public benefit corporation (Section 5060), a mutual benefit corporation (Section 5059), a religious corporation (Section 5061), or a corporation organized under the Consumer Cooperative Corporation Law (Section 12200) is a party to the merger, after required approvals of the merger by each constituent corporation through approval of the board (Section 151) and any approval of the outstanding shares (Section 152) required by Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 1200) and by the other parties to the merger, the surviving party shall file a copy of the agreement of merger with an officers’ certificate of each constituent domestic and foreign corporation attached stating the total number of outstanding shares or membership interests of each class entitled to vote on the merger (and identifying any other person or persons whose approval is required), that the agreement of merger in the form attached or its principal terms, as required, were approved by that corporation by a vote of a number of shares or membership interests of each class that equaled or exceeded the vote required, specifying each class entitled to vote and the percentage vote required of each class and, if applicable, by that other person or persons whose approval is required, or that the merger agreement was entitled to be and was approved by the board alone (as provided in Section 1201, in the case of corporations subject to that section). If equity securities of a parent party (Section 1200) are to be issued in the merger, the officers’ certificate of that controlled party shall state either that no vote of the shareholders of the parent party was required or that the required vote was obtained. In lieu of an officers’ certificate, a certificate of merger, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, shall be filed for each constituent other business entity. The certificate of merger shall be executed and acknowledged by each domestic constituent limited liability company by all managers of the limited liability company (unless a lesser number is specified in its articles of organization or operating agreement) and by each domestic constituent limited partnership by all general partners (unless a lesser number is provided in its certificate of limited partnership or partnership agreement) and by each domestic constituent general partnership by two partners (unless a lesser number is provided in its partnership agreement) and by each foreign constituent limited liability company by one or more managers and by each foreign constituent general partnership or foreign constituent limited partnership by one or more general partners, and by each constituent reciprocal insurer by the chairperson of the board, president, or vice president, and by the secretary or assistant secretary, or, if a constituent reciprocal insurer has not appointed those officers, by the chairperson of the board, president, or vice president, and by the secretary or assistant secretary of the constituent reciprocal insurer’s attorney-in-fact, and by each other party to the merger by those persons required or authorized to execute the certificate of merger by the laws under which that party is organized, specifying for that party the provision of law or other basis for the authority of the signing persons. The certificate of merger shall set forth, if a vote of the shareholders, members, partners, or other holders of interests of the constituent other business entity was required, a statement setting forth the total number of outstanding interests of each class entitled to vote on the merger and that the agreement of merger in the form attached or its principal terms, as required, were approved by a vote of the number of interests of each class that equaled or exceeded the vote required, specifying each class entitled to vote and the percentage vote required of each class, and any other information required to be set forth under the laws under which the constituent other business entity is organized, including, if a domestic limited partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 15678.4 or subdivision (a) of Section 15911.14, if a domestic partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (b) of Section 16915, and, if a domestic limited liability company is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 17552. The certificate of merger for each constituent foreign other business entity, if any, shall also set forth the statutory or other basis under which that foreign other business entity is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger. The merger and any amendment of the articles of the surviving corporation, if applicable, contained in the agreement of merger shall be effective upon filing of the agreement of merger with an officer’s certificate of each constituent domestic and foreign corporation and a certificate of merger for each constituent other business entity, subject to subdivision (c) of Section 110 and subject to the provisions of subdivision (j), and the several parties thereto shall be one entity. The agreement of merger shall not be filed, however, until there has been filed by or on behalf of each party to the merger taxed under the Corporation Tax Law, the existence of which is terminated by the merger, the certificate of satisfaction of the Franchise Tax Board that all taxes imposed by that law have been paid or secured. If a domestic reciprocal insurer organized after 1974 to provide medical malpractice insurance is a party to the merger, the agreement of merger or certificate of merger shall not be filed until there has been filed the certificate issued by the Insurance Commissioner approving the merger pursuant to Section 1555 of the Insurance Code. The Secretary of State may certify a copy of the agreement of merger separate from the officers’ certificates and certificates of merger attached thereto.

(2) If the surviving entity is an other business entity, and no public benefit corporation (Section 5060), mutual benefit corporation (Section 5059), religious corporation (Section 5061), or corporation organized under the Consumer Cooperative Corporation Law (Section 12200) is a party to the merger, after required approvals of the merger by each constituent corporation through approval of the board (Section 151) and any approval of the outstanding shares (Section 152) required by Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 1200) and by the other parties to the merger, the parties to the merger shall file a certificate of merger in the office of, and on a form prescribed by, the Secretary of State. The certificate of merger shall be executed and acknowledged by each constituent domestic and foreign corporation by its chairperson of the board, president or a vice president and also by its secretary or an assistant secretary and by each domestic constituent limited liability company by all managers of the limited liability company (unless a lesser number is specified in its articles of organization or operating agreement) and by each domestic constituent limited partnership by all general partners (unless a lesser number is provided in its certificate of limited partnership or partnership agreement) and by each domestic constituent general partnership by two partners (unless a lesser number is provided in its partnership agreement) and by each foreign constituent limited liability company by one or more managers and by each foreign constituent general partnership or foreign constituent limited partnership by one or more general partners, and by each constituent reciprocal insurer by the chairperson of the board, president, or vice president, and by the secretary or assistant secretary, or, if a constituent reciprocal insurer has not appointed those officers, by the chairperson of the board, president, or vice president, and by the secretary or assistant secretary of the constituent reciprocal insurer’s attorney-in-fact. The certificate of merger shall be signed by each other party to the merger by those persons required or authorized to execute the certificate of merger by the laws under which that party is organized, specifying for that party the provision of law or other basis for the authority of the signing persons. The certificate of merger shall set forth all of the following:

(A) The name, place of incorporation or organization, and the Secretary of State’s file number, if any, of each party to the merger, separately identifying the disappearing parties and the surviving party.

(B) If the approval of the outstanding shares of a constituent corporation was required by Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 1200), a statement setting forth the total number of outstanding shares of each class entitled to vote on the merger and that the principal terms of the agreement of merger were approved by a vote of the number of shares of each class entitled to vote and the percentage vote required of each class.

(C) The future effective date or time, not more than 90 days subsequent to the date of filing of the merger, if the merger is not to be effective upon the filing of the certificate of merger with the office of the Secretary of State.

(D) A statement, by each party to the merger which is a domestic corporation not organized under this division, a foreign corporation, or an other business entity, of the statutory or other basis under which that party is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(E) Any other information required to be stated in the certificate of merger by the laws under which each party to the merger is organized, including, if a domestic limited liability company is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 17552, if a domestic partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (b) of Section 16915, and, if a domestic limited partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 15678.4 or subdivision (a) of Section 15911.14.

(F) Any other details or provisions that may be desired.

Unless a future effective date or time is provided in a certificate of merger, in which event the merger shall be effective at that future effective date or time, a merger shall be effective upon the filing of the certificate of merger in the office of the Secretary of State and the several parties thereto shall be one entity. The certificate of merger shall not be filed, however, until there has been filed by or on behalf of each party to the merger that is taxed under the Corporation Tax Law, the existence of which is terminated by the merger, the certificate of satisfaction of the Franchise Tax Board that all taxes imposed by the Corporation Tax Law have been paid or secured. The surviving other business entity shall keep a copy of the agreement of merger at its principal place of business which, for purposes of this subdivision, shall be the office referred to in Section 17057 if a domestic limited liability company, at the business address specified in paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 17552 if a foreign limited liability company, at the office referred to in subdivision (a) of Section 16403 if a domestic general partnership, at the business address specified in subdivision (f) of Section 16911 if a foreign partnership, at the office referred to in subdivision (a) of Section 15614 or in subdivision (a) of Section 15901.14 if a domestic limited partnership, or at the business address specified in paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 15678.4 or in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 15909.02 if a foreign limited partnership. Upon the request of a holder of equity securities of a party to the merger, a person with authority to do so on behalf of the surviving other business entity shall promptly deliver to that holder, a copy of the agreement of merger. A waiver by that holder of the rights provided in the foregoing sentence shall be unenforceable. If a domestic reciprocal insurer organized after 1974 to provide medical malpractice insurance is a party to the merger, the agreement of merger or certificate of merger shall not be filed until there has been filed the certificate issued by the Insurance Commissioner approving the merger in accordance with Section 1555 of the Insurance Code.

(h) (1) A copy of an agreement of merger certified on or after the effective date by an official having custody thereof has the same force in evidence as the original and, except as against the state, is conclusive evidence of the performance of all conditions precedent to the merger, the existence on the effective date of the surviving party to the merger and the performance of the conditions necessary to the adoption of any amendment to the articles, if applicable, contained in the agreement of merger.

(2) For all purposes for a merger in which the surviving entity is a domestic other business entity and the filing of a certificate of merger is required by paragraph (2) of subdivision (g), a copy of the certificate of merger duly certified by the Secretary of State is conclusive evidence of the merger of the constituent corporations, either by themselves or together with the other parties to the merger, into the surviving other business entity.

(i) (1) Upon a merger pursuant to this section, the separate existences of the disappearing parties to the merger cease and the surviving party to the merger shall succeed, without other transfer, to all the rights and property of each of the disappearing parties to the merger and shall be subject to all the debts and liabilities of each in the same manner as if the surviving party to the merger had itself incurred them.

(2) All rights of creditors and all liens upon the property of each of the constituent corporations and other parties to the merger shall be preserved unimpaired, provided that those liens upon property of a disappearing party shall be limited to the property affected thereby immediately prior to the time the merger is effective.

(3) Any action or proceeding pending by or against any disappearing corporation or disappearing party to the merger may be prosecuted to judgment, which shall bind the surviving party, or the surviving party may be proceeded against or substituted in its place.

(4) If a limited partnership or a general partnership is a party to the merger, nothing in this section is intended to affect the liability a general partner of a disappearing limited partnership or general partnership may have in connection with the debts and liabilities of the disappearing limited partnership or general partnership existing prior to the time the merger is effective.

(j) (1) The merger of domestic corporations with foreign corporations or foreign other business entities in a merger in which one or more other business entities is a party shall comply with subdivision (a) and this subdivision.

(2) If the surviving party is a domestic corporation or domestic other business entity, the merger proceedings with respect to that party and any domestic disappearing corporation shall conform to the provisions of this section. If the surviving party is a foreign corporation or foreign other business entity, then, subject to the requirements of subdivision (c), and of Section 407 and Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 1200) and Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 1300), and, if applicable, corresponding provisions of the Nonprofit Corporation Law or the Consumer Cooperative Corporation Law, with respect to any domestic constituent corporations, Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 17600) of Title 2.5 with respect to any domestic constituent limited liability companies, Article 6 (commencing with Section 16601) of Chapter 5 of Title 2 with respect to any domestic constituent general partnerships, and Article 7.6 (commencing with Section 15679.1) of Chapter 3, and Article 11.5 (commencing with Section 15911.20) of Chapter 5.5, of Title 2 with respect to any domestic constituent limited partnerships, the merger proceedings may be in accordance with the laws of the state or place of incorporation or organization of the surviving party.

(3) If the surviving party is a domestic corporation or domestic other business entity, the certificate of merger or the agreement of merger with attachments shall be filed as provided in subdivision (g) and thereupon, subject to subdivision (c) of Section 110 or paragraph (2) of subdivision (g), as is applicable, the merger shall be effective as to each domestic constituent corporation and domestic constituent other business entity.

(4) If the surviving party is a foreign corporation or foreign other business entity, the merger shall become effective in accordance with the law of the jurisdiction in which the surviving party is organized, but, except as provided in paragraph (5), the merger shall be effective as to any domestic disappearing corporation as of the time of effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction upon the filing in this state of a copy of the agreement of merger with an officers’ certificate of each constituent foreign and domestic corporation and a certificate of merger of each constituent other business entity attached, which officers’ certificates and certificates of merger shall conform to the requirements of paragraph (1) of subdivision (g). If one or more domestic other business entities is a disappearing party in a merger pursuant to this subdivision in which a foreign other business entity is the surviving entity, a certificate of merger required by the laws under which that domestic other business entity is organized, including subdivision (a) of Section 15678.4, subdivision (a) of Section 15911.14, subdivision (b) of Section 16915, or subdivision (a) of Section 17552, as is applicable, shall also be filed at the same time as the filing of the agreement of merger.

(5) If the date of the filing in this state pursuant to this subdivision is more than six months after the time of the effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction, or if the powers of a domestic disappearing corporation are suspended at the time of effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction, the merger shall be effective as to the domestic disappearing corporation as of the date of filing in this state.

(6) In a merger described in paragraph (3) or (4), each foreign disappearing corporation that is qualified for the transaction of intrastate business shall by virtue of the filing pursuant to this subdivision, subject to subdivision (c) of Section 110, automatically surrender its right to transact intrastate business in this state. The filing of the agreement of merger or certificate of merger, as is applicable, pursuant to this subdivision, by a disappearing foreign other business entity registered for the transaction of intrastate business in this state shall, by virtue of that filing, subject to subdivision (c) of Section 110, automatically cancels the registration for that foreign other business entity, without the necessity of the filing of a certificate of cancellation.

(7) A certificate of satisfaction of the Franchise Tax Board for each disappearing party to the merger shall be filed when required by subdivision (g) or when required by Section 23334 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

1113.

 (a) Any one or more corporations may merge with one or more other business entities (Section 174.5). One or more domestic corporations (Section 167) not organized under this division and one or more foreign corporations (Section 171) may be parties to the merger. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the merger of any number of corporations with any number of other business entities may be effected only if:

(1) In a merger in which a domestic corporation not organized under this division or a domestic other business entity is a party, it is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(2) In a merger in which a foreign corporation is a party, it is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(3) In a merger in which a foreign other business entity is a party, it is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(b) Each corporation and each other party which desires to merge shall approve, and shall be a party to, an agreement of merger. Other persons, including a parent party (Section 1200), may be parties to the agreement of merger. The board of each corporation which desires to merge, and, if required the shareholders, shall approve the agreement of merger. The agreement of merger shall be approved on behalf of each party by those persons required to approve the merger by the laws under which it is organized. The agreement of merger shall state:

(1) The terms and conditions of the merger.

(2) The name and place of incorporation or organization of each party to the merger and the identity of the surviving party.

(3) The amendments, if any, subject to Sections 900 and 907, to the articles of the surviving corporation, if applicable, to be effected by the merger. If any amendment changes the name of the surviving corporation, if applicable, the new name may be, subject to subdivision (b) of Section 201, the same as or similar to the name of a disappearing party to the merger.

(4) The manner of converting the shares of each constituent corporation into shares, interests, or other securities of the surviving party. If any shares of any constituent corporation are not to be converted solely into shares, interests or other securities of the surviving party, the agreement of merger shall state (i) the cash, rights, securities, or other property which the holders of those shares are to receive in exchange for the shares, which cash, rights, securities, or other property may be in addition to or in lieu of shares, interests or other securities of the surviving party, or (ii) that the shares are canceled without consideration.

(5) Any other details or provisions required by the laws under which any party to the merger is organized, including, if a public benefit corporation or a religious corporation is a party to the merger, Section 6019.1, or, if a mutual benefit corporation is a party to the merger, Section 8019.1, or, if a consumer cooperative corporation is a party to the merger, Section 12540.1, or, if a domestic limited partnership is a party to the merger, Section 15678.2 or 15911.12, or, if a domestic partnership is a party to the merger, Section 16911, or, if a domestic limited liability company is a party to the merger, Section 17551.

(6) Any other details or provisions as are desired, including, without limitation, a provision for the payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares or for any other arrangement with respect thereto consistent with the provisions of Section 407.

(c) Each share of the same class or series of any constituent corporation (other than the cancellation of shares held by a party to the merger or its parent, or a wholly owned subsidiary of either, in another constituent corporation) shall, unless all shareholders of the class or series consent and except as provided in Section 407, be treated equally with respect to any distribution of cash, rights, securities, or other property. Notwithstanding paragraph (4) of subdivision (b), the unredeemable common shares of a constituent corporation may be converted only into unredeemable common shares of a surviving corporation or a parent party (Section 1200) or unredeemable equity securities of a surviving party other than a corporation if another party to the merger or its parent owns, directly or indirectly, prior to the merger shares of that corporation representing more than 50 percent of the voting power of that corporation, unless all of the shareholders of the class consent and except as provided in Section 407.

(d) Notwithstanding its prior approval, an agreement of merger may be amended prior to the filing of the agreement of merger or the certificate of merger, as is applicable, if the amendment is approved by the board of each constituent corporation and, if the amendment changes any of the principal terms of the agreement, by the outstanding shares (Section 152), if required by Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 1200), in the same manner as the original agreement of merger. If the agreement of merger as so amended and approved is also approved by each of the other parties to the agreement of merger, the agreement of merger as so amended shall then constitute the agreement of merger.

(e) The board of a constituent corporation may, in its discretion, abandon a merger, subject to the contractual rights, if any, of third parties, including other parties to the agreement of merger, without further approval by the outstanding shares (Section 152), at any time before the merger is effective.

(f) Each constituent corporation shall sign the agreement of merger by its chairperson of the board, president or a vice president and also by its secretary or an assistant secretary acting on behalf of their respective corporations.

(g) (1) If the surviving party is a corporation or a foreign corporation, or if a public benefit corporation (Section 5060), a mutual benefit corporation (Section 5059), a religious corporation (Section 5061), or a corporation organized under the Consumer Cooperative Corporation Law (Section 12200) is a party to the merger, after required approvals of the merger by each constituent corporation through approval of the board (Section 151) and any approval of the outstanding shares (Section 152) required by Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 1200) and by the other parties to the merger, the surviving party shall file a copy of the agreement of merger with an officers’ certificate of each constituent domestic and foreign corporation attached stating the total number of outstanding shares or membership interests of each class entitled to vote on the merger (and identifying any other person or persons whose approval is required), that the agreement of merger in the form attached or its principal terms, as required, were approved by that corporation by a vote of a number of shares or membership interests of each class that equaled or exceeded the vote required, specifying each class entitled to vote and the percentage vote required of each class and, if applicable, by that other person or persons whose approval is required, or that the merger agreement was entitled to be and was approved by the board alone (as provided in Section 1201, in the case of corporations subject to that section). If equity securities of a parent party (Section 1200) are to be issued in the merger, the officers’ certificate of that controlled party shall state either that no vote of the shareholders of the parent party was required or that the required vote was obtained. In lieu of an officers’ certificate, a certificate of merger, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, shall be filed for each constituent other business entity. The certificate of merger shall be executed and acknowledged by each domestic constituent limited liability company by all managers of the limited liability company (unless a lesser number is specified in its articles of organization or operating agreement) and by each domestic constituent limited partnership by all general partners (unless a lesser number is provided in its certificate of limited partnership or partnership agreement) and by each domestic constituent general partnership by two partners (unless a lesser number is provided in its partnership agreement) and by each foreign constituent limited liability company by one or more managers and by each foreign constituent general partnership or foreign constituent limited partnership by one or more general partners, and by each constituent reciprocal insurer by the chairperson of the board, president, or vice president, and by the secretary or assistant secretary, or, if a constituent reciprocal insurer has not appointed those officers, by the chairperson of the board, president, or vice president, and by the secretary or assistant secretary of the constituent reciprocal insurer’s attorney-in-fact, and by each other party to the merger by those persons required or authorized to execute the certificate of merger by the laws under which that party is organized, specifying for that party the provision of law or other basis for the authority of the signing persons. The certificate of merger shall set forth, if a vote of the shareholders, members, partners, or other holders of interests of the constituent other business entity was required, a statement setting forth the total number of outstanding interests of each class entitled to vote on the merger and that the agreement of merger in the form attached or its principal terms, as required, were approved by a vote of the number of interests of each class that equaled or exceeded the vote required, specifying each class entitled to vote and the percentage vote required of each class, and any other information required to be set forth under the laws under which the constituent other business entity is organized, including, if a domestic limited partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 15678.4 or subdivision (a) of Section 15911.14, if a domestic partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (b) of Section 16915, and, if a domestic limited liability company is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 17552. The certificate of merger for each constituent foreign other business entity, if any, shall also set forth the statutory or other basis under which that foreign other business entity is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger. The merger and any amendment of the articles of the surviving corporation, if applicable, contained in the agreement of merger shall be effective upon filing of the agreement of merger with an officer’s certificate of each constituent domestic and foreign corporation and a certificate of merger for each constituent other business entity, subject to subdivision (c) of Section 110 and subject to the provisions of subdivision (j), and the several parties thereto shall be one entity. If a domestic reciprocal insurer organized after 1974 to provide medical malpractice insurance is a party to the merger, the agreement of merger or certificate of merger shall not be filed until there has been filed the certificate issued by the Insurance Commissioner approving the merger pursuant to Section 1555 of the Insurance Code. The Secretary of State may certify a copy of the agreement of merger separate from the officers’ certificates and certificates of merger attached thereto.

(2) If the surviving entity is an other business entity, and no public benefit corporation (Section 5060), mutual benefit corporation (Section 5059), religious corporation (Section 5061), or corporation organized under the Consumer Cooperative Corporation Law (Section 12200) is a party to the merger, after required approvals of the merger by each constituent corporation through approval of the board (Section 151) and any approval of the outstanding shares (Section 152) required by Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 1200) and by the other parties to the merger, the parties to the merger shall file a certificate of merger in the office of, and on a form prescribed by, the Secretary of State. The certificate of merger shall be executed and acknowledged by each constituent domestic and foreign corporation by its chairperson of the board, president or a vice president and also by its secretary or an assistant secretary and by each domestic constituent limited liability company by all managers of the limited liability company (unless a lesser number is specified in its articles of organization or operating agreement) and by each domestic constituent limited partnership by all general partners (unless a lesser number is provided in its certificate of limited partnership or partnership agreement) and by each domestic constituent general partnership by two partners (unless a lesser number is provided in its partnership agreement) and by each foreign constituent limited liability company by one or more managers and by each foreign constituent general partnership or foreign constituent limited partnership by one or more general partners, and by each constituent reciprocal insurer by the chairperson of the board, president, or vice president, and by the secretary or assistant secretary, or, if a constituent reciprocal insurer has not appointed those officers, by the chairperson of the board, president, or vice president, and by the secretary or assistant secretary of the constituent reciprocal insurer’s attorney-in-fact. The certificate of merger shall be signed by each other party to the merger by those persons required or authorized to execute the certificate of merger by the laws under which that party is organized, specifying for that party the provision of law or other basis for the authority of the signing persons. The certificate of merger shall set forth all of the following:

(A) The name, place of incorporation or organization, and the Secretary of State’s file number, if any, of each party to the merger, separately identifying the disappearing parties and the surviving party.

(B) If the approval of the outstanding shares of a constituent corporation was required by Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 1200), a statement setting forth the total number of outstanding shares of each class entitled to vote on the merger and that the principal terms of the agreement of merger were approved by a vote of the number of shares of each class entitled to vote and the percentage vote required of each class.

(C) The future effective date or time, not more than 90 days subsequent to the date of filing of the merger, if the merger is not to be effective upon the filing of the certificate of merger with the office of the Secretary of State.

(D) A statement, by each party to the merger which is a domestic corporation not organized under this division, a foreign corporation, or an other business entity, of the statutory or other basis under which that party is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(E) Any other information required to be stated in the certificate of merger by the laws under which each party to the merger is organized, including, if a domestic limited liability company is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 17552, if a domestic partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (b) of Section 16915, and, if a domestic limited partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 15678.4 or subdivision (a) of Section 15911.14.

(F) Any other details or provisions that may be desired.

Unless a future effective date or time is provided in a certificate of merger, in which event the merger shall be effective at that future effective date or time, a merger shall be effective upon the filing of the certificate of merger in the office of the Secretary of State and the several parties thereto shall be one entity. The surviving other business entity shall keep a copy of the agreement of merger at its principal place of business which, for purposes of this subdivision, shall be the office referred to in Section 17057 if a domestic limited liability company, at the business address specified in paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 17552 if a foreign limited liability company, at the office referred to in subdivision (a) of Section 16403 if a domestic general partnership, at the business address specified in subdivision (f) of Section 16911 if a foreign partnership, at the office referred to in subdivision (a) of Section 15614 or in subdivision (a) of Section 15901.14 if a domestic limited partnership, or at the business address specified in paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 15678.4 or paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 15909.02 if a foreign limited partnership. Upon the request of a holder of equity securities of a party to the merger, a person with authority to do so on behalf of the surviving other business entity shall promptly deliver to that holder, a copy of the agreement of merger. A waiver by that holder of the rights provided in the foregoing sentence shall be unenforceable. If a domestic reciprocal insurer organized after 1974 to provide medical malpractice insurance is a party to the merger the agreement of merger or certificate of merger shall not be filed until there has been filed the certificate issued by the Insurance Commissioner approving the merger in accordance with Section 1555 of the Insurance Code.

(h) (1) A copy of an agreement of merger certified on or after the effective date by an official having custody thereof has the same force in evidence as the original and, except as against the state, is conclusive evidence of the performance of all conditions precedent to the merger, the existence on the effective date of the surviving party to the merger and the performance of the conditions necessary to the adoption of any amendment to the articles, if applicable, contained in the agreement of merger.

(2) For all purposes for a merger in which the surviving entity is a domestic other business entity and the filing of a certificate of merger is required by paragraph (2) of subdivision (g), a copy of the certificate of merger duly certified by the Secretary of State is conclusive evidence of the merger of the constituent corporations, either by themselves or together with the other parties to the merger, into the surviving other business entity.

(i) (1) Upon a merger pursuant to this section, the separate existences of the disappearing parties to the merger cease and the surviving party to the merger shall succeed, without other transfer, to all the rights and property of each of the disappearing parties to the merger and shall be subject to all the debts and liabilities of each in the same manner as if the surviving party to the merger had itself incurred them.

(2) All rights of creditors and all liens upon the property of each of the constituent corporations and other parties to the merger shall be preserved unimpaired, provided that those liens upon property of a disappearing party shall be limited to the property affected thereby immediately prior to the time the merger is effective.

(3) Any action or proceeding pending by or against any disappearing corporation or disappearing party to the merger may be prosecuted to judgment, which shall bind the surviving party, or the surviving party may be proceeded against or substituted in its place.

(4) If a limited partnership or a general partnership is a party to the merger, nothing in this section is intended to affect the liability a general partner of a disappearing limited partnership or general partnership may have in connection with the debts and liabilities of the disappearing limited partnership or general partnership existing prior to the time the merger is effective.

(j) (1) The merger of domestic corporations with foreign corporations or foreign other business entities in a merger in which one or more other business entities is a party shall comply with subdivision (a) and this subdivision.

(2) If the surviving party is a domestic corporation or domestic other business entity, the merger proceedings with respect to that party and any domestic disappearing corporation shall conform to the provisions of this section. If the surviving party is a foreign corporation or foreign other business entity, then, subject to the requirements of subdivision (c), and of Section 407 and Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 1200) and Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 1300), and, if applicable, corresponding provisions of the Nonprofit Corporation Law or the Consumer Cooperative Corporation Law, with respect to any domestic constituent corporations, Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 17600) of Title 2.5 with respect to any domestic constituent limited liability companies, Article 6 (commencing with Section 16601) of Chapter 5 of Title 2 with respect to any domestic constituent general partnerships, and Article 7.6 (commencing with Section 15679.1) of Chapter 3, and Article 11.5 (commencing with Section 15911.20) of Chapter 5.5 of Title 2 with respect to any domestic constituent limited partnerships, the merger proceedings may be in accordance with the laws of the state or place of incorporation or organization of the surviving party.

(3) If the surviving party is a domestic corporation or domestic other business entity, the certificate of merger or the agreement of merger with attachments shall be filed as provided in subdivision (g) and thereupon, subject to subdivision (c) of Section 110 or paragraph (2) of subdivision (g), as is applicable, the merger shall be effective as to each domestic constituent corporation and domestic constituent other business entity.

(4) If the surviving party is a foreign corporation or foreign other business entity, the merger shall become effective in accordance with the law of the jurisdiction in which the surviving party is organized, but, except as provided in paragraph (5), the merger shall be effective as to any domestic disappearing corporation as of the time of effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction upon the filing in this state of a copy of the agreement of merger with an officers’ certificate of each constituent foreign and domestic corporation and a certificate of merger of each constituent other business entity attached, which officers’ certificates and certificates of merger shall conform to the requirements of paragraph (1) of subdivision (g). If one or more domestic other business entities is a disappearing party in a merger pursuant to this subdivision in which a foreign other business entity is the surviving entity, a certificate of merger required by the laws under which that domestic other business entity is organized, including subdivision (a) of Section 15678.4, subdivision (a) of Section 15911.14, subdivision (b) of Section 16915, or subdivision (a) of Section 17552, as is applicable, shall also be filed at the same time as the filing of the agreement of merger.

(5) If the date of the filing in this state pursuant to this subdivision is more than six months after the time of the effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction, or if the powers of a domestic disappearing corporation are suspended at the time of effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction, the merger shall be effective as to the domestic disappearing corporation as of the date of filing in this state.

(6) In a merger described in paragraph (3) or (4), each foreign disappearing corporation that is qualified for the transaction of intrastate business shall by virtue of the filing pursuant to this subdivision, subject to subdivision (c) of Section 110, automatically surrender its right to transact intrastate business in this state. The filing of the agreement of merger or certificate of merger, as is applicable, pursuant to this subdivision, by a disappearing foreign other business entity registered for the transaction of intrastate business in this state shall, by virtue of that filing, subject to subdivision (c) of Section 110, automatically cancels the registration for that foreign other business entity, without the necessity of the filing of a certificate of cancellation.

1152.

 (a) A corporation that desires to convert to a domestic other business entity shall approve a plan of conversion. The plan of conversion shall state all of the following:

(1) The terms and conditions of the conversion.

(2) The jurisdiction of the organization of the converted entity and of the converting corporation and the name of the converted entity after conversion.

(3) The manner of converting the shares of each of the shareholders of the converting corporation into securities of, or interests in, the converted entity.

(4) The provisions of the governing documents for the converted entity, including the partnership agreement or limited liability company articles of organization and operating agreement, to which the holders of interests in the converted entity are to be bound.

(5) Any other details or provisions that are required by the laws under which the converted entity is organized, or that are desired by the converting corporation.

(b) The plan of conversion shall be approved by the board of the converting corporation (Section 151), and the principal terms of the plan of the conversion shall be approved by the outstanding shares (Section 152) of each class of the converting corporation. The approval of the outstanding shares may be given before or after approval by the board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a converting corporation is a close corporation, the conversion shall be approved by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of each class of outstanding shares of that converting corporation; provided, however, that the articles may provide for a lesser vote, but not less than a majority of the outstanding shares of each class.

(c) If the corporation is converting into a general or limited partnership or into a limited liability company, then in addition to the approval of the shareholders set forth in subdivision (b), the plan of conversion shall be approved by each shareholder who will become a general partner or manager, as applicable, of the converted entity pursuant to the plan of conversion unless the shareholders have dissenters’ rights pursuant to Section 1159 and Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 1300).

(d) Upon the effectiveness of the conversion, all shareholders of the converting corporation, except those that exercise dissenters’ rights as provided in Section 1159 and Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 1300), shall be deemed parties to any agreement or agreements constituting the governing documents for the converted entity adopted as part of the plan of conversion, irrespective of whether or not a shareholder has executed the plan of conversion or those governing documents for the converted entity. Any adoption of governing documents made pursuant thereto shall be effective at the effective time or date of the conversion.

(e) Notwithstanding its prior approval by the board and the outstanding shares or either of them, a plan of conversion may be amended before the conversion takes effect if the amendment is approved by the board and, if it changes any of the principal terms of the plan of conversion, by the shareholders of the converting corporation in the same manner and to the same extent as was required for approval of the original plan of conversion.

(f) A plan of conversion may be abandoned by the board of a converting corporation, or by the shareholders of a converting corporation if the abandonment is approved by the outstanding shares, in each case in the same manner as required for approval of the plan of conversion, subject to the contractual rights of third parties, at any time before the conversion is effective.

(g) The converted entity shall keep the plan of conversion at (1) the principal place of business of the converted entity if the converted entity is a domestic partnership or (2) at the office at which records are to be kept under Section 15614 or 15901.11 if the converted entity is a domestic limited partnership or at the office at which records are to be kept under Section 17057 if the converted entity is a domestic limited liability company. Upon the request of a shareholder of a converting corporation, the authorized person on behalf of the converted entity shall promptly deliver to the shareholder, at the expense of the converted entity, a copy of the plan of conversion. A waiver by a shareholder of the rights provided in this subdivision shall be unenforceable.

1157.

 (a) An other business entity or a foreign other business entity or a foreign corporation may be converted into a corporation pursuant to this chapter only if the converting entity is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the conversion.

(b) An other business entity or a foreign other business entity or a foreign corporation that desires to convert into a corporation shall approve a plan of conversion or other instrument as is required to be approved to effect the conversion pursuant to the laws under which that entity is organized.

(c) The conversion of an other business entity or a foreign other business entity or a foreign corporation shall be approved by the number or percentage of the partners, members, shareholders, or other holders of interest of the converting entity that is required by the laws under which that entity is organized, or a greater or lesser percentage as may be set forth in the converting entity’s partnership agreement, articles of organization, operating agreement, articles of incorporation or other governing document in accordance with applicable laws.

(d) The conversion by an other business entity or a foreign other business entity or a foreign corporation shall be effective under this chapter upon the filing with the Secretary of State of the articles of incorporation of the converted corporation, containing a statement of conversion that complies with subdivision (e).

(e) A statement of conversion of an entity converting into a corporation pursuant to this chapter shall set forth all of the following:

(1) The name, form, and jurisdiction of organization of the converting entity.

(2) The Secretary of State’s file number, if any, of the converting entity.

(3) If the converting entity is a foreign other business entity or a foreign corporation, the statement of conversion shall contain the following:

(A) A statement that the converting entity is authorized to effect the conversion by the laws under which it is organized.

(B) A statement that the converting entity has approved a plan of conversion or other instrument as is required to be approved to effect the conversion pursuant to the laws under which the converting entity is organized.

(C) A statement that the conversion has been approved by the number or percentage of the partners, members, shareholders, or other holders of interest of the converting entity that is required by the laws under which that entity is organized, or a greater or lesser percentage as may be set forth in the converting entity’s partnership agreement, articles of organization, operating agreement, articles of incorporation, or other governing document in accordance with applicable laws.

(f) The filing with the Secretary of State of articles of incorporation containing a statement pursuant to subdivision (e) shall have the effect of the filing of a certificate of cancellation by a converting foreign limited liability company or foreign limited partnership, and no converting foreign limited liability company or foreign limited partnership that has made the filing is required to file a certificate of cancellation under Section 15696, 15909.06, or 17455 as a result of that conversion. If a converting entity is a foreign corporation qualified to transact business in this state, the foreign corporation shall, by virtue of the filing, automatically surrender its right to transact intrastate business.

2113.

 (a) The filing of an agreement of merger of a foreign disappearing corporation qualified to transact intrastate business in this state pursuant to Section 1103, or the filing pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 1108 of an agreement, certificate, or other document as to a merger that includes a disappearing foreign corporation qualified to transact intrastate business, or the filing of a certificate of ownership as to a foreign subsidiary corporation qualified to transact intrastate business in this state pursuant to Section 1110, or the filing by a foreign corporation qualified to transact intrastate business in this state of an organizational document containing a statement of conversion pursuant to Section 15677.8, 15911.08, 16908, or 17540.8, constitutes the surrender by the foreign corporation of its right to engage in intrastate business within this state.

(b) With respect to corporations for which documents have not been filed as provided in subdivision (a), a certificate of surrender as prescribed by Section 2112 shall be filed by a foreign corporation qualified to transact intrastate business upon its merger into another foreign corporation.

(c) In lieu of a signature as prescribed by Section 2112, a certificate of surrender pursuant to subdivision (b) for a merged foreign corporation may be signed in the name of the surviving corporation by an officer thereof. In that case, the certificate of surrender shall be accompanied by a certificate of an authorized public official of the state or place of incorporation of the merged foreign corporation stating that the corporation has been merged into another foreign corporation and setting forth the name and state or place of incorporation of the surviving foreign corporation.

6019.1.

 (a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 6010 and 9640, any one or more corporations may merge with one or more other business entities (Section 5063.5). One or more other domestic corporations and foreign corporations (Section 5053) may be parties to the merger. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, such a merger may be effected only if:

(1) In a merger in which a domestic corporation or domestic other business entity is a party, it is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(2) In a merger in which a foreign corporation is a party, it is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(3) In a merger in which a foreign other business entity is a party, it is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(b) Each corporation and each other party which desires to merge shall approve an agreement of merger. The board and the members (Section 5034) of each corporation which desires to merge, and each other person or persons, if any, whose approval of an amendment of the articles of that corporation is required by the articles or bylaws shall approve the agreement of merger. The agreement of merger shall be approved on behalf of each other party by those persons authorized or required to approve the merger by the laws under which it is organized. The parties desiring to merge shall be parties to the agreement of merger and other persons, including a parent party (Section 5064.5), may be parties to the agreement of merger. The agreement of merger shall state all of the following:

(1) The terms and conditions of the merger.

(2) The name and place of incorporation or organization of each party and the identity of the surviving party.

(3) The amendments, if any, subject to Sections 5810 and 5816, to the articles of the surviving corporation, if applicable, to be effected by the merger. The name of the surviving corporation may be, subject to subdivision (b) of Section 5122 and subdivision (b) of Section 9122, the same as, or similar to, the name of a disappearing party to the merger.

(4) The manner, if any, of converting the memberships of each of the constituent corporations into shares, memberships, interests, or other securities of the surviving party; and, if any memberships of any of the constituent corporations are not to be converted solely into shares, memberships, interests, or other securities of the surviving party, the cash, rights, securities, or other property which the holders of those memberships are to receive in exchange for the memberships, which cash, rights, securities, or other property may be in addition to, or in lieu of, shares, memberships, interests, or other securities of the surviving corporation or surviving other business entity.

(5) Any other details or provisions required by the laws under which any party to the merger is organized, including, if a domestic limited partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 15678.2 or 15911.12 or, if a domestic general partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 16911, or, if a domestic limited liability company is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 17551.

(6) Any other details or provisions as are desired.

(c) Notwithstanding its prior approval, an agreement of merger may be amended prior to the filing of the agreement of merger if the amendment is approved by each constituent corporation in the same manner as the original agreement of merger. If the agreement of merger as so amended and approved is also approved by each of the other parties to the agreement of merger, as so amended it shall then constitute the agreement of merger.

(d) The board of a constituent corporation may, in its discretion, abandon a merger, subject to the contractual rights, if any, of third parties, including other parties to the agreement of merger, without further approval by the members (Section 5034) or other persons, at any time before the merger is effective.

(e) Each constituent corporation shall sign the agreement of merger by its chairperson of the board, president or a vice president, and also by its secretary or an assistant secretary acting on behalf of their respective corporations.

(f) After required approvals of the merger by each constituent corporation and each other party to the merger, the surviving party shall file a copy of the agreement of merger with an officers’ certificate of each constituent domestic and foreign corporation attached stating the total number of outstanding shares or membership interests of each class, if any, entitled to vote on the merger (and identifying any other person or persons whose approval is required), that the agreement of merger in the form attached or its principal terms, as required, were approved by that corporation by a vote of a number of shares or membership interests of each class entitled to vote, if any, which equaled or exceeded the vote required, specifying each class entitled to vote and the percentage vote required of each class, and, if applicable, by that other person or persons whose approval is required.

If equity securities of a parent party (Section 5064.5) are to be issued in the merger, the officers’ certificate or certificate of merger of the controlled party shall state either that no vote of the shareholders of the parent party was required or that the required vote was obtained. The merger and any amendment of the articles of the surviving corporation, if applicable, contained in the agreement of merger shall be effective upon the filing of the agreement of merger, subject to the provisions of subdivision (h). The agreement of merger shall not be filed, however, until there has been filed by or on behalf of each party to the merger taxed under the Corporation Tax Law, the existence of which is terminated by the merger, the certificate of satisfaction of the Franchise Tax Board that all taxes imposed by that law have been paid or secured. If a domestic reciprocal insurer organized after 1974 to provide medical malpractice insurance is a party to the merger, the agreement of merger or certificate of merger shall not be filed until there has been filed the certificate issued by the Insurance Commissioner approving the merger pursuant to Section 1555 of the Insurance Code.

In lieu of an officers’ certificate, a certificate of merger, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, shall be filed for each constituent other business entity. The certificate of merger shall be executed and acknowledged by each domestic constituent limited liability company by all of the managers of the limited liability company (unless a lesser number is specified in its articles of organization or operating agreement) and by each domestic constituent limited partnership by all general partners (unless a lesser number is provided in its certificate of limited partnership or partnership agreement) and by each domestic constituent general partnership by two partners (unless a lesser number is provided in its partnership agreement) and by each foreign constituent limited liability company by one or more managers and by each foreign constituent general partnership or foreign constituent limited partnership by one or more general partners, and by each constituent reciprocal insurer by the chairperson of the board, president, or vice president, and also by the secretary or assistant secretary, or, if a constituent reciprocal insurer has not appointed such officers, by the chairperson of the board, president, or vice president, and also by the secretary or assistant secretary of the constituent reciprocal insurer’s attorney-in-fact, and by each other party to the merger by those persons required or authorized to execute the certificate of merger by the laws under which that party is organized, specifying for such party the provision of law or other basis for the authority of the signing persons.

The certificate of merger shall set forth, if a vote of the shareholders, members, partners, or other holders of interests of a constituent other business entity was required, a statement setting forth the total number of outstanding interests of each class entitled to vote on the merger and that the agreement of merger or its principal terms, as required, were approved by a vote of the number of interests of each class which equaled or exceeded the vote required, specifying each class entitled to vote and the percentage vote required of each class, and any other information required to be set forth under the laws under which the constituent other business entity is organized, including, if a domestic limited partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 15678.4 or 15911.14, if a domestic general partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (b) of Section 16915, and, if a domestic limited liability company is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 17552. The certificate of merger for each constituent foreign other business entity, if any, shall also set forth the statutory or other basis under which that foreign other business entity is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

The Secretary of State may certify a copy of the agreement of merger separate from the officers’ certificates and certificates of merger attached thereto.

(g) A copy of an agreement of merger certified on or after the effective date by an official having custody thereof has the same force in evidence as the original and, except as against the state, is conclusive evidence of the performance of all conditions precedent to the merger, the existence on the effective date of the surviving party to the merger, the performance of the conditions necessary to the adoption of any amendment to the articles, if applicable, contained in the agreement of merger, and the merger of the constituent corporations, either by themselves or together with other constituent parties, into the surviving party to the merger.

(h) (1) The merger of domestic corporations with foreign corporations or foreign other business entities in a merger in which one or more other business entities is a party shall comply with subdivisions (a) and (f) and this subdivision.

(2) Subject to subdivision (c) of Section 5008 and paragraph (3), the merger shall be effective as to each domestic constituent corporation and domestic constituent other business entity upon filing of the agreement of merger with attachments as provided in subdivision (f).

(3) If the surviving party is a foreign corporation or foreign other business entity, except as provided in paragraph (4), the merger shall be effective as to any domestic disappearing corporation as of the time of effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction upon the filing in this state of a copy of the agreement of merger with an officers’ certificate of the surviving foreign corporation and of each constituent foreign and domestic corporation and a certificate of merger of each constituent other business entity attached, which officers’ certificates and certificates of merger shall conform to the requirements of subdivision (f).

If one or more domestic other business entities is a disappearing party in a merger pursuant to this subdivision in which a foreign other business entity is the surviving entity, a certificate of merger required by the laws under which each domestic other business entity is organized, including subdivision (a) of Section 15678.4 or 15911.14, subdivision (b) of Section 16915, or subdivision (a) of Section 17552, if applicable, shall also be filed at the same time as the filing of the agreement of merger.

(4) If the date of the filing in this state pursuant to this subdivision is more than six months after the time of the effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction, or if the powers of a domestic disappearing corporation are suspended at the time of effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction, the merger shall be effective as to the domestic disappearing corporation as of the date of filing in this state.

(5) Each foreign disappearing corporation that is qualified for the transaction of intrastate business shall automatically by the filing pursuant to subdivision (f) surrender its right to transact intrastate business as of the date of filing in this state or, if later, the effective date of the merger. With respect to each foreign disappearing other business entity previously registered for the transaction of intrastate business in this state, the filing of the agreement of merger pursuant to subdivision (f) automatically has the effect of a cancellation of registration for that foreign other business entity as of the date of filing in this state or, if later, the effective date of the merger, without the necessity of the filing of a certificate of cancellation.

6019.1.

 (a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 6010 and 9640, any one or more corporations may merge with one or more other business entities (Section 5063.5). One or more other domestic corporations and foreign corporations (Section 5053) may be parties to the merger. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, such a merger may be effected only if:

(1) In a merger in which a domestic corporation or domestic other business entity is a party, it is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(2) In a merger in which a foreign corporation is a party, it is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(3) In a merger in which a foreign other business entity is a party, it is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(b) Each corporation and each other party which desires to merge shall approve an agreement of merger. The board and the members (Section 5034) of each corporation which desires to merge, and each other person or persons, if any, whose approval of an amendment of the articles of that corporation is required by the articles or bylaws shall approve the agreement of merger. The agreement of merger shall be approved on behalf of each other party by those persons authorized or required to approve the merger by the laws under which it is organized. The parties desiring to merge shall be parties to the agreement of merger and other persons, including a parent party (Section 5064.5), may be parties to the agreement of merger. The agreement of merger shall state all of the following:

(1) The terms and conditions of the merger.

(2) The name and place of incorporation or organization of each party and the identity of the surviving party.

(3) The amendments, if any, subject to Sections 5810 and 5816, to the articles of the surviving corporation, if applicable, to be effected by the merger. The name of the surviving corporation may be, subject to subdivision (b) of Section 5122 and subdivision (b) of Section 9122, the same as, or similar to, the name of a disappearing party to the merger.

(4) The manner, if any, of converting the memberships of each of the constituent corporations into shares, memberships, interests, or other securities of the surviving party; and, if any memberships of any of the constituent corporations are not to be converted solely into shares, memberships, interests, or other securities of the surviving party, the cash, rights, securities, or other property which the holders of those memberships are to receive in exchange for the memberships, which cash, rights, securities, or other property may be in addition to, or in lieu of, shares, memberships, interests, or other securities of the surviving corporation or surviving other business entity.

(5) Any other details or provisions required by the laws under which any party to the merger is organized, including, if a domestic limited partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 15678.2 or 15911.12, if a domestic general partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 16911, or, if a domestic limited liability company is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 17551.

(6) Any other details or provisions as are desired.

(c) Notwithstanding its prior approval, an agreement of merger may be amended prior to the filing of the agreement of merger if the amendment is approved by each constituent corporation in the same manner as the original agreement of merger. If the agreement of merger as so amended and approved is also approved by each of the other parties to the agreement of merger, as so amended it shall then constitute the agreement of merger.

(d) The board of a constituent corporation may, in its discretion, abandon a merger, subject to the contractual rights, if any, of third parties, including other parties to the agreement of merger, without further approval by the members (Section 5034) or other persons, at any time before the merger is effective.

(e) Each constituent corporation shall sign the agreement of merger by its chairperson of the board, president or a vice president, and also by its secretary or an assistant secretary acting on behalf of their respective corporations.

(f) After required approvals of the merger by each constituent corporation and each other party to the merger, the surviving party shall file a copy of the agreement of merger with an officers’ certificate of each constituent domestic and foreign corporation attached stating the total number of outstanding shares or membership interests of each class, if any, entitled to vote on the merger (and identifying any other person or persons whose approval is required), that the agreement of merger in the form attached or its principal terms, as required, were approved by that corporation by a vote of a number of shares or membership interests of each class entitled to vote, if any, which equaled or exceeded the vote required, specifying each class entitled to vote and the percentage vote required of each class, and, if applicable, by that other person or persons whose approval is required.

If equity securities of a parent party (Section 5064.5) are to be issued in the merger, the officers’ certificate or certificate of merger of the controlled party shall state either that no vote of the shareholders of the parent party was required or that the required vote was obtained. The merger and any amendment of the articles of the surviving corporation, if applicable, contained in the agreement of merger shall be effective upon the filing of the agreement of merger, subject to the provisions of subdivision (h). If a domestic reciprocal insurer organized after 1974 to provide medical malpractice insurance is a party to the merger, the agreement of merger or certificate of merger shall not be filed until there has been filed the certificate issued by the Insurance Commissioner approving the merger pursuant to Section 1555 of the Insurance Code.

In lieu of an officers’ certificate, a certificate of merger, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, shall be filed for each constituent other business entity. The certificate of merger shall be executed and acknowledged by each domestic constituent limited liability company by all of the managers of the limited liability company (unless a lesser number is specified in its articles of organization or operating agreement) and by each domestic constituent limited partnership by all general partners (unless a lesser number is provided in its certificate of limited partnership or partnership agreement) and by each domestic constituent general partnership by two partners (unless a lesser number is provided in its partnership agreement) and by each foreign constituent limited liability company by one or more managers and by each foreign constituent general partnership or foreign constituent limited partnership by one or more general partners, and by each constituent reciprocal insurer by the chairperson of the board, president, or vice president, and also by the secretary or assistant secretary, or, if a constituent reciprocal insurer has not appointed such officers, by the chairperson of the board, president, or vice president, and also by the secretary or assistant secretary of the constituent reciprocal insurer’s attorney-in-fact, and by each other party to the merger by those persons required or authorized to execute the certificate of merger by the laws under which that party is organized, specifying for such party the provision of law or other basis for the authority of the signing persons.

The certificate of merger shall set forth, if a vote of the shareholders, members, partners, or other holders of interests of a constituent other business entity was required, a statement setting forth the total number of outstanding interests of each class entitled to vote on the merger and that the agreement of merger or its principal terms, as required, were approved by a vote of the number of interests of each class which equaled or exceeded the vote required, specifying each class entitled to vote and the percentage vote required of each class, and any other information required to be set forth under the laws under which the constituent other business entity is organized, including, if a domestic limited partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 15678.4 or 15911.14, if a domestic general partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (b) of Section 16915, and, if a domestic limited liability company is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 17552. The certificate of merger for each constituent foreign other business entity, if any, shall also set forth the statutory or other basis under which that foreign other business entity is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

The Secretary of State may certify a copy of the agreement of merger separate from the officers’ certificates and certificates of merger attached thereto.

(g) A copy of an agreement of merger certified on or after the effective date by an official having custody thereof has the same force in evidence as the original and, except as against the state, is conclusive evidence of the performance of all conditions precedent to the merger, the existence on the effective date of the surviving party to the merger, the performance of the conditions necessary to the adoption of any amendment to the articles, if applicable, contained in the agreement of merger, and the merger of the constituent corporations, either by themselves or together with other constituent parties, into the surviving party to the merger.

(h) (1) The merger of domestic corporations with foreign corporations or foreign other business entities in a merger in which one or more other business entities is a party shall comply with subdivisions (a) and (f) and this subdivision.

(2) Subject to subdivision (c) of Section 5008 and paragraph (3), the merger shall be effective as to each domestic constituent corporation and domestic constituent other business entity upon filing of the agreement of merger with attachments as provided in subdivision (f).

(3) If the surviving party is a foreign corporation or foreign other business entity, except as provided in paragraph (4), the merger shall be effective as to any domestic disappearing corporation as of the time of effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction upon the filing in this state of a copy of the agreement of merger with an officers’ certificate of the surviving foreign corporation and of each constituent foreign and domestic corporation and a certificate of merger of each constituent other business entity attached, which officers’ certificates and certificates of merger shall conform to the requirements of subdivision (f).

If one or more domestic other business entities is a disappearing party in a merger pursuant to this subdivision in which a foreign other business entity is the surviving entity, a certificate of merger required by the laws under which each domestic other business entity is organized, including subdivision (a) of Section 15678.4 or 15911.14, subdivision (b) of Section 16915, or subdivision (a) of Section 17552, if applicable, shall also be filed at the same time as the filing of the agreement of merger.

(4) If the date of the filing in this state pursuant to this subdivision is more than six months after the time of the effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction, or if the powers of a domestic disappearing corporation are suspended at the time of effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction, the merger shall be effective as to the domestic disappearing corporation as of the date of filing in this state.

(5) Each foreign disappearing corporation that is qualified for the transaction of intrastate business shall automatically by the filing pursuant to subdivision (f) surrender its right to transact intrastate business as of the date of filing in this state or, if later, the effective date of the merger. With respect to each foreign disappearing other business entity previously registered for the transaction of intrastate business in this state, the filing of the agreement of merger pursuant to subdivision (f) automatically has the effect of a cancellation of registration for that foreign other business entity as of the date of filing in this state or, if later, the effective date of the merger, without the necessity of the filing of a certificate of cancellation.

6020.5.

 (a) Upon merger pursuant to this chapter, a surviving domestic or foreign corporation or other business entity shall be deemed to have assumed the liability of each disappearing domestic or foreign corporation or other business entity that is taxed under Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001) of, or under Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001) of, Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code for the following:

(1) To prepare and file, or to cause to be prepared and filed, tax and information returns otherwise required of that disappearing entity as specified in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 18501) of Part 10.2 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(2) To pay any tax liability determined to be due.

(b) Notwithstanding Sections 1103, 1108, 1110, 1113, 6014, 6018, 6019.1, 8014, 8018, 8019.1, 12535, 12539, 12540.1, 15678.4, 15911.14, and 17552 of this code and Sections 17945, 17948.1, and 23334 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, if the surviving entity is a domestic limited liability company, domestic corporation, or registered limited liability partnership or a foreign limited liability company, foreign limited liability partnership, or foreign corporation that is registered or qualified to do business in California, the Secretary of State shall file the merger without the certificate of satisfaction of the Franchise Tax Board and shall notify the Franchise Tax Board of the merger.

6020.5.

 (a) Upon merger pursuant to this chapter, a surviving domestic or foreign corporation or other business entity shall be deemed to have assumed the liability of each disappearing domestic or foreign corporation or other business entity that is taxed under Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001) of, or under Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001) of, Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code for the following:

(1) To prepare and file, or to cause to be prepared and filed, tax and information returns otherwise required of that disappearing entity as specified in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 18501) of Part 10.2 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(2) To pay any tax liability determined to be due.

(b) If the surviving entity is a domestic limited liability company, domestic corporation, or registered limited liability partnership or a foreign limited liability company, foreign limited liability partnership, or foreign corporation that is registered or qualified to do business in California, the Secretary of State shall notify the Franchise Tax Board of the merger.

8019.1.

 (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 8010, any one or more corporations may merge with one or more other business entities (Section 5063.5). One or more other domestic corporations, foreign corporations (Sections 5053), and foreign business corporations (Section 5052) may be parties to the merger. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, such a merger may be effected only if:

(1) In a merger in which a domestic corporation or domestic other business entity is a party, it is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(2) In a merger in which a foreign corporation or foreign business corporation is a party, it is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(3) In a merger in which a foreign other business entity is a party, it is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(b) Each corporation and each other party which desires to merge shall approve an agreement of merger. The board and the members (Section 5034) of each corporation which desires to merge, and each other person or persons, if any, whose approval of an amendment of the articles of that corporation is required by the articles or bylaws shall approve the agreement of merger. The agreement of merger shall be approved on behalf of each other constituent party by those persons authorized or required to approve the merger by the laws under which it is organized. The parties desiring to merge shall be parties to the agreement of merger and other persons, including a parent party (Section 5064.5), may be parties to the agreement of merger. The agreement of merger shall state all of the following:

(1) The terms and conditions of the merger.

(2) The name and place of incorporation or organization of each party and the identity of the surviving party.

(3) The amendments, if any, subject to Sections 7810 and 7816, to the articles of the surviving corporation, if applicable, to be effected by the merger. The name of the surviving corporation may be, subject to subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 7122, the same as or similar to the name of a disappearing party to the merger.

(4) The manner, if any, of converting the memberships or securities of each of the constituent corporations into shares, memberships, interests, or other securities of the surviving party; and, if any memberships or securities of any of the constituent corporations are not to be converted solely into shares, memberships, interests, or other securities of the surviving party, cash, rights, securities, or other property which the holders of those memberships or securities are to receive in exchange for the memberships or securities, which cash, rights, securities, or other property may be in addition to or in lieu of shares, memberships, interests, or other securities of the surviving party.

(5) Any other details or provisions required by the laws under which any party to the merger is organized, including, if a domestic limited partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 15678.2 or 15911.12, or, if a domestic general partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 16911, or, if a domestic limited liability company is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 17551.

(6) Any other details or provisions as are desired.

(c) Each membership of the same class of any constituent corporation (other than the cancellation of memberships held by a party to the merger or its parent or a wholly owned subsidiary of either in another constituent corporation) shall be treated equally with respect to any distribution of cash, property, rights, or securities unless (i) all members of the class consent or (ii) the commissioner has approved the terms and conditions of the transaction and the fairness of those terms pursuant to Section 25142.

(d) Notwithstanding its prior approval, an agreement of merger may be amended prior to the filing of the agreement of merger if the amendment is approved by each constituent corporation in the same manner as the original agreement of merger. If the agreement of merger as so amended and approved is also approved by each of the other parties to the agreement of merger, as so amended it shall then constitute the agreement of merger.

(e) The board of a constituent corporation may, in its discretion, abandon a merger, subject to the contractual rights, if any, of third parties, including other parties to the agreement of merger, without further approval by the members (Section 5034) or other persons, at any time before the merger is effective.

(f) Each constituent corporation shall sign the agreement of merger by its chairperson of the board, president, or a vice president and also by its secretary or an assistant secretary acting on behalf of their respective corporations.

(g) After required approvals of the merger by each constituent corporation and each other party to the merger, the surviving party shall file a copy of the agreement of merger with an officers’ certificate of each constituent domestic corporation, foreign corporation, and foreign business corporation attached stating the total number of outstanding shares or membership interests of each class entitled to vote on the merger (and identifying any other person or persons whose approval is required), that the agreement of merger in the form attached or its principal terms, as required, were approved by that corporation by a vote of a number of shares or membership interests of each class which equaled or exceeded the vote required, specifying each class entitled to vote required of each class, and, if applicable, by such other person or persons whose approval is required.

If equity securities of a parent party (Section 5064.5) are to be issued in the merger, the officers’ certificate or certificate of merger of the controlled party shall state either that no vote of the shareholders of the parent party was required or that the required vote was obtained. The merger and any amendment of the articles of the surviving corporation, if applicable, contained in the agreement of merger shall be effective upon the filing of the agreement of merger, subject to the provisions of subdivision (i). The agreement of merger shall not be filed, however, until there has been filed by or on behalf of each party to the merger taxed under the Corporation Tax Law, the existence of which is terminated by the merger, the certificate of satisfaction of the Franchise Tax Board that all taxes imposed by that law have been paid or secured. If a domestic reciprocal insurer organized after 1974 to provide medical malpractice insurance is a party to the merger, the agreement of merger or certificate of merger shall not be filed until there has been filed the certificate issued by the Insurance Commissioner approving the merger pursuant to Section 1555 of the Insurance Code.

In lieu of an officers’ certificate, a certificate of merger, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, shall be filed for each constituent other business entity. The certificate of merger shall be executed and acknowledged by each domestic constituent limited liability company by all of the managers of the limited liability company (unless a lesser number is specified in its articles of organization or operating agreement) and by each domestic constituent limited partnership by all general partners (unless a lesser number is provided in its certificate of limited partnership or partnership agreement) and by each domestic constituent general partnership by two partners (unless a lesser number is provided in its partnership agreement) and by each foreign constituent limited liability company by one or more managers and by each foreign constituent general partnership or foreign constituent limited partnership by one or more general partners, and by each constituent reciprocal insurer by the chairperson of the board, president, or vice president, and by the secretary or assistant secretary, or, if a constituent reciprocal insurer has not appointed such officers, by the chairperson of the board, president, or vice president, and by the secretary or assistant secretary of the constituent reciprocal insurer’s attorney-in-fact, and by each other party to the merger by those persons required or authorized to execute the certificate of merger by the laws under which that party is organized, specifying for such party the provision of law or other basis for the authority of the signing persons.

The certificate of merger shall set forth, if a vote of the shareholders, members, partners, or other holders of interests of a constituent other business entity was required, a statement setting forth the total number of outstanding interests of each class entitled to vote on the merger and that the principal terms of the agreement of merger were approved by a vote of the number of interests of each class which equaled or exceeded the vote required, specifying each class entitled to vote and the percentage vote required of each class, and any other information required to be set forth under the laws under which the constituent other business entity is organized, including, if a domestic limited partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 15678.4 or 15911.14, if a domestic general partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (b) of Section 16915 and, if a domestic limited liability company is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 17552. The certificate of merger for each constituent foreign other business entity, if any, shall also set forth the statutory or other basis under which that foreign other business entity is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

The Secretary of State may certify a copy of the agreement of merger separate from the officers’ certificates and certificates of merger attached thereto.

(h) A copy of an agreement of merger certified on or after the effective date by an official having custody thereof has the same force in evidence as the original and, except as against the state, is conclusive evidence of the performance of all conditions precedent to the merger, the existence on the effective date of the surviving party to the merger, the performance of the conditions necessary to the adoption of any amendment to the articles, if applicable, contained in the agreement of merger, and of the merger of the constituent corporations, either by themselves or together with other constituent parties, into the surviving party to the merger.

(i) (1) The merger of domestic corporations with foreign corporations or foreign other business entities in a merger in which one or more other business entities is a party shall comply with subdivisions (a) and (g) and this subdivision.

(2) Subject to subdivision (c) of Section 5008 and paragraph (3), the merger shall be effective as to each domestic constituent corporation and domestic constituent other business entity upon filing of the agreement of merger with attachments as provided in subdivision (g).

(3) If the surviving party is a foreign corporation or foreign business corporation or foreign other business entity, except as provided in paragraph (4), the merger shall be effective as to any domestic disappearing corporation as of the time of effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction upon the filing in this state of a copy of the agreement of merger with an officers’ certificate of the surviving foreign corporation or foreign business corporation and of each constituent foreign and domestic corporation and a certificate of merger of each constituent other business entity attached, which officers’ certificates and certificates of merger shall conform to the requirements of subdivision (g).

If one or more domestic other business entities is a disappearing party in a merger pursuant to this subdivision in which a foreign other business entity is the surviving entity, a certificate of merger required by the laws under which each domestic other business entity is organized, including subdivision (a) of Section 15678.4 or 15911.14, subdivision (b) of Section 16915, or subdivision (a) of Section 17522, if applicable, shall also be filed at the same time as the filing of the agreement of merger.

(4) If the date of the filing in this state pursuant to this subdivision is more than six months after the time of the effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction, or if the powers of a domestic disappearing corporation are suspended at the time of effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction, the merger shall be effective as to the domestic disappearing corporation as of the date of filing in this state.

(5) Each foreign disappearing corporation that is qualified for the transaction of intrastate business shall automatically by the filing pursuant to subdivision (g) surrender its right to transact intrastate business as of the date of filing in this state or, if later, the effective date of the merger. With respect to each foreign disappearing other business entity previously registered for the transaction of intrastate business in this state, the filing of the agreement of merger pursuant to subdivision (g) automatically has the effect of a cancellation of registration for that foreign other business entity as of the date of filing in this state or, if later, the effective date of the merger, without the necessity of the filing of a certificate of cancellation.

8019.1.

 (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 8010, any one or more corporations may merge with one or more other business entities (Section 5063.5). One or more other domestic corporations, foreign corporations (Sections 5053), and foreign business corporations (Section 5052) may be parties to the merger. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, such a merger may be effected only if:

(1) In a merger in which a domestic corporation or domestic other business entity is a party, it is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(2) In a merger in which a foreign corporation or foreign business corporation is a party, it is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(3) In a merger in which a foreign other business entity is a party, it is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(b) Each corporation and each other party which desires to merge shall approve an agreement of merger. The board and the members (Section 5034) of each corporation which desires to merge, and each other person or persons, if any, whose approval of an amendment of the articles of that corporation is required by the articles or bylaws shall approve the agreement of merger. The agreement of merger shall be approved on behalf of each other constituent party by those persons authorized or required to approve the merger by the laws under which it is organized. The parties desiring to merge shall be parties to the agreement of merger and other persons, including a parent party (Section 5064.5), may be parties to the agreement of merger. The agreement of merger shall state all of the following:

(1) The terms and conditions of the merger.

(2) The name and place of incorporation or organization of each party and the identity of the surviving party.

(3) The amendments, if any, subject to Sections 7810 and 7816, to the articles of the surviving corporation, if applicable, to be effected by the merger. The name of the surviving corporation may be, subject to subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 7122, the same as or similar to the name of a disappearing party to the merger.

(4) The manner, if any, of converting the memberships or securities of each of the constituent corporations into shares, memberships, interests, or other securities of the surviving party; and, if any memberships or securities of any of the constituent corporations are not to be converted solely into shares, memberships, interests, or other securities of the surviving party, cash, rights, securities, or other property which the holders of those memberships or securities are to receive in exchange for the memberships or securities, which cash, rights, securities, or other property may be in addition to or in lieu of shares, memberships, interests, or other securities of the surviving party.

(5) Any other details or provisions required by the laws under which any party to the merger is organized, including, if a domestic limited partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 15678.2 or 15911.12, or, if a domestic general partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 16911, or, if a domestic limited liability company is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 17551.

(6) Any other details or provisions as are desired.

(c) Each membership of the same class of any constituent corporation (other than the cancellation of memberships held by a party to the merger or its parent or a wholly owned subsidiary of either in another constituent corporation) shall be treated equally with respect to any distribution of cash, property, rights, or securities unless (i) all members of the class consent or (ii) the commissioner has approved the terms and conditions of the transaction and the fairness of those terms pursuant to Section 25142.

(d) Notwithstanding its prior approval, an agreement of merger may be amended prior to the filing of the agreement of merger if the amendment is approved by each constituent corporation in the same manner as the original agreement of merger. If the agreement of merger as so amended and approved is also approved by each of the other parties to the agreement of merger, as so amended it shall then constitute the agreement of merger.

(e) The board of a constituent corporation may, in its discretion, abandon a merger, subject to the contractual rights, if any, of third parties, including other parties to the agreement of merger, without further approval by the members (Section 5034) or other persons, at any time before the merger is effective.

(f) Each constituent corporation shall sign the agreement of merger by its chairperson of the board, president, or a vice president and also by its secretary or an assistant secretary acting on behalf of their respective corporations.

(g) After required approvals of the merger by each constituent corporation and each other party to the merger, the surviving party shall file a copy of the agreement of merger with an officers’ certificate of each constituent domestic corporation, foreign corporation, and foreign business corporation attached stating the total number of outstanding shares or membership interests of each class entitled to vote on the merger (and identifying any other person or persons whose approval is required), that the agreement of merger in the form attached or its principal terms, as required, were approved by that corporation by a vote of a number of shares or membership interests of each class which equaled or exceeded the vote required, specifying each class entitled to vote required of each class, and, if applicable, by such other person or persons whose approval is required.

If equity securities of a parent party (Section 5064.5) are to be issued in the merger, the officers’ certificate or certificate of merger of the controlled party shall state either that no vote of the shareholders of the parent party was required or that the required vote was obtained. The merger and any amendment of the articles of the surviving corporation, if applicable, contained in the agreement of merger shall be effective upon the filing of the agreement of merger, subject to the provisions of subdivision (i). If a domestic reciprocal insurer organized after 1974 to provide medical malpractice insurance is a party to the merger, the agreement of merger or certificate of merger shall not be filed until there has been filed the certificate issued by the Insurance Commissioner approving the merger pursuant to Section 1555 of the Insurance Code.

In lieu of an officers’ certificate, a certificate of merger, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, shall be filed for each constituent other business entity. The certificate of merger shall be executed and acknowledged by each domestic constituent limited liability company by all of the managers of the limited liability company (unless a lesser number is specified in its articles of organization or operating agreement) and by each domestic constituent limited partnership by all general partners (unless a lesser number is provided in its certificate of limited partnership or partnership agreement) and by each domestic constituent general partnership by two partners (unless a lesser number is provided in its partnership agreement) and by each foreign constituent limited liability company by one or more managers and by each foreign constituent general partnership or foreign constituent limited partnership by one or more general partners, and by each constituent reciprocal insurer by the chairperson of the board, president, or vice president, and by the secretary or assistant secretary, or, if a constituent reciprocal insurer has not appointed such officers, by the chairperson of the board, president, or vice president, and by the secretary or assistant secretary of the constituent reciprocal insurer’s attorney-in-fact, and by each other party to the merger by those persons required or authorized to execute the certificate of merger by the laws under which that party is organized, specifying for such party the provision of law or other basis for the authority of the signing persons.

The certificate of merger shall set forth, if a vote of the shareholders, members, partners, or other holders of interests of a constituent other business entity was required, a statement setting forth the total number of outstanding interests of each class entitled to vote on the merger and that the principal terms of the agreement of merger were approved by a vote of the number of interests of each class which equaled or exceeded the vote required, specifying each class entitled to vote and the percentage vote required of each class, and any other information required to be set forth under the laws under which the constituent other business entity is organized, including, if a domestic limited partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 15678.4 or 15911.14, if a domestic general partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (b) of Section 16915 and, if a domestic limited liability company is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 17552. The certificate of merger for each constituent foreign other business entity, if any, shall also set forth the statutory or other basis under which that foreign other business entity is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

The Secretary of State may certify a copy of the agreement of merger separate from the officers’ certificates and certificates of merger attached thereto.

(h) A copy of an agreement of merger certified on or after the effective date by an official having custody thereof has the same force in evidence as the original and, except as against the state, is conclusive evidence of the performance of all conditions precedent to the merger, the existence on the effective date of the surviving party to the merger, the performance of the conditions necessary to the adoption of any amendment to the articles, if applicable, contained in the agreement of merger, and of the merger of the constituent corporations, either by themselves or together with other constituent parties, into the surviving party to the merger.

(i) (1) The merger of domestic corporations with foreign corporations or foreign other business entities in a merger in which one or more other business entities is a party shall comply with subdivisions (a) and (g) and this subdivision.

(2) Subject to subdivision (c) of Section 5008 and paragraph (3), the merger shall be effective as to each domestic constituent corporation and domestic constituent other business entity upon filing of the agreement of merger with attachments as provided in subdivision (g).

(3) If the surviving party is a foreign corporation or foreign business corporation or foreign other business entity, except as provided in paragraph (4), the merger shall be effective as to any domestic disappearing corporation as of the time of effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction upon the filing in this state of a copy of the agreement of merger with an officers’ certificate of the surviving foreign corporation or foreign business corporation and of each constituent foreign and domestic corporation and a certificate of merger of each constituent other business entity attached, which officers’ certificates and certificates of merger shall conform to the requirements of subdivision (g).

If one or more domestic other business entities is a disappearing party in a merger pursuant to this subdivision in which a foreign other business entity is the surviving entity, a certificate of merger required by the laws under which each domestic other business entity is organized, including subdivision (a) of Section 15678.4 or 15911.14, subdivision (b) of Section 16915, or subdivision (a) of Section 17522, if applicable, shall also be filed at the same time as the filing of the agreement of merger.

(4) If the date of the filing in this state pursuant to this subdivision is more than six months after the time of the effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction, or if the powers of a domestic disappearing corporation are suspended at the time of effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction, the merger shall be effective as to the domestic disappearing corporation as of the date of filing in this state.

(5) Each foreign disappearing corporation that is qualified for the transaction of intrastate business shall automatically by the filing pursuant to subdivision (g) surrender its right to transact intrastate business as of the date of filing in this state or, if later, the effective date of the merger. With respect to each foreign disappearing other business entity previously registered for the transaction of intrastate business in this state, the filing of the agreement of merger pursuant to subdivision (g) automatically has the effect of a cancellation of registration for that foreign other business entity as of the date of filing in this state or, if later, the effective date of the merger, without the necessity of the filing of a certificate of cancellation.

8020.5.

 (a) Upon merger pursuant to this chapter, a surviving domestic or foreign corporation or other business entity shall be deemed to have assumed the liability of each disappearing domestic or foreign corporation or other business entity that is taxed under Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001) of, or under Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001) of, Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code for the following:

(1) To prepare and file, or to cause to be prepared and filed, tax and information returns otherwise required of that disappearing entity as specified in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 18501) of Part 10.2 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(2) To pay any tax liability determined to be due.

(b) Notwithstanding Sections 1103, 1108, 1110, 1113, 6014, 6018, 6019.1, 8014, 8018, 8019.1, 12535, 12539, 12540.1, 15678.4, 15911.14, and 17552 of this code and Sections 17945, 17948.1, and 23334 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, if the surviving entity is a domestic limited liability company, domestic corporation, or registered limited liability partnership or a foreign limited liability company, foreign limited liability partnership, or foreign corporation that is registered or qualified to do business in California, the Secretary of State shall file the merger without the certificate of satisfaction of the Franchise Tax Board and shall notify the Franchise Tax Board of the merger.

8020.5.

 (a) Upon merger pursuant to this chapter, a surviving domestic or foreign corporation or other business entity shall be deemed to have assumed the liability of each disappearing domestic or foreign corporation or other business entity that is taxed under Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001) of, or under Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001) of, Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code for the following:

(1) To prepare and file, or to cause to be prepared and filed, tax and information returns otherwise required of that disappearing entity as specified in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 18501) of Part 10.2 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(2) To pay any tax liability determined to be due.

(b) If the surviving entity is a domestic limited liability company, domestic corporation, or registered limited liability partnership or a foreign limited liability company, foreign limited liability partnership, or foreign corporation that is registered or qualified to do business in California, the Secretary of State shall notify the Franchise Tax Board of the merger.

12540.1.

 (a) Any one or more corporations may merge with one or more other business entities (Section 12242.5). Subject to the provisions of Section 12530, one or more other domestic corporations or foreign corporations (Section 12237) may be parties to the merger.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, such a merger may be effected only if:

(1) In a merger in which a domestic corporation or domestic other business entity is a party, it is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(2) In a merger in which a foreign corporation is a party, it is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(3) In a merger in which a foreign other business entity is a party, it is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(b) Each corporation, other domestic corporation, foreign corporation, and other business entity which desires to merge shall approve an agreement of merger. The board and the members of each corporation which desires to merge shall approve (Sections 12222 and 12224) the agreement of merger. The agreement of merger shall be approved on behalf of each other constituent party by those persons authorized or required to approve the merger by the laws under which it is organized.

The parties desiring to merge shall be parties to the agreement of merger and other persons, including a parent party (Section 12242.6), may be parties to the agreement of merger. The agreement of merger shall state all of the following:

(1) The terms and conditions of the merger.

(2) The name and place of incorporation or organization of each party and the identity of the surviving party.

(3) The amendments, if any, subject to Sections 12500 and 12507, to the articles of the surviving corporation, if applicable, to be effected by the merger. The name of the surviving corporation may be, subject to subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 12302, the same as, or similar to, the name of a disappearing party to the merger.

(4) The manner, if any, of converting the memberships or securities of each of the constituent corporations into shares, memberships, interests, or other securities of the surviving party and, if any memberships or securities of any of the constituent corporations are not to be converted solely into shares, memberships, interests, or other securities of the surviving party, the cash, rights, securities, or other property which the holders of those memberships or securities are to receive in exchange for the memberships or securities, which cash, rights, securities, or other property may be in addition to or in lieu of shares, memberships, interests, or other securities of the surviving party.

(5) Any other details or provisions required by the laws under which any party to the merger is organized, including, if a domestic limited partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 15678.2 or 15911.12, or, if a domestic general partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 16911, or, if a domestic limited liability company is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 17551.

(6) Any other details or provisions as are desired.

(c) Each membership of the same class of any constituent corporation (other than the cancellation of memberships held by a party to the merger or its parent or a wholly owned subsidiary of either in another constituent corporation) shall be treated equally with respect to any distribution of cash, property, rights, or securities unless (i) all members of the class consent or (ii) the commissioner has approved the terms and conditions of the transaction and the fairness of those terms pursuant to Section 25142.

(d) Notwithstanding its prior approval, an agreement of merger may be amended prior to the filing of the agreement of merger if the amendment is approved by each constituent corporation in the same manner as the original agreement of merger. If the agreement of merger as so amended and approved is also approved by each of the other parties to the agreement of merger, as so amended it shall then constitute the agreement of merger.

(e) The board of a constituent corporation may, in its discretion, abandon a merger, subject to the contractual rights, if any, of third parties, including other parties to the agreement of merger, without further approval by the members (Section 12224), at any time before the merger is effective.

(f) Each constituent corporation shall sign the agreement of merger by its chairperson of the board, president, or a vice president and also by its secretary or an assistant secretary acting on behalf of their respective corporations.

(g) After required approvals of the merger by each constituent corporation and each other party to the merger, the surviving party shall file a copy of the agreement of merger with an officers’ certificate of each constituent domestic and foreign corporation attached stating the total number of outstanding shares or membership interests of each class entitled to vote on the merger (and identifying any other person or persons whose approval is required), that the agreement of merger in the form attached or its principal terms, as required, were approved by that corporation by a vote of a number of shares or membership interests of each class which equaled or exceeded the vote required, specifying each class entitled to vote and the percentage vote required of each class, and, if applicable, by that other person or persons whose approval is required.

If equity securities of a parent party (Section 12242.6) are to be issued in the merger, the officers’ certificate or certificate of merger of the controlled party shall state either that no vote of the shareholders of the parent party was required or that the required vote was obtained. The merger and any amendment of the articles of the surviving corporation, if applicable, contained in the agreement of merger shall be effective upon the filing of the agreement of merger, subject to the provisions of subdivision (i). The agreement of merger shall not be filed, however, until there has been filed by or on behalf of each party to the merger taxed under the Corporation Tax Law, the existence of which is terminated by the merger, the certificate of satisfaction of the Franchise Tax Board that all taxes imposed by that law have been paid or secured. If a domestic reciprocal insurer organized after 1974 to provide medical malpractice insurance is a party to the merger, the agreement of merger or certificate of merger shall not be filed until there has been filed the certificate issued by the Insurance Commissioner approving the merger pursuant to Section 1555 of the Insurance Code.

In lieu of an officers’ certificate, a certificate of merger, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, shall be filed for each constituent other business entity. The certificate of merger shall be executed and acknowledged by each domestic constituent limited liability company by all of the managers of the limited liability company (unless a lesser number is specified in its articles of organization or operating agreement) and by each domestic constituent limited partnership by all general partners (unless a lesser number is provided in its certificate of limited partnership or partnership agreement) and by each domestic constituent general partnership by two partners (unless a lesser number is provided in its partnership agreement) and by each foreign constituent general partnership or foreign constituent limited liability company by one or more managers and by each foreign constituent limited partnership by one or more general partners, and by each constituent reciprocal insurer by the chairperson of the board, president, or vice president, and by the secretary or assistant secretary, or, if a constituent reciprocal insurer has not appointed such officers, by the chairperson of the board, president, or vice president, and by the secretary or assistant secretary of the constituent reciprocal insurer’s attorney-in-fact, and by each other party to the merger by those persons required or authorized to execute the certificate of merger by the laws under which that party is organized, specifying for such party the provision of law or other basis for the authority of the signing persons.

The certificate of merger shall set forth, if a vote of the shareholders, members, partners, or other holders of interests of the constituent other business entity was required, a statement setting forth the total number of outstanding interests of each class entitled to vote on the merger and that the agreement of merger or its principal terms, as required, were approved by a vote of the number of interests of each class which equaled or exceeded the vote required, specifying each class entitled to vote and the percentage vote required of each class, and any other information required to be set forth under the laws under which the constituent other business entity is organized, including, if a domestic limited partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 15678.4 or 15911.14, if a domestic general partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (b) of Section 16915, and, if a domestic limited liability company is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 17552. The certificate of merger for each constituent foreign other business entity, if any, shall also set forth the statutory or other basis under which that foreign other business entity is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

The Secretary of State may certify a copy of the agreement of merger separate from the officers’ certificates and certificates of merger attached thereto.

(h) A copy of an agreement of merger certified on or after the effective date by an official having custody thereof has the same force in evidence as the original and, except as against the state, is conclusive evidence of the performance of all conditions precedent to the merger, the existence on the effective date of the surviving party to the merger, the performance of the conditions necessary to the adoption of any amendment to the articles, if applicable, contained in the agreement of merger, and of the merger of the constituent corporations, either by themselves or together with other constituent parties, into the surviving party to the merger.

(i) (1) The merger of domestic corporations with foreign corporations or foreign other business entities in a merger in which one or more other business entities is a party shall comply with subdivisions (a) and (g) and this subdivision.

(2) Subject to subdivision (c) of Section 12214 and paragraph (3), the merger shall be effective as to each domestic constituent corporation and domestic constituent other business entity upon filing of the agreement of merger with attachments as provided in subdivision (g).

(3) If the surviving party is a foreign corporation or foreign other business entity, except as provided in paragraph (4), the merger shall be effective as to any domestic disappearing corporation as of the time of effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction upon the filing in this state of a copy of the agreement of merger with an officers’ certificate of the surviving foreign corporation and of each constituent foreign and domestic corporation and a certificate of merger of each constituent other business entity attached, which officers’ certificates and certificates of merger shall conform to the requirements of subdivision (g).

If one or more domestic other business entities is a disappearing party in a merger pursuant to this subdivision in which a foreign other business entity is the surviving entity, a certificate of merger required by the laws under which each domestic other business entity is organized, including subdivision (a) of Section 15678.4 or 15911.14, subdivision (b) of Section 16915 or subdivision (a) of Section 17552, if applicable, shall also be filed at the same time as the filing of the agreement of merger.

(4) If the date of the filing in this state pursuant to this subdivision is more than six months after the time of the effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction, or if the powers of a domestic disappearing corporation are suspended at the time of effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction, the merger shall be effective as to the domestic disappearing corporation as of the date of filing in this state.

(5) Each foreign disappearing corporation that is qualified for the transaction of intrastate business shall automatically by the filing pursuant to subdivision (g) surrender its right to transact intrastate business as of the date of filing in this state or, if later, the effective date of the merger. With respect to each foreign disappearing other business entity previously registered for the transaction of intrastate business in this state, the filing of the agreement of merger pursuant to subdivision (g) automatically has the effect of a cancellation of registration for that foreign other business entity without the necessity of the filing of a certificate of cancellation.

12540.1.

 (a) Any one or more corporations may merge with one or more other business entities (Section 12242.5). Subject to the provisions of Section 12530, one or more other domestic corporations or foreign corporations (Section 12237) may be parties to the merger.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, such a merger may be effected only if:

(1) In a merger in which a domestic corporation or domestic other business entity is a party, it is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(2) In a merger in which a foreign corporation is a party, it is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(3) In a merger in which a foreign other business entity is a party, it is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

(b) Each corporation, other domestic corporation, foreign corporation, and other business entity which desires to merge shall approve an agreement of merger. The board and the members of each corporation which desires to merge shall approve (Sections 12222 and 12224) the agreement of merger. The agreement of merger shall be approved on behalf of each other constituent party by those persons authorized or required to approve the merger by the laws under which it is organized.

The parties desiring to merge shall be parties to the agreement of merger and other persons, including a parent party (Section 12242.6), may be parties to the agreement of merger. The agreement of merger shall state all of the following:

(1) The terms and conditions of the merger.

(2) The name and place of incorporation or organization of each party and the identity of the surviving party.

(3) The amendments, if any, subject to Sections 12500 and 12507, to the articles of the surviving corporation, if applicable, to be effected by the merger. The name of the surviving corporation may be, subject to subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 12302, the same as, or similar to, the name of a disappearing party to the merger.

(4) The manner, if any, of converting the memberships or securities of each of the constituent corporations into shares, memberships, interests, or other securities of the surviving party and, if any memberships or securities of any of the constituent corporations are not to be converted solely into shares, memberships, interests, or other securities of the surviving party, the cash, rights, securities, or other property which the holders of those memberships or securities are to receive in exchange for the memberships or securities, which cash, rights, securities, or other property may be in addition to or in lieu of shares, memberships, interests, or other securities of the surviving party.

(5) Any other details or provisions required by the laws under which any party to the merger is organized, including, if a domestic limited partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 15678.2 or 15911.12, or, if a domestic general partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 16911, or, if a domestic limited liability company is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 17551.

(6) Any other details or provisions as are desired.

(c) Each membership of the same class of any constituent corporation (other than the cancellation of memberships held by a party to the merger or its parent or a wholly owned subsidiary of either in another constituent corporation) shall be treated equally with respect to any distribution of cash, property, rights, or securities unless (i) all members of the class consent or (ii) the commissioner has approved the terms and conditions of the transaction and the fairness of those terms pursuant to Section 25142.

(d) Notwithstanding its prior approval, an agreement of merger may be amended prior to the filing of the agreement of merger if the amendment is approved by each constituent corporation in the same manner as the original agreement of merger. If the agreement of merger as so amended and approved is also approved by each of the other parties to the agreement of merger, as so amended it shall then constitute the agreement of merger.

(e) The board of a constituent corporation may, in its discretion, abandon a merger, subject to the contractual rights, if any, of third parties, including other parties to the agreement of merger, without further approval by the members (Section 12224), at any time before the merger is effective.

(f) Each constituent corporation shall sign the agreement of merger by its chairperson of the board, president, or a vice president and also by its secretary or an assistant secretary acting on behalf of their respective corporations.

(g) After required approvals of the merger by each constituent corporation and each other party to the merger, the surviving party shall file a copy of the agreement of merger with an officers’ certificate of each constituent domestic and foreign corporation attached stating the total number of outstanding shares or membership interests of each class entitled to vote on the merger (and identifying any other person or persons whose approval is required), that the agreement of merger in the form attached or its principal terms, as required, were approved by that corporation by a vote of a number of shares or membership interests of each class which equaled or exceeded the vote required, specifying each class entitled to vote and the percentage vote required of each class, and, if applicable, by that other person or persons whose approval is required.

If equity securities of a parent party (Section 12242.6) are to be issued in the merger, the officers’ certificate or certificate of merger of the controlled party shall state either that no vote of the shareholders of the parent party was required or that the required vote was obtained. The merger and any amendment of the articles of the surviving corporation, if applicable, contained in the agreement of merger shall be effective upon the filing of the agreement of merger, subject to the provisions of subdivision (i). If a domestic reciprocal insurer organized after 1974 to provide medical malpractice insurance is a party to the merger, the agreement of merger or certificate of merger shall not be filed until there has been filed the certificate issued by the Insurance Commissioner approving the merger pursuant to Section 1555 of the Insurance Code.

In lieu of an officers’ certificate, a certificate of merger, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, shall be filed for each constituent other business entity. The certificate of merger shall be executed and acknowledged by each domestic constituent limited liability company by all of the managers of the limited liability company (unless a lesser number is specified in its articles of organization or operating agreement) and by each domestic constituent limited partnership by all general partners (unless a lesser number is provided in its certificate of limited partnership or partnership agreement) and by each domestic constituent general partnership by two partners (unless a lesser number is provided in its partnership agreement) and by each foreign constituent general partnership or foreign constituent limited liability company by one or more managers and by each foreign constituent limited partnership by one or more general partners, and by each constituent reciprocal insurer by the chairperson of the board, president, or vice president, and by the secretary or assistant secretary, or, if a constituent reciprocal insurer has not appointed such officers, by the chairperson of the board, president, or vice president, and by the secretary or assistant secretary of the constituent reciprocal insurer’s attorney-in-fact, and by each other party to the merger by those persons required or authorized to execute the certificate of merger by the laws under which that party is organized, specifying for such party the provision of law or other basis for the authority of the signing persons.

The certificate of merger shall set forth, if a vote of the shareholders, members, partners, or other holders of interests of the constituent other business entity was required, a statement setting forth the total number of outstanding interests of each class entitled to vote on the merger and that the agreement of merger or its principal terms, as required, were approved by a vote of the number of interests of each class which equaled or exceeded the vote required, specifying each class entitled to vote and the percentage vote required of each class, and any other information required to be set forth under the laws under which the constituent other business entity is organized, including, if a domestic limited partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 15678.4 or 15911.14, if a domestic general partnership is a party to the merger, subdivision (b) of Section 16915, and, if a domestic limited liability company is a party to the merger, subdivision (a) of Section 17552. The certificate of merger for each constituent foreign other business entity, if any, shall also set forth the statutory or other basis under which that foreign other business entity is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the merger.

The Secretary of State may certify a copy of the agreement of merger separate from the officers’ certificates and certificates of merger attached thereto.

(h) A copy of an agreement of merger certified on or after the effective date by an official having custody thereof has the same force in evidence as the original and, except as against the state, is conclusive evidence of the performance of all conditions precedent to the merger, the existence on the effective date of the surviving party to the merger, the performance of the conditions necessary to the adoption of any amendment to the articles, if applicable, contained in the agreement of merger, and of the merger of the constituent corporations, either by themselves or together with other constituent parties, into the surviving party to the merger.

(i) (1) The merger of domestic corporations with foreign corporations or foreign other business entities in a merger in which one or more other business entities is a party shall comply with subdivisions (a) and (g) and this subdivision.

(2) Subject to subdivision (c) of Section 12214 and paragraph (3), the merger shall be effective as to each domestic constituent corporation and domestic constituent other business entity upon filing of the agreement of merger with attachments as provided in subdivision (g).

(3) If the surviving party is a foreign corporation or foreign other business entity, except as provided in paragraph (4), the merger shall be effective as to any domestic disappearing corporation as of the time of effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction upon the filing in this state of a copy of the agreement of merger with an officers’ certificate of the surviving foreign corporation and of each constituent foreign and domestic corporation and a certificate of merger of each constituent other business entity attached, which officers’ certificates and certificates of merger shall conform to the requirements of subdivision (g).

If one or more domestic other business entities is a disappearing party in a merger pursuant to this subdivision in which a foreign other business entity is the surviving entity, a certificate of merger required by the laws under which each domestic other business entity is organized, including subdivision (a) of Section 15678.4 or 15911.14, subdivision (b) of Section 16915 or subdivision (a) of Section 17552, if applicable, shall also be filed at the same time as the filing of the agreement of merger.

(4) If the date of the filing in this state pursuant to this subdivision is more than six months after the time of the effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction, or if the powers of a domestic disappearing corporation are suspended at the time of effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction, the merger shall be effective as to the domestic disappearing corporation as of the date of filing in this state.

(5) Each foreign disappearing corporation that is qualified for the transaction of intrastate business shall automatically by the filing pursuant to subdivision (g) surrender its right to transact intrastate business as of the date of filing in this state or, if later, the effective date of the merger. With respect to each foreign disappearing other business entity previously registered for the transaction of intrastate business in this state, the filing of the agreement of merger pursuant to subdivision (g) automatically has the effect of a cancellation of registration for that foreign other business entity without the necessity of the filing of a certificate of cancellation.

12550.5.

 (a) Upon merger pursuant to this chapter, a surviving domestic or foreign corporation or other business entity shall be deemed to have assumed the liability of each disappearing domestic or foreign corporation or other business entity that is taxed under Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001) of, or under Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001) of, Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code for the following:

(1) To prepare and file, or to cause to be prepared and filed, tax and information returns otherwise required of that disappearing entity as specified in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 18501) of Part 10.2 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(2) To pay any tax liability determined to be due.

(b) Notwithstanding Sections 1103, 1108, 1110, 1113, 6014, 6018, 6019.1, 8014, 8018, 8019.1, 12535, 12539, 12540.1, 15678.4, 15911.14, and 17552 of this code and Sections 17945, 17948.1, and 23334 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, if the surviving entity is a domestic limited liability company, domestic corporation, or registered limited liability partnership or a foreign limited liability company, foreign limited liability partnership, or foreign corporation that is registered or qualified to do business in California, the Secretary of State shall file the merger without the certificate of satisfaction of the Franchise Tax Board and shall notify the Franchise Tax Board of the merger.

12550.5.

 (a) Upon merger pursuant to this chapter, a surviving domestic or foreign corporation or other business entity shall be deemed to have assumed the liability of each disappearing domestic or foreign corporation or other business entity that is taxed under Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001) of, or under Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001) of, Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code for the following:

(1) To prepare and file, or to cause to be prepared and filed, tax and information returns otherwise required of that disappearing entity as specified in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 18501) of Part 10.2 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(2) To pay any tax liability determined to be due.

(b) If the surviving entity is a domestic limited liability company, domestic corporation, or registered limited liability partnership or a foreign limited liability company, foreign limited liability partnership, or foreign corporation that is registered or qualified to do business in California, the Secretary of State shall notify the Franchise Tax Board of the merger.

15534.

 This chapter shall become inoperative and be repealed on January 1, 2010, unless a later enacted statute, which becomes effective on or before January 1, 2010, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.

15724.

 This chapter shall become inoperative and be repealed on January 1, 2010, unless a later enacted statute, which becomes effective on or before January 1, 2010, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.

15800.

 (a) Every partnership, other than a foreign limited partnership, subject to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 15611) or Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 15900), or a commercial or banking partnership established and transacting business in a place outside the United States, that is domiciled without this state and has no regular place of business within this state, shall, within 40 days from the time it commences to do business in this state, file a statement in the office of the Secretary of State in accordance with Section 16309 designating some natural person or corporation as the agent of the partnership upon whom process issued by authority of or under any law of this state directed against the partnership may be served. A copy of the designation, duly certified by the Secretary of State, is sufficient evidence of the appointment.

(b) The process may be served in the manner provided in subdivision (b) of Section 16310 on the person so designated, or, in the event that no person has been designated, or if the agent designated for the service of process is a natural person and cannot be found with due diligence at the address stated in the designation, or if the agent is a corporation and no person can be found with due diligence to whom the delivery authorized by subdivision (b) of Section 16310 may be made for the purpose of delivery to the corporate agent, or if the agent designated is no longer authorized to act, then service may be made by personal delivery to the Secretary of State, Assistant Secretary of State, or a Deputy Secretary of State of the process, together with a written statement signed by the party to the action seeking the service, or by the party’s attorney, setting forth the last known address of the partnership and a service fee as set forth in Section 12197 of the Government Code. The Secretary of State shall immediately give notice of the service to the partnership by forwarding the process to it by registered mail, return receipt requested, at the address given in the written statement.

(c) Service on the person designated, or personal delivery of the process and statement of address together with a service fee as set forth in Section 12197 of the Government Code to the Secretary of State, Assistant Secretary of State, or a Deputy Secretary of State, pursuant to this section is a valid service on the partnership. The partnership so served shall appear within 30 days after service on the person designated or within 30 days after delivery of the process to the Secretary of State, Assistant Secretary of State, or a Deputy Secretary of State.

16101.

 As used in this chapter, the following terms and phrases have the following meanings:

(1) “Business” includes every trade, occupation, and profession.

(2) “Debtor in bankruptcy” means a person who is the subject of either of the following:

(A) An order for relief under Title 11 of the United States Code or a comparable order under a successor statute of general application.

(B) A comparable order under federal, state, or foreign law governing insolvency.

(3) “Distribution” means a transfer of money or other property from a partnership to a partner in the partner’s capacity as a partner or to the partner’s transferee.

(4) “Electronic transmission by the partnership” means a communication (a) delivered by (1) facsimile telecommunication or electronic mail when directed to the facsimile number or electronic mail address, respectively, for that recipient on record with the partnership, (2) posting on an electronic message board or network that the partnership has designated for those communications, together with a separate notice to the recipient of the posting, which transmission shall be validly delivered upon the later of the posting or delivery of the separate notice thereof, or (3) other means of electronic communication, (b) to a recipient who has provided an unrevoked consent to the use of those means of transmission, and (c) that creates a record that is capable of retention, retrieval, and review, and that may thereafter be rendered into clearly legible tangible form. However, an electronic transmission by a partnership to an individual partner is not authorized unless, in addition to satisfying the requirements of this section, the transmission satisfies the requirements applicable to consumer consent to electronic records as set forth in the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (15 U.S.C. Sec. 7001(c)(1)).

(5) “Electronic transmission to the partnership” means a communication (a) delivered by (1) facsimile telecommunication or electronic mail when directed to the facsimile number or electronic mail address, respectively, which the partnership has provided from time to time to partners for sending communications to the partnership, (2) posting on an electronic message board or network that the partnership has designated for those communications, and which transmission shall be validly delivered upon the posting, or (3) other means of electronic communication, (b) as to which the partnership has placed in effect reasonable measures to verify that the sender is the partner (in person or by proxy) purporting to send the transmission, and (c) that creates a record that is capable of retention, retrieval, and review, and that may thereafter be rendered into clearly legible tangible form.

(6) (A) “Foreign limited liability partnership” means a partnership, other than a limited partnership, formed pursuant to an agreement governed by the laws of another jurisdiction and denominated or registered as a limited liability partnership or registered limited liability partnership under the laws of that jurisdiction (i) in which each partner is a licensed person or a person licensed or authorized to provide professional limited liability partnership services in a jurisdiction or jurisdictions other than this state, (ii) which is licensed under the laws of the state to engage in the practice of architecture, the practice of public accountancy, or the practice of law, or (iii) which (I) is related to a registered limited liability partnership that practices public accountancy or, to the extent permitted by the State Bar, practices law or is related to a foreign limited liability partnership and (II) provides services related or complementary to the professional limited liability partnership services provided by, or provides services or facilities to, that registered limited liability partnership or foreign limited liability partnership.

(B) For the purposes of clause (iii) of subparagraph (A), a partnership is related to a registered limited liability partnership or foreign limited liability partnership if (i) at least a majority of the partners in one partnership are also partners in the other partnership, or (ii) at least a majority in interest in each partnership hold interests in or are members of another person, except an individual, and each partnership renders services pursuant to an agreement with that other person, or (iii) one partnership, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the other partnership.

(7) “Licensed person” means any person who is duly licensed, authorized, or registered under the provisions of the Business and Professions Code to provide professional limited liability partnership services or who is lawfully able to render professional limited liability partnership services in this state.

(8) (A) “Registered limited liability partnership” means a partnership, other than a limited partnership, formed pursuant to an agreement governed by Article 10 (commencing with Section 16951), that is registered under Section 16953 and (i) each of the partners of which is a licensed person or a person licensed or authorized to provide professional limited liability partnership services in a jurisdiction or jurisdictions other than this state, (ii) is licensed under the laws of the state to engage in the practice of architecture, practice of public accountancy, or the practice of law, or (iii)(I) is related to a registered limited liability partnership that practices public accountancy or, to the extent permitted by the State Bar, practices law or is related to a foreign limited liability partnership and (II) provides services related or complementary to the professional limited liability partnership services provided by, or provides services or facilities to, that registered limited liability partnership or foreign limited liability partnership.

(B) For the purposes of clause (iii) of subparagraph (A), a partnership is related to a registered limited liability partnership or foreign limited liability partnership if (i) at least a majority of the partners in one partnership are also partners in the other partnership, or (ii) at least a majority in interest in each partnership hold interests in or are members of another person, other than an individual, and each partnership renders services pursuant to an agreement with that other person, or (iii) one partnership, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the other partnership.

(9) “Partnership” means an association of two or more persons to carry on as coowners a business for profit formed under Section 16202, predecessor law, or comparable law of another jurisdiction, and includes, for all purposes of the laws of this state, a registered limited liability partnership, and excludes any partnership formed under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 15501), Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 15611), or Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 15900).

(10) “Partnership agreement” means the agreement, whether written, oral, or implied, among the partners concerning the partnership, including amendments to the partnership agreement.

(11) “Partnership at will” means a partnership in which the partners have not agreed to remain partners until the expiration of a definite term or the completion of a particular undertaking.

(12) “Partnership interest” or “partner’s interest in the partnership” means all of a partner’s interests in the partnership, including the partner’s transferable interest and all management and other rights.

(13) “Person” means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, government, governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or any other legal or commercial entity.

(14) “Professional limited liability partnership services” means the practice of architecture, the practice of public accountancy, or the practice of law.

(15) “Property” means all property, real, personal, or mixed, tangible or intangible, or any interest therein.

(16) “State” means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

(17) “Statement” means a statement of partnership authority under Section 16303, a statement of denial under Section 16304, a statement of dissociation under Section 16704, a statement of dissolution under Section 16805, a statement of conversion or a certificate of conversion under Section 16906, a statement of merger under Section 16915, or an amendment or cancellation of any of the foregoing.

(18) “Transfer” includes an assignment, conveyance, lease, mortgage, deed, and encumbrance.

(19) The inclusion of the practice of architecture as a professional limited liability partnership service permitted by this section shall extend only until January 1, 2007.

16101.

 As used in this chapter, the following terms and phrases have the following meanings:

(1) “Business” includes every trade, occupation, and profession.

(2) “Debtor in bankruptcy” means a person who is the subject of either of the following:

(A) An order for relief under Title 11 of the United States Code or a comparable order under a successor statute of general application.

(B) A comparable order under federal, state, or foreign law governing insolvency.

(3) “Distribution” means a transfer of money or other property from a partnership to a partner in the partner’s capacity as a partner or to the partner’s transferee.

(4) “Electronic transmission by the partnership” means a communication (a) delivered by (1) facsimile telecommunication or electronic mail when directed to the facsimile number or electronic mail address, respectively, for that recipient on record with the partnership, (2) posting on an electronic message board or network that the partnership has designated for those communications, together with a separate notice to the recipient of the posting, which transmission shall be validly delivered upon the later of the posting or delivery of the separate notice thereof, or (3) other means of electronic communication, (b) to a recipient who has provided an unrevoked consent to the use of those means of transmission, and (c) that creates a record that is capable of retention, retrieval, and review, and that may thereafter be rendered into clearly legible tangible form. However, an electronic transmission by a partnership to an individual partner is not authorized unless, in addition to satisfying the requirements of this section, the transmission satisfies the requirements applicable to consumer consent to electronic records as set forth in the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (15 U.S.C. Sec. 7001(c)(1)).

(5) “Electronic transmission to the partnership” means a communication (a) delivered by (1) facsimile telecommunication or electronic mail when directed to the facsimile number or electronic mail address, respectively, which the partnership has provided from time to time to partners for sending communications to the partnership, (2) posting on an electronic message board or network that the partnership has designated for those communications, and which transmission shall be validly delivered upon the posting, or (3) other means of electronic communication, (b) as to which the partnership has placed in effect reasonable measures to verify that the sender is the partner (in person or by proxy) purporting to send the transmission, and (c) that creates a record that is capable of retention, retrieval, and review, and that may thereafter be rendered into clearly legible tangible form.

(6) (A) “Foreign limited liability partnership” means a partnership, other than a limited partnership, formed pursuant to an agreement governed by the laws of another jurisdiction and denominated or registered as a limited liability partnership or registered limited liability partnership under the laws of that jurisdiction (i) in which each partner is a licensed person or a person licensed or authorized to provide professional limited liability partnership services in a jurisdiction or jurisdictions other than this state, (ii) which is licensed under the laws of the state to engage in the practice of architecture, the practice of public accountancy, or the practice of law, or (iii) which (I) is related to a registered limited liability partnership that practices public accountancy or, to the extent permitted by the State Bar, practices law or is related to a foreign limited liability partnership and (II) provides services related or complementary to the professional limited liability partnership services provided by, or provides services or facilities to, that registered limited liability partnership or foreign limited liability partnership.

(B) For the purposes of clause (iii) of subparagraph (A), a partnership is related to a registered limited liability partnership or foreign limited liability partnership if (i) at least a majority of the partners in one partnership are also partners in the other partnership, or (ii) at least a majority in interest in each partnership hold interests in or are members of another person, except an individual, and each partnership renders services pursuant to an agreement with that other person, or (iii) one partnership, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the other partnership.

(7) “Licensed person” means any person who is duly licensed, authorized, or registered under the provisions of the Business and Professions Code to provide professional limited liability partnership services or who is lawfully able to render professional limited liability partnership services in this state.

(8) (A) “Registered limited liability partnership” means a partnership, other than a limited partnership, formed pursuant to an agreement governed by Article 10 (commencing with Section 16951), that is registered under Section 16953 and (i) each of the partners of which is a licensed person or a person licensed or authorized to provide professional limited liability partnership services in a jurisdiction or jurisdictions other than this state, (ii) is licensed under the laws of the state to engage in the practice of architecture, practice of public accountancy, or the practice of law, or (iii)(I) is related to a registered limited liability partnership that practices public accountancy or, to the extent permitted by the State Bar, practices law or is related to a foreign limited liability partnership and (II) provides services related or complementary to the professional limited liability partnership services provided by, or provides services or facilities to, that registered limited liability partnership or foreign limited liability partnership.

(B) For the purposes of clause (iii) of subparagraph (A), a partnership is related to a registered limited liability partnership or foreign limited liability partnership if (i) at least a majority of the partners in one partnership are also partners in the other partnership, or (ii) at least a majority in interest in each partnership hold interests in or are members of another person, other than an individual, and each partnership renders services pursuant to an agreement with that other person, or (iii) one partnership, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the other partnership.

(9) “Partnership” means an association of two or more persons to carry on as coowners a business for profit formed under Section 16202, predecessor law, or comparable law of another jurisdiction, and includes, for all purposes of the laws of this state, a registered limited liability partnership, and excludes any partnership formed under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 15501), Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 15611), or Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 15900).

(10) “Partnership agreement” means the agreement, whether written, oral, or implied, among the partners concerning the partnership, including amendments to the partnership agreement.

(11) “Partnership at will” means a partnership in which the partners have not agreed to remain partners until the expiration of a definite term or the completion of a particular undertaking.

(12) “Partnership interest” or “partner’s interest in the partnership” means all of a partner’s interests in the partnership, including the partner’s transferable interest and all management and other rights.

(13) “Person” means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, government, governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or any other legal or commercial entity.

(14) “Professional limited liability partnership services” means the practice of architecture, the practice of public accountancy, or the practice of law.

(15) “Property” means all property, real, personal, or mixed, tangible or intangible, or any interest therein.

(16) “State” means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

(17) “Statement” means a statement of partnership authority under Section 16303, a statement of denial under Section 16304, a statement of dissociation under Section 16704, a statement of dissolution under Section 16805, a statement of conversion or a certificate of conversion under Section 16906, a statement of merger under Section 16915, or an amendment or cancellation of any of the foregoing.

(18) “Transfer” includes an assignment, conveyance, lease, mortgage, deed, and encumbrance.

(19) The inclusion of the practice of architecture as a professional limited liability partnership service permitted by this section shall extend only until January 1, 2012.

16901.

 In this article, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) “Constituent other business entity” means any other business entity that is merged with or into one or more partnerships and includes a surviving other business entity.

(2) “Constituent partnership” means a partnership that is merged with or into one or more other partnerships or other business entities and includes a surviving partnership.

(3) “Disappearing other business entity” means a constituent other business entity that is not the surviving other business entity.

(4) “Disappearing partnership” means a constituent partnership that is not the surviving partnership.

(5) “Domestic” means organized under the laws of this state when used in relation to any partnership, other business entity, or person (other than an individual).

(6) “Foreign other business entity” means any other business entity formed under the laws of any state other than this state or under the laws of the United States or of a foreign country.

(7) “Foreign partnership” means a partnership formed under the laws of any state other than this state or under the laws of a foreign country.

(8)  “General partner” means a partner in a partnership and a general partner in a limited partnership.

(9) “Limited liability company” means a limited liability company created under Title 2.5 (commencing with Section 17000), or comparable law of another jurisdiction.

(10) “Limited partner” means a limited partner in a limited partnership.

(11) “Limited partnership” means a limited partnership created under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 15611) or Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 15900), predecessor law, or comparable law of another jurisdiction.

(12) “Other business entity” means a limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, business trust, real estate investment trust, or an unincorporated association (other than a nonprofit association), but excluding a partnership.

(13) “Partner” includes both a general partner and a limited partner.

(14) “Surviving other business entity” means an other business entity into which one or more partnerships are merged.

(15) “Surviving partnership” means a partnership into which one or more other partnerships or other business entities are merged.

16903.

 (a) A partnership that desires to convert to a domestic or foreign other business entity shall approve a plan of conversion. The plan of conversion shall state the following:

(1) The terms and conditions of the conversion.

(2) The place of the organization of the converted entity and of the converting partnership and the name of the converted entity after conversion, if different from that of the converting partnership.

(3) The manner of converting the partnership interests of each of the partners into shares of, securities of, or interests in the converted entity.

(4) The provisions of the governing documents for the converted entity, including the limited partnership agreement, limited liability company articles of organization and operating agreement, or articles or certificate of incorporation if the converted entity is a corporation, to which the holders of interest in the converted entity are to be bound.

(5) Any other details or provisions as are required by laws under which the converted entity is organized.

(6) Any other details or provisions that are desired.

(b) The plan of conversion shall be approved by that number or percentage of partners required by the partnership agreement to approve a conversion of the partnership as set forth in the partnership agreement. If the partnership agreement fails to specify the required partner approval for a conversion of the partnership, the plan of conversion shall be approved by that number or percentage of partners required by the partnership agreement to approve an amendment to the partnership agreement unless the conversion effects a change for which the partnership agreement requires a greater number or percentage of partners than that required to amend the partnership agreement, in which case the plan of conversion shall be approved by that greater number or percentage. If the partnership agreement fails to specify the vote required to amend the partnership agreement, the plan of conversion shall be approved by all partners.

(c) If the partnership is converting into a limited partnership, in addition to the approval of the partners as set forth in subdivision (b), the plan of conversion shall be approved by all partners who will become general partners of the converted limited partnership pursuant to the plan of conversion.

(d) All partners of the converting partnership except those that dissociate upon effectiveness of the conversion pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 16909 shall be deemed parties to any partnership or operating agreement, articles or certificate of incorporation, or organic document for the converted entity adopted as part of the plan of conversion, regardless of whether that partner has executed the plan of conversion or the operating agreement, articles or certificate of incorporation, partnership agreement, or other organic document for the converted entity. Any adoption of a new partnership or operating agreement, articles or certificate of incorporation, or other organic document made pursuant to the foregoing sentence shall be effective at the effective time or date of the conversion.

(e) Notwithstanding its prior approval, a plan of conversion may be amended before the conversion takes effect if the amendment is approved by the partnership in the same manner, and by the same number or percentage of partners, as was required for approval of the original plan of conversion.

(f) The partners of a converting partnership may, at any time before the conversion is effective, in their discretion, abandon a conversion, without further approval by the partners, in the same manner, and by the same number or percentage of partners, as was required for approval of the original plan of conversion at any time before the conversion is effective, subject to the contractual rights of third parties.

(g) The converted entity shall keep the plan of conversion at: (1) the principal place of business of the converted entity, if the converted entity is a foreign other business entity or a corporation; or (2) the office at which records are to be kept under Section 15614 or 15901.14 if the converted entity is a domestic limited partnership, or at the office at which records are to be kept under Section 17057 if the converted entity is a domestic limited liability company. Upon the request of a partner of a converting partnership, the authorized person on behalf of the converted entity shall promptly deliver to the partner or the holder of interests or other securities, at the expense of the converted entity, a copy of the plan of conversion. A waiver by a partner of the rights provided in this subdivision shall be unenforceable.

16908.

 (a) A domestic limited partnership, limited liability company, or corporation, or a foreign other business entity may be converted to a domestic partnership pursuant to this article, but only if the converting entity is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the conversion.

(b) An entity that desires to convert into a domestic partnership shall approve a plan of conversion or the instrument that is required to be approved to effect the conversion pursuant to the laws under which the entity is organized.

(c) The conversion of a domestic limited partnership, limited liability company, or corporation, or foreign other business entity shall be approved by the number or percentage of the partners, members, shareholders, or holders of interest of the converting entity as is required by the law under which the entity is organized, or a greater or lesser percentage (subject to applicable laws) as set forth in the limited partnership agreement, articles of organization, operating agreement, or articles or certificate of organization, or other governing document for the converting entity.

(d) The conversion by a domestic limited partnership, limited liability company, or corporation, or a foreign other business entity into a partnership shall be effective under this article at the time that the conversion is effective under the laws under which the converting entity is organized.

(e) The filing with the Secretary of State of a certificate of conversion or a statement of partnership authority containing a statement of conversion pursuant to subdivision (a) shall have the effect of the filing of a certificate of cancellation by the converting foreign limited partnership or foreign limited liability company, and no converting foreign limited partnership or foreign limited liability company that has made the filing is required to file a certificate of cancellation under Section 15696, 15909.07, or 17455 as a result of that conversion. If a converting other business entity is a foreign corporation qualified to transact business in this state, the foreign corporation shall, by virtue of the filing, automatically surrender its right to transact intrastate business.

16911.

 (a) Each partnership and other business entity which desires to merge shall approve an agreement of merger. The agreement of merger shall be approved by the number or percentage of partners specified for merger in the partnership agreement of the constituent partnership. If the partnership agreement fails to specify the required partner approval for merger of the constituent partnership, then the agreement of merger shall be approved by that number or percentage of partners specified by the partnership agreement to approve an amendment to the partnership agreement. However, if the merger effects a change for which the partnership agreement requires a greater number or percentage of partners than that required to amend the partnership agreement, then the merger shall be approved by that greater number or percentage. If the partnership agreement contains no provision specifying the vote required to amend the partnership agreement, then the agreement of merger must be approved by all the partners. The agreement of merger shall be approved on behalf of each constituent other business entity by those persons required to approve the merger by the laws under which it is organized. Other persons may be parties to the agreement of merger. The agreement of merger shall state all of the following:

(1) The terms and conditions of the merger.

(2) The name and place of organization of the surviving partnership or surviving other business entity, and of each disappearing partnership and disappearing other business entity, and the agreement of merger may change the name of the surviving partnership, which new name may be the same as, or similar to, the name of a disappearing partnership.

(3) The manner of converting the partnership interests of each of the constituent partnerships into interests or other securities of the surviving partnership or surviving other business entity, and if partnership interests of any of the constituent partnerships are not to be converted solely into interest or other securities of the surviving partnership or surviving other business entity, the cash, property, rights, interests, or securities which the holders of the partnership interest are to receive in exchange for the partnership interests, which cash, property, rights, interests, or securities may be in addition to or in lieu of interests or other securities of the surviving partnership or surviving other business entity, or that the partnership interests are canceled without consideration.

(4) Any other details or provisions as are required by the laws under which any constituent other business entity is organized.

(5) Any other details or provisions that are desired, including, without limitation, a provision for the treatment of fractional partnership interests.

(b) If the partnership is merging into a limited partnership, then in addition to the approval of the partners as set forth under subdivision (a), the agreement of merger must be approved by all partners who will become general partners of the surviving limited partnership upon the effectiveness of the merger.

(c) Notwithstanding its prior approval, an agreement of merger may be amended before the merger takes effect if the amendment is approved by the partners of each constituent partnership, in the same manner as required for approval of the original agreement of merger, and by each of the constituent other business entities.

(d) The partners of a constituent partnership may in their discretion, abandon a merger, subject to the contractual rights, if any, of third parties, including other constituent partnerships and constituent other business entities, if the abandonment is approved by the partners of the constituent partnership in the same manner as required for approval of the original agreement of merger.

(e) An agreement of merger approved in accordance with subdivision (a) may (1) effect any amendment to the partnership agreement of any domestic constituent partnership or (2) effect the adoption of a new partnership agreement for a domestic constituent partnership if it is the surviving partnership in the merger. Any amendment to a partnership agreement or adoption of a new partnership agreement made pursuant to the foregoing sentence shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger.

(f) The surviving partnership or surviving other business entity shall keep the agreement of merger at the principal place of business of the surviving entity if the surviving entity is a partnership or a foreign other business entity, at the office referred to in Section 1500 if the surviving entity is a domestic corporation, at the office referred to in subdivision (a) of Section 15614 or 15901.14 if the surviving entity is a domestic limited partnership or at the office referred to in Section 17057 if the surviving entity is a domestic limited liability company and, upon the request of a partner of a constituent partnership or a holder of interests or other securities of a constituent other business entity, the authorized person on behalf of the partnership or the surviving other business entity shall promptly deliver to the partner or the holder of interests or other securities, at the expense of the surviving partnership or surviving other business entity, a copy of the agreement of merger. A waiver by a partner or holder of interests or other securities of the rights provided in this subdivision shall be unenforceable.

16915.5.

 (a) Upon merger pursuant to this article, a surviving domestic or foreign partnership or other business entity shall be deemed to have assumed the liability of each disappearing domestic or foreign partnership or other business entity that is taxed under Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001) of, or under Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001) of, Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code for the following:

(1) To prepare and file, or to cause to be prepared and filed, tax and information returns otherwise required of that disappearing entity as specified in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 18501) of Part 10.2 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(2) To pay any tax liability determined to be due.

(b) Notwithstanding Sections 1103, 1108, 1110, 1113, 6014, 6018, 6019.1, 8014, 8018, 8019.1, 12535, 12539, 12540.1, 15678.4, 15911.14, and 17552 of this code and Sections 17945, 17948.1, and 23334 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, if the surviving entity is a domestic limited liability company, domestic corporation, or registered limited liability partnership or a foreign limited liability company, foreign limited liability partnership, or foreign corporation that is registered or qualified to do business in California, the Secretary of State shall file the merger without the certificate of satisfaction of the Franchise Tax Board and shall notify the Franchise Tax Board of the merger.

16915.5.

 (a) Upon merger pursuant to this article, a surviving domestic or foreign partnership or other business entity shall be deemed to have assumed the liability of each disappearing domestic or foreign partnership or other business entity that is taxed under Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001) of, or under Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001) of, Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code for the following:

(1) To prepare and file, or to cause to be prepared and filed, tax and information returns otherwise required of that disappearing entity as specified in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 18501) of Part 10.2 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(2) To pay any tax liability determined to be due.

(b) If the surviving entity is a domestic limited liability company, domestic corporation, or registered limited liability partnership or a foreign limited liability company, foreign limited liability partnership, or foreign corporation that is registered or qualified to do business in California, the Secretary of State shall notify the Franchise Tax Board of the merger.

17001.

 Unless the context otherwise indicates, the following definitions govern the construction of this title:

(a) “Acknowledged” means that an instrument is either of the following:

(1) Formally acknowledged as provided in Article 3 (commencing with Section 1180) of Chapter 4 of Title 4 of Part 4 of Division 2 of the Civil Code.

(2) Executed to include substantially the following wording preceding the signature: It is hereby declared that I am the person who executed this instrument, which execution is my act and deed.

Any certificate of acknowledgment taken without this state before a notary public or a judge or clerk of a court of record having an official seal need not be further authenticated.

(b) “Articles of organization” means articles of organization filed under Section 17050, including all amendments thereto or restatements thereof, or, in the case of a foreign limited liability company, all documents that serve a like function under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the foreign limited liability company is organized.

(c) “Bankrupt” or “bankruptcy” means, with respect to any person, being the subject of an order for relief under Title 11 of the United States Code, or any successor statute or other statute in any foreign jurisdiction having like import or effect.

(d) “Capital account” means, unless otherwise provided in the operating agreement, the amount of the capital interest of a member in the limited liability company consisting of that member’s original contribution, as (1) increased by any additional contributions and by that member’s share of the limited liability company’s profits, and (2) decreased by any distribution to that member and by that member’s share of the limited liability company’s losses.

(e) “Constituent limited liability company” means a limited liability company that is merged with or into one or more other limited liability companies or other business entities and includes a surviving limited liability company.

(f) “Constituent other business entity” means any other business entity that is merged with or into one or more limited liability companies and includes a surviving other business entity.

(g) “Contribution” means any money, property, or services rendered, or a promissory note or other binding obligation to contribute money or property, or to render services as permitted in this title, which a member contributes to a limited liability company as capital in that member’s capacity as a member pursuant to an agreement between the members, including an agreement as to value.

(h) “Disappearing limited liability company” means a constituent limited liability company that is not the surviving limited liability company.

(i) “Disappearing other business entity” means a constituent other business entity that is not the surviving other business entity.

(j) “Distribution” means the transfer of money or property by a limited liability company to its members without consideration.

(k) “Domestic” means organized under the laws of this state when used in relation to any limited liability company, other business entity or person (other than a natural person).

(l) “Domestic corporation” means a corporation as defined in Section 162.

(m) “Domestic limited partnership” means a partnership formed by two or more persons under the laws of this state and having one or more general partners and one or more limited partners.

(n) “Economic interest” means a person’s right to share in the income, gains, losses, deductions, credit, or similar items of, and to receive distributions from, the limited liability company, but does not include any other rights of a member, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to participate in management, or, except as provided in Section 17106, any right to information concerning the business and affairs of the limited liability company.

(o) (1) “Electronic transmission by the limited liability company” means a communication (a) delivered by (1) facsimile telecommunication or electronic mail when directed to the facsimile number or electronic mail address, respectively, for that recipient on record with the limited liability company, (2) posting on an electronic message board or network that the limited liability company has designated for those communications, together with a separate notice to the recipient of the posting, which transmission shall be validly delivered upon the later of the posting or delivery of the separate notice thereof, or (3) other means of electronic communication, (b) to a recipient who has provided an unrevoked consent to the use of those means of transmission, and (c) that creates a record that is capable of retention, retrieval, and review, and that may thereafter be rendered into clearly legible tangible form. However, an electronic transmission by a limited liability company to an individual member is not authorized unless, in addition to satisfying the requirements of this section, the transmission satisfies the requirements applicable to consumer consent to electronic records as set forth in the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (15 U.S.C. Sec. 7001(c)(1)).

(2) “Electronic transmission to the limited liability company” means a communication (a) delivered by (1) facsimile telecommunication or electronic mail when directed to the facsimile number or electronic mail address, respectively, which the limited liability company has provided from time to time to members or managers for sending communications to the limited liability company, (2) posting on an electronic message board or network that the limited liability company has designated for those communications, and which transmission shall be validly delivered upon the posting, or (3) other means of electronic communication, (b) as to which the limited liability company has placed in effect reasonable measures to verify that the sender is the member or manager (in person or by proxy) purporting to send the transmission, and (c) that creates a record that is capable of retention, retrieval, and review, and that may thereafter be rendered into clearly legible tangible form.

(p) “Foreign corporation” means a corporation formed under the laws of any state other than this state or under the laws of the United States or of a foreign country.

(q) “Foreign limited liability company” means either (1) an entity formed under the limited liability company laws of any state other than this state, or (2) an entity organized under the laws of any foreign country that is (A) an unincorporated association, (B) organized under a statute pursuant to which an association may be formed that affords each of its members limited liability with respect to the liabilities of the entity, and (C) not an entity that is required to be registered or qualified pursuant to the provisions of Title 1 (commencing with Section 100) or Title 2 (commencing with Section 15001); but the term “foreign limited liability company” does not include a foreign association, as defined in Section 170.

(r) “Foreign limited partnership” means a partnership formed under the laws of any state other than this state or under the laws of a foreign country, including a limited liability limited partnership, and having as partners one or more general partners and one or more limited partners or their equivalents under any name.

(s) “Foreign other business entity” means any other business entity formed under the laws of any state other than this state or under the laws of the United States or of a foreign country.

(t) “Limited liability company” or “domestic limited liability company” means an entity having one or more members that is organized under this title and is subject to the provisions of Section 17101.

(u) “Mail” unless otherwise provided in the operating agreement, means first-class mail, postage prepaid, unless registered mail is specified. Registered mail includes certified mail.

(v) “Majority in interest of the members,” unless otherwise provided in the operating agreement, means more than 50 percent of the interests of members in current profits of the limited liability company.

(w) “Manager” means a person elected by the members of a limited liability company to manage the limited liability company if the articles of organization contain the statement referred to in subdivision (b) of Section 17151 or, if the articles of organization do not contain that statement, “manager” means each of the members of the limited liability company.

(x) “Member” means a person who:

(1) Has been admitted to a limited liability company as a member in accordance with the articles of organization or operating agreement, or an assignee of an interest in a limited liability company who has become a member pursuant to Section 17303.

(2) Has not resigned, withdrawn, or been expelled as a member or, if other than an individual, been dissolved.

(y) “Member of record” means a member named as a member on the list maintained in accordance with paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 17058.

(z) “Membership interest” means a member’s rights in the limited liability company, collectively, including the member’s economic interest, any right to vote or participate in management, and any right to information concerning the business and affairs of the limited liability company provided by this title.

(aa) “Officer” means any person elected or appointed pursuant to Section 17154.

(ab) “Operating agreement” means any agreement, written or oral, between all of the members as to the affairs of a limited liability company and the conduct of its business in any manner not inconsistent with law or the articles of organization, including all amendments thereto, or, in the case of a foreign limited liability company, all documents that serve a like function under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the foreign limited liability company is organized. The term “operating agreement” may include, without more, an agreement between all the members to organize a limited liability company pursuant to the provisions of this title.

(ac) “Other business entity” means a corporation, limited partnership, general partnership, business trust, real estate investment trust, or an unincorporated association (other than a nonprofit association), but excluding a domestic limited liability company and a foreign limited liability company.

(ad) “Parent,” when used in relation to a specified limited liability company, means a person who owns, directly or indirectly, membership interests possessing more than 50 percent of the voting power of the specified limited liability company. When used in relation to a specified corporation or limited partnership, the term “parent” shall have the meanings set forth in Section 175 and subdivision (w) of Section 15611 or subdivision (v) of Section 15901.02 respectively.

(ae) “Person” means an individual, partnership, limited partnership, trust, estate, association, corporation, limited liability company, or other entity, whether domestic or foreign.

(af) [RESERVED]

(ag) [RESERVED]

(ah) [RESERVED]

(ai) “Proxy,” unless otherwise provided in the operating agreement, means a written authorization signed or an electronic transmission authorized by a member or the member’s attorney-in-fact giving another person the power to exercise the voting rights of that member. “Signed,” for the purpose of this section, means the placing of the member’s name on the proxy (whether by manual signature, typewriting, telegraphic or electronic transmission, or otherwise) by the member or member’s attorney-in-fact.

A proxy may be transmitted by an oral telephonic transmission if it is submitted with information from which it may be determined that the proxy was authorized by the member, or by the member’s attorney-in-fact.

(aj) “Return of capital,” unless otherwise provided in the operating agreement, means any distribution to a member to the extent that the member’s capital account, immediately after the distribution, is less than the amount of that member’s contributions to the limited liability company as reduced by prior distributions that were a return of capital.

(ak) “State” means a state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

(al) “Subsidiary of a specified limited liability company” means a limited liability company or other business entity in which shares, interests, or other securities possessing more than 50 percent of the voting power are owned by the specified limited liability company.

(am) “Surviving limited liability company” means a limited liability company into which one or more other limited liability companies or other business entities are merged.

(an) “Surviving other business entity” means an other business entity into which one or more limited liability companies are merged.

(ao) “Time a notice is given or sent,” unless otherwise expressly provided, means the time a written notice is deposited in the United States mail; is personally delivered to the recipient, is delivered to a common carrier for transmission, or is actually transmitted by the person giving the notice by electronic transmission, to the recipient; or the time any oral notice is communicated, in person or by telephone, to the recipient or to a person at the office of the recipient who the person giving the notice has reason to believe will promptly communicate it to the recipient.

(ap) “Transact intrastate business” means to enter into repeated and successive transactions of business in this state, other than in interstate or foreign commerce.

(1) Without excluding other activities which may not be considered to be transacting intrastate business, a foreign limited liability company shall not be considered to be transacting intrastate business merely because its subsidiary transacts intrastate business, or merely because of its status as any one or more of the following:

(A) A shareholder of a domestic corporation.

(B) A shareholder of a foreign corporation transacting intrastate business.

(C) A limited partner of a foreign limited partnership transacting intrastate business.

(D) A limited partner of a domestic limited partnership.

(E) A member or manager of a foreign limited liability company transacting intrastate business.

(F) A member or manager of a domestic limited liability company.

(2) Without excluding other activities which may not be considered to be transacting intrastate business, a foreign limited liability company shall not be considered to be transacting intrastate business within the meaning of this subdivision solely by reason of carrying on in this state any one or more of the following activities:

(A) Maintaining or defending any action or suit or any administrative or arbitration proceeding, or effecting the settlement thereof, or the settlement of claims or disputes.

(B) Holding meetings of its managers or members or carrying on any other activities concerning its internal affairs.

(C) Maintaining bank accounts.

(D) Maintaining offices or agencies for the transfer, exchange, and registration of the foreign limited liability company’s securities or maintaining trustees or depositaries with respect to those securities.

(E) Effecting sales through independent contractors.

(F) Soliciting or procuring orders, whether by mail or through employees or agents or otherwise, where those orders require acceptance without this state before becoming binding contracts.

(G) Creating or acquiring evidences of debt or mortgages, liens, or security interests in real or personal property.

(H) Securing or collecting debts or enforcing mortgages and security interests in property securing the debts.

(I) Conducting an isolated transaction that is completed within 180 days and not in the course of a number of repeated transactions of a like nature.

(3) A person shall not be deemed to be transacting intrastate business in this state merely because of its status as a member or manager of a domestic limited liability company or a foreign limited liability company registered to transact intrastate business in this state.

(aq) “Vote” includes authorization by written consent.

(ar) “Voting power” means the power to vote on any matter at the time any determination of voting power is made and does not include the right to vote upon the happening of some condition or event which has not yet occurred.

(as) “Withdrawal” includes the resignation or retirement of a member as a member.

(at) “Written” or “in writing” includes facsimile, telegraphic, and other electronic communication as authorized by this code.

17540.3.

 (a) A limited liability company that desires to convert to an other business entity or a foreign other business entity or a foreign limited liability company shall approve a plan of conversion.

The plan of conversion shall state all of the following:

(1) The terms and conditions of the conversion.

(2) The place of the organization of the converted entity and of the converting limited liability company and the name of the converted entity after conversion.

(3) The manner of converting the membership interests of each of the members into securities of, shares of, or interests in, the converted entity.

(4) The provisions of the governing documents for the converted entity, including the articles or certificate of incorporation if the converted entity is a domestic or foreign corporation, the partnership agreement, or the limited liability company articles of organization and operating agreement, to which the holders of interests in the converted entity are to be bound.

(5) Any other details or provisions that are required by the laws under which the converted entity is organized, or that are desired by the parties.

(b) The plan of conversion shall be approved by a vote of a majority in interest of the members of the converting limited liability company, or a greater percentage of the voting interests of members as may be specified in the articles of organization or written operating agreement of the converting limited liability company. However, if the members of the limited liability company would become personally liable for any obligations of the converted entity as a result of the conversion, the plan of conversion shall be approved by all of the members of the converting limited liability company, unless the plan of conversion provides that all members will have dissenters’ rights as provided in Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 17600).

(c) If the limited liability company is converting into a limited partnership, then in addition to the approval of the members set forth in subdivision (b), the plan of conversion shall be approved by those members who will become general partners of the converted limited partnership pursuant to the plan of conversion.

(d) Upon the effectiveness of the conversion, all members of the converting limited liability company, except those that exercise dissenters’ rights as provided in Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 17600), shall be deemed parties to any governing documents for the converted entity adopted as part of the plan of conversion, irrespective of whether or not a member has executed the plan of conversion or the governing documents for the converted entity. Any adoption of governing documents made pursuant thereto shall be effective at the effective time or date of the conversion.

(e) Notwithstanding its prior approval, a plan of conversion may be amended before the conversion takes effect if the amendment is approved by the members of the converting limited liability company in the same manner as was required for approval of the original plan of conversion.

(f) A plan of conversion may be abandoned by the members of a converting limited liability company in the manner as required for approval of the plan of conversion, subject to the contractual rights of third parties, at any time before the conversion is effective.

(g) The converted entity shall keep the plan of conversion at the principal place of business of the converted entity if the converted entity is a domestic partnership or foreign other business entity, at the principal executive office of or registrar or transfer agent of the converted entity if the converted entity is a domestic corporation, or at the office at which records are to be kept under Section 15614 or 15901.14 if the converted entity is a domestic limited partnership. Upon the request of a member of a converting limited liability company, the authorized person on behalf of the converted entity shall promptly deliver to the member or the holder of interests, shares, or other securities, at the expense of the converted entity, a copy of the plan of conversion. A waiver by a member of the rights provided in this subdivision shall be unenforceable.

17540.8.

 (a) An other business entity or a foreign other business entity or a foreign limited liability company may be converted to a domestic limited liability company pursuant to this chapter only if the converting entity is authorized by the laws under which it is organized to effect the conversion.

(b) An other business entity or a foreign other business entity or a foreign limited liability company that desires to convert into a domestic limited liability company shall approve a plan of conversion or an other instrument as is required to be approved to effect the conversion pursuant to the laws under which that entity is organized.

(c) The conversion of an other business entity or a foreign other business entity or a foreign limited liability company into a domestic limited liability company shall be approved by that number or percentage of the partners, members, shareholders, or holders of interest of the converting entity as is required by the laws under which that entity is organized, or a greater or lesser percentage, subject to applicable laws, as set forth in the converting entity’s partnership agreement, articles of organization, operating agreement, articles or certificate of incorporation, or other governing document.

(d) The conversion by an other business entity or a foreign other business entity or a foreign limited liability company into a domestic limited liability company shall be effective under this chapter at the time the conversion is effective under the laws under which the converting entity is organized as long as the articles of organization containing a statement of conversion have been filed with the Secretary of State. If the converting entity’s governing law is silent as to the effectiveness of the conversion, the conversion shall be effective upon the completion of all acts required under this title to form a limited liability company.

(e) The filing with the Secretary of State of a certificate of conversion or articles of organization containing a statement of conversion pursuant to subdivision (a) shall have the effect of the filing of a certificate of cancellation by the converting foreign limited liability company or foreign limited partnership, and no converting foreign limited liability company or foreign limited partnership that has made the filing is required to file a certificate of cancellation under Section 15696, 15909.07, or 17455 as a result of that conversion. If a converting other business entity is a foreign corporation qualified to transact business in this state, the foreign corporation shall, by virtue of the filing, automatically surrender its right to transact intrastate business.

17554.5.

 (a) Upon merger pursuant to this chapter, a surviving domestic or foreign limited liability company or other business entity shall be deemed to have assumed the liability of each disappearing domestic or foreign limited liability company or other business entity that is taxed under Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001) of, or under Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001) of, Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code for the following:

(1) To prepare and file, or to cause to be prepared and filed, tax and information returns otherwise required of that disappearing entity as specified in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 18501) of Part 10.2 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(2) To pay any tax liability determined to be due.

(b) Notwithstanding Sections 1103, 1108, 1110, 1113, 6014, 6018, 6019.1, 8014, 8018, 8019.1, 12535, 12539, 12540.1, 15678.4, 15911.14, and 17552 of this code and Sections 17945, 17948.1, and 23334 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, if the surviving entity is a domestic limited liability company, domestic corporation, or registered limited liability partnership or a foreign limited liability company, foreign limited liability partnership, or foreign corporation that is registered or qualified to do business in California, the Secretary of State shall file the merger without the certificate of satisfaction of the Franchise Tax Board and shall notify the Franchise Tax Board of the merger.

17554.5.

 (a) Upon merger pursuant to this chapter, a surviving domestic or foreign limited liability company or other business entity shall be deemed to have assumed the liability of each disappearing domestic or foreign limited liability company or other business entity that is taxed under Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001) of, or under Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001) of, Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code for the following:

(1) To prepare and file, or to cause to be prepared and filed, tax and information returns otherwise required of that disappearing entity as specified in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 18501) of Part 10.2 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(2) To pay any tax liability determined to be due.

(b) If the surviving entity is a domestic limited liability company, domestic corporation, or registered limited liability partnership or a foreign limited liability company, foreign limited liability partnership, or foreign corporation that is registered or qualified to do business in California, the Secretary of State shall notify the Franchise Tax Board of the merger.

17555.

 (a) The merger of any number of domestic limited liability companies with any number of foreign limited liability companies or foreign other business entities shall be required to comply with Section 17550.

(b) If the surviving entity is a domestic limited liability company or a domestic other business entity, the merger proceedings with respect to that limited liability company or other business entity and any domestic disappearing limited liability company shall conform to the provisions of this chapter governing the merger of domestic limited liability companies, but if the surviving entity is a foreign limited liability company or a foreign other business entity, then, subject to the requirements of subdivision (d) and Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 17600), with respect to any domestic constituent corporation, Section 1113 and Chapters 12 (commencing with Section 1200) and 13 (commencing with Section 1300) of Division 1 of Title 1, and with respect to any domestic constituent limited partnership, Article 7.6 (commencing with Section 15679.1) of Chapter 3 and Article 11.5 (commencing with Section 15911.20) of Chapter 5.5 of Title 2, the merger proceedings may be in accordance with the laws of the state or place of organization of the surviving limited liability company or surviving other business entity.

(c) If the surviving entity is a domestic limited liability company or domestic other business entity, other than a domestic corporation, a certificate of merger shall be filed as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 17552 and thereupon, subject to subdivision (a) of Section 17553, the merger shall be effective as to each domestic constituent limited liability company and domestic constituent other business entity. If the surviving entity is a domestic corporation, the agreement of merger with attachments shall be filed as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17552, and thereupon, subject to subdivision (a) of Section 17553, the merger shall be effective as to each domestic constituent limited liability company and domestic constituent other business entity unless another effective date is provided for in Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 1100) of Division 1 of Title 1, with respect to any constituent corporation or any constituent other business entity.

(d) If the surviving entity is a foreign limited liability company or foreign other business entity, the merger shall become effective in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which the surviving limited liability company or surviving other business entity is organized; but the merger shall be effective as to any domestic disappearing limited liability company as of the time of effectiveness in the foreign jurisdiction upon the filing in this state of a certificate of merger or agreement of merger as provided in Section 17552.

(e) If a merger described in subdivision (c) or (d) also includes a foreign disappearing limited liability company previously registered for the transaction of intrastate business in this state pursuant to Section 17451, the filing of the certificate of merger or agreement of merger, as applicable, automatically has the effect of a cancellation of registration for that foreign limited liability company pursuant to Section 17456 without the necessity of the filing of a certificate of cancellation.

(f) The provisions of subdivision (b) of Section 17551 and Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 17600) apply to the rights of the members of any of the constituent limited liability companies that are domestic limited liability companies and of any domestic limited liability company that is a parent of any foreign constituent limited liability company.

(g) If the surviving entity is a foreign limited liability company or foreign other business entity, the surviving entity shall file the following with the Secretary of State:

(1) An agreement that it may be served in this state in a proceeding for the enforcement of an obligation of any constituent entity and in a proceeding to enforce the rights of any holder of a dissenting interest or dissenting shares in a constituent domestic limited liability company or domestic other business entity.

(2) An irrevocable appointment of the Secretary of State as its agent for service of process, and an address to which process may be forwarded.

(3) An agreement that it will promptly pay the holder of any dissenting interest or dissenting share in a constituent domestic limited liability company or domestic other business entity the amount to which that person is entitled under California law.

25005.1.

 “Entity conversion transaction” means a conversion pursuant to Section 1151, 1157, 15677.2, 15677.8, 15911.02, 15911.08, 16902, 16908, 17540.2, 17540.8, or a conversion that occurs entirely out of state, unless the interests in the entity resulting from the conversion to be held by the equity holders of the entity being converted as a result of the conversion are not securities. For purposes of Sections 25103 and 25120 an entity conversion transaction is not a change in the rights, preferences, privileges, or restrictions of or on outstanding securities or an exchange of securities by the issuer with its existing security holders exclusively.