A. At a meeting of shareholders called expressly for that purpose, directors may be removed in the manner provided in this section. Except as provided in Subsection D of this section, a director or the entire board of directors may be removed, with or without cause, by a vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors.
B. In the case of a corporation having cumulative voting, if less than the entire board is to be removed, no one of the directors may be removed if the votes cast against his removal would be sufficient to elect him if then cumulatively voted at an election of the entire board of directors, or, if there are classes of directors, at an election of the class of directors of which he is a part.
C. Whenever the holders of the shares of any class are entitled to elect one or more directors by the provisions of the articles of incorporation, the provisions of this section apply, in respect to the removal of a director or directors so elected, to the vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of that class and not to the vote of the outstanding shares as a whole.
D. Unless the articles of incorporation provide otherwise, in the case of a corporation whose board is classified as provided in Section 53-11-37 NMSA 1978, shareholders may remove directors only for cause.
History: 1953 Comp., § 51-24-38, enacted by Laws 1967, ch. 81, § 38; 1975, ch. 64, § 19; 2001, ch. 200, § 50.
Compiler's notes. — This section is derived from Section 39 of the ABA Model Business Corporation Act.
The 2001 amendment, effective July 1, 2001, inserted "Except as provided in Subsection D of this section," in the second sentence of Subsection A; and added Subsection D.
Law reviews. — For article, "1975 Amendments to the New Mexico Business Corporation Act," see 6 N.M.L. Rev. 57 (1975).
Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 18B Am. Jur. 2d Corporations §§ 1427 to 1444.
Directors' power to remove officers or fellow directors, 63 A.L.R. 776.
Removal by court of director or officer of private corporation, 124 A.L.R. 364.
19 C.J.S. Corporations §§ 454 to 457.
Structure 2021 New Mexico Statutes
Article 11 - Business Corporations; Substantive Provisions
Section 53-11-1 - Short title.
Section 53-11-2 - Definitions.
Section 53-11-4 - General powers.
Section 53-11-4.1 - Indemnification of directors and officers.
Section 53-11-5 - Power of corporation to acquire its own shares.
Section 53-11-6 - Defense of ultra vires.
Section 53-11-7 - Corporate name.
Section 53-11-9 - Registered name.
Section 53-11-10 - Renewal of registered name.
Section 53-11-11 - Registered office and registered agent.
Section 53-11-12 - Failure to appoint and maintain registered agent; penalty; reinstatement.
Section 53-11-13 - Change of registered office or registered agent.
Section 53-11-14 - Service of process on corporation.
Section 53-11-15 - Authorized shares.
Section 53-11-15.1 - Shares held for account.
Section 53-11-16 - Issuance of shares of preferred or special classes in series.
Section 53-11-17 - Subscriptions for shares.
Section 53-11-18 - Issuance of shares.
Section 53-11-19 - Payment for shares.
Section 53-11-20 - Stock rights and options.
Section 53-11-22 - Expenses of organization, reorganization and financing.
Section 53-11-23 - Shares represented by certificates and uncertificated shares.
Section 53-11-24 - Fractional shares.
Section 53-11-25 - Liability of subscribers and shareholders.
Section 53-11-26 - Shareholders' preemptive rights.
Section 53-11-28 - Meetings of shareholders.
Section 53-11-29 - Notice of shareholders' meetings.
Section 53-11-30 - Closing of transfer books and fixing record date.
Section 53-11-31 - Voting list.
Section 53-11-32 - Quorum of shareholders.
Section 53-11-33 - Voting of shares.
Section 53-11-34 - Voting trusts and agreements among shareholders.
Section 53-11-35 - Board of directors.
Section 53-11-36 - Number and election of directors.
Section 53-11-37 - Classification of directors.
Section 53-11-39 - Removal of directors.
Section 53-11-40 - Quorum of directors.
Section 53-11-40.1 - Director conflict of interest.
Section 53-11-41 - Executive and other committees.
Section 53-11-42 - Place and notice of directors' meetings; committee meetings.
Section 53-11-43 - Action by directors without a meeting.
Section 53-11-44 - Distributions to shareholders.
Section 53-11-46 - Liability of directors in certain cases.
Section 53-11-47 - Provisions relating to actions by shareholders.
Section 53-11-49 - Removal of officers.
Section 53-11-50 - Books and records; financial reports to shareholders; examination of records.