490.202 Articles of incorporation.
1. The articles of incorporation must set forth all of the following:
a. A corporate name for the corporation that satisfies the requirements of section 490.401.
b. The number of shares the corporation is authorized to issue.
c. The street and mailing addresses of the corporation’s initial registered office and the name of its initial registered agent at that office.
d. The name and address of each incorporator.
2. The articles of incorporation may set forth any of the following:
a. The names and addresses of the individuals who are to serve as the initial directors.
b. Provisions not inconsistent with law regarding any of the following:
(1) The purpose or purposes for which the corporation is organized.
(2) Managing the business and regulating the affairs of the corporation.
(3) Defining, limiting, and regulating the powers of the corporation, its board of directors, and shareholders.
(4) A par value for authorized shares or classes of shares.
(5) The imposition of interest holder liability on shareholders.
c. Any provision that under this chapter is required or permitted to be set forth in the bylaws.
d. A provision eliminating or limiting the liability of a director to the corporation or its shareholders for money damages for any action taken, or any failure to take any action, as a director, except liability for any of the following:
(1) The amount of a financial benefit received by a director to which the director is not entitled.
(2) An intentional infliction of harm on the corporation or the shareholders.
(3) A violation of section 490.832.
(4) An intentional violation of criminal law.
e. A provision permitting or making obligatory indemnification of a director for liability, as defined in section 490.850, to any person for any action taken, or any failure to take any action, as a director, except liability for any of the following:
(1) Receipt of a financial benefit to which the director is not entitled.
(2) An intentional infliction of harm on the corporation or its shareholders.
(3) A violation of section 490.832.
(4) An intentional violation of criminal law.
f. A provision limiting or eliminating any duty of a director or any other person to offer the corporation the right to have or participate in any, or one or more classes or categories of, business opportunities, before the pursuit or taking of the opportunity by the director or other person; provided that any application of such a provision to an officer or a related person of that officer is subject to all of the following:
(1) It also requires approval of that application by the board of directors, subsequent to the effective date of the provision, by action of qualified directors taken in compliance with the same procedures as are set forth in section 490.862.
(2) It may be limited by the authorizing action of the board.
3. The articles of incorporation need not set forth any of the corporate powers enumerated in this chapter.
4. Provisions of the articles of incorporation may be made dependent upon facts objectively ascertainable outside the articles of incorporation in accordance with section 490.120, subsection 11.
5. As used in this section, “related person” has the meaning specified in section 490.860.
89 Acts, ch 288, §19; 2002 Acts, ch 1154, §10, 125; 2003 Acts, ch 44, §80; 2007 Acts, ch 140, §3; 2012 Acts, ch 1023, §87; 2021 Acts, ch 165, §27, 230
Referred to in §490.140, 490.143, 490.622, 490.801, 490.831, 490.851, 490.870, 490.922, 490.933, 490.1704, 491.5, 524.1309
2021 amendment effective January 1, 2022; 2021 Acts, ch 165, §230
Section stricken and rewritten
Structure Iowa Code
Chapter 490 - BUSINESS CORPORATIONS
Section 490.101 - Short title.
Section 490.102 - Reservation of power to amend or repeal.
Section 490.120 - Requirements for documents — extrinsic facts.
Section 490.120A - Secretary of state — extra services — surcharge.
Section 490.122 - Filing, service, and copying fees.
Section 490.123 - Effective date of filed document.
Section 490.124 - Correcting filed document.
Section 490.125 - Filing duty of secretary of state.
Section 490.126 - Appeal from secretary of state’s refusal to file document.
Section 490.127 - Evidentiary effect of certified copy of filed document.
Section 490.128 - Certificate of existence or registration.
Section 490.129 - Penalty for signing false document.
Section 490.135 - Secretary of state — powers.
Section 490.140 - Chapter definitions.
Section 490.141 - Notices and other communications.
Section 490.142 - Number of shareholders.
Section 490.143 - Qualified director.
Section 490.144 - Householding.
Section 490.145 - Part definitions.
Section 490.146 - Defective corporate actions.
Section 490.147 - Ratification of defective corporate actions.
Section 490.148 - Action on ratification.
Section 490.149 - Notice requirements.
Section 490.150 - Effect of ratification.
Section 490.152 - Judicial proceedings regarding validity of corporate actions.
Section 490.201 - Incorporators.
Section 490.202 - Articles of incorporation.
Section 490.203 - Incorporation.
Section 490.204 - Liability for preincorporation transactions.
Section 490.205 - Organization of corporation.
Section 490.207 - Emergency bylaws.
Section 490.208 - Forum selection provisions.
Section 490.209 - Foreign-trade zone corporation.
Section 490.302 - General powers.
Section 490.303 - Emergency powers.
Section 490.304 - Ultra vires.
Section 490.401 - Corporate name.
Section 490.402 - Reserved name.
Section 490.403 - Registered name.
Section 490.501 - Registered office and agent of domestic and registered foreign corporations.
Section 490.502 - Change of registered office or registered agent.
Section 490.503 - Resignation of registered agent.
Section 490.504 - Service on corporation.
Section 490.601 - Authorized shares.
Section 490.602 - Terms of class or series determined by board of directors.
Section 490.603 - Issued and outstanding shares.
Section 490.604 - Fractional shares.
Section 490.620 - Subscription for shares before incorporation.
Section 490.621 - Issuance of shares.
Section 490.622 - Liability of shareholders.
Section 490.623 - Share dividends.
Section 490.624 - Share rights, options, warrants, and awards.
Section 490.624A - Poison pill defense authorized.
Section 490.625 - Form and content of certificates.
Section 490.626 - Shares without certificates.
Section 490.627 - Restriction on transfer of shares.
Section 490.628 - Reversion of disbursements to cooperative associations.
Section 490.629 - Reversion of disbursements to cooperative associations.
Section 490.630 - Shareholders’ preemptive rights.
Section 490.631 - Corporation’s acquisition of its own shares.
Section 490.632 - Reacquired shares as issued but not outstanding shares.
Section 490.640 - Distribution to shareholders.
Section 490.701 - Annual meeting.
Section 490.702 - Special meeting.
Section 490.703 - Court-ordered meeting.
Section 490.704 - Action without meeting.
Section 490.705 - Notice of meeting.
Section 490.706 - Waiver of notice.
Section 490.707 - Record date for meeting.
Section 490.708 - Conduct of meeting.
Section 490.709 - Remote participation in shareholders’ meetings.
Section 490.720 - Shareholders’ list for meeting.
Section 490.721 - Voting entitlement of shares.
Section 490.723 - Shares held by intermediaries and nominees.
Section 490.724 - Acceptance of votes and other instruments.
Section 490.725 - Quorum and voting requirements for voting groups.
Section 490.726 - Action by single or multiple voting groups.
Section 490.727 - Modifying quorum or voting requirements.
Section 490.728 - Voting for directors — cumulative voting.
Section 490.729 - Inspectors of election.
Section 490.730 - Voting trusts.
Section 490.731 - Voting agreement.
Section 490.732 - Shareholder agreement.
Section 490.740 - Part definitions.
Section 490.743 - Stay of proceedings.
Section 490.745 - Discontinuance or settlement.
Section 490.746 - Payment of expenses.
Section 490.747 - Applicability to foreign corporations.
Section 490.748 - Shareholder action to appoint custodian or receiver.
Section 490.801 - Requirement for and functions of board of directors.
Section 490.802 - Qualifications of directors.
Section 490.803 - Number and election of directors.
Section 490.804 - Election of directors by certain classes of series of shares.
Section 490.805 - Terms of directors generally.
Section 490.806 - Staggered terms for directors.
Section 490.806A - Public corporations — staggered terms.
Section 490.806B - Public corporations — nonstaggered terms.
Section 490.807 - Resignation of directors.
Section 490.808 - Removal of directors by shareholders.
Section 490.809 - Removal of directors by judicial proceeding.
Section 490.810 - Vacancy on board of directors.
Section 490.811 - Compensation of directors.
Section 490.821 - Action without meeting.
Section 490.822 - Notice of meeting.
Section 490.823 - Waiver of notice.
Section 490.824 - Quorum and voting.
Section 490.825 - Committees of the board.
Section 490.826 - Submission of matters for shareholder vote.
Section 490.830 - Standards of conduct for directors.
Section 490.831 - Standards of liability for directors.
Section 490.832 - Directors’ liability for unlawful distributions.
Section 490.833 - Liability for unlawful distribution.
Section 490.841 - Functions of officers.
Section 490.842 - Standards of conduct for officers.
Section 490.843 - Resignation and removal of officers.
Section 490.844 - Contract rights of officers.
Section 490.850 - Part definitions.
Section 490.851 - Permissible indemnification.
Section 490.852 - Mandatory indemnification.
Section 490.853 - Advance for expenses.
Section 490.854 - Court-ordered indemnification and advance for expenses.
Section 490.855 - Determination and authorization of indemnification.
Section 490.856 - Indemnification of officers.
Section 490.858 - Variation by corporate action — application of part.
Section 490.859 - Exclusivity of part.
Section 490.860 - Part definitions.
Section 490.861 - Judicial action.
Section 490.862 - Directors’ action.
Section 490.863 - Shareholders’ action.
Section 490.870 - Business opportunities.
Section 490.901 - Subchapter definitions.
Section 490.902 - Excluded transactions.
Section 490.903 - Required approvals.
Section 490.904 - Relationship of subchapter to other laws.
Section 490.905 - Foreign insurance companies becoming domestic.
Section 490.920 - Domestication.
Section 490.921 - Action on a plan of domestication.
Section 490.922 - Articles of domestication — effectiveness.
Section 490.923 - Amendment of plan of domestication — abandonment.
Section 490.924 - Effect of domestication.
Section 490.931 - Plan of conversion.
Section 490.932 - Action on a plan of conversion.
Section 490.933 - Articles of conversion — effectiveness.
Section 490.934 - Amendment of plan of conversion — abandonment.
Section 490.935 - Effect of conversion.
Section 490.1001 - Amendment of articles of incorporation — authority to amend.
Section 490.1002 - Amendment before issuance of shares.
Section 490.1003 - Amendment by board of directors and shareholders.
Section 490.1004 - Voting on amendments by voting groups.
Section 490.1005 - Amendment by board of directors.
Section 490.1005A - Public corporation — amendment by board of directors.
Section 490.1006 - Articles of amendment.
Section 490.1007 - Restated articles of incorporation.
Section 490.1008 - Amendment pursuant to reorganization.
Section 490.1009 - Effect of amendment.
Section 490.1020 - Authority to amend.
Section 490.1021 - Bylaw increasing quorum or voting requirement for directors.
Section 490.1022 - Bylaw provisions relating to the election of directors.
Section 490.1101 - Subchapter definitions.
Section 490.1103 - Share exchange.
Section 490.1104 - Action on a plan of merger or share exchange.
Section 490.1105 - Merger between parent and subsidiary or between subsidiaries.
Section 490.1106 - Articles of merger or share exchange.
Section 490.1107 - Effect of merger or share exchange.
Section 490.1108 - Abandonment of a merger or share exchange.
Section 490.1108A - Consideration of acquisition proposals — community interests.
Section 490.1109 - Qualified merger — corporation and cooperative association.
Section 490.1110 - Business combinations with interested shareholders.
Section 490.1111 - Conversion.
Section 490.1112 - Action on plan of conversion by converting domestic corporation.
Section 490.1113 - Filings required for conversion — effective date.
Section 490.1114 - Effect of conversion.
Section 490.1201 - Disposition of assets not requiring shareholder approval.
Section 490.1202 - Shareholder approval of certain dispositions.
Section 490.1301 - Subchapter definitions.
Section 490.1302 - Right to appraisal.
Section 490.1303 - Assertion of rights by nominees and beneficial shareholders.
Section 490.1320 - Notice of appraisal rights.
Section 490.1321 - Notice of intent to demand payment and consequences of voting or consenting.
Section 490.1322 - Appraisal notice and form.
Section 490.1323 - Perfection of rights — right to withdraw.
Section 490.1325 - After-acquired shares.
Section 490.1326 - Procedure if shareholder dissatisfied with payment or offer.
Section 490.1330 - Court action.
Section 490.1331 - Court costs and expenses.
Section 490.1340 - Other remedies limited.
Section 490.1401 - Dissolution by incorporators or initial directors.
Section 490.1402 - Dissolution by board of directors and shareholders.
Section 490.1403 - Articles of dissolution.
Section 490.1404 - Revocation of dissolution.
Section 490.1405 - Effect of dissolution.
Section 490.1406 - Known claims against dissolved corporation.
Section 490.1407 - Other claims against dissolved corporation.
Section 490.1408 - Court proceedings.
Section 490.1409 - Director duties.
Section 490.1420 - Grounds for administrative dissolution.
Section 490.1421 - Procedure for and effect of administrative dissolution.
Section 490.1422 - Reinstatement following administrative dissolution.
Section 490.1423 - Appeal from denial of reinstatement.
Section 490.1430 - Grounds for judicial dissolution.
Section 490.1431 - Procedure for judicial dissolution.
Section 490.1432 - Receivership or custodianship.
Section 490.1433 - Decree of dissolution.
Section 490.1434 - Election to purchase in lieu of dissolution.
Section 490.1440 - Deposit with state treasurer.
Section 490.1501 - Governing law.
Section 490.1502 - Registration to do business in this state.
Section 490.1503 - Foreign registration statement.
Section 490.1504 - Amendment of foreign registration statement.
Section 490.1505 - Activities not constituting doing business.
Section 490.1506 - Noncomplying name of foreign corporation.
Section 490.1507 - Withdrawal of registration of registered foreign corporation.
Section 490.1508 - Deemed withdrawal upon domestication or conversion to certain domestic entities.
Section 490.1509 - Withdrawal upon dissolution or conversion to certain nonfiling entities.
Section 490.1510 - Transfer of registration.
Section 490.1511 - Administrative termination of registration.
Section 490.1512 - Action by attorney general.
Section 490.1520 - Withdrawal of foreign corporation.
Section 490.1523 - Transfer of authority.
Section 490.1530 - Grounds for revocation.
Section 490.1531 - Procedure for and effect of revocation.
Section 490.1532 - Appeal from revocation.
Section 490.1601 - Corporate records.
Section 490.1602 - Inspection rights of shareholders.
Section 490.1603 - Scope of inspection right.
Section 490.1604 - Court-ordered inspection.
Section 490.1605 - Inspection of records by directors.
Section 490.1606 - Exception to notice requirement.
Section 490.1620 - Financial statements for shareholders.
Section 490.1621 - Biennial report for secretary of state.
Section 490.1622 - Biennial report for secretary of state.
Section 490.1701 - Application of subchapter — definitions.
Section 490.1702 - Name — share certificates.
Section 490.1703 - Certain amendments and transactions — votes required.
Section 490.1704 - Duties of directors.
Section 490.1705 - Annual benefit report.
Section 490.1706 - Rights of action.
Section 490.1801 - Application to existing domestic corporations.
Section 490.1802 - Application to existing foreign corporations.