§1912. Certificates; transfers; dividends; preferred stock
1. Certificate for membership or stock. No certificate for membership or stock shall be issued until fully paid for, but bylaws may provide that a member may vote and hold office prior to payment in full for his membership or stock.
2. Dividends. Dividends in excess of 8% on the actual cash value of the consideration received by the association shall not be paid on common or preferred stock or membership capital, but dividends may be cumulative.
3. Net income distributed. Net income in excess of dividends and additions to reserves shall be distributed on the basis of patronage, and the books of the association shall show the interest of patrons in the reserves. The bylaws may provide that any distribution to a nonmember, eligible for membership, may be credited to such nonmember until the amount thereof equals the value of a membership certificate or a share of the association's common stock. The distribution credited to the account of a nonmember may be transferred to the reserve fund at the option of the board if, after 6 years, the amount is less than the value of the membership certificate or a share of common stock.
4. Value of member's interest after withdrawal or termination. The bylaws may fix a time within which a member shall receive from the association, after he has notified the association of his withdrawal, or after the adoption of a resolution by the board terminating his membership, the value in money of his membership interest in the association as appraised by the board of directors. If the board of directors approves the member's designation of a transferee of his membership interest, the association shall be under no obligation to pay him the value of his interest.
5. Preferred stock. An association may issue preferred stock to members and nonmembers. Preferred stock may be redeemed or retired by the association on such terms and conditions as may be provided in the articles and printed on the stock certificate. Preferred stockholders shall not be entitled to vote, but no change in their priority or preference rights shall be effective until the written consent of the holders of 2/3 of the preferred stock has been obtained. Payment for preferred stock may be made in cash, services or property on the basis of the fair value of the stock, services and property as determined by the board.
Structure Maine Revised Statutes