14A:2-9 By-laws; making and altering.
14A:2-9 (1) The initial by-laws of a corporation shall be adopted by the board at its organization meeting. Thereafter, the board shall have the power to make, alter and repeal by-laws unless such power is reserved to the shareholders in the certificate of incorporation, but by-laws made by the board may be altered or repealed, and new by-laws made, by the shareholders. The shareholders may prescribe in the by-laws that any by-law made by them shall not be altered or repealed by the board.
(2) The initial by-laws of a corporation adopted by the board at its organization meeting shall be deemed to have been adopted by the shareholders for purposes of this act.
(3) Any provision which this act requires or permits to be set forth in the by-laws may be set forth in the certificate of incorporation with equal force and effect.
(4) The by-laws may contain any provision, not inconsistent with law or the certificate of incorporation, relating to the business of the corporation, the conduct of its affairs, and its rights or power or the rights or power of its shareholders, directors, officers or employees.
(5) (a) Without limiting subsection (4) of this section, the by-laws may provide that the federal and State courts in New Jersey shall be the sole and exclusive forum for:
(i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the corporation;
(ii) any action by one or more shareholders asserting a claim of a breach of fiduciary duty owed by a director or officer, or former director or officer, to the corporation or its shareholders, or a breach of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws;
(iii) any action brought by one or more shareholders asserting a claim against the corporation or its directors or officers, or former directors or officers, arising under the certificate of incorporation or the "New Jersey Business Corporation Act," N.J.S.14A:1-1 et seq.;
(iv) any other State law claim, including a class action asserting a breach of a duty to disclose, or a similar claim, brought by one or more shareholders against the corporation, its directors or officers, or its former directors or officers; or
(v) any other claim brought by one or more shareholders which is governed by the internal affairs or an analogous doctrine.
(b) The by-laws may provide that one or more shareholders who file an action in breach of a forum selection requirement of the by-laws shall be liable for all reasonable costs incurred in enforcing the requirement, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney's fees of the defendants. If the by-laws contain an exclusive forum provision, the directors and officers, and former directors and officers, shall be deemed to have consented to the personal jurisdiction of that forum. If the provision is not contained in the original by-laws but is adopted by an amendment, the provisions and the personal jurisdiction over directors and officers, and former directors and officers, shall apply only to actions brought by one or more shareholders after the date of the amendment of the by-laws and which assert claims arising after the date of the amendment.
amended 2017, c.356.
Structure New Jersey Revised Statutes
Title 14A - Corporations, General
Section 14A:1-1 - Short title; purposes; rules of construction; variation
Section 14A:1-2.1 - Definitions.
Section 14A:1-3 - Application of act
Section 14A:1-5 - Reservation of power
Section 14A:1-6 - Execution, filing and recording of documents
Section 14A:1-7 - Repeal of prior acts
Section 14A:1-8.1 - Provision of certain notices by electronic transmission.
Section 14A:1-9 - Certificates and certified copies.
Section 14A:1-10 - Filing documents by telecopy
Section 14A:1-11 - Preclearance of documents to be filed
Section 14A:2-2 - Corporate name of domestic or foreign corporations
Section 14A:2-2.1 - Corporate alternate names
Section 14A:2-2.2 - "Blind" or "handicapped" as part of corporate name
Section 14A:2-3 - Reserved name.
Section 14A:2-4 - Registered name
Section 14A:2-5 - Renewal of registered name
Section 14A:2-6 - Incorporators
Section 14A:2-7 - Certificate of incorporation
Section 14A:2-8 - Organization meeting of directors
Section 14A:2-9 - By-laws; making and altering.
Section 14A:2-10 - By-laws and other powers in emergency
Section 14A:3-1 - General powers.
Section 14A:3-2 - Ultra vires transactions
Section 14A:3-3 - Guaranty not in furtherance of business interest
Section 14A:3-4 - Contributions by corporations
Section 14A:3-5 - Indemnification of directors, officers and employees.
Section 14A:3-6.1 - Definitions relative to derivative proceedings and shareholder class actions.
Section 14A:3-6.2 - Conditions for commencing, maintaining proceeding.
Section 14A:3-6.3 - Actions taken before commencing proceeding.
Section 14A:3-6.4 - Stay of proceeding.
Section 14A:3-6.5 - Conditions for dismissal of proceeding.
Section 14A:3-6.6 - Court's approval required.
Section 14A:3-6.7 - Termination of derivative proceeding, shareholder class action.
Section 14A:3-6.8 - Security for reasonable expenses.
Section 14A:3-6.9 - Applicability.
Section 14A:4-1 - Registered office and registered agent
Section 14A:4-2 - Function of registered agent and office; service of process, notice or demand
Section 14A:4-3 - Change of registered office or registered agent
Section 14A:4-4 - Resignation of registered agent
Section 14A:4-5 - Annual report to State Treasurer.
Section 14A:4-6 - Complete address required
Section 14A:5-1 - Place of shareholders' meetings.
Section 14A:5-2 - Annual meeting of shareholders
Section 14A:5-3 - Call of special meeting of shareholders
Section 14A:5-4 - Notice of shareholders' meetings.
Section 14A:5-5 - Waiver of notice or of lapse of time
Section 14A:5-6 - Action by shareholders without a meeting.
Section 14A:5-7 - Fixing record date
Section 14A:5-9 - Quorum of shareholders
Section 14A:5-10 - Voting of shares
Section 14A:5-11 - Votes required
Section 14A:5-12 - Greater voting requirements
Section 14A:5-13 - Shares owned or controlled by the corporation not voted or counted
Section 14A:5-14 - Shares held by another corporation
Section 14A:5-15 - Shares held by fiduciaries
Section 14A:5-16 - Shares held jointly or as tenants in common
Section 14A:5-17 - Voting of pledged stock
Section 14A:5-18 - When redeemable shares no longer entitled to vote
Section 14A:5-19 - Proxy voting.
Section 14A:5-20 - Voting trust
Section 14A:5-22 - Infant shareholders and bondholders
Section 14A:5-23 - Voting powers of bondholders; right to inspect
Section 14A:5-24 - Elections of directors; cumulative voting.
Section 14A:5-25 - Selection of inspectors
Section 14A:5-26 - Duties of inspectors
Section 14A:5-27 - Review of elections by superior court
Section 14A:5-28 - Books and records; right of inspection.
Section 14A:5-29 - Preemptive rights.
Section 14A:5-30 - Liability of subscribers and shareholders
Section 14A:6-1 - Board of Directors
Section 14A:6-2 - Number of directors
Section 14A:6-3 - Term of directors; resignation.
Section 14A:6-4 - Classification of directors; restriction of right to choose directors
Section 14A:6-5 - Vacancies and newly created directorships
Section 14A:6-6 - Removal of directors
Section 14A:6-8 - Director conflicts of interest
Section 14A:6-9 - Executive committee; other committees
Section 14A:6-10 - Place and notice of directors' meetings
Section 14A:6-11 - Loans to directors, officers or employees
Section 14A:6-12 - Liability of directors in certain cases
Section 14A:6-13 - Liability of directors; presumption of assent to action taken at a meeting
Section 14A:6-14 - Liability of directors; reliance on records and reports
Section 14A:6-16 - Removal and resignation of officers; filling of vacancies
Section 14A:6-17 - Bonds; facsimile signatures and seals
Section 14A:7-1 - Authorized shares
Section 14A:7-2 - Issuance of shares in classes and series; board action
Section 14A:7-3 - Subscription for shares.
Section 14A:7-4 - Consideration for shares
Section 14A:7-5 - Payment for shares; nonassessability
Section 14A:7-6 - Redeemable shares
Section 14A:7-7 - Share rights and options
Section 14A:7-8.1 - Par value of shares and stated capital.
Section 14A:7-9 - Convertible shares and bonds.
Section 14A:7-10 - Expenses of organization, reorganization and financing
Section 14A:7-11 - Certificates representing shares
Section 14A:7-12 - Transfer of shares and restrictions on transfer
Section 14A:7-13 - Issuance of fractional shares or scrip
Section 14A:7-14.1 - Limitations on distributions to shareholders
Section 14A:7-15 - Authority to pay dividends
Section 14A:7-15.1 - Share dividends, share divisions and combinations
Section 14A:7-16 - Acquisitions of a corporation's own shares
Section 14A:7-18 - Cancellation of reacquired shares
Section 14A:8-1 - Employee benefit plans.
Section 14A:8-2.1 - Trust funds for employees; creation; maintenance and administration
Section 14A:8-3.1 - Continuation of trust; law against perpetuities inapplicable
Section 14A:9-1 - Amendment of certificate of incorporation
Section 14A:9-2 - Procedure to amend certificate of incorporation
Section 14A:9-3 - Class voting on amendments
Section 14A:9-4 - Certificate of amendment
Section 14A:9-5 - Restated certificate of incorporation
Section 14A:9-6 - Abandonment of amendment or restated certificate
Section 14A:10-1 - Procedure for merger
Section 14A:10-2 - Procedure for consolidation
Section 14A:10-3 - Approval by shareholders.
Section 14A:10-4.1 - Certificate of merger or consolidation.
Section 14A:10-5.1 - Merger of subsidiary corporation
Section 14A:10-6 - Effect of merger or consolidation
Section 14A:10-7 - Merger or consolidation of domestic and foreign corporations
Section 14A:10-8 - Abandonment of merger or consolidation
Section 14A:10-9 - Acquisition of all the shares, or a class or series of shares, of a corporation
Section 14A:10-11 - Sale or other disposition of assets other than in regular course of business
Section 14A:10-12 - Shareholders' rights on other corporate acquisitions
Section 14A:10-13 - Share exchange
Section 14A:10-14 - Merger or consolidation of domestic corporation with other entities; manner.
Section 14A:10A-1 - Short title
Section 14A:10A-2 - Findings, declarations
Section 14A:10A-3 - Definitions.
Section 14A:10A-4 - Five-year restriction; exceptions.
Section 14A:10A-5 - Permissible business combinations.
Section 14A:10A-6 - Exemptions.
Section 14A:11-1 - Right of shareholder to dissent.
Section 14A:11-2 - Notice of dissent; demand for payment; endorsement of certificates
Section 14A:11-3 - "Dissenting shareholder" defined; date for determination of fair value
Section 14A:11-4 - Termination of right of shareholder to be paid the fair value of his shares
Section 14A:11-5 - Rights of dissenting shareholder
Section 14A:11-6 - Determination of fair value by agreement
Section 14A:11-8 - Action to determine fair value; jurisdiction of court; appointment of appraiser
Section 14A:11-9 - Judgment in action to determine fair value
Section 14A:11-10 - Costs and expenses of action
Section 14A:11-11 - Disposition of shares acquired by corporation
Section 14A:12-1 - Methods of dissolution
Section 14A:12-2 - Dissolution before commencing business
Section 14A:12-3 - Dissolution without a meeting of shareholders
Section 14A:12-4 - Dissolution pursuant to action of board and shareholders
Section 14A:12-4.1 - Dissolution of corporations without assets
Section 14A:12-5 - Dissolution pursuant to provision in certificate of incorporation
Section 14A:12-5.1 - Dissolution upon expiration of period of duration
Section 14A:12-6 - Dissolution in action brought by the Attorney General
Section 14A:12-7 - Involuntary dissolution; other remedies
Section 14A:12-8 - Effective time of dissolution
Section 14A:12-9 - Effect of dissolution
Section 14A:12-10 - Revocation of dissolution proceedings
Section 14A:12-11 - Effect of revocation of dissolution
Section 14A:12-12 - Notice to creditors; filing claims
Section 14A:12-13 - Barring of claims of creditors
Section 14A:12-13.1 - Creditors barred from suing shareholders of certain dissolved corporations.
Section 14A:12-14 - Disposition of rejected claims
Section 14A:12-15 - Jurisdiction of the Superior Court
Section 14A:12-16 - Distribution to shareholders
Section 14A:12-17 - Disposition of unclaimed distributive shares
Section 14A:12-18 - Judgment of dissolution; filing copy
Section 14A:12-19 - Dissolution upon liquidation
Section 14A:13-1 - Holding and conveying real estate
Section 14A:13-2 - Application of act to foreign corporations
Section 14A:13-3 - Admission of foreign corporation
Section 14A:13-4 - Application for certificate of authority
Section 14A:13-5 - Effect of certificate of authority
Section 14A:13-6 - Amended certificate of authority
Section 14A:13-7 - Change of name by foreign corporation
Section 14A:13-8 - Withdrawal of foreign corporation
Section 14A:13-9 - Termination of existence of foreign corporation
Section 14A:13-10 - Revocation of certificate of authority; issuance of certificate of revocation
Section 14A:13-11 - Transacting business without certificate of authority
Section 14A:13-12 - Injunction against foreign corporation
Section 14A:13-14 - Short title
Section 14A:13-16 - Exemptions
Section 14A:13-17 - Definitions
Section 14A:13-18 - Annual filing; due date
Section 14A:13-19 - Forms; certification
Section 14A:13-20 - Failure to file timely report
Section 14A:13-21 - Application of state tax uniform procedure law to this act
Section 14A:13-22 - Administration of act by director of division of taxation
Section 14A:13-23 - Severability
Section 14A:14-1 - Definitions
Section 14A:14-2 - Jurisdiction of the superior court; appointment of receiver
Section 14A:14-3 - Multiple receivers
Section 14A:14-4 - Title to corporate property and franchises
Section 14A:14-5 - Powers of receivers; general
Section 14A:14-6 - Powers of receiver; contempt of court
Section 14A:14-7 - Powers of receiver; sale of property free of encumbrances
Section 14A:14-8 - Rights of debtors; setoff; counterclaim
Section 14A:14-9 - Payment or delivery to corporation
Section 14A:14-13 - Liens by legal process
Section 14A:14-14 - Preferences
Section 14A:14-15 - Notice to creditors
Section 14A:14-16 - Claims; presentation; approval or rejection
Section 14A:14-17 - Claims; jury trial
Section 14A:14-18 - Review of receiver's actions
Section 14A:14-19 - Discontinuance of receivership action
Section 14A:14-20 - Allowances to receiver and others; costs and expenses
Section 14A:14-21 - Distribution of assets; priorities
Section 14A:14-22 - Judgment of dissolution
Section 14A:14-23 - Reorganization under act of Congress; "plan of reorganization" defined
Section 14A:14-24 - Reorganization under act of Congress; implementation of plan of reorganization
Section 14A:14-25 - Reorganization under act of Congress; rights of certain shareholders
Section 14A:14-26 - Reorganization under act of Congress; certificates
Section 14A:15-2 - Filing fees of the State Treasurer.
Section 14A:15-3 - Additional corporate filing fees
Section 14A:16-1 - Construction
Section 14A:16-2 - Acts saved from repeal
Section 14A:16-3 - Acts repealed
Section 14A:16-4 - Effective date
Section 14A:17-1 - Legislative intent
Section 14A:17-2 - Short title
Section 14A:17-3 - Terms defined.
Section 14A:17-4 - Application of act
Section 14A:17-5 - Professional corporation and foreign professional legal corporation
Section 14A:17-6 - Directors and officers
Section 14A:17-8 - Professional relationship; personal liability; corporate liability
Section 14A:17-9 - Limitations on corporate business activity
Section 14A:17-10 - Who may own shares; voting trust; estate ownership
Section 14A:17-11 - Disqualification to render service
Section 14A:17-12 - Transfer of shares
Section 14A:17-14 - Corporate name.
Section 14A:17-15 - Applicable law; consolidation, merger; report, contents
Section 14A:17-16 - Provisions severable; repealer
Section 14A:17-17 - Construction
Section 14A:18-1 - Definitions relative to benefit corporations.
Section 14A:18-2 - Formation of benefit corporation.
Section 14A:18-3 - Certain corporations may become benefit corporations.
Section 14A:18-4 - Termination of status as benefit corporation.
Section 14A:18-5 - Purpose of benefit corporation.
Section 14A:18-6 - Consideration of effects of action.
Section 14A:18-7 - "Benefit director."
Section 14A:18-8 - Actions of officers.
Section 14A:18-9 - "Benefit officer."
Section 14A:18-10 - Enforcement of duties of directors and officers.