1. Entitlement to vote. Except as provided in subsections 2 and 4 or unless a corporation‘s articles of incorporation provide otherwise, each outstanding share, regardless of class, is entitled to one vote on each matter voted on at a shareholders’ meeting. Only shares are entitled to vote. The articles of incorporation may grant, either absolutely or conditionally, to the holders of bonds, debentures or other obligations of the corporation the power to vote on specified matters, including the election of directors. This power may not be terminated except upon written assent of the holders of 2/3 in the aggregate face amount of such bonds, debentures or other obligations. When this power has been granted to holders of bonds, debentures or other obligations of a corporation, the term “shareholder,” whenever used in this Act, includes holders of such obligations to the extent necessary to give effect to their voting power so granted.

[PL 2001, c. 640, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2001, c. 640, Pt. B, §7 (AFF).]

Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 13-C Sec. 722

  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Entitlement: A Federal program or provision of law that requires payments to any person or unit of government that meets the eligibility criteria established by law. Entitlements constitute a binding obligation on the part of the Federal Government, and eligible recipients have legal recourse if the obligation is not fulfilled. Social Security and veterans' compensation and pensions are examples of entitlement programs.
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • Majority: when used in reference to age shall mean the age of 18 and over. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
2. Ownership of shares by 2nd corporation. Absent special circumstances, a share of a corporation is not entitled to vote if it is owned, directly or indirectly, by a 2nd corporation, domestic or foreign, and the first corporation owns, directly or indirectly, a majority of the shares entitled to vote for directors of the 2nd corporation.

[PL 2001, c. 640, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2001, c. 640, Pt. B, §7 (AFF).]

3. Voting of shares held in fiduciary capacity. Subsection 2 does not limit the power of a corporation to vote any shares, including its own shares, held by it in a fiduciary capacity.

[PL 2001, c. 640, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2001, c. 640, Pt. B, §7 (AFF).]

4. Redeemable shares. Redeemable shares are not entitled to vote after notice of redemption is mailed to the shareholders and a sum sufficient to redeem the shares has been deposited with a bank, trust company or other financial institution under an irrevocable obligation to pay the shareholders the redemption price on surrender of the shares.

[PL 2001, c. 640, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2001, c. 640, Pt. B, §7 (AFF).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 2001, c. 640, §A2 (NEW). PL 2001, c. 640, §B7 (AFF).