Learn About The Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
A corporation may authorize, at a meeting duly called for the purpose, an amendment of its articles of organization, by vote of a majority of each class of stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon effecting any one or more of the following:
(a) an increase or a reduction of its capital stock of any class then authorized;
(b) a change of the par value of its authorized shares with par value or any class thereof;
(c) a change of its authorized shares with par value or any class thereof into any number of shares without par value, or the exchange thereof pro rata for any number of shares without par value;
(d) a change of its authorized shares without par value or any class thereof into a greater or lesser number of shares without par value, or the exchange thereof pro rata for a greater or lesser number of shares without par value;
(e) a change of its authorized shares with par value or any class thereof into a greater or lesser number of shares with par value, or the exchange thereof pro rata for a greater or lesser number of shares with par value;
(f) a change of its authorized shares without par value or any class thereof into any number of shares with par value, or the exchange thereof pro rata for any number of shares with par value;
(g) a change of its corporate name.
Any reference in this section to any change with respect to authorized shares shall be deemed to refer to and include both the unissued and the outstanding shares; provided, however, that any change which impairs or diminishes the preferences, voting powers, restrictions (including restrictions on transfer), qualifications, special or relative rights or privileges of any outstanding shares may be authorized only in accordance with the provisions of section seventy-one. The aggregate par value of shares becoming outstanding by virtue of any change or exchange effected pursuant to the provisions of this section or of section seventy-one shall not exceed the amount of capital shown on the balance sheet of the corporation with respect to the outstanding shares so changed or exchanged, plus the amount of any surplus which shall be appropriated to capital in connection with such change or exchange.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Massachusetts General Laws Part I. Administration of the Government (Ch. 1-182) Ch. 156B, § 70 - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ma/part-i-administration-of-the-government-ch-1-182/ma-gen-laws-ch-156b-sect-70/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)