General Corporation Law
Law 32 of February 26, 1927
(Official Gazette No. 5067 of March 16, 1927)
The
National Assembly of Panama
HEREBY
DECREES:
CHAPTER I: Incorporation
ARTICLE
1. Two or more persons of lawful age, of any nationality
even though not domiciled in the Republic of Panama may, in accordance
with the formalities hereinafter provided, form a corporation
for any lawful purpose or purposes.
ARTICLE
2. Such persons desiring to form such a corporation shall sign
articles of incorporation which shall set forth:
1.
The names and domiciles of each of the subscribers of the articles;
2.
The name of the corporation which will not be the same as or similar
to that of another, already existing corporation so as to cause
confusion.
The
name shall include a word, phrase or abbreviation, indicating
that it is a corporation, as distinguished from a person or an
association of another type.
The
name of the corporation may be expressed in any language.
3.
The general purpose or purposes of the corporation;
4.
The amount of the capital stock and the number and par value of
the shares of which it is to be divided; and, if the corporation
is to issue shares without par value, the statements required
by Article 22 of this law;
The
capital stock and par value of shares of any corporation may be
expressed in terms of the legal currency of the Republic or of
gold units of the legal currency of any other country, or in both;
5.
If there are to be shares of different classes, the number of
shares to be included in each class and the designations, preferences,
privileges and voting rights or restrictions or other qualifications
of the shares of each class; or a statement that such designations,
preferences, privileges and voting powers or restrictions or other
qualifications can be determined by resolution of the majority
in interest of the Stockholders or of the majority of the Directors;
6.
The number of shares of stock which each subscriber of the articles
of incorporation agrees to take;
7.
The domicile of the corporation and the name and domicile of its
resident agent in the Republic, who may be a person or corporation;
8.
Its duration;
9.
The number, names and addresses of its Directors, of which shall
not be less than three;
10.
Any other lawful provisions which the subscribers of the articles
of incorporation may desire to include.
ARTICLE
3.
The articles of incorporation may be executed in any place, within
or outside this Republic, and in any language.
ARTICLE
4. The articles of incorporation may be in the form of
a public deed, or in any other form, provided that said articles
be acknowledged by a Notary Public or by any other official authorized
to make acknowledgements at the place of execution.
ARTICLE
5. If the articles of incorporation are not in the form
of a public deed, they must be protocolized in the office of a
Notary of the Republic.
If
said document should be executed outside of the Republic of Panama,
it must be authenticated by a Panamanian Consul before it is protocolized,
or if there should be no Panamanian Consul, by the Consul of a
country friendly to Panama. If the Articles of Incorporation are
drafted in a language other than Spanish they must be protocolized
with an authorized translation executed by an official or public
interpreter of the Republic of Panama.
ARTICLE
6. The public deed or the protocolized document containing
the articles of incorporation must be presented for registration
in the Mercantile Registry.
The
incorporation of the corporation shall not have effect as to third
parties until articles of incorporation have been registered.
ARTICLE
7. Any corporation formed under this law may amend its
articles of incorporation in any respect provided such amendments
conform to the provisions of this law.
Therefore,
the corporation may, by such amendment: change the number of its
shares of stock or of any class of its stock outstanding at the
time of such amendment; change the par value of the outstanding
shares of any class having such a value; change the outstanding
shares of any class having par value into the same or different
number of shares of the same or a different class without par
value; change the outstanding shares of a class without par value
into the same or different number of shares of the same or different
class having par value; increase the amount of the number of shares
of its authorized stock; divide its authorized capital into classes;
increase the number of classes of its authorized capital; or change
the designations, rights, privileges, preferences, voting powers,
restrictions or qualifications of stock. But the capital stock
of a corporation shall not be reduced except in accordance with
the provisions of articles 14 et seq. of this law.
ARTICLE
8. The amendments shall be made by the persons designated
hereinafter and in the manner provided in this law with respect
to the execution of the articles of incorporation.
ARTICLE
9. Amendments to the Articles of Incorporation which
are made before stock has been issued, shall be signed by every
subscriber of the articles of incorporation and by every subscriber
to the stock of the corporation.
ARTICLE
10. In case stock has been issued, such amendments to
the articles of incorporation shall be signed:
(a)
By the holders of all the outstanding shares of the corporation
entitled to vote thereon, in person or by proxy, and shall be
accompanied by a certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary of the corporation stating that the persons who have
executed said amendments, in person or by proxy, constitute the
holders of all the outstanding shares of the corporation entitled
to vote thereon; or
(b)
By the President or a Vice-President and the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary of the corporation, who shall sign and annex thereto
a certificate stating that they have been authorized to execute
said amendments by resolution adopted by the owners or their proxy
of a majority of such shares and that such resolution was adopted
at a stockholders meeting held on the date specified in the notice
or waiver of notice.
ARTICLE
11. In case that the amendments to the Articles of Incorporation
alter the preferences of outstanding shares of any class or authorized
shares having preferences which are in any respect superior to
those of outstanding shares of any class, such certificate mentioned
in Article 10 (b) shall state that the officers signing the same
have also been authorized to execute such amendments to the Articles
of Incorporation by resolution, adopted in person or by proxy
of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each
class entitled to vote thereon, adopted at a stockholders' meeting
held on a date specified upon notice or waiver of notice.
ARTICLE
12. If the articles of incorporation require more than
a majority of the outstanding shares of any class or classes in
order to effect any amendment of any provision of the articles
of incorporation, the certificate referred to in paragraph (b)
of article 10 shall state that such amendment has been authorized
in that manner.
ARTICLE
13. Unless the articles of incorporation or any amendment
thereof otherwise provide, in the event of an increase of stock,
each stockholder shall have a pre-emptive right to subscribe,
in proportion to the number of shares then held by him, the shares
of stock issued pursuant to such increase.
ARTICLE
14. Any corporation may reduce its authorized capital
stock by an amendment of its articles of incorporation; but no
distribution of assets may be made pursuant to any such reduction,
which will reduce the actual value of its remaining assets to
an amount less than the total amount of its debts and liabilities
plus the amount, as reduced, of its issued capital stock.
There
shall be annexed to the amendment to the articles of incorporation
a certificate, issued under oath by the President or a Vice-President
and of the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, stating that no
distribution of assets made or to be made pursuant thereto will
violate the provisions contained in this article.
In
the absence of fraud, the judgment of the Directors as to the
value of the assets, and their determination of debts and liabilities,
shall be conclusive.
ARTICLE
15. Any corporation, unless its articles of incorporation otherwise
provide, may acquire shares of its own stock by purchase or otherwise.
If such acquisition or purchase is made out of funds or properties
other than the surplus or the net profits of the corporation,
the shares of stock so purchased or acquired shall be canceled
and the amount of issued stock of the corporation shall be reduced
accordingly; but such shares may be reissued if the authorized
capital stock shall not have been reduced by such retirement.
ARTICLE
16. Shares of its own stock acquired by any corporation
out of its surplus or net profits may be held by such corporation,
or sold or otherwise disposed of from time to time for its corporate
purposes and may be retired or reissued by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE
17. No corporation shall directly or indirectly vote
any shares of its own stock.
ARTICLE
18. No corporation shall purchase or otherwise acquire
its own stock out of fund or property other than its surplus or
net profits, if such purchase or acquisition will reduce the actual
value of its assets to an amount less than the total amount of
its debts and liabilities plus the amount of its issued capital
stock so purchased or acquired. In the absence of fraud, the judgment
of the Directors as to the value of the assets, and their determination
of the debts and liabilities, shall be conclusive.
CHAPTER II: Corporate Powers
ARTICLE
19. Every corporation organized in accordance with this
law shall have in addition to other powers specified in this law
the following powers:
1.
To sue and be sued in any court;
2.
To adopt and use a corporate seal and alter the same at its convenience;
3.
To acquire, purchase, hold, use and convey real and personal property
of all kinds and make and accept pledges, leases, mortgages, liens
and encumbrances of all kinds;
4.
To appoint officers and agents;
5.
To make contracts of all kinds;
6.
To make by-laws not inconsistent with any existing laws of the
Republic or its articles of incorporation, for the management,
regulation and government of its affairs and property, the transfer
of its stock and the calling and holding of meetings of its stockholders
and directors, and for all other lawful matters;
7.
To carry on business and to exercise its powers in the Republic
and foreign countries;
8.
To dissolve itself or to be dissolved in accordance with the law;
9.
To borrow money and contract debts in connection with its business
or for any lawful purpose; to issue bonds, notes, bills of exchange,
debentures and other obligations and evidences of indebtedness
(which may or may not be convertible into stock of the corporation)
payable at a specified time or times or payable upon the happening
of a specified event or events whether secured by mortgage, pledge
or otherwise or unsecured for money borrowed or in payment for
property purchased or acquired or for any other lawful objects;
10.
To guarantee, acquire, purchase, hold, sell, assign, transfer,
mortgage, pledge or otherwise dispose of or deal in shares of
the capital stock of, or bonds, securities or other evidences
of indebtedness created by other corporations, or of any municipality,
province, state or government.
11.
To do all things necessary for the accomplishment of the objects
enumerated in its articles of incorporation or any amendment thereof
or necessary or incidental to the protection and benefit of the
corporation, and in general to carry on any lawful business whether
or not such business is similar in nature to the objects set forth
in its articles of incorporation or any amendment thereof.
CHAPTER III: Stock
ARTICLE
20. Every corporation shall have power to create and issue one
or more classes of shares of stock with such designations, preferences,
privileges, voting powers or restrictions or qualifications thereof
and other rights as its articles of incorporation provide and
subject to such rights of redemption as shall have been reserved
to the corporation in such articles of incorporation.
The
articles of incorporation may provide that shares of stock shall
be convertible into the shares of other classes.
ARTICLE
21. Shares of stock may have a nominal or par value. Such shares
may be issued as fully paid and non-assessable, as partly paid
or without any payment having been made thereon. Unless the articles
of incorporation otherwise provide, fully paid and non-assessable
shares having a par value, or securities or shares convertible
into such shares, shall not be issued for a consideration which,
in the judgment of the Board of Directors, is less in value than
the par value of such shares or of the shares into which such
securities or shares are convertible. Nor shall certificates for
partly paid shares state that there has been paid thereon an amount
greater than the value, in the judgment of the Board of Directors,
of the consideration actually paid thereon. Such consideration
may be money, labor, services or property of any kind.
In
the absence of fraud, the judgment of the Board of Directors as
to the value of any such consideration shall be conclusive.
ARTICLE
22. Shares of stock may be created and issued without
par value provided the articles of incorporation include the following
statements:
1.
The total number of shares that may be issued by the corporation;
2.
The number of shares, if any, with par value and the par value
of each;
3.
The number of shares without par value;
4.
Either one of the following statements:
(a)
The stated capital of the corporation shall be at least equal
to the sum of the aggregate par value of all issued shares having
par value plus a certain determined amount in respect to every
issued share without par value plus such amounts as from time
to time by resolution of the Board of Directors may be transferred
thereto; or
(b)
The stated capital of the corporation shall be at least equal
to the sum of the aggregate par value of all issued shares having
par value plus the aggregate amount of consideration received
by the corporation for the issuance of shares without par value,
plus such amounts as from time to time by resolution of the Board
of Directors may be transferred thereto.
There
may also be included in such articles of incorporation an additional
statement that the stated capital shall not be less than the amount
therein specified.
ARTICLE
23. Subject to the designations, preferences, privileges
and voting powers or restrictions or qualifications granted or
imposed in respect to any class of shares, each share with or
without par value shall be equal to every other share of the same
class.
ARTICLE
24. A corporation may issue and may sell its authorized
shares without par value for such consideration as may be prescribed
in its articles of incorporation; or for such consideration which,
in the judgment of the Board of Directors, shall be the fair value
of such shares; or for such consideration as from time to time
may be fixed by the Board of Directors, pursuant to authority
conferred in such articles of incorporation; as shall be consented
to or approved by the holders of at least a majority of the shares
entitled to vote.
ARTICLE
25. Any and all shares referred to in Articles 22, 23
and 24 of this law shall be deemed fully paid and non-assessable.
The holders of such shares shall not be liable to the corporation
or its creditors in respect thereto.
ARTICLE
26. The shares of a corporation shall be paid at such
time and in such a manner as the Board of Directors may determine.
In case of default in the payment, the Board of Directors may
either proceed against the defaulting stockholder to enforce payment
of the amounts due and unpaid and to collect such damages as the
corporation may have suffered, or rescind the subscription contract
in respect to the stockholder in default, having the right in
this last alternative to retain for the corporation such amounts
as the defaulting stockholder may be entitled to receive from
the funds of the corporation.
In
the event that the corporation should proceed to rescind the subscription
contract in respect to the stockholder in default and to retain
for the corporation the amounts to which the stockholder may be
entitled, the Board of Directors shall give at least sixty days
advance notice to such stockholder.
Shares
acquired by the corporation by virtue of the provisions of this
article may be reissued or re-offered for subscription.
ARTICLE
27. Every certificate of stock shall contain the following
statements:
1.
The reference to the registration of the corporation in the Mercantile
Registry;
2.
The amount of its capital stock;
3.
The number of shares owned by the stockholder or bearer;
4.
The class of share, if there is more than one class, and if the
stock is classified, a summary statement of the special conditions,
designations, preferences, privileges, voting powers, restrictions
or qualifications that one of the classes of the shares has over
the others.
5.
If the shares which it represents are fully paid and non-assessable,
the certificate of stock shall so state; and if such shares are
not fully paid and non-assessable, the certificate shall state
the amount or amounts which have been paid thereon;
6.
If the shares are represented by certificate issued in the name
of the owner, it should contain the name of said owner.
ARTICLE
28. Shares may be issued to bearer only if fully paid
and non-assessable.
ARTICLE
29. Shares represented by certificates issued in the
name of the owner shall be transferable on the books of the corporation
in such manner and under such regulations as may be provided in
the articles of incorporation or in the by-laws. But in no case
shall the transfer of stock be binding on the corporation unless
it shall have been registered in the corporation books.
If
the stockholder shall be indebted to the corporation, the corporation
may refuse to permit the transfer of his stock until such indebtedness
is paid. But in all cases the transferor and the transferee shall
be jointly liable for the payment of the amounts owed to the corporation
by virtue of the shares so transferred.
ARTICLE
30. Shares issued to bearer shall be transferable by
delivery of the certificate or certificates representing title.
ARTICLE
31. If so provided in the articles of incorporation,
any holder of a certificate for shares issued to bearer may exchange
such certificate for a certificate or certificates for a like
number of shares of the same class issued in his name; and the
holder of a certificate for shares issued in the name of the owner
may exchange it for a certificate for a like number of shares
issued to bearer.
ARTICLE
32. The articles of incorporation may provide that in
case a stockholder desires to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose
of his shares of stock, the corporation or some stockholder or
stockholders thereof shall have a preferential right to purchase
such shares.
Any
other restrictions upon the transfer or transferability of the
shares may also be imposed; but any restriction absolutely preventing
a stockholder from selling, transferring or disposing of his shares
of stock shall be invalid.
ARTICLE
33. A corporation may issue a new stock certificate in
place of any certificate previously issued by it alleged to have
been destroyed, lost or stolen. The Board of Directors may, in
such cases, require the owner of the destroyed, lost or stolen
certificate to post security against any claim that may be made
against the corporation or damage suffered by it.
ARTICLE
34. The articles of incorporation may provide that the
holders of any designated class or classes of stock shall not
be given voting rights; or they may otherwise limit or define
the respective voting powers of the several classes of stock.
Such
provisions of the articles of incorporation shall be controlling
in all elections and in all proceedings in which the law requires
the vote or the written consent of the holders of all of the shares
or of a specified proportion of the shares of the corporation.
The
articles of incorporation may also provide that for specified
purposes the vote of more than a majority of the holders of any
class of stock shall be required.
ARTICLE
35. One or more stockholders by agreement in writing
may transfer stock to a voting trustee or trustees for the purpose
of conferring upon it or them the right to vote thereon in the
name and in place of the owner for the period and upon the terms
and conditions therein stated. Other stockholders may transfer
their stock to the same trustee or trustees and thereupon shall
be a party to such agreement. The certificates of stock so transferred
shall be surrendered and canceled and new certificates therefor
issued to such trustee or trustees, in which it shall appear that
they are issued pursuant to such agreement, and in the entry of
such ownership in the proper books of the corporation that fact
shall also be noted. In order for the provisions contained in
this article be carried into effect, it will be necessary that
a certified copy of such agreement be filed with the corporation.
ARTICLE
36. Every corporation organized under this law shall
keep at its office in the Republic, or at such other place or
places as the articles of incorporation or the by-laws may provide,
a book to be known as the Stock Register, containing (except in
the case of shares issued to bearer) the names alphabetically
arranged of all persons who are stockholders of the corporation,
showing their places of domicile, the number of shares held by
each one respectively, the date of acquisition thereof and the
amount paid thereon or that they are fully paid and non-assessable.
In
the case of shares issued to bearer such Stock Register shall
state the number of shares so issued, and the date of issue and
that such shares are fully paid and non-assessable.
ARTICLE
37. Dividends may be paid to the stockholders from the
net earnings of the corporation or from the surplus of its assets
over its liabilities and capital stock, but not otherwise. The
corporation may declare and may pay dividends upon the basis of
the amount actually paid upon partly paid shares of stock.
ARTICLE
38. When the directors shall so determine, dividends
may be paid in stock of the corporation; provided the stock issued
for such purpose shall be duly authorized and provided, if such
stock has not heretofore been issued, there shall be transferred
from surplus to the capital of the corporation an amount at least
equal to that for which such stock could be lawfully issued.
ARTICLE
39. Every stockholder shall be personally liable to the
creditors of the corporation only to an amount equal to the amount
not paid on his stock; but no action shall be brought against
a stockholder for any debt of the corporation until judgment therefor
has been rendered against the corporation and execution thereon
has been returned unsatisfied in whole or in part.
CHAPTER IV: Stockholders' Meetings
ARTICLE
40. Whenever under the provisions of this law the approval or
authorization of the stockholders is required, the notice of such
stockholders' meeting shall be in writing and in the name of the
President, Vice-President, Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
or of such other person or persons so authorized by the articles
of incorporation or the by-laws.
Such
notice shall state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting
is called and the time and place at which it is to be held.
ARTICLE
41. All meetings of stockholders shall be held within
the Republic, unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation
or by-laws.
ARTICLE
42. Such notice shall be given at such time prior to
any such meeting and in such manner as the articles of incorporation
or by-laws of the corporation provide; but unless they otherwise
provide, such notice shall be given personally or by mail upon
each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting not
less than ten no more than sixty days before such meeting.
If
the corporation has issued shares to the bearer, notice of stockholders'
meetings shall be published in such manner, as the articles of
incorporation or by-laws provide.
ARTICLE
43. Any stockholder may waive notice of any meeting by
document signed by him or his representative either before or
after the meeting.
ARTICLE
44. The resolutions approved in any meeting at which
all stockholders are present, in person or by proxy, shall be
valid for all purposes and the resolutions approved in any meeting
at which a quorum is present, notice of which shall have been
waived by all absent stockholders, shall be valid for all purposes
stated in such waiver, even though in either of the above-mentioned
cases the notice required by this law, the articles of incorporation
or the by-laws has not been given.
ARTICLE
45. Unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation,
every stockholder of a corporation shall be entitled at each meeting
of stockholders thereof to one vote for each share of stock registered
in his name on the books of the corporation regardless of the
class of said stock and whether it has a nominal or par value.
It is hereby understood, however, that unless contrary provision
should be made in the articles of incorporation, the directors
may prescribe a period not exceeding forty (40) days prior to
any meeting of the stockholders during which time no transfer
of stock on the books of the corporation may be made, or may fix
a day not more than forty (40) days prior to the holding of any
such meeting as the day as of which all stockholders (other than
the holders of shares issued to bearer) entitled to notice of
and with the right to vote at such meeting shall be determined,
in which case, only stockholders of record on such day shall be
entitled to notice of or to vote at such meeting.
ARTICLE
46. In the case of shares issued to bearer, the bearer
of a certificate or certificates representing such shares shall
be entitled to one vote at any meeting of the stockholders for
each share of stock entitled to vote at such meeting, represented
by such certificate, upon presentation at such meeting of such
certificate or certificates, or upon presentation of such other
evidence of ownership as may be prescribed by the articles of
incorporation or by-laws.
ARTICLE
47. At any meeting of the stockholders any stockholder
may be represented and vote by proxy or proxies (who need not
be stockholder(s)) appointed by an instrument in writing, public
or private, with or without power of substitution.
ARTICLE
48. The articles of incorporation of any corporation
may provide that at all elections of directors of such corporation
each holder of stock possessing the right to vote for directors
shall be entitled to as many votes as shall equal the number of
his shares of stock multiplied by the number of directors to be
elected, and that he may cast all of such votes for a single director
or may distribute them among the number to be voted for any two
or more of them as he may see fit.
CHAPTER V: Board of Directors
ARTICLE
49. The business of every corporation shall be managed
by a Board of Directors composed of not less than three directors,
all of whom shall be male or female persons of legal age.
ARTICLE
50. Subject to the provisions of this law and of the
articles of incorporation, the Board of Directors of every corporation
shall have absolute control over and full direction of the affairs
of the corporation.
ARTICLE
51. The Board of Directors may exercise all of the powers
of the corporation except such powers that are by law, the articles
of incorporation or by the by-laws, conferred upon or reserved
to the stockholders.
ARTICLE
52. Subject to the provisions of this law and the articles
of incorporation, the number of Directors shall be fixed by the
by-laws of the corporation.
ARTICLE
53. A majority of the Board of Directors of a corporation
at a meeting duly assembled shall be necessary to constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business. However, the articles
of incorporation may provide that a certain number of the directors,
whether more or less than a majority, shall be sufficient to constitute
a quorum.
ARTICLE
54. The act of a majority of the directors present at
a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the
Board of Directors.
ARTICLE
55. Unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation,
no director need be a stockholder.
ARTICLE
56. The directors may make, alter, amend and repeal the
by-laws of the corporation, unless otherwise provided by the articles
of incorporation, or in the by-laws adopted by the stockholders.
ARTICLE
57. The directors of every corporation shall be chosen
at the time and place and in the manner provided for by the articles
of incorporation or by-laws.
ARTICLE
58. Vacancies in the Board of Directors shall be filled
in the manner prescribed by the articles of incorporation or by-laws.
ARTICLE
59. Subject to the provisions contained in the two foregoing
articles, vacancies, whether resulting from an increase in the
authorized number of directors or otherwise, may be filled by
the vote of a majority of the directors then in office.
ARTICLE
60. If the directors are not elected by the specific
day designated for that purpose, the directors then in office
shall continue to hold their offices and discharge their duties
until their respective successors shall have been elected.
ARTICLE
61. Unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation
or in the by-laws, the Board of Directors may appoint two or more
of their number to constitute a committee or committees, who shall
have and exercise the powers of the Board of Directors in the
management of the business affairs of the corporation to the extent
and subject to the restrictions expressed in the articles of incorporation,
the by-laws, or the resolutions appointing such committees.
ARTICLE
62. If the articles of incorporation so provide, at any
meeting of the directors, any director may be represented and
vote by proxy or proxies (who need not be directors), appointed
by an instrument in writing, public or private, with or without
power of substitution.
ARTICLE
63. Directors may be removed at any time by the vote
of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to
vote for directors. Officers, agents and employees may be removed
at any time by resolution adopted by a majority of the directors,
or in such a manner as the articles of incorporation or by-laws
provide.
ARTICLE
64. If any dividend or distribution of assets be declared
or paid which reduces the value of the assets of the corporation
remaining after the payment of such dividend or such distribution,
as the case may be, to less than the aggregate amount of its debts
and liabilities, including capital stock, or if a reduction of
capital stock be made, except in accordance with the provisions
of this law, or if any report or statements be made which shall
be false in any material representation, the directors of the
corporation who assent thereto with knowledge of the impairment
of the capital stock or of such falsity, as the case may be, shall
be jointly and severally liable to the creditors of the corporation
for any loss or damage arising therefrom.
CHAPTER VI: Officers
ARTICLE
65. Every corporation shall have a President, a Secretary
and a Treasurer, who shall be chosen by the Board of Directors
and may also have such other officers, agents and representatives
as the Board of Directors or the by-laws or the articles of incorporation
may determine and who shall be chosen in the manner provided thereby.
ARTICLE
66. Any person may hold two or more offices, if so provided
by the articles of incorporation or by the by-laws.
ARTICLE
67. No officer need be a director of the corporation
unless the articles of incorporation or by-laws so require.
CHAPTER VII: Sale of Assets and
Franchises
ARTICLE
68. Every corporation may, by action taken at any meeting
of its Board of Directors, sell, lease, exchange or otherwise
dispose of all or substantially all of its property and assets,
including its goodwill and its corporate franchise, upon such
terms and conditions as its Board of Directors deems expedient,
provided it is authorized by the affirmative vote of stockholders
holding a majority of the shares entitled to voting power and
given at a stockholders' meeting called for that purpose in the
manner provided in Articles 40 through 44 of this law or authorized
by the written consent of such stockholders.
ARTICLE
69. Notwithstanding the provisions contained in the preceding
article, the articles of incorporation may require that the consent
of the stockholders be expressed in a special manner in order
to grant the authority referred to in said article.
ARTICLE
70. Unless the articles of incorporation provide otherwise,
the vote or assent of stockholders shall not be necessary for
a transfer of assets in trust, or to encumber them by pledge or
mortgage to secure indebtedness of the corporation.
CHAPTER VIII: Mergers
ARTICLE
71. Subject to the provisions of their articles of incorporation,
any two or more corporations organized under this law may merge
into a single corporation. The Directors, or a majority of them
of each of such corporations desiring to merge, may enter into
an agreement signed by them, describing the terms and conditions
of the merger, the mode of carrying the same into effect and stating
such other facts as are necessary to be stated in articles of
incorporation and in accordance with this law, as well as the
manner of converting the shares of each of the constituent corporations
into shares of the new corporation, with such other details and
provisions as are deemed necessary or desirable.
ARTICLE
72. The agreement may provide for the distribution of
cash, notes or bonds in whole or in part, in lieu of stock, provided,
however, that upon such distribution the liabilities of the new
corporation, including those derived by it from the constituent
corporations and including the amount of capital to be issued
by the new corporation pursuant to the terms of merger agreement,
shall not exceed the value of its assets.
ARTICLE
73. Said agreement shall be submitted to the stockholders
of each of the constituent corporations at a meeting thereof called
separately for the purpose of considering the same, of which meeting
notice shall be given in the manner required by articles 40 to
43 of this law. At said meeting said agreement shall be considered
and a vote taken for the adoption or rejection of the same.
ARTICLE
74. Unless the articles of incorporation otherwise provide,
if the votes of stockholders of each corporation representing
a majority of the shares entitled to vote thereon shall be for
the adoption of said agreement, then that fact shall be certified
on said agreement by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of each
corporation; and the agreements so adopted and certified shall
be signed by the President or Vice-President and Secretary or
Assistant Secretary of each of said corporations in the manner
and in accordance with the requirements specified in Article 2
of this law with reference to the execution of articles of incorporation.
ARTICLE
75. The agreement of merger so executed shall be filed
for registration in the Mercantile Registry as required in the
case of articles of incorporation and when so filed shall be the
agreement and act of consolidation of said corporations.
ARTICLE
76. When such agreement of consolidation is executed
and filed as required by the two preceding articles, the separate
existence of each constituent corporation shall cease and the
merged corporations shall become a single corporation in accordance
with said agreement possessing all the properties, rights, privileges,
powers and franchises and subject to the restrictions, obligations
and duties of each of the constituent corporations; provided that
all rights of creditors and all liens upon the property of either
of the constituent corporations shall be preserved unimpaired,
but such liens shall be limited to the property affected thereby
at the time of the merger. All debts, liabilities and duties of
the constituent corporations shall appertain to the consolidated
corporation and may be enforced against it to the same extent
as if they had been incurred by it.
ARTICLE
77. The articles of incorporation of any corporation
may provide and determine conditions, in addition to the requirements
of this law, upon which such corporation may merge with any other
corporation.
ARTICLE
78. Any action or proceeding pending by or against the
extinguished corporations or any one of them, the consolidated
corporation shall continue as a party to the action.
ARTICLE
79. The liability of corporations or the stockholders,
directors or officers thereof, or the rights and remedies of the
creditors thereof or of persons doing or transacting business
with such corporations shall not in any way be lessened or impaired
by the merger of two or more corporations under the provisions
hereof.
CHAPTER IX: Dissolution
ARTICLE
80. If the Board of Directors deems it advisable that
any corporation organized under this law should be dissolved,
the Board may, by a majority of the whole Board, approve an agreement
of dissolution and, within the ten ensuing days, shall call or
cause to be called, in the manner provided in articles 40 through
43 hereof, a meeting of the stockholders having voting power to
take such action to approve or reject the resolution adopted by
the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE
81. If, at such meeting of the holders of a majority
of the shares entitled to vote such stockholders by resolution
consent to the dissolution, copy of such resolution together with
a list of the names and residences of the Directors and Officers,
certified by the President or a Vice-President and the Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary, and the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer,
shall be made and executed and filed for recordation in the Mercantile
Registry as required in Article 2.
ARTICLE
82. Upon such filing at the Registry Office, a copy thereof
shall be published in one issue of a newspaper published in the
place where the office of the dissolved corporation was situated
in this Republic, or if there be no such newspaper then in the
Official Gazette of the Republic.
ARTICLE
83. Whenever all the stockholders with voting power consent
in writing to a dissolution, no meeting of the Board of Directors
or of the Stockholders shall be necessary for that purpose.
ARTICLE
84. The document setting forth such consent of the stockholders
shall be protocolized and filed for record in the Mercantile Registry
and published in the manner provided in Article 82 hereof. Once
these formalities have been complied with, such corporation shall
be deemed to be dissolved.
ARTICLE
85. All corporations, whether they expire by their own
limitation or are otherwise dissolved, shall nevertheless continue
to exist for the term of three years from such expiration or dissolution
for the purpose of prosecuting or defending suits by or against
them or enabling them to settle their business and dispose of
and convey their property and to divide their capital stock, but
under no circumstance may it continue the business for which said
corporation was established.
ARTICLE
86. When any corporation expires by its own limitation
or is otherwise dissolved, the Directors shall act as trustees
of such corporation with full power to settle the affairs, collect
the outstanding debts, sell and convey the property of all kinds
and divide the moneys and property among the stockholders, after
paying the debts of the corporation, and they shall have authority,
in the name of the corporation, to sue for the recovery of its
debts and property and to defend it when sued for debts owing
by such corporation.
ARTICLE
87. In the case of the foregoing article, the Directors
shall be jointly and severally responsible for the debts of the
corporation, but only up to the amount of the moneys and properties
which have come into their control.
ARTICLE
88. The Directors shall have the power to apply moneys
and property of the corporation to the payment of a reasonable
compensation for their services and to fill any vacancies which
may occur in their number.
ARTICLE
89. The Directors, acting as trustees pursuant to the
provisions of Articles 86, 87 and 88, shall act by majority vote.
CHAPTER X: Foreign Corporations
ARTICLE
90. A foreign corporation may maintain offices or agencies
and carry on business in the Republic, provided it files in the
Mercantile Registry the following documents for recording:
1.
Deed of protocolization of its Articles of Incorporation;
2.
Copy of its last balance sheet accompanied by a
declaration of the amount of its capital engaged or to be engaged
in business in the Republic;
3.
A certificate setting forth that it is incorporated and organized
under the laws of the country of its domicile authenticated by
a Consular Representative of the Republic in said country, or
if there be none, then by that of a friendly nation.
ARTICLE
91. A foreign corporation maintaining an office or carrying
on business in the Republic of Panama which has not complied with
the requirements of this law may not sue in any court of the Republic,
but may be sued therein. Any such corporation shall furthermore
be liable to a fine of up to FIVE THOUSAND BALBOAS (B/.5,000.00)
to be imposed by the Secretary of Finance and the Treasury.
ARTICLE
92. A foreign corporation carrying on business in the
Republic which has recorded its articles of incorporation in the
Mercantile Registry according to this law, shall be required to
record in such Registry all amendments of such articles of incorporation
and the instruments of consolidation or dissolution affecting
it.
CHAPTER XI: Sundry Provisions
ARTICLE
93. National or foreign corporations established or having
agencies or branches in the Republic at the time that this law
comes into effect shall be governed insofar as refers to the contracting
parties by their articles of incorporation, their by-laws and
the laws in force at the time of their organization or of their
establishment in the Republic, as the case may be.
ARTICLE
94. National corporations organized before this law comes
into effect may at any time be governed by the provisions of this
law; this fact must be set forth in a resolution adopted by the
stockholders, which must be recorded in the Registry Office.
The
stockholders of national corporations actually dissolved but not
yet liquidated may, for the purpose of the liquidation, be governed
by the provisions of this article, provided that it is so resolved
by a number of stockholders not less than that required by the
by-laws to provide for the dissolution of the corporation before
the expiration of the term fixed for such corporation.
ARTICLE
95. All the provisions heretofore in force relative to
corporations are hereby repealed.
ARTICLE
96. This law shall come into effect on the first day
of April, 1927.
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