N.J. Stat. tit. 14A, ch. 3

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 14A:3-1 General powers.

14A:3-1. General powers. (1) Each corporation, subject to any limitations provided in this act or any other statute of this State, or in its certificate of incorporation, shall have power (a) to have perpetual duration unless a limited period is stated in its certificate of incorporation; (b) to sue and be sued, complain and defend and participate as a party or otherwise in any judicial, administrative, arbitrative or other proceeding, in its corporate name; (c) to have a corporate seal which may be altered at pleasure, and to use the same by causing it, or a facsimile thereof, to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced; (d) to purchase, lease or otherwise acquire, own, hold, improve, use and otherwise deal in and with, real or personal property, or any interest therein, wherever situated; (e) to sell, convey, mortgage, create a security interest in, lease, exchange, transfer and otherwise dispose of all or any part of its property and assets; (f) to purchase, subscribe for, or otherwise acquire, own, hold, vote, use, employ, sell, exchange, mortgage, lend, create a security interest in, or otherwise dispose of, and otherwise use and deal in and with, shares or other interests in, or obligations of, other domestic or foreign corporations, associations, partnerships or individuals, or direct or indirect obligations of any domestic or foreign government or instrumentality thereof; (g) to make contracts and guarantees and incur liabilities, borrow money, issue its bonds, and secure any of its obligations by mortgage of or creation of a security interest in all or any of its property, franchises and income; (h) to lend money, invest and reinvest its funds, and take and hold real and personal property as security for the payment of funds so loaned or invested; (i) to conduct its business, carry on its operations, and have offices and exercise the powers granted by this act anywhere in the universe; (j) to elect or appoint officers, employees and agents of the corporation, and define their duties and fix their compensation; (k) to make and alter by-laws for the administration and regulation of the affairs of the corporation; (l) to pay pensions and establish pension, profit-sharing, stock option, stock purchase, incentive and deferred compensation plans, and plans of similar nature for, and to furnish medical services, life, sickness, accident, disability or unemployment insurance and benefits, education, housing, social and recreational services and other similar aids and services to, any or all of its directors, officers, employees, and agents, their families, dependents or beneficiaries; (m) to participate with others in any corporation, partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, or other association of any kind, or in any transaction, undertaking or arrangement which the participating corporation would have power to conduct by itself, whether or not such participation involves sharing or delegation of control with or to others; (n) at the request of the United States government or of any of its agencies, to transact any lawful business in time of war or other national emergency, notwithstanding the purpose or purposes set forth in its certificate of incorporation; (o) to provide for its benefit life insurance and other insurance with respect to the services of any or all of its directors, officers, employees, and agents, or on the life of any shareholder for the purpose of acquiring at his death shares of its stock owned by such shareholder; (p) to have and exercise all other powers necessary or convenient to effect any or all of the purposes for which the corporation is organized ; (q) to renounce, in its certificate of incorporation or by action of its board of directors, any interest or expectancy of the corporation in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, specified business opportunities or specified classes or categories of business opportunities that are presented to the corporation or one or more of its officers, directors or shareholders . (2) It shall not be necessary to set forth in the certificate of incorporation any corporate powers enumerated in this act. amended 1969, c.102, ss.1,17; 2011, c.36, s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 14A:3-2 Ultra vires transactions

No act of a corporation and no conveyance or transfer of real or personal property to or by a corporation shall be invalid by reason of the fact that the corporation was without capacity or power to do such act or to make or receive such conveyance or transfer, but such lack of capacity or power may be asserted: (a) In a proceeding by a shareholder against the corporation to enjoin the doing of any act or acts or the transfer of real or personal property by or to the corporation. If the unauthorized acts or transfer sought to be enjoined are being, or are to be, performed or made pursuant to any contract to which the corporation is a party, the court may, if all of the parties to the contract are parties to the proceeding and if it deems the same to be equitable, set aside and enjoin the performance of such contract, and in so doing may allow to the corporation or to the other parties to the contract, as the case may be, compensation for the loss or damage sustained by either of them which may result from the action of the court in setting aside and enjoining the performance of such contract, but anticipated profits to be derived from the performance of the contract shall not be awarded by the court as a loss or damage sustained. (b) In a proceeding by the corporation, whether acting directly or through a receiver, trustee, or other legal representative, or through shareholders in a representative suit, against the incumbent or former officers or directors of the corporation. (c) In a proceeding by the Attorney General, as provided in this act, to dissolve the corporation, or in a proceeding by the Attorney General to enjoin the corporation from the transaction of unauthorized business. L.1968, c.350.

N.J. Stat. § 14A:3-3 Guaranty not in furtherance of business interest

(1) A corporation may give a guaranty not in furtherance of its direct or indirect business interests only when authorized at a meeting of shareholders by the affirmative vote of all of the votes cast by the holders of each class and series of shares entitled to vote thereon. If authorized by such a vote, the guaranty may be secured by a mortgage of or a security interest in all or any part of the corporate property, or any interest therein, wherever situated. (2) Nothing in subsection 14A:3-3(1) shall be deemed to diminish the rights, if any, of the corporation's creditors. L.1968, c.350; amended 1973,c.366,s.7; 1988,c.94,s.11.

N.J. Stat. § 14A:3-4 Contributions by corporations

(1) Any corporation organized for any purpose under any general or special law of this State, unless otherwise provided in its certificate of incorporation or by-laws, shall have power, irrespective of corporate benefit, to aid, singly or in cooperation with other corporations and with natural persons, in the creation or maintenance of institutions or organizations engaged in community fund, hospital, charitable, philanthropic, educational, scientific or benevolent activities or patriotic or civic activities conducive to the betterment of social and economic conditions, and the board may authorize the making of contributions for those purposes in money, securities, including shares of the corporation, or other property, in such reasonable amounts as the board may determine; provided, that a contribution shall not be authorized hereunder if at the time of the contribution or immediately thereafter the donee institution shall own more than 10% of the voting stock of the donor corporation or one of its subsidiaries. (2) The provisions of this section shall not be construed as directly or indirectly minimizing or interpreting the rights and powers of corporations, as heretofore existing, with reference to appropriations, expenditures or contributions of the nature above specified. L.1968, c.350.; amended 1988, c. 94, s. 12.

N.J. Stat. § 14A:3-5 Indemnification of directors, officers and employees.

14A:3-5. Indemnification of directors, officers and employees. (1) As used in this section, (a) "Corporate agent" means any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the indemnifying corporation or of any constituent corporation absorbed by the indemnifying corporation in a consolidation or merger and any person who is or was a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of any other enterprise, serving as such at the request of the indemnifying corporation, or of any such constituent corporation, or the legal representative of any such director, officer, trustee, employee or agent; (b) "Other enterprise" means any domestic or foreign corporation, other than the indemnifying corporation, and any partnership, joint venture, sole proprietorship, trust or other enterprise, whether or not for profit, served by a corporate agent; (c) "Expenses" means reasonable costs, disbursements and counsel fees; (d) "Liabilities" means amounts paid or incurred in satisfaction of settlements, judgments, fines and penalties; (e) "Proceeding" means any pending, threatened or completed civil, criminal, administrative or arbitrative action, suit or proceeding, and any appeal therein and any inquiry or investigation which could lead to such action, suit or proceeding; and (f) References to "other enterprises" include employee benefit plans; references to "fines" include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to "serving at the request of the indemnifying corporation" include any service as a corporate agent which imposes duties on, or involves services by, the corporate agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner "not opposed to the best interests of the corporation" as referred to in this section. (2) Any corporation organized for any purpose under any general or special law of this State shall have the power to indemnify a corporate agent against his expenses and liabilities in connection with any proceeding involving the corporate agent by reason of his being or having been such a corporate agent, other than a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, if (a) such corporate agent acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation; and (b) with respect to any criminal proceeding, such corporate agent had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not of itself create a presumption that such corporate agent did not meet the applicable standards of conduct set forth in paragraphs 14A:3-5(2)(a) and 14A:3-5(2)(b). (3) Any corporation organized for any purpose under any general or special law of this State shall have the power to indemnify a corporate agent against his expenses in connection with any proceeding by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor which involves the corporate agent by reason of his being or having been such corporate agent, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation. However, in such proceeding no indemnification shall be provided in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such corporate agent shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the Superior Court or the court in which such proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that despite the adjudication of liability, but in view of all circumstances of the case, such corporate agent is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the Superior Court or such other court shall deem proper. (4) Any corporation organized for any purpose under any general or special law of this State shall indemnify a corporate agent against expenses to the extent that such corporate agent has been successful on the merits or otherwise in any proceeding referred to in subsections 14A:3-5(2) and 14A:3-5(3) or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein. (5) Any indemnification under subsection 14A:3-5(2) and, unless ordered by a court, under subsection 14A:3-5(3) may be made by the corporation only as authorized in a specific case upon a determination that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because the corporate agent met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsection 14A:3-5(2) or subsection 14A:3-5(3). Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws, such determination shall be made (a) by the board of directors or a committee thereof, acting by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to or otherwise involved in the proceeding; or (b) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable and such quorum of the board of directors or committee by a majority vote of the disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel, in a written opinion, such counsel to be designated by the board of directors; or (c) by the shareholders if the certificate of incorporation or bylaws or a resolution of the board of directors or of the shareholders so directs. (6) Expenses incurred by a corporate agent in connection with a proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the corporate agent to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified as provided in this section. (7) (a) If a corporation upon application of a corporate agent has failed or refused to provide indemnification as required under subsection 14A:3-5(4) or permitted under subsections 14A:3-5(2), 14A:3-5(3) and 14A:3-5(6), a corporate agent may apply to a court for an award of indemnification by the corporation, and such court (i) may award indemnification to the extent authorized under subsections 14A:3-5(2) and 14A:3-5(3) and shall award indemnification to the extent required under subsection 14A:3-5(4), notwithstanding any contrary determination which may have been made under subsection 14A:3-5(5); and (ii) may allow reasonable expenses to the extent authorized by, and subject to the provisions of, subsection 14A:3-5(6), if the court shall find that the corporate agent has by his pleadings or during the course of the proceeding raised genuine issues of fact or law. (b) Application for such indemnification may be made (i) in the civil action in which the expenses were or are to be incurred or other amounts were or are to be paid; or (ii) to the Superior Court in a separate proceeding. If the application is for indemnification arising out of a civil action, it shall set forth reasonable cause for the failure to make application for such relief in the action or proceeding in which the expenses were or are to be incurred or other amounts were or are to be paid. The application shall set forth the disposition of any previous application for indemnification and shall be made in such manner and form as may be required by the applicable rules of court or, in the absence thereof, by direction of the court to which it is made. Such application shall be upon notice to the corporation. The court may also direct that notice shall be given at the expense of the corporation to the shareholders and such other persons as it may designate in such manner as it may require. (8) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to the other subsections of this section shall not exclude any other rights, including the right to be indemnified against liabilities and expenses incurred in proceedings by or in the right of the corporation, to which a corporate agent may be entitled under a certificate of incorporation, bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders, or otherwise; provided that no indemnification shall be made to or on behalf of a corporate agent if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the corporate agent establishes that his acts or omissions (a) were in breach of his duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders, as defined in subsection (3) of N.J.S.14A:2-7, (b) were not in good faith or involved a knowing violation of law or (c) resulted in receipt by the corporate agent of an improper personal benefit. (9) Any corporation organized for any purpose under any general or special law of this State shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any corporate agent against any expenses incurred in any proceeding and any liabilities asserted against him by reason of his being or having been a corporate agent, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such expenses and liabilities under the provisions of this section. The corporation may purchase such insurance from, or such insurance may be reinsured in whole or in part by, an insurer owned by or otherwise affiliated with the corporation, whether or not such insurer does business with other insureds. (10) The powers granted by this section may be exercised by the corporation, notwithstanding the absence of any provision in its certificate of incorporation or bylaws authorizing the exercise of such powers. (11) Except as required by subsection 14A:3-5(4), no indemnification shall be made or expenses advanced by a corporation under this section, and none shall be ordered by a court, if such action would be inconsistent with a provision of the certificate of incorporation, a bylaw, a resolution of the board of directors or of the shareholders, an agreement or other proper corporate action, in effect at the time of the accrual of the alleged cause of action asserted in the proceeding, which prohibits, limits or otherwise conditions the exercise of indemnification powers by the corporation or the rights of indemnification to which a corporate agent may be entitled. (12) This section does not limit a corporation's power to pay or reimburse expenses incurred by a corporate agent in connection with the corporate agent's appearance as a witness in a proceeding at a time when the corporate agent has not been made a party to the proceeding. (13) A right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses in favor of an officer or director pursuant to a corporation's certificate of incorporation or bylaws shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to the certificate of incorporation or bylaws after the occurrence of an act or omission that is the subject of a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought, unless the certificate of incorporation or bylaws in effect at the time of the act or omission explicitly authorizes that elimination or impairment after the action or omission has occurred. amended 1973, c.366, s.8; 1987, c.35, s.2; 1988, c.94, s.13; 1989, c.17, s.2; 2011, c.31, s.1; 2014, c.77.

N.J. Stat. § 14A:3-6.1 Definitions relative to derivative proceedings and shareholder class actions.

1. As used in this section: "Derivative proceeding" means a civil suit in the right of a domestic corporation. "Shareholder" includes a beneficial owner whose shares are held in a voting trust or held by a nominee on the beneficial owner's behalf. "Shareholder class action" means a civil suit by a shareholder against a domestic corporation or its directors or officers which alleges a breach of any duty by the directors or officers or the corporation which is imposed in whole or in part by statutory or common law of the State of New Jersey and seeks a right, remedy, or damages on behalf of a class of the domestic corporation's shareholders. L.2013, c.42, s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 14A:3-6.2 Conditions for commencing, maintaining proceeding.

2. A shareholder may not commence or maintain a derivative proceeding unless the shareholder: (1) was a shareholder of the corporation at the time of the act or omission complained of or became a shareholder through transfer by operation of law from one who was a shareholder at that time and remains a shareholder throughout the derivative proceeding; and (2) fairly and adequately represents the interests of the corporation in enforcing the right of the corporation. L.2013, c.42, s.2.

N.J. Stat. § 14A:3-6.3 Actions taken before commencing proceeding.

3. No shareholder may commence a derivative proceeding until: (1) a written demand has been made upon the corporation to take suitable action; and (2) 90 days have expired from the date the demand was made unless the shareholder has earlier been notified that the demand has been rejected by the corporation or unless irreparable injury to the corporation would result by waiting for the expiration of the 90-day period. L.2013, c.42, s.3.

N.J. Stat. § 14A:3-6.4 Stay of proceeding.

4. If the corporation commences an inquiry into the allegations made in the demand or complaint, the court may stay any derivative proceeding as the court deems appropriate. L.2013, c.42, s.4.

N.J. Stat. § 14A:3-6.5 Conditions for dismissal of proceeding.

5. (1) Subject to subsection (5) of this section, a derivative proceeding shall be dismissed by the court on motion by the corporation if the court finds that: (a) the person or group specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (2) of this section or subsection (6) of this section has determined in good faith, after conducting a reasonable inquiry upon which its conclusions are based, that the maintenance of the derivative proceeding is not in the best interests of the corporation; or (b) the shareholders specified in paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of this section have voted to terminate the derivative proceeding. (2) Unless a panel is appointed pursuant to subsection (6) of this section, the determination in subsection (1) of this section shall be made by: (a) a majority vote of independent directors present at a meeting of the board of directors if the independent directors constitute a quorum; (b) a majority vote of a committee consisting of one or more independent directors appointed by majority vote of independent directors, or one independent director if the board consists of only one independent director, present at a meeting of the board of directors, regardless of whether those independent directors constitute a quorum of the board; or (c) the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, not including shares owned by or voted under the control of a shareholder or related person who has or had a material beneficial financial interest in the act or omission complained of or other interest therein that would reasonably be expected to exert an influence on that shareholder's or related person's judgment if called upon to vote in the determination. (3) If a derivative proceeding is commenced after a determination has been made rejecting a demand by a shareholder, the complaint shall allege with particularity facts establishing that a majority of the board of directors, or all members of a committee, which in either case determined the matter, did not consist of independent directors at the time the determination was made. (4) If a majority of the board of directors consisted of independent directors at the time the determination in subsection (1) of this section was made or if the determination is made by shareholders, the plaintiff shall have the burden of proving that the requirements of subsection (1) of this section have not been met. If a majority of the board of directors does not consist of independent directors at the time the determination by independent directors is made, the corporation shall have the burden of proving that the requirements of subsection (1) of this section have been met. (5) (a) If the corporation moves to dismiss the derivative proceeding, it shall make a written filing with the court setting forth, among other things, facts to show: (i) whether or not a majority of the board of directors was independent at the time of the determination by the independent director or directors; and (ii) that the independent director or directors made the determination in good faith after conducting a reasonable inquiry upon which the conclusions are based. (b) Following a motion filed pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection, the court shall dismiss the derivative suit unless: (i) the court finds that the requirements of subsection (1) of this section have not been met, taking into account the burden of proof under subsection (4) or (6) of this section; or (ii) the plaintiff, in its complaint, an amended complaint, or in a written filing with the court, has alleged with particularity facts rebutting the facts contained in the corporation's filing. (c) All discovery proceedings shall be stayed upon the filing by the corporation of its motion to dismiss and the filing required by this subsection until the notice of entry of the order ruling on the motion. Notwithstanding the foregoing stay of discovery, the court, on motion and after a hearing, may order that specified and limited discovery be conducted if plaintiffs make a good cause showing of alleged facts which evidence a lack of independence by the person or group making the determination for the corporation or a lack of a good faith determination. Limited discovery shall not include the work product, privileged communications, or testimony of attorneys who advised or assisted the person or group making the determination. (6) Upon motion by the corporation, the court may appoint a panel of one or more individuals to make a determination whether the maintenance of the derivative proceeding is in the best interests of the corporation. The plaintiff shall have the burden of proving to the panel that the requirements of subsection (1) of this section have not been met. (7) (a) A director shall be considered independent for the purposes of this section if the director has: (i) no economic interest in the challenged act or transaction material to him or her, other than an economic interest that is shared by all shareholders generally; and (ii) no material, personal, or business relationships with the defendant directors or officers who have a material interest in the act or transaction challenged. (b) None of the following shall by itself cause a director to be considered not independent for the purposes of this section: (i) the nomination or election of the director by a person who is a defendant in the derivative proceeding or against whom action is demanded; (ii) the naming of the director as a defendant in the derivative proceeding or as a person against whom action is demanded; or (iii) the approval by the director of the act being challenged in the derivative proceeding or demand if the act resulted in no personal benefit to the director. L.2013, c.42, s.5.

N.J. Stat. § 14A:3-6.6 Court's approval required.

6. A derivative proceeding or a shareholder class action may not be discontinued or settled without the court's approval. If the court determines that a proposed discontinuance or settlement will substantially affect the interests of the corporation's shareholders or a class of shareholders, the court shall direct that notice be given to the shareholders affected. L.2013, c.42, s.6.

N.J. Stat. § 14A:3-6.7 Termination of derivative proceeding, shareholder class action.

7. On termination of a derivative proceeding or a shareholder class action the court may: (1) order the corporation to pay the plaintiff's expenses incurred in the proceeding if it finds that the proceeding has resulted in a substantial benefit to the corporation; (2) order the plaintiff to pay any defendant's expenses incurred in defending the proceeding if it finds that the proceeding was commenced or maintained without the exercise of reasonable diligence by the plaintiff or without reasonable cause or for an improper purpose; or (3) order a party to pay an opposing party's expenses incurred because of the filing of a pleading, motion or other paper, if it finds that the pleading, motion or other paper was not well grounded in fact, after reasonable inquiry, or warranted by existing law or a good faith argument for the extension, modification or reversal of existing law and was interposed for an improper purpose, such as to harass or cause unnecessary delay or needlessly increase the cost of litigation. L.2013, c.42, s.7.

N.J. Stat. § 14A:3-6.8 Security for reasonable expenses.

8. In any derivative proceeding or shareholder class action instituted by a shareholder or shareholders holding less than 5% of the outstanding shares of any class or series of the corporation, unless the shares have a market value in excess of $250,000, the corporation in whose right the action is brought shall be entitled at any time before final judgment to require the plaintiff or plaintiffs to give security for the reasonable expenses, including fees of attorneys, that may be incurred by it in connection with the action or may be incurred by other parties named as defendant for which it may become legally liable. Market value shall be determined as of the date that the plaintiff institutes the action or, in the case of an intervener, as of the date that the intervener becomes a party to the action. The corporation shall have recourse to that security in that amount which the court having jurisdiction shall determine upon the termination of the action in accordance with section 7 of P.L.2013, c.42 (C.14A:3-6.7). L.2013, c.42, s.8.

N.J. Stat. § 14A:3-6.9 Applicability.

9. In any derivative proceeding or shareholder class action against a corporation organized under the provisions of the "New Jersey Business Corporation Act," N.J.S.14A:1-1 et seq.: a. Except for sections 7 and 8 of P.L.2013, c.42 (C.14A:3-6.7 and 6.8), which must be expressly made applicable by the corporation's certificate of incorporation, the provisions of P.L.2013, c.42 (C.14A:3-6.1 et seq.) shall apply to actions brought in state or federal court both within and outside of the State of New Jersey; and b. The provisions of the corporation's certificate of incorporation may vary the applicability or effect of the provisions of P.L.2013, c.42 (C.14A:3-6.1 et seq.) on that corporation. L.2013, c.42, s.9; amended 2017, c.362, s.1.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026