Benefit Corporations.

Ala. Code tit. 10A, ch. 2A, art. 17

in effect

Ala. Code § 10A-2A-17.01 Application of Article 17; Definitions.

10A-2A-17.01. Application of Article 17; Definitions. (a) A corporation electing to become a benefit corporation under this article in the manner prescribed in this article is subject in all respects to the provisions of this chapter, except to the extent this article imposes additional or different requirements, in which case those requirements apply. The inclusion of a provision in this article does not imply that a contrary or different rule of law applies to a corporation that is not a benefit corporation. This article does not affect a statute or rule of law that applies to a corporation that is not a benefit corporation. (b) As used in this article: (1) BENEFIT CORPORATION means a corporation that includes in its certificate of incorporation a statement that the corporation is subject to this article. (2) PUBLIC BENEFIT means a positive effect, or reduction of negative effects, on one or more communities or categories of persons (other than stockholders solely in their capacity as stockholders) or on the environment, including effects of an artistic, charitable, economic, educational, cultural, literary, medical, religious, social, ecological, or scientific nature. (3) PUBLIC BENEFIT PROVISION means a provision in the certificate of incorporation which states that the corporation shall pursue one or more identified public benefits. (4) RESPONSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE MANNER means a manner that: (i) pursues through the business of the corporation the creation of a positive effect on society and the environment, taken as a whole, that is material taking into consideration the corporation’s size and the nature of its business; and (ii) considers, in addition to the interests of stockholders generally, the separate interests of stakeholders known to be affected by the conduct of the business of the corporation. (Act 2020-73, §8.)

Ala. Code § 10A-2A-17.02 Name; Stock Certificates.

10A-2A-17.02. Name; Stock Certificates. (a) The name of a benefit corporation must comply with Section 10A-1-5.04(e). (b) Any stock certificate issued by a benefit corporation, and any information statement delivered by a benefit corporation pursuant to Section 10A-2A-6.26(b), must note conspicuously that the corporation is a benefit corporation subject to this chapter. (Act 2020-73, §8.)

Ala. Code § 10A-2A-17.03 Certain Amendments and Transactions; Votes Required.

10A-2A-17.03. Certain Amendments and Transactions; Votes Required. (a) Unless the certificate of incorporation requires a greater vote, in addition to any other approval of stockholders required under this chapter, the approval of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast thereon, and, if any class or series of stock is entitled to vote as a separate group thereon, the approval of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by that voting group, shall be required for a corporation that is not a benefit corporation to: (1) amend its certificate of incorporation to include a statement that it is subject to this article; or (2)(i) merge with or into another entity, or effect a conversion, if, as a result of the merger or conversion, the stock of any voting group would become, or be converted into or exchanged for the right to receive, stock of a benefit corporation or stock or interests in an entity subject to provisions of organic law analogous to those in this article; provided, however, that in the case of this subsection (a)(2)(i), if the stock of one or more, but not all, voting groups are so affected, then only the stock in the voting groups so affected shall be entitled to cast votes under this subsection (a). (ii) enter into a stock exchange with another corporation or foreign corporation, if, as a result of the stock exchange, the stock of any voting group would become, or be converted into or exchanged for the right to receive, stock of a benefit corporation or a foreign benefit corporation subject to provisions of organic law analogous to those in this article; provided, however, that in the case of this subsection (a)(2)(ii), if the stock of one or more, but not all, voting groups are so affected, then only the stock in the voting groups so affected shall be entitled to cast votes under this subsection (a). (b) Unless the certificate of incorporation requires a greater vote, in addition to any other approval of stockholders required under this chapter, the approval of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast thereon, and, if any class or series of stock entitled to vote as a separate group thereon, the approval of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by that voting group, shall be required for a benefit corporation to: (1) amend its certificate of incorporation to eliminate a statement that the corporation is subject to this article; or (2)(i) merge with or into, another entity, or effect a conversion if, as a result of the merger or conversion, the stock of any voting group would become, or be converted into or exchanged for the right to receive, stock or interests in an entity that is neither a benefit corporation nor an entity subject to provisions of organic law analogous to those in this article; provided, however, that in the case of this subsection (b)(2)(i), if the stock of one or more, but not all, voting groups are so affected, then only the stock in the voting groups so affected shall be entitled to cast votes under this subsection (b). (ii) enter into a stock exchange with another corporation or foreign corporation if, as a result of the stock exchange, the stock of any voting group would become, or be converted into or exchanged for the right to receive, stock or interests in a corporation or foreign corporation that is neither a benefit corporation nor a foreign benefit corporation subject to provisions of organic law analogous to those in this article; provided, however, that in the case of this subsection (b)(2)(ii), if the stock of one or more, but not all, voting groups are so affected, then only the stock in the voting groups so affected shall be entitled to cast votes under this subsection (b). (Act 2020-73, §8.)

Ala. Code § 10A-2A-17.04 Duties of Directors.

10A-2A-17.04. Duties of Directors. (a) Each member of the board of directors of a benefit corporation, when discharging the duties of a director, shall act: (i) in a responsible and sustainable manner, and (ii) in a manner that pursues the public benefit or benefits identified in any public benefit provision. (b) In fulfilling the duties under subsection (a), a director shall consider, to the extent affected, in addition to the interests of stockholders generally, the separate interests of stakeholders known to be affected by the business of the corporation including: (1) the employees and work forces of the corporation, its subsidiaries, and its suppliers; (2) customers; (3) communities or society, including those of each community in which offices or facilities of the corporation, its subsidiaries, or its suppliers are located; and (4) the local and global environment. (c) A director of a benefit corporation shall not, by virtue of the duties imposed by subsections (a) and (b), owe any duty to a person other than the benefit corporation due to any interest of the person in the status of the corporation as a benefit corporation or in any public benefit provision. (d) Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, the violation by a director of the duties imposed by subsections (a) and (b) shall not constitute an intentional infliction of harm on the corporation or the stockholders for purposes of Section 10A-2A-2.02(b)(4) and (5). (Act 2020-73, §8.)

Ala. Code § 10A-2A-17.05 Annual Benefit Report.

10A-2A-17.05. Annual Benefit Report. (a) No less than annually, a benefit corporation shall prepare a benefit report addressing the efforts of the corporation during the preceding year to operate in a responsible and sustainable manner, to pursue any public benefit or benefits identified in any public benefit provision, and to consider the interests described in Section 10A-2A-17.04(b). The annual benefit report must include: (1) the objectives that the board of directors has established for the corporation to operate in a responsible and sustainable manner, to pursue the public benefit or benefits identified in any public benefit provision, and to consider the interests described in Section 10A-2A-17.04(b); (2) the standards the board of directors has adopted to measure the corporation’s progress in operating in a responsible and sustainable manner, in pursuing the public benefit or benefits identified in any public benefit provision, and in considering the interests described in Section 10A-2A-17.04(b); (3) if the certificate of incorporation or bylaws require that the corporation use an independent third-party standard in reporting on the corporation’s progress in operating in a responsible and sustainable manner, in pursuing the public benefit or benefits identified in any public benefit provision, or in considering the interests described in Section 10A-2A-17.04(b), or if the board of directors has chosen to use such a standard, the applicable standard so required or chosen; and (4) an assessment of the corporation’s success in meeting the objectives and standards identified in subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2) and, if applicable, subsection (a)(3), and the basis for that assessment. (b) The benefit corporation shall deliver to each stockholder, or make available and provide written notice to each stockholder of the availability of, the annual benefit report required by subsection (a) on or before the earlier of: (1) 120 days following the end of the fiscal year of the benefit corporation; or (2) the time that the benefit corporation delivers any other annual reports or annual financial statements to its stockholders. (c) Any stockholder that has not received or been given access to an annual benefit report within the time required by subsection (b) may make a written request that the corporation deliver or make available the annual benefit report to the stockholder. If a benefit corporation does not deliver or make available an annual benefit report to the stockholder within five business days of receiving such request, the requesting stockholder may apply to the designated court, and if none, to the circuit court of the county where the corporation’s principal office is located in this state, and if none in this state, the circuit court for the county in which the corporation’s most recent registered office is located for an order requiring delivery of or access to the annual benefit report. The court shall dispose of an action under this subsection (c) on an expedited basis. (d) A benefit corporation shall post all of its annual benefit reports on the public portion of its website, if any. If a benefit corporation does not have a website, the benefit corporation shall provide a copy of its most recent annual benefit report, without charge, to any person that requests a copy in writing. (Act 2020-73, §8.)

Ala. Code § 10A-2A-17.06 Rights of Action.

10A-2A-17.06. Rights of Action. (a) Except in a proceeding authorized under Section 10A-2A-17.05(c) or this section, no person other than the corporation, or a stockholder in the right of the corporation pursuant to subsection (b), may bring an action or assert a claim with respect to the violation of any duty applicable to a benefit corporation or any of its directors under this article. (b) Except for a proceeding brought under Section 10A-2A-17.05(c), a proceeding by a stockholder of a benefit corporation claiming violation of any duty applicable to a benefit corporation or any of its directors under this article: (1) must be brought in a derivative proceeding pursuant to Division D of Article 7 of this chapter; and (2) may be brought only by a stockholder of the benefit corporation that at the time of the act or omission complained of either individually, or together with other stockholders bringing such action collectively, owned directly or indirectly at least five percent of a class of the corporation’s outstanding stock or, in the case of a corporation with stock traded on an organized market as described in Section 10A-2A-13.02(b)(1)(i), either that percentage of shares of stock or shares of stock with a market value of at least $5 million at the time the proceeding is commenced. (c) A suit under subsection (b) may not be maintained if, during the pendency of the suit, the stockholder individually fails, or the stockholders collectively fail, to continue to own directly or indirectly the lesser of (i) the number of shares of stock at the time the proceeding is commenced, (ii) a number of shares of stock representing five percent of a class of the corporation’s stock, or (iii) a number of shares of stock with a market value of at least $5 million. (Act 2020-73, §8.)

Source: Alabama Legislature (alison.legislature.state.al.us)URL: https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabamaFetched: 10/20/2026