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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>71539</law_id><section_number>13.1-721</section_number><catch_line>Effect of merger or share exchange</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="13.1">Corporations</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="9">Virginia Stock Corporation Act</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="12">Mergers and Share Exchanges</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> When a <span class="dictionary">merger</span> becomes effective: <a id="paragraph-257863" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-721/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The <span class="dictionary">domestic</span> or <span class="dictionary">foreign corporation</span> or <span class="dictionary">eligible entity</span> that is designated in the plan of <span class="dictionary">merger</span> as the <span class="dictionary">survivor</span> continues or comes into existence as the case may be; <a id="paragraph-257864" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-721/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The separate existence of every <span class="dictionary">domestic</span> or <span class="dictionary">foreign corporation</span> or <span class="dictionary">eligible entity</span> that is merged into the <span class="dictionary">survivor</span> ceases; <a id="paragraph-257865" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-721/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> All property owned by, and every <span class="dictionary">contract</span> right possessed by, each <span class="dictionary">domestic</span> or <span class="dictionary">foreign corporation</span> or <span class="dictionary">eligible entity</span> that merges into the <span class="dictionary">survivor</span> is vested in the <span class="dictionary">survivor</span> without transfer, reversion or impairment; <a id="paragraph-257866" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-721/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> All debts, obligations, and liabilities of each <span class="dictionary">domestic</span> or <span class="dictionary">foreign corporation</span> or <span class="dictionary">eligible entity</span> that is merged into the <span class="dictionary">survivor</span> are debts, obligations, or liabilities of the <span class="dictionary">survivor</span>; <a id="paragraph-257867" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-721/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> The name of the <span class="dictionary">survivor</span> may, but need not be, substituted in any pending <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span> for the name of any <span class="dictionary">party</span> to the <span class="dictionary">merger</span> whose separate existence ceased in the <span class="dictionary">merger</span>; <a id="paragraph-257868" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-721/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> If the <span class="dictionary">survivor</span> is a <span class="dictionary">domestic corporation</span>, the <span class="dictionary">articles of incorporation</span> and bylaws of the <span class="dictionary">survivor</span> are amended to the extent provided in the plan of <span class="dictionary">merger</span>; <a id="paragraph-257869" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-721/#A6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> The <span class="dictionary">articles of incorporation</span> and bylaws of a <span class="dictionary">survivor</span> that is a <span class="dictionary">domestic corporation</span> created by the <span class="dictionary">merger</span> become effective; <a id="paragraph-257870" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-721/#A7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> The <span class="dictionary">shares</span> of each domestic or <span class="dictionary">foreign corporation</span> that is a <span class="dictionary">party</span> to the <span class="dictionary">merger</span>, and the <span class="dictionary">eligible interests</span> in a domestic or foreign <span class="dictionary">eligible entity</span> that is a <span class="dictionary">party</span> to the <span class="dictionary">merger</span>, that are to be converted under the plan of <span class="dictionary">merger</span> into <span class="dictionary">shares</span>, other securities, <span class="dictionary">eligible interests</span>, obligations, rights to acquire <span class="dictionary">shares</span>, other securities, or <span class="dictionary">eligible interests</span>, cash, other property or any combination of the foregoing, are converted, and the former holders of such <span class="dictionary">shares</span> or <span class="dictionary">eligible interests</span> are entitled only to the rights provided to them in the plan of <span class="dictionary">merger</span> or to any rights they may have under Article 15 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/13.1-729/">13.1-729</a> et seq.) or the <span class="dictionary">organic law</span> governing the <span class="dictionary">foreign corporation</span> or domestic or foreign <span class="dictionary">eligible entity</span>; <a id="paragraph-257871" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-721/#A8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A9" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> Except as provided by law or the plan of <span class="dictionary">merger</span>, all the rights, <span class="dictionary">privileges</span>, franchises, and immunities of each entity that was a <span class="dictionary">party</span> to the <span class="dictionary">merger</span>, other than the <span class="dictionary">survivor</span>, are the rights, <span class="dictionary">privileges</span>, franchises, and immunities of the <span class="dictionary">survivor</span>; and <a id="paragraph-257872" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-721/#A9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A10" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> If the <span class="dictionary">survivor</span> existed before the <span class="dictionary">merger</span>:
				a. All the property and <span class="dictionary">contract</span> rights of the <span class="dictionary">survivor</span> remain its property and <span class="dictionary">contract</span> rights without transfer, reversion, or impairment;
				b. The <span class="dictionary">survivor</span> remains subject to all its debts, obligations, and other liabilities; and
				c. Except as provided by law or the plan of <span class="dictionary">merger</span>, the <span class="dictionary">survivor</span> continues to hold all of its rights, <span class="dictionary">privileges</span>, franchises, and immunities. <a id="paragraph-257873" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-721/#A10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> When a <span class="dictionary">share exchange</span> becomes effective, the <span class="dictionary">shares</span> or <span class="dictionary">eligible interests</span> in the <span class="dictionary">acquired entity</span> that are to be exchanged for <span class="dictionary">shares</span> and other securities, <span class="dictionary">eligible interests</span>, obligations, rights to acquire <span class="dictionary">shares</span>, other securities, <span class="dictionary">eligible interests</span>, cash, other property, or any combination of the foregoing, are entitled only to the rights provided to them in the plan of <span class="dictionary">share exchange</span> or to any rights they may have under Article 15 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/13.1-729/">13.1-729</a> et seq.) or under the <span class="dictionary">organic law</span> governing the <span class="dictionary">acquired entity</span>. <a id="paragraph-257874" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-721/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Except as otherwise provided in the <span class="dictionary">articles of incorporation</span> of a <span class="dictionary">domestic corporation</span> or the <span class="dictionary">organic law</span> governing or <span class="dictionary">organic rules</span> of a <span class="dictionary">foreign corporation</span> or a domestic or foreign <span class="dictionary">eligible entity</span>, the effect of a <span class="dictionary">merger</span> or <span class="dictionary">share exchange</span> on <span class="dictionary">interest holder</span> liability is as follows: <a id="paragraph-257875" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-721/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> A <span class="dictionary">person</span> who becomes subject to a <span class="dictionary">new interest holder liability</span> in respect of an entity as a result of a <span class="dictionary">merger</span> or <span class="dictionary">share exchange</span> shall have that <span class="dictionary">new interest holder liability</span> only in respect of interest holder liabilities that arise after the <span class="dictionary">merger</span> or <span class="dictionary">share exchange</span> becomes effective. <a id="paragraph-257876" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-721/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> If a <span class="dictionary">person</span> had interest holder liability with respect to a <span class="dictionary">party</span> to the <span class="dictionary">merger</span> or the <span class="dictionary">acquired entity</span> before the <span class="dictionary">merger</span> or <span class="dictionary">share exchange</span> becomes effective with respect to <span class="dictionary">shares</span> or <span class="dictionary">eligible interests</span> of such <span class="dictionary">party</span> or <span class="dictionary">acquired entity</span> that were (i) exchanged in the <span class="dictionary">merger</span> or <span class="dictionary">share exchange</span>, (ii) were canceled in the <span class="dictionary">merger</span>, or (iii) the terms and conditions of which relating to interest holder liability were amended pursuant to the <span class="dictionary">merger</span>:
				a. The <span class="dictionary">merger</span> or <span class="dictionary">share exchange</span> does not discharge that prior interest holder liability with respect to any interest holder liabilities that arose before the <span class="dictionary">merger</span> or <span class="dictionary">share exchange</span> becomes effective.
				b. The provisions of the <span class="dictionary">organic law</span> governing any entity for which the <span class="dictionary">person</span> had that prior interest holder liability shall continue to apply to the collection or discharge of any interest holder liabilities preserved by subdivision C 2 a, as if the <span class="dictionary">merger</span> or <span class="dictionary">share exchange</span> had not occurred.
				c. The <span class="dictionary">person</span> shall have such rights of contribution from other <span class="dictionary">persons</span> as are provided by the <span class="dictionary">organic law</span> governing the entity for which the <span class="dictionary">person</span> had that prior interest holder liability with respect to any interest holder liabilities preserved by subdivision C 2 a, as if the <span class="dictionary">merger</span> or <span class="dictionary">share exchange</span> had not occurred.
				d. The <span class="dictionary">person</span> shall not, by reason of such prior interest holder liability, have interest holder liability with respect to any interest holder liabilities that arise after the <span class="dictionary">merger</span> or <span class="dictionary">share exchange</span> becomes effective. <a id="paragraph-257877" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-721/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> If a <span class="dictionary">person</span> has interest holder liability both before and after a <span class="dictionary">merger</span> becomes effective with unchanged terms and conditions with respect to the entity that is the <span class="dictionary">survivor</span> by reason of owning the same <span class="dictionary">shares</span> or <span class="dictionary">eligible interests</span> before and after the <span class="dictionary">merger</span> becomes effective, the <span class="dictionary">merger</span> has no effect on such interest holder liability. <a id="paragraph-257878" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-721/#C3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> A <span class="dictionary">share exchange</span> has no effect on interest holder liability related to <span class="dictionary">shares</span> or <span class="dictionary">eligible interests</span> of the <span class="dictionary">acquired entity</span> that were not exchanged in the <span class="dictionary">share exchange</span>. <a id="paragraph-257879" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-721/#C4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Upon a <span class="dictionary">merger</span> becoming effective, a <span class="dictionary">foreign corporation</span> or a foreign <span class="dictionary">eligible entity</span> that is the <span class="dictionary">survivor</span> of the <span class="dictionary">merger</span> is deemed to: <a id="paragraph-257880" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-721/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Appoint the clerk of the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> as its agent for <span class="dictionary">service of process</span> in any <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span> (i) to enforce the rights of <span class="dictionary">shareholders</span> of each <span class="dictionary">domestic corporation</span> that was a <span class="dictionary">party</span> to the <span class="dictionary">merger</span> who exercise appraisal rights or (ii) based on a <span class="dictionary">cause of action</span> against a nonsurviving <span class="dictionary">domestic corporation</span> arising during the time it was in existence under the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of the Commonwealth, which <span class="dictionary">service of process</span> shall be made on the clerk in accordance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Service of process on the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission as statutory agent" href="/12.1-19.1/">12.1-19.1</a>; and <a id="paragraph-257881" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-721/#D1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Agree that it will promptly pay the amount, if any, to which such <span class="dictionary">shareholders</span> are entitled under Article 15 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/13.1-729/">13.1-729</a> et seq.). <a id="paragraph-257882" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-721/#D2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> No corporation that is required by law to be a <span class="dictionary">domestic corporation</span>, may, by <span class="dictionary">merger</span>, cease to be a <span class="dictionary">domestic corporation</span>, but every such corporation, even though a corporation of some other <span class="dictionary">state</span>, the <span class="dictionary">United States</span> or another country, shall also be a <span class="dictionary">domestic corporation</span> of the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-257883" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-721/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> Except as provided in the <span class="dictionary">organic law</span> governing a <span class="dictionary">party to a merger</span> or in its <span class="dictionary">articles of incorporation</span> or <span class="dictionary">organic rules</span>, the merger does not give rise to any rights that a third party would have upon a dissolution, <span class="dictionary">liquidation</span>, or winding up of that party. The merger does not require a party to the merger to wind up the affairs of that party and does not constitute or cause its dissolution, termination, or cancellation. <a id="paragraph-257884" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-721/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> A bequest, devise, gift, grant, or promise contained in a will or other instrument of donation, subscription, or conveyance that is made to an entity that is a <span class="dictionary">party to a merger</span> that is not the <span class="dictionary">survivor</span> and that takes effect or remains payable after the merger inures to the <span class="dictionary">survivor</span>. <a id="paragraph-257885" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-721/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="H"><p><span class="prefix-number">H.</span> A trust obligation that would govern property if transferred to a nonsurviving entity applies to property that is transferred to the <span class="dictionary">survivor</span> after a merger becomes effective. <a id="paragraph-257886" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-721/#H"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 13.1-74; 1956, c. 428; 1962, c. 44; 1975, c. 500; 1985, c. 522; 2005, c. 765; 2019, c. 734; 2020, c. 1226.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
