(1) A dissolved
corporation continues its corporate existence but may not carry
on any business except that appropriate to wind up and liquidate
its business and affairs, including:
(a) Collecting its assets;
(b) Disposing of its properties that will be applied toward
satisfaction or making reasonable provision for satisfaction of
its liabilities or will otherwise not be distributed in kind to
its shareholders, but in any case subject to applicable liens and
security interests as well as any applicable contractual
restrictions on the disposition of its properties;
(c) Satisfying or making reasonable provision for satisfying
its liabilities, in accordance with their priorities as
established by law, and on a pro rata basis within each class of
liabilities;
(d) Subject to the limitations imposed by RCW 23B.06.400,
distributing its remaining property among its shareholders
according to their interests; and
(e) Doing every other act necessary to wind up and liquidate
its business and affairs.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter,
dissolution of a corporation does not:
(a) Transfer title to the corporation's property;
(b) Prevent transfer of its shares or securities, although
the authorization to dissolve may provide for closing the
corporation's share transfer records;
(c) Subject its directors or officers to standards of
conduct different from those prescribed in chapter 23B.08 RCW;
(d) Change quorum or voting requirements for its board of
directors or shareholders; change provisions for selection,
resignation, or removal of its directors or officers or both; or
change provisions for amending its bylaws;
(e) Prevent commencement of a proceeding by or against the
corporation in its corporate name;
(f) Abate or suspend a proceeding pending by or against the
corporation on the effective date of dissolution; or
(g) Terminate the authority of the registered agent of the
corporation.
(3) A dissolved corporation's board of directors may make a
determination that reasonable provision for the satisfaction of
any liability, whether arising in tort or by contract, statute,
or otherwise, and whether matured or unmatured, contingent, or
conditional, has been made by means of a purchase of insurance
coverage, provision of security therefor, contractual assumption
thereof by a solvent person, or any other means, that the board
of directors determines is reasonably calculated to provide for
satisfaction of the reasonably estimated amount of such
liability. Upon making such a determination, the board of
directors shall, for purposes of determining whether a subsequent
distribution to shareholders is prohibited under RCW 23B.06.400(2), be entitled to treat such liability as fully
satisfied by the assets used or committed in order to make such
provision. In making determinations under RCW 23B.06.400(2), the
board of directors of a dissolved corporation may also disregard,
and make no provision for the satisfaction of, any liabilities
that are barred in accordance with RCW 23B.14.060(2), or that may
exceed any provision for their satisfaction ordered by a superior
court pursuant to RCW 23B.14.065, or that the board of directors
does not consider, based on the facts known to it, reasonably
likely to arise prior to expiration of the survival period
specified in RCW 23B.14.340.
(4) The board of directors of a dissolved corporation may at
any time petition to have the dissolution continued under court
supervision in accordance with RCW 23B.14.300, or, upon a finding
that the corporation is not able to pay its liabilities as they
become due in the usual course of business or that its assets are
less than the sum of its total liabilities, may dedicate the
corporation's assets to the repayment of its creditors by making
an assignment for the benefit of creditors in accordance with
chapter 7.08 RCW or obtaining the appointment of a general
receiver in accordance with chapter 7.60 RCW. The assumption of
control over the corporation's assets by a court, an assignee for
the benefit of creditors, or a general receiver relieves the
directors of any further duties with respect to the liquidation
of the corporation's assets or the application of any assets or
proceeds toward satisfaction of its liabilities.
(5) Actions and decisions to be taken by a corporation that
has been dissolved under RCW 23B.14.030 or 23B.14.210, which are
within the scope of activities permitted in this chapter, may be
taken by the corporation's board of directors and, if required,
by its shareholders, membership in both groups determined as of
the effective date of the dissolution. If vacancies in the board
of directors occur after the effective date of dissolution, the
shareholders, or the remaining directors, even if less than a
quorum of the board, may fill the vacancies. A special meeting
of the shareholders for purposes of authorizing any action
required or permitted to be authorized by shareholders, or for
purposes of electing directors, may be called by any person who
was an officer, director, or shareholder of the corporation at
the effective date of the dissolution.
[2006 c 52 § 8; 1989 c 165 § 158.]