SUMMARY--Extends right of stockholder of "S" corporation to inspect records. (BDR 7-1855)
FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.
Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: No.
EXPLANATION - Matter in italics is new; matter in brackets [ ] is material to be omitted.
AN ACT relating to corporations; extending the rights of inspection enjoyed by certain stockholders under certain circumstances; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1 NRS 78.257 is hereby amended to read as follows:
78.2571. Any person who has been a stockholder of record of any corporation and owns not less than 15 percent of all of the issued and outstanding shares of the stock of such corporation or has been authorized in writing by the holders of at least 15 percent of all its issued and outstanding shares, upon at least 5 days' written demand, is entitled to inspect in person or by agent or attorney, during normal business hours, the books of account and all financial records of the corporation, to make extracts therefrom, and to conduct an audit of such records. Holders of voting trust certificates representing 15 percent of the issued and outstanding shares of the corporation shall be regarded as stockholders for the purpose of this subsection. The right of stockholders to inspect the corporate records [shall] may not be limited in the articles or bylaws of any corporation.
2. All costs for making extracts of records or conducting an audit [shall] must be borne by the person exercising his rights under subsection 1.
3. The rights authorized by subsection 1 may be denied to any stockholder upon his refusal to furnish the corporation an affidavit that such inspection, extracts or audit is not desired for any purpose not related to his interest in the corporation as a stockholder. Any stockholder or other person, exercising rights under subsection 1, who uses or attempts to use information, documents, records or other data obtained from the corporation, for any purpose not related to the stockholder's interest in the corporation as a stockholder, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
4. If any officer or agent of any corporation keeping records in this state willfully neglects or refuses to permit an inspection of the books of account and financial records upon demand by a person entitled to inspect them, or refuses to permit an audit to be conducted, as provided in subsection 1, the corporation shall forfeit to the state the sum of $100 for every day of such neglect or refusal, and the corporation, officer or agent thereof is jointly and severally liable to the person injured for all damages resulting to him.
5. A stockholder who brings an action or proceeding to enforce any right under this section or to recover damages resulting from its denial:
(a) Is entitled to costs and reasonable attorney's fees, if he prevails; or
(b) Is liable for such costs and fees, if he does not prevail,
in the action or proceeding.
6. [The] Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the provisions of this section do not apply to any corporation listed and traded on any recognized stock exchange nor do they apply to any corporation that furnishes to its stockholders a detailed, annual financial statement. A person who owns, or is authorized in writing by the owners of, at least 15 percent of the issued and outstanding shares of the stock of a corporation that has elected to be governed by subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code and whose shares are not listed or traded on any recognized stock exchange is entitled to inspect the books of the corporation pursuant to subsection 1 and has the rights, duties and liabilities provided in subsections 2 to 5, inclusive.