Virginia Law

Article 11.1. Domestication.

As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Domesticated corporation" means the domesticating corporation as it continues in existence after a domestication.

"Domesticating corporation" means the domestic corporation that approves a plan of domestication pursuant to § 13.1-898.3 or the foreign corporation that approves a domestication pursuant to the organic law of the foreign corporation.

"Domestication" means a transaction pursuant to this article, including domestication of a foreign corporation as a domestic corporation or domestication of a domestic corporation in another jurisdiction, where the other jurisdiction authorizes such a transaction even if by another name.

2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 487.

A. By complying with the provisions of this article applicable to foreign corporations, a foreign corporation may become a domestic corporation if domestication is permitted by the organic law of the foreign corporation.

B. By complying with the provisions of this article, a domestic corporation not required by law to be a domestic corporation may become a foreign corporation pursuant to a plan of domestication, if the domestication is permitted by the organic law of the foreign corporation resulting from the domestication.

C. The plan of domestication shall include:

1. The jurisdiction of formation and name of the domesticating corporation;

2. The name and jurisdiction of formation of the domesticated corporation;

3. The manner and basis of reclassifying the membership interests and any rights to membership interests of the domesticating corporation into membership interests, eligible interests or other securities, obligations, rights to acquire membership interests, eligible interests or other securities, cash, other property, or any combination of the foregoing, if any;

4. If the domesticated corporation will be a domestic corporation, (i) the proposed amended and restated articles of incorporation of the domesticated corporation that satisfy the requirements of § 13.1-819, provided that provisions not required to be included in restated articles of incorporation may be omitted and (ii) the proposed bylaws of the domesticated corporation, which shall not be included with the articles of domestication delivered to the Commission for filing; and

5. The other terms and conditions of the domestication.

D. In addition to the requirements of subsection C, a plan of domestication may include any other provision not prohibited by law.

E. The terms of a plan of domestication may be made dependent upon facts objectively ascertainable outside the plan in accordance with subsection K of § 13.1-804.

2003, c. 374; 2007, c. 925; 2012, c. 130; 2026, cc. 393, 394.

A. A foreign corporation may become a domestic corporation if the laws of the jurisdiction in which the foreign corporation is incorporated authorize it to domesticate in another jurisdiction. The laws of the Commonwealth shall govern the effect of domesticating in the Commonwealth pursuant to this article.

B. A domestic corporation not required by law to be a domestic corporation may become a foreign corporation if the jurisdiction in which the corporation intends to domesticate allows for the domestication. Regardless of whether the laws of the foreign jurisdiction require the adoption of a plan of domestication, the domestication shall be approved in the manner provided in this article. The laws of the jurisdiction in which the corporation domesticates shall govern the effect of domesticating in that jurisdiction.

C. The plan of domestication shall set forth:

1. A statement of the jurisdiction in which the corporation is to be domesticated;

2. The terms and conditions of the domestication; and

3. For a foreign corporation that is to become a domestic corporation, as a referenced attachment, amended and restated articles of incorporation that comply with the requirements of § 13.1-819 as they will be in effect upon consummation of the domestication.

D. The plan of domestication may include any other provision relating to the domestication.

E. The plan of domestication may also include a provision that the board of directors may amend the plan at any time prior to issuance of the certificate of domestication or such other document required by the laws of the other jurisdiction to consummate the domestication. Where a plan of domestication is required to be submitted to the members for their approval, an amendment made subsequent to the submission of the plan to the members of the corporation shall not alter or change any of the terms or conditions of the plan if such alteration or change would adversely affect the members of any class of the corporation.

2003, c. 374; 2007, c. 925; 2012, c. 130.

A. When the members of a domestic corporation have voting rights, a plan of domestication shall be adopted in the following manner:

1. The board of directors of the corporation shall adopt the plan of domestication.

2. After adopting a plan of domestication, the board of directors shall submit the plan to the members for their approval. In submitting the plan of domestication to the members for approval, the board of directors shall recommend that the members approve the plan unless the board of directors determines that because of conflict of interests or other special circumstances it should not make such a recommendation, in which case the board of directors shall inform the members of the basis for that determination.

3. The board of directors may set conditions for approval of the plan of domestication by the members or the effectiveness of the plan of domestication.

4. If the approval of the members is to be sought at a members meeting, the corporation shall notify each member, regardless of whether or not entitled to vote, of the meeting of members at which the plan of domestication is to be submitted for approval. The notice shall state that the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting is to consider the plan of domestication and shall contain or be accompanied by a copy or summary of the plan. The notice shall include or be accompanied by a copy of the articles of incorporation and bylaws or other organic rules, as applicable, as they will be in effect immediately after the domestication.

5. Unless the articles of incorporation or bylaws provide otherwise, or the board of directors, acting pursuant to subdivision 3, requires a greater vote, approval of the plan of domestication requires (i) the approval of members entitled to vote on the plan at a meeting at which a quorum exists by more than two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the plan and (ii) except as provided in subdivision 6, the approval of each class of members entitled to vote on the plan voting as a separate voting group at the meeting at which a quorum of the voting group exists consisting of more than two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the plan by that voting group. The articles of incorporation or bylaws may provide for a greater or lesser vote than that provided for in this section so long as the vote provided for is not less than a majority of the votes cast on the plan by each voting group entitled to vote on the plan at a meeting at which a quorum of the voting group exists.

6. The articles of incorporation or the bylaws may expressly limit or eliminate the separate voting rights provided in clause (ii) of subdivision 5 as to any class of members, except when the articles of incorporation or the bylaws of the foreign corporation resulting from the domestication include what would be in effect an amendment that would entitle the class to vote as a separate group under § 13.1-887 if it were a proposed amendment of the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the domestic domesticating corporation.

7. If as a result of a domestication one or more members of a domestic domesticating corporation would become subject to interest holder liability, approval of the plan of domestication shall require the signing in connection with the domestication, by each such member, of a separate written consent to become subject to such interest holder liability, unless in the case of a member that already has interest holder liability with respect to the domesticating corporation, the terms and conditions of the interest holder liability with respect to the domesticated corporation are substantially identical to those of the existing interest holder liability, other than for changes that eliminate or reduce such interest holder liability.

B. When a domestic corporation has no members, or no members have voting rights, a plan of domestication shall be adopted by the board of directors.

2003, c. 374; 2007, c. 925; 2026, cc. 393, 394.

A. When the members of a domestic corporation have voting rights, a plan of domestication shall be adopted in the following manner:

1. The board of directors of the corporation shall adopt the plan of domestication.

2. After adopting a plan of domestication, the board of directors shall submit the plan of domestication for approval by the members.

3. For a plan of domestication to be approved:

a. The board of directors shall recommend the plan to the members unless the board of directors determines that because of conflict of interests or other special circumstances it should make no recommendation and communicates the basis for its determination to the members with the plan; and

b. The members shall approve the plan as provided in subdivision 6 of this subsection.

4. The board of directors may condition its submission of the plan of domestication to the members on any basis.

5. The corporation shall notify each member entitled to vote of the proposed members' meeting in accordance with § 13.1-842 at which the plan of domestication is to be submitted for approval. The notice shall state that a purpose of the meeting is to consider the plan and shall contain or be accompanied by a copy of the plan.

6. Unless this Act or the board of directors, acting pursuant to subdivision 4 of this subsection, requires a greater vote, the plan of domestication shall be approved by each voting group entitled to vote on the plan by more than two-thirds of all the votes entitled to be cast by that voting group. The articles of incorporation may provide for a greater or lesser vote than that provided for in this subdivision or a vote by separate voting groups so long as the vote provided for is not less than a majority of all the votes cast on the plan by each voting group entitled to vote on the plan at a meeting at which a quorum of the voting group exists.

7. Voting by a class of members as a separate voting group is required on a plan of domestication if the plan contains a provision that, if contained in a proposed amendment to articles of incorporation, would entitle the class to vote as a separate voting group on the proposed amendment under § 13.1-887.

B. When a domestic corporation has no members, or no members have voting rights, a plan of domestication shall be adopted at a meeting of the board of directors of such corporation upon receiving the vote of a majority of the directors in office.

2003, c. 374; 2007, c. 925.

A. After (i) a plan of domestication of a domestic corporation has been adopted and approved as required by this chapter or (ii) a foreign corporation that is the domesticating corporation has approved a domestication as required under its organic law, articles of domestication shall be signed in the name of the domesticating corporation. The articles shall set forth:

1. The name of the domesticating corporation and its jurisdiction of formation;

2. The original name, date of formation, jurisdiction of formation, and entity type of the domesticating corporation and its name, jurisdiction of formation, and entity type upon each subsequent domestication or conversion;

3. The plan of domestication;

4. If the domesticating corporation is a domestic corporation:

a. The date the plan of domestication was approved;

b. A statement that the plan of domestication was approved in accordance with this chapter;

c. A statement that the corporation revokes the authority of its registered agent to accept service on its behalf and appoints the clerk of the Commission as an agent for service of process in any proceeding based on a cause of action arising during the time it was incorporated in the Commonwealth;

d. A mailing address to which the clerk may mail a copy of any process served on the clerk under subdivision c; and

e. A commitment by the corporation to notify the clerk of the Commission in the future of any change in the mailing address of the corporation; and

5. If the domesticating corporation is a foreign corporation, a statement that the domestication is permitted by and was approved in accordance with the organic law of the foreign corporation.

B. The articles of domestication shall be delivered to the Commission for filing. If the Commission finds that the articles of domestication comply with the requirements of law and that all required fees have been paid, it shall issue a certificate of domestication.

C. If the domesticating corporation is a foreign corporation that has a certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth under Article 14 (§ 13.1-919 et seq.), its certificate of authority shall be deemed withdrawn automatically when the domestication becomes effective.

2003, c. 374; 2007, c. 925; 2012, c. 130; 2026, cc. 393, 394.

A. After the domestication of a foreign corporation is approved in the manner required by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the corporation is incorporated, the corporation shall file with the Commission articles of domestication setting forth:

1. The name of the corporation immediately prior to the filing of the articles of domestication and, if that name is unavailable for use in the Commonwealth or the corporation desires to change its name in connection with the domestication, a name that satisfies the requirements of § 13.1-829;

2. The plan of domestication;

3. The original jurisdiction of the corporation and the date the corporation was incorporated in that jurisdiction, and each subsequent jurisdiction and the date the corporation was domesticated in each such jurisdiction, if any, prior to the filing of the articles of domestication; and

4. A statement that the domestication is permitted by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the corporation is incorporated and that the corporation has complied with those laws in effecting the domestication.

B. If the Commission finds that the articles of domestication comply with the requirements of law and that all required fees have been paid, it shall issue a certificate of domestication.

C. The certificate of domestication shall become effective pursuant to § 13.1-806.

D. A foreign corporation's existence as a domestic corporation shall begin when the certificate of domestication is effective. Upon becoming effective, the certificate of domestication shall be conclusive evidence that all conditions precedent required to be performed by the foreign corporation have been complied with and that the corporation has been incorporated under this Act.

E. If the foreign corporation is authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth under Article 14 (§ 13.1-919 et seq.), its certificate of authority shall be canceled automatically on the effective date of the certificate of domestication issued by the Commission.

2003, c. 374; 2007, c. 925; 2012, c. 130.

A. A plan of domestication of a domestic corporation may be amended:

1. In the same manner as the plan was approved, if the plan does not provide for the manner in which it may be amended; or

2. In the manner provided in the plan, except that a member that was entitled to vote on or consent to approval of the plan is entitled to vote on or consent to any amendment of the plan that will change:

a. The amount or kind of membership interests or other securities, obligations, rights to acquire membership interests or other securities, cash, other property, or any combination of the foregoing, to be received by any of the members of the domesticating corporation under the plan;

b. The articles of incorporation or bylaws of the domesticated corporation that will be in effect immediately after the domestication becomes effective, except for changes that do not require approval of the members of the domesticated corporation under its organic law or its proposed articles of incorporation or bylaws as set forth in the plan; or

c. Any of the other terms or conditions of the plan, if the change would adversely affect the member in any material respect.

B. Unless otherwise provided in the plan of domestication, after the plan of domestication has been adopted and approved by a domestic corporation as required by this article, and at any time before the certificate of domestication has become effective, the plan may be abandoned by the corporation without action by its members in accordance with any procedures set forth in the plan or, if no such procedures are set forth in the plan, in the manner determined by the board of directors.

C. A domesticating corporation that is a foreign corporation may abandon its domestication to a domestic corporation in the manner prescribed by its organic law.

D. If a domestication is abandoned after the articles of domestication have been filed with the Commission but before the certificate of domestication has become effective, a statement of abandonment signed by the domesticating corporation shall be delivered to the Commission for filing prior to the effective time and date of the certificate of domestication. If the Commission finds that the statement of abandonment complies with the requirements of law, it shall issue a certificate of abandonment, effective as of the date and time the statement of abandonment was received by the Commission, and the domestication shall be deemed abandoned and shall not become effective.

E. The statement of abandonment shall contain:

1. The name of the domesticating corporation and its jurisdiction of formation;

2. When the domesticating corporation is a foreign corporation, the name of the domesticated corporation set forth in the articles of domestication;

3. The date on which the articles of domestication were filed with the Commission;

4 The date and time on which the Commission's certificate of domestication becomes effective; and

5 A statement that the domestication is being abandoned in accordance with this section or, when the domesticating corporation is a foreign corporation, a statement that the foreign corporation abandoned the domestication as required by law.

2003, c. 374; 2007, c. 925; 2015, c. 623; 2026, cc. 393, 394.

A. Whenever a domestic corporation has adopted and approved, in the manner required by this article, a plan of domestication providing for the corporation to be domesticated under the laws of another jurisdiction, the corporation shall file with the Commission articles of incorporation surrender setting forth:

1. The name of the corporation;

2. The jurisdiction in which the corporation is to be domesticated and the name of the corporation upon its domestication under the laws of that jurisdiction;

3. The plan of domestication;

4. A statement that the articles of incorporation surrender are being filed in connection with the domestication of the corporation as a foreign corporation to be incorporated under the laws of another jurisdiction and that the corporation is surrendering its charter under the laws of the Commonwealth;

5. Where the members of the corporation have voting rights, a statement:

a. That the plan was adopted by the unanimous consent of the members; or

b. That the plan was submitted to the members by the board of directors in accordance with this Act, and a statement of:

(1) The existence of a quorum of each voting group entitled to vote separately on the plan; and

(2) Either the total number of votes cast for and against the plan by each voting group entitled to vote separately on the plan or the total number of undisputed votes cast for the plan separately by each voting group and a statement that the number cast for the plan by each voting group was sufficient for approval by that voting group;

6. Where the corporation has no members, or no members having voting rights, then a statement of that fact, the date of the meeting of the board of directors at which the plan was adopted and a statement of the fact that such plan received the vote of a majority of the directors in office;

7. A statement that the corporation revokes the authority of its registered agent to accept service on its behalf and appoints the clerk of the Commission as its agent for service of process in any proceeding based on a cause of action arising during the time it was incorporated in the Commonwealth;

8. A mailing address to which the clerk may mail a copy of any process served on the clerk under subdivision 7; and

9. A commitment by the corporation to notify the clerk of the Commission in the future of any change in the mailing address of the corporation.

B. If the Commission finds that the articles of incorporation surrender comply with the requirements of law and that all required fees have been paid, it shall issue a certificate of incorporation surrender.

C. The corporation shall automatically cease to be a domestic corporation when the certificate of incorporation surrender becomes effective.

D. If the former domestic corporation intends to continue to transact business in the Commonwealth, then, within 30 days after the effective date of the certificate of incorporation surrender, it shall deliver to the Commission an application for a certificate of authority to transact business in the Commonwealth pursuant to § 13.1-921 together with a copy of its instrument of domestication and articles of incorporation and all amendments thereto, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State or other official having custody of corporate records in the state or country under whose laws it is incorporated or domesticated.

E. Service of process on the clerk of the Commission is service of process on a former domestic corporation that has surrendered its charter pursuant to this section. Service on the clerk shall be made in accordance with § 12.1-19.1 and service on the former domestic corporation may be made in any other manner permitted by law.

2003, c. 374; 2007, c. 925; 2015, c. 623.

A. When a domestication of a foreign corporation into a domestic corporation becomes effective:

1. All property owned by, and every contract right possessed by, the domesticating corporation are the property and contract rights of the domesticated corporation without transfer, reversion, or impairment;

2. All debts, obligations, and other liabilities of the domesticating corporation are the debts, obligations, and other liabilities of the domesticated corporation;

3. The name of the domesticated corporation may, but need not, be substituted for the name of the domesticating corporation in any pending proceeding;

4. The articles of incorporation and bylaws of the domesticated corporation become effective;

5. The membership interests of the domesticating corporation are reclassified into membership interests, eligible interests or other securities, obligations, rights to acquire membership interests, eligible interests or other securities, cash, or other property in accordance with the terms of the domestication, and the members of the domesticating corporation are entitled only to the rights provided to them by those terms and to any appraisal rights they may have under the organic law of the domesticating corporation; and

6. The domesticated corporation is:

a. Incorporated under and subject to the organic law of the domesticated corporation;

b. The same corporation without interruption as the domesticating corporation; and

c. Deemed to have been incorporated on the date the domesticating corporation was originally incorporated.

B. When a domestication of a domestic corporation into a foreign jurisdiction becomes effective, the domesticated corporation is deemed to appoint the clerk of the Commission as an agent for service of process in a proceeding to enforce the rights of members of each domestic corporation that is a party to the domestication.

C. Except as otherwise provided in the organic law or organic rules of a domesticating foreign corporation, the interest holder liability of a member in a foreign corporation that is domesticated into the Commonwealth who had interest holder liability in respect of such domesticating corporation before the domestication becomes effective shall be as follows:

1. The domestication does not discharge that prior interest holder liability with respect to any interest holder liabilities that arose before the domestication becomes effective.

2. The provisions of the organic law of the domesticating corporation shall continue to apply to the collection or discharge of any interest holder liabilities preserved by subdivision 1, as if the domestication had not occurred.

3. The member shall have such rights of contribution from other persons as are provided by the organic law of the domesticating corporation with respect to any interest holder liabilities preserved by subdivision 1, as if the domestication had not occurred.

4. The member 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 domestication becomes effective.

D. A member who becomes subject to interest holder liability in respect of the domesticated corporation as a result of the domestication shall have such interest holder liability only in respect of interest holder liabilities that arise after the domestication becomes effective.

E. A domestication does not constitute or cause the dissolution of the domesticating corporation.

F. A bequest, devise, gift, grant, or promise contained in a will or other instrument of donation, subscription, or conveyance that is made to the domesticating corporation and that takes effect or remains payable after the domestication inures to the domesticated corporation.

G. A trust obligation that would govern property if transferred to the domesticating corporation applies to property that is transferred to the domesticated corporation after the domestication takes effect.

2026, cc. 393, 394.

A. When a foreign corporation's certificate of domestication in the Commonwealth becomes effective, with respect to that corporation:

1. The title to all real estate and other property remains in the corporation without reversion or impairment;

2. The liabilities remain the liabilities of the corporation;

3. A proceeding pending may be continued by or against the corporation as if the domestication did not occur;

4. The articles of incorporation attached to the articles of domestication constitute the articles of incorporation of the corporation; and

5. The corporation is deemed to:

a. Be incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth for all purposes;

b. Be the same corporation as the corporation that existed under the laws of the jurisdiction or jurisdictions in which it was originally incorporated or formerly domiciled; and

c. Have been incorporated on the date it was originally incorporated or organized.

B. Any member or director of a foreign corporation that domesticates into the Commonwealth who, prior to the domestication, was liable for the liabilities or obligations of the corporation is not released from those liabilities or obligations by reason of the domestication.

2003, c. 374; 2007, c. 925; 2026, cc. 393 and 394, cl.2.

A. Unless otherwise provided in the plan of domestication, after a plan of domestication has been adopted and approved by a domestic corporation as required by this article, and at any time before the certificate of incorporation surrender has become effective, the plan may be abandoned by the corporation without action by its members in accordance with any procedures set forth in the plan or, if no such procedures are set forth in the plan, in the manner determined by the board of directors.

B. A domesticating corporation that is a foreign corporation may abandon its domestication to a domestic corporation in the manner prescribed by its organic law.

C. If a domestication is abandoned after articles of incorporation surrender or articles of domestication have been filed with the Commission but before the certificate of incorporation surrender or certificate of domestication has become effective, a statement of abandonment signed by the domesticating corporation shall be delivered to the Commission for filing prior to the effective time and date of the certificate of incorporation surrender or certificate of domestication. If the Commission finds that the statement of abandonment complies with the requirements of law, it shall issue a certificate of abandonment, effective as of the date and time the statement of abandonment was received by the Commission, and the domestication shall be deemed abandoned and shall not become effective.

D. The statement of abandonment shall contain:

1. The name of the domesticating corporation and its jurisdiction of formation;

2. When the domestication corporation is a foreign corporation, the name of the domesticated corporation set forth in the articles of domestication;

3. The date on which the articles of incorporation surrender or articles of domestication were filed with the Commission;

4. The date and time on which the Commission's certificate of incorporation surrender or certificate of domestication becomes effective; and

5. A statement that domestication is being abandoned in accordance with this section or, when the domesticating corporation is a foreign corporation, a statement that the foreign corporation abandoned the domestication as required by its organic law.

2003, c. 374; 2007, c. 925; 2015, c. 623; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 487; 2026, cc. 393 and 394, cl.2.