C.R.S. Section 7-56-201
Articles of incorporation


(1)

A cooperative may be formed pursuant to this article for the transaction of any lawful business. One or more persons may act as the incorporator or incorporators of a cooperative by delivering articles for the cooperative to the secretary of state for filing pursuant to part 3 of article 90 of this title. An incorporator who is an individual shall be eighteen years of age or older.

(2)

The articles shall state:

(a)

The domestic entity name of the cooperative, which domestic entity name shall comply with part 6 of article 90 of this title;

(b)

The principal office address of the cooperative’s principal office;

(c)

The registered agent name and registered agent address of the cooperative’s initial registered agent;

(d)

Repealed.

(e)

If formed without common voting stock, whether the property rights and interests of each member are equal or unequal and, if unequal, the general rule or rules applicable to all members by which the property rights and interests of each member are determined and fixed; provisions for the admission of new members who are entitled to share in the property of the cooperative with the old members in accordance with such general rules; and whether the cooperative is authorized to issue one or more classes of preferred stock or other equity interests and, if so authorized, a statement as to the number of shares of stock of each class or other equity interests and the nature and extent of the preferences, limitations, relative rights, and privileges granted to each;

(f)

If formed with stock, the classes of shares and the number of shares of each class the cooperative is authorized to issue. The stock may be divided into preferred and common stock, voting and nonvoting stock, or into any other class of stock. If so divided, the articles must contain a statement as to the number of shares of stock in each class and the nature and extent of the preferences, limitations, relative rights, and privileges granted to each.

(g)

The true name and mailing address of each incorporator.

(3)

The articles may state:

(a)

A provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director as provided in this article;

(b)

A provision permitting proportional voting rights based solely upon the patronage of a member with the cooperative, the amount of equity held by the member in the cooperative, or some combination of these methods, as provided in section 7-56-305 (3);

(c)

The number and terms of the board of directors, which number shall be not less than three, together with the names and the street addresses of the initial directors. If the names of the initial directors are not stated in the articles, the initial board of directors shall be designated by the incorporator or incorporators following the delivery of the articles to the secretary of state for filing.

(d)

The purpose or purposes for which the cooperative is incorporated which may state any lawful business;

(e)

A par value for authorized shares of stock or classes of shares;

(f)

Provisions defining, limiting, and regulating the powers of the cooperative, its board, and its members;

(g)

Provisions limiting membership to producers of agricultural products;

(h)

A limitation on the handling of products or services for its own members only, or for members and nonmembers, and whether nonmembers are entitled to share in allocations of net margins or are subject to per unit retains;

(i)

Provisions for the removal for cause of any director by the members at any regular or special members’ meeting;

(j)

A provision eliminating or limiting the indemnification of directors, officers, employees, or agents of the cooperatives as otherwise provided in this article;

(k)

Any provision that under this article is required or permitted to be stated in the bylaws;

(l)

Any other provision not inconsistent with law.
(4)(Deleted by amendment, L. 2004, p. 1410, § 39, effective July 1, 2004.)(5) When incorporated, no member or shareholder as such shall be liable directly or indirectly, including by way of indemnification, contribution, or otherwise, under a judgment, decree, or order of a court, or in any other manner, for a debt, obligation, or liability of or chargeable to the cooperative.

(6)

A member does not have any vested property right resulting from any provision in the articles that may exist from time to time or at any time, including any provision relating to management, control, capital structure, dividend entitlement, purpose, or duration of the cooperative.

Source: Section 7-56-201 — Articles of incorporation, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-07.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

7‑56‑101
Short title
7‑56‑102
Legislative declaration
7‑56‑103
Definitions
7‑56‑104
Filings by the secretary of state
7‑56‑106
Periodic and other reports
7‑56‑107
Cooperative records
7‑56‑201
Articles of incorporation
7‑56‑202
Amendment of articles
7‑56‑203
Restated articles
7‑56‑204
Cooperatives desiring to relinquish provisions of this article
7‑56‑205
Entities formed under other law but subject to this article
7‑56‑208
Bylaws
7‑56‑209
Agricultural marketing cooperatives
7‑56‑210
Renewable energy cooperatives
7‑56‑301
Members
7‑56‑302
Member meetings - how called - notice
7‑56‑303
Members’ list for meeting
7‑56‑304
Quorum
7‑56‑305
Member voting
7‑56‑306
Reserves, distributions, and patronage refunds
7‑56‑307
Inspection of cooperative records by member
7‑56‑308
Scope of member’s inspection right
7‑56‑309
Court-ordered inspection
7‑56‑401
Directors - elections - remuneration - vacancy
7‑56‑402
Officers - titles - election - duties and authority - removal
7‑56‑403
Procedures for meetings of the board of directors
7‑56‑404
Removal of director by the membership or the board
7‑56‑405
Removal of director by judicial proceeding
7‑56‑406
Indemnification and personal liability of directors, officers, employees, and agents
7‑56‑407
Persons to be bonded
7‑56‑409
Registered agent - service of process
7‑56‑501
Powers
7‑56‑502
Marketing or purchasing contracts
7‑56‑503
Remedies for breach of marketing or purchasing contract
7‑56‑504
Inducing breach of marketing or purchasing contract
7‑56‑505
Purchases of property or other interests
7‑56‑506
Warehouse receipts - interest in warehouse entities
7‑56‑507
Application of other laws
7‑56‑508
Cooperatives not in restraint of trade
7‑56‑509
Exemption from securities laws
7‑56‑510
Renewable energy cooperatives - powers
7‑56‑601
Encumbering property
7‑56‑602
Merger, conversion, or consolidation or share or equity capital exchange
7‑56‑603
Procedure for consolidation, share or equity capital exchange, conversion, and merger
7‑56‑604
Merger of parent and subsidiary
7‑56‑604.5
Statement of merger or conversion
7‑56‑605
Statement of consolidation or share or equity capital exchange
7‑56‑606
Effect of merger, conversion, consolidation, or share or equity capital exchange
7‑56‑606.5
Merger with foreign entity
7‑56‑607
Consolidation or share or equity capital exchange with foreign business
7‑56‑608
Dissenters’ rights - definitions
7‑56‑609
Sale or other disposition of property without member approval
7‑56‑610
Sale or other disposition of property requiring member approval
7‑56‑701
Authorization of dissolution before issuance of memberships
7‑56‑702
Authorization of dissolution after issuance of memberships
7‑56‑703
Articles of dissolution
7‑56‑705
Effect of dissolution
7‑56‑714
Grounds for judicial dissolution
7‑56‑715
Procedure for judicial dissolution
7‑56‑716
Receivership or custodianship
7‑56‑717
Decree of dissolution
7‑56‑718
Certain assignments of assets in dissolution
7‑56‑801
Authority to transact business or conduct activities required
7‑56‑802
Registered agent - service of process
7‑56‑901
Application to existing cooperatives
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 7-56-201’s source at colorado​.gov