607.1602 Inspection of records by shareholders. - Florida Statutes

607.1602 Inspection of records by shareholders.

   (1) A shareholder of a corporation is entitled to inspect and copy, during regular business hours at the corporation’s principal office, any of the records of the corporation described in s. 607.1601(5) if the shareholder gives the corporation written notice of his or her demand at least 5 business days before the date on which he or she wishes to inspect and copy.

   (2) A shareholder of a corporation is entitled to inspect and copy, during regular business hours at a reasonable location specified by the corporation, any of the following records of the corporation if the shareholder meets the requirements of subsection (3) and gives the corporation written notice of his or her demand at least 5 business days before the date on which he or she wishes to inspect and copy:

   (a) Excerpts from minutes of any meeting of the board of directors, records of any action of a committee of the board of directors while acting in place of the board of directors on behalf of the corporation, minutes of any meeting of the shareholders, and records of action taken by the shareholders or board of directors without a meeting, to the extent not subject to inspection under subsection (1);

   (b) Accounting records of the corporation;

   (c) The record of shareholders; and

   (d) Any other books and records.

   (3) A shareholder may inspect and copy the records described in subsection (2) only if:

   (a) The shareholder’s demand is made in good faith and for a proper purpose;

   (b) The shareholder describes with reasonable particularity his or her purpose and the records he or she desires to inspect; and

   (c) The records are directly connected with the shareholder’s purpose.

   (4) A shareholder of a Florida corporation, or a shareholder of a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this state who resides in this state, is entitled to inspect and copy, during regular business hours at a reasonable location in this state specified by the corporation, a copy of the records of the corporation described in s. 607.1601(5)(b) and (f), if the shareholder gives the corporation written notice of his or her demand at least 15 business days before the date on which he or she wishes to inspect and copy.

   (5) This section does not affect:

   (a) The right of a shareholder to inspect and copy records under s. 607.0720 or, if the shareholder is in litigation with the corporation, to the same extent as any other litigant;

   (b) The power of a court, independently of this act, to compel the production of corporate records for examination.

   (6) A corporation may deny any demand for inspection made pursuant to subsection (2) if the demand was made for an improper purpose, or if the demanding shareholder has within 2 years preceding his or her demand sold or offered for sale any list of shareholders of the corporation or any other corporation, has aided or abetted any person in procuring any list of shareholders for any such purpose, or has improperly used any information secured through any prior examination of the records of the corporation or any other corporation.

   (7) A shareholder may not sell or otherwise distribute any information or records inspected under this section, except to the extent that such use is for a proper purpose as defined in subsection (3). Any person who violates this provision shall be subject to a civil penalty of $5,000.

   (8) For purposes of this section, the term “shareholder” includes a beneficial owner whose shares are held in a voting trust or by a nominee on his or her behalf.

   (9) For purposes of this section, a “proper purpose” means a purpose reasonably related to such person’s interest as a shareholder.

History. s. 151, ch. 89-154; s. 12, ch. 94-327; s. 42, ch. 97-102.