Nevada Revised Statute as applicable to dividends:
NRS 78.195 Issuance of more than one class or series of stock; rights of stockholders.
1. If a corporation desires to have more than one class or series of stock, the articles of incorporation must prescribe, or vest authority in the board of directors to prescribe, the classes, series and the number of each class or series of stock and the voting powers, designations, preferences, limitations, restrictions and relative rights of each class or series of stock. If more than one class or series of stock is authorized, the articles of incorporation or the resolution of the board of directors passed pursuant to a provision of the articles must prescribe a distinguishing designation for each class and series. The voting powers, designations, preferences, limitations, restrictions, relative rights and distinguishing designation of each class or series of stock must be described in the articles of incorporation or the resolution of the board of directors before the issuance of shares of that class or series.
2. All shares of a series must have voting powers, designations, preferences, limitations, restrictions and relative rights identical with those of other shares of the same series and, except to the extent otherwise provided in the description of the series, with those of other series of the same class.
3. Unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation, no stock issued as fully paid up may ever be assessed and the articles of incorporation must not be amended in this particular.
4. Any rate, condition or time for payment of distributions on any class or series of stock may be made dependent upon any fact or event which may be ascertained outside the articles of incorporation or the resolution providing for the distributions adopted by the board of directors if the manner in which a fact or event may operate upon the rate, condition or time of payment for the distributions is stated in the articles of incorporation or the resolution. As used in this subsection, “fact or event” includes, without limitation, the existence of a fact or occurrence of an event, including, without limitation, a determination or action by a person, the corporation itself or any government, governmental agency or political subdivision of a government.
5. The provisions of this section do not restrict the directors of a corporation from taking action to protect the interests of the corporation and its stockholders, including, but not limited to, adopting or signing plans, arrangements or instruments that grant or deny rights, privileges, power or authority to a holder or holders of a specified number of shares or percentage of share ownership or voting power.
1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2 and the articles of incorporation, a board of directors may authorize and the corporation may make distributions to its stockholders, including distributions on shares that are partially paid.
2. No distribution may be made if, after giving it effect:
(a) The corporation would not be able to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of business; or
(b) Except as otherwise specifically allowed by the articles of incorporation, the corporation’s total assets would be less than the sum of its total liabilities plus the amount that would be needed, if the corporation were to be dissolved at the time of distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of stockholders whose preferential rights are superior to those receiving the distribution.
3. The board of directors may base a determination that a distribution is not prohibited pursuant to subsection 2 on:
(a) Financial statements prepared on the basis of accounting practices that are reasonable in the circumstances;
(b) A fair valuation, including, but not limited to, unrealized appreciation and depreciation; or
(c) Any other method that is reasonable in the circumstances.
4. The effect of a distribution pursuant to subsection 2 must be measured:
(a) In the case of a distribution by purchase, redemption or other acquisition of the corporation’s shares, as of the earlier of:
(1) The date money or other property is transferred or debt incurred by the corporation; or
(2) The date upon which the stockholder ceases to be a stockholder with respect to the acquired shares.
(b) In the case of any other distribution of indebtedness, as of the date the indebtedness is distributed.
(c) In all other cases, as of:
(1) The date the distribution is authorized if the payment occurs within 120 days after the date of authorization; or
(2) The date the payment is made if it occurs more than 120 days after the date of authorization.
5. A corporation’s indebtedness to a stockholder incurred by reason of a distribution made in accordance with this section is at parity with the corporation’s indebtedness to its general unsecured creditors except to the extent subordinated by agreement.
6. Indebtedness of a corporation, including indebtedness issued as a distribution, is not considered a liability for purposes of determinations pursuant to subsection 2 if its terms provide that payment of principal and interest are made only if and to the extent that payment of a distribution to stockholders could then be made pursuant to this section. If the indebtedness is issued as a distribution, each payment of principal or interest must be treated as a distribution, the effect of which must be measured on the date the payment is actually made.
(Added to NRS by 1991, 1187; A 2001, 1369, 3199)
NRS 78.300 Liability of directors for unlawful distributions.
1. The directors of a corporation shall not make distributions to stockholders except as provided by this chapter.
2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3 and NRS 78.138, in case of any violation of the provisions of this section, the directors under whose administration the violation occurred are jointly and severally liable, at any time within 3 years after each violation, to the corporation, and, in the event of its dissolution or insolvency, to its creditors at the time of the violation, or any of them, to the lesser of the full amount of the distribution made or of any loss sustained by the corporation by reason of the distribution to stockholders.
3. The liability imposed pursuant to subsection 2 does not apply to a director who caused his or her dissent to be entered upon the minutes of the meeting of the directors at the time the action was taken or who was not present at the meeting and caused his or her dissent to be entered on learning of the action.
[75:177:1925; A 1931, 415; 1949, 158; 1943 NCL § 1674]—(NRS A 1987, 83; 1991, 1229; 2001, 3174)
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