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| South Dakota Shareholder Law Resources |
| Resources >> Shareholder Law >>South Dakota |
I. Right to Inspect Books and Records
South Dakota shareholders are entitled to inspect and copy corporate books and records. S.D. Codified Laws § 47-1A-1602 (2010). To do so,
the shareholder must give the corporation written notice at least five days before the date the shareholder wishes to do the inspection. § 47-
1A-1602.
Records included in this right of inspection are: 1) excerpts of board meetings; 2) minutes of shareholder meetings;3) records of actions taken
by shareholders or directors without a meeting; 4) accounting records; and 5) the record of shareholders. § 47-1A-1602.1.
The shareholder’s demand to inspect must be made “in good faith and for a proper purpose.” § 47-1A-1602.2(1). In addition, the shareholder
must describe with “reasonable particularity” the reason for the inspection and what records the shareholder wishes to examine. § 47-1A-
1602.2(2). The records requested must be “directly connected” to the shareholder’s stated reason for inspection. § 47-1A-1602(3).
The shareholder’s right to inspect corporate books and records may not be limited by the articles or incorporation or corporate by-laws. § 47-
1A-1602.3.
The corporation has the right to charge a reasonable fee for providing copies to the shareholder of the requested records, but the fee may
not exceed the actual cost of providing the copies. § 47-1A-1603.
If the corporation denies the shareholder his right to inspect records are a demand has been properly made, the shareholder may petition the
circuit court located in the county of the corporation’s principal office. § 47-1A-1604. If the shareholder is forced to petition the court, the court
may order the corporation to pay the shareholder’s court costs, reasonable attorney’s fees, and costs to copy the records. § 47-1A-1604.2.
II. Shareholder Oppression
South Dakota shareholders in a close corporation may apply for judicial dissolution if the shareholder can show that the directors are acting “in
a manner that is illegal, oppressive, or fraudulent.” § 47-1A-1430.
South Dakota allows trial courts to grant relief for oppressed shareholders. Landstrom v. Shaver, 561 N.W.2d 1, 7 (S.D. 1997). Conduct that
substantially defeats the reasonable expectations held by minority shareholders” constitutes oppression according to South Dakota courts. Id.
citing In re Kemp & Beatley, Inc., 473 N.E.2d 1173, 1179 (N.Y. 1984). “Reasonable expectations” are more than “mere disappointment in
results.” Id. citing Matter of Wiedy’s Furniture Clearance Center, 108 A.D. 2d 81, 83 (N.Y. 1985). However, the shareholder’s reasonable
expectations will always be balanced against the corporation’s ability to exercise its “business judgment and run its business efficiently.” Id.
To determine whether a claim is direct or derivative, is whether “the injury to each stockholder is of the same character.” Id. at 12. The
shareholder must establish a “special injury” distinct from that suffered by other shareholders. Id. The shareholder bears the burden to prove
this special injury. Jepsen v. Peterson, 10 N.W.2d 749, 751 (S.D. 1943).
III. Derivative Suits
The rule in South Dakota is that a shareholder may not bring an action individually to redress injuries belonging to the corporation. To have
standing to bring a derivative suit, the shareholder must have been a shareholder at the time the act complained of occurred. § 47-1A-741.
The shareholder must also “fairly and adequately” represent the interests of the corporation in enforcing its interests. § 47-1A-741.
Before filing the derivative suit, the shareholder must first make a written demand on the corporation to take the desired action. The
corporation then has 90 days to take the requested action or reject the demand. § 47-1A-741. The shareholder cannot file suit before the
expiration of 90 days or the demand is rejected unless “irreparable injury to the corporation would result.” § 47-1A-741(2).
If the corporation begins an investigation into the shareholder’s allegations, the court may stay the proceedings. § 47-1A-743.
South Dakota shareholders are entitled to inspect and copy corporate books and records. S.D. Codified Laws § 47-1A-1602 (2010). To do so,
the shareholder must give the corporation written notice at least five days before the date the shareholder wishes to do the inspection. § 47-
1A-1602.
Records included in this right of inspection are: 1) excerpts of board meetings; 2) minutes of shareholder meetings;3) records of actions taken
by shareholders or directors without a meeting; 4) accounting records; and 5) the record of shareholders. § 47-1A-1602.1.
The shareholder’s demand to inspect must be made “in good faith and for a proper purpose.” § 47-1A-1602.2(1). In addition, the shareholder
must describe with “reasonable particularity” the reason for the inspection and what records the shareholder wishes to examine. § 47-1A-
1602.2(2). The records requested must be “directly connected” to the shareholder’s stated reason for inspection. § 47-1A-1602(3).
The shareholder’s right to inspect corporate books and records may not be limited by the articles or incorporation or corporate by-laws. § 47-
1A-1602.3.
The corporation has the right to charge a reasonable fee for providing copies to the shareholder of the requested records, but the fee may
not exceed the actual cost of providing the copies. § 47-1A-1603.
If the corporation denies the shareholder his right to inspect records are a demand has been properly made, the shareholder may petition the
circuit court located in the county of the corporation’s principal office. § 47-1A-1604. If the shareholder is forced to petition the court, the court
may order the corporation to pay the shareholder’s court costs, reasonable attorney’s fees, and costs to copy the records. § 47-1A-1604.2.
II. Shareholder Oppression
South Dakota shareholders in a close corporation may apply for judicial dissolution if the shareholder can show that the directors are acting “in
a manner that is illegal, oppressive, or fraudulent.” § 47-1A-1430.
South Dakota allows trial courts to grant relief for oppressed shareholders. Landstrom v. Shaver, 561 N.W.2d 1, 7 (S.D. 1997). Conduct that
substantially defeats the reasonable expectations held by minority shareholders” constitutes oppression according to South Dakota courts. Id.
citing In re Kemp & Beatley, Inc., 473 N.E.2d 1173, 1179 (N.Y. 1984). “Reasonable expectations” are more than “mere disappointment in
results.” Id. citing Matter of Wiedy’s Furniture Clearance Center, 108 A.D. 2d 81, 83 (N.Y. 1985). However, the shareholder’s reasonable
expectations will always be balanced against the corporation’s ability to exercise its “business judgment and run its business efficiently.” Id.
To determine whether a claim is direct or derivative, is whether “the injury to each stockholder is of the same character.” Id. at 12. The
shareholder must establish a “special injury” distinct from that suffered by other shareholders. Id. The shareholder bears the burden to prove
this special injury. Jepsen v. Peterson, 10 N.W.2d 749, 751 (S.D. 1943).
III. Derivative Suits
The rule in South Dakota is that a shareholder may not bring an action individually to redress injuries belonging to the corporation. To have
standing to bring a derivative suit, the shareholder must have been a shareholder at the time the act complained of occurred. § 47-1A-741.
The shareholder must also “fairly and adequately” represent the interests of the corporation in enforcing its interests. § 47-1A-741.
Before filing the derivative suit, the shareholder must first make a written demand on the corporation to take the desired action. The
corporation then has 90 days to take the requested action or reject the demand. § 47-1A-741. The shareholder cannot file suit before the
expiration of 90 days or the demand is rejected unless “irreparable injury to the corporation would result.” § 47-1A-741(2).
If the corporation begins an investigation into the shareholder’s allegations, the court may stay the proceedings. § 47-1A-743.