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HRS §414-274

What happens when a business conversion takes effect

When a business changes its legal form, it keeps existing without a break. All its property, debts, and legal cases automatically transfer to the new form. Creditors' rights stay the same, and owners are only liable for old debts if they agreed, were already liable, or become liable under law.

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The statute, as written — Effect of conversion

When a conversion becomes effective: (1) The converting entity shall continue to exist without interruption, but in the organizational form of the converted entity; (2) All rights, title, and interest in all real estate and other property owned by the converting entity shall automatically be owned by the converted entity without reversion or impairment, subject to any existing liens or other encumbrances thereon; (3) All liabilities and obligations of the converting entity shall automatically be liabilities and obligations of the converted entity without impairment or diminution due to the conversion; (4) The rights of creditors of the converting entity shall continue against the converted entity and shall not be impaired or extinguished by the conversion; (5) Any action or proceeding pending by or against the converting entity may be continued by or against the converted entity without any need for substitution of parties; (6) The shares and other forms of ownership in the converting entity that are to be converted into shares, or other forms of ownership, in the converted entity as provided in the plan of conversion shall be converted, and if the converting entity is a domestic corporation, the former shareholders of the domestic corporation shall be entitled only to the rights provided in the plan of conversion or to the rights to dissent under section 414-342; (7) A shareholder, partner, member, or other owner of the converted entity shall be liable for the debts and obligations of the converting entity that existed before the conversion takes effect only to the extent that the shareholder, partner, member, or other owner: (A) Agreed in writing to be liable for the debts or obligations; (B) Was liable under applicable law prior to the effective date of the conversion, for the debts or obligations; or (C) Becomes liable under applicable law for existing debts and obligations of the converted entity by becoming a shareholder, partner, member, or other owner of the converted entity; (8) If the converted entity is a foreign corporation or other business entity incorporated, formed, or organized under a law other than the law of this State, the converted entity shall file with the director: (A) An agreement that the converted entity may be served with process in this State in any action or proceeding for the enforcement of any liability or obligation of the converting domestic corporation; (B) An irrevocable appointment of a resident of this State including the street address, as its agent to accept service of process in any such proceeding; and (C) An agreement for the enforcement, as provided in this chapter, of the right of any dissenting shareholder, partner, member, or other owner to receive payment for their interest against the converted entity; and (9) If the converting entity is a domestic corporation, part XIV shall apply as if the converted entity were the survivor of a merger with the converting entity.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

Sections this one refers to

§414-342 When shareholders can dissent and get paid

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.