54-164. Merger or consolidation of domestic and foreign associations.

(a) One or more domestic associations organized under this Subchapter and one or more foreign corporations engaging in any activity such as is described in G.S. 54-132, and which is a nonprofit cooperative in the sense that the term "nonprofit" is used in G.S. 54-130, may be merged or consolidated into an association of this State or an association or corporation of another state if such merger or consolidation is permitted by the laws of the state under which each such foreign association or corporation is organized.

(b) Each domestic association shall comply with the provisions of this Article with respect to the merger or consolidation, as the case may be, of domestic associations, and each foreign association or corporation shall comply with the applicable provisions of the laws of the state under which it is organized.

(c) If the surviving or new association or corporation, as the case may be, is an association or corporation of any state other than this State, it shall comply with the provisions of this Subchapter with respect to foreign corporations if it is to transact business in this State; and if after the merger or consolidation it transacts no business in this State, the courts of this State shall have jurisdiction in actions to enforce any obligation of any constituent association of this State and process therein may be served as provided in G.S. 55-145.

(d) The effect of such merger or consolidation shall be the same as in the case of the merger or consolidation of domestic associations, if the surviving or new corporation is to be an association of this State. If the surviving or new association or corporation is to be an association or corporation of any state other than this State, the effect of such merger or consolidation shall be the same as in the case of the merger or consolidation of domestic associations except insofar as the laws of such other state provide otherwise.

(e) If the new or surviving association or corporation is not an association of this State, then notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this section:

(1) The rights of any member of any constituent association that is an association of this State to receive notice of objectors' rights, to file his objection, upon such objection to demand and receive payment of the fair market value of his stock or other property rights or interests in the association, or to avail himself of any equitable relief to which he would be entitled if the surviving or new association or corporation were an association of this State, shall not be impaired; and

(2) The courts of this State shall have jurisdiction in actions to enforce the aforesaid rights against the surviving or new association or corporation regardless of whether or not said association or corporation is otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of this State and in any such action service of process may be made in the manner provided in G.S. 55-145 that would be applicable if said association or corporation were transacting business in this State.