Chapter 181

181.11004 181.11004 Reference to external facts. A plan may refer to facts ascertainable outside the plan if the manner in which the facts will operate upon the plan is specified in the plan. The facts may include the occurrence of an event or a determination or action by a person, whether or not the event, determination, or action is within the control of a party to the transaction.

181.11004 History History: 2021 a. 258.

181.1101 181.1101 Merger authorized.

181.1101(1) (1) One or more domestic corporations may merge with or into one or more other constituent entities pursuant to ss. 181.1101 to 181.11055 and a plan of merger if the plan of merger is approved as provided in s. 181.1103 and if the merger is permitted under the governing law of each other constituent entity and each constituent entity approves the plan of merger in the manner required by its governing law.

181.1101(2m) (2m) One or more other domestic or foreign entities may merge with or into a domestic corporation pursuant to ss. 181.1101 to 181.11055 and a plan of merger if the merger is permitted under the governing law of each constituent entity and each constituent entity approves the plan of merger in the manner required by its governing law.

181.1101 History History: 1997 a. 79; 2001 a. 44; 2021 a. 258.

181.1102 181.1102 Plan of merger.

181.1102(1) (1) A plan of merger must be in a record and contain all of the following:

181.1102(1)(a) (a) As to each constituent entity, its name, type of entity, and governing law.

181.1102(1)(b) (b) The terms and conditions of the merger.

181.1102(1)(c) (c) The manner and basis of converting the interests in each constituent entity into interests, securities, or obligations of the surviving entity, rights to acquire such interests or securities, money, other property, or any combination of the foregoing.

181.1102(1)(d) (d) If the surviving entity preexists the merger, any proposed amendments to its organizational documents that are to be in a record immediately after the merger becomes effective.

181.1102(1)(e) (e) If the surviving entity is to be created in the merger, any of its organizational documents that are to be in a record immediately after the merger becomes effective.

181.1102(1)(f) (f) Any other matters required under the governing law of any constituent entity.

181.1102(2) (2) In addition to the requirements of sub. (1), a plan of merger may contain any other provision relating to the merger and not prohibited by law.

181.1102(3) (3) This section does not limit the power of a corporation to acquire all or part of the interests of one or more classes or series of another constituent entity through a voluntary exchange or otherwise.

181.1102 History History: 2021 a. 258.

181.1103 181.1103 Approval of merger; amendment; abandonment.

181.1103(1m) (1m) Manner of approval of plan of merger.

181.1103(1m)(a) (a) In general. Subject to s. 181.1180, a plan of merger must be approved in the manner provided by this subsection by each domestic corporation that is a constituent entity.

181.1103(1m)(b) (b) Domestic corporations without members with voting rights. If the domestic corporation does not have members with voting rights, the plan of merger must be approved by a majority of the directors in office at the time the plan of merger is approved. In addition the domestic corporation shall provide notice of any board meeting at which such approval is to be obtained in accordance with s. 181.0822 (3). The notice must also state that the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting is to consider the proposed plan of merger.

181.1103(1m)(c) (c) Corporations with voting members. Unless this chapter, the articles of incorporation or the bylaws require a greater vote or voting by class, a plan of merger to be adopted by a domestic corporation with voting members shall be approved by all of the following:

181.1103(1m)(c)1. 1. Unless the articles of incorporation provide otherwise, the board.

181.1103(1m)(c)2. 2. The members with voting rights, by two-thirds of the votes cast or a majority of the voting power, whichever is less.

181.1103(1m)(c)3. 3. A 3rd person, in writing, whose approval is required by a provision of the articles of incorporation.

181.1103(1m)(d) (d) Notice requirements. If the board seeks to have the plan of merger approved by the members at a membership meeting, the domestic corporation shall give notice, to its members with voting rights, of the proposed membership meeting in accordance with s. 181.0705, except that the notice shall be given at least 20 days before the meeting date. The notice must also state that the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting is to consider the plan of merger and contain or be accompanied by a copy or summary of the plan. The copy or summary of the plan for members of the surviving domestic corporation shall include any provision that, if contained in a proposed amendment to the articles of incorporation or bylaws, would entitle members to vote on the provision. The copy or summary of the plan for members of the disappearing domestic corporation shall include a copy or summary of the articles of incorporation and bylaws that will be in effect immediately after the merger takes effect.

181.1103(1m)(e) (e) Written consents or ballots. If the board seeks to have the plan approved by the members by written consent or written ballot, the material soliciting the approval shall contain or be accompanied by a copy or summary of the plan. The copy or summary of the plan for members of the surviving domestic corporation shall include any provision that, if contained in a proposed amendment to the articles of incorporation or bylaws, would entitle members to vote on the provision. The copy or summary of the plan for members of the disappearing domestic corporation shall include a copy or summary of the articles of incorporation and bylaws that will be in effect immediately after the merger takes effect.

181.1103(1m)(f) (f) Class voting. Voting by a class of members is required on a plan of merger if the plan contains a provision that, if contained in a proposed amendment to articles of incorporation or bylaws, would require the class of members to vote as a class on the proposed amendment under s. 181.1004 or 181.1022. The plan is approved by a class of members by two-thirds of the votes cast by the class or a majority of the voting power of the class, whichever is less.

181.1103(1m)(g) (g) Abandonment of planned merger. After a merger is adopted, and at any time before articles of merger are filed, the planned merger may be abandoned, subject to any contractual rights, without further action by members or other persons who approved the plan, in accordance with the procedure set forth in the plan of merger or, if none is set forth, in the manner determined by the board or other similar governing body of any other business entity that is a party to the merger.

181.1103(2m) (2m) Amending or abandoning plan of merger. Subject to s. 181.1180 and the governing law of each constituent entity, after a plan of merger is approved, and at any time before a merger becomes effective, the constituent entities may amend the plan of merger or abandon the merger as provided in the plan of merger or, except as otherwise provided in the plan of merger, with the same vote or consent as was required to approve the plan of merger.

181.1103(3m) (3m) Statement of amendment or abandonment. If, after articles of merger have been delivered to the department for filing and before the merger becomes effective, the plan of merger is amended in a manner that requires an amendment to the articles of merger or if the merger is abandoned, a statement of amendment or abandonment, signed by a constituent entity, must be delivered to the department for filing before the merger becomes effective. When the statement of abandonment becomes effective, the merger is abandoned and does not become effective. The statement of amendment or abandonment must contain all of the following:

181.1103(3m)(a) (a) The name of each constituent entity.

181.1103(3m)(b) (b) The amendment to or the abandonment of the articles of merger.

181.1103(3m)(c) (c) A statement that the amendment or abandonment was approved in accordance with this section.

181.1103(4m) (4m) Additional approval of plan of merger. In addition to approval under sub. (1m), a plan of merger must be approved by each constituent entity that is not a domestic corporation in accordance with any requirements of its governing law.

181.1103 History History: 1997 a. 79; 2001 a. 44; 2021 a. 258.

181.11045 181.11045 Filings required for merger; effective date.

181.11045(1) (1) After a merger has been approved with respect to each constituent entity in accordance with its governing law, the constituent entities shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the department for filing articles of merger setting forth all of the following:

181.11045(1)(a) (a) The name, type of entity, and governing law of each constituent entity.

181.11045(1)(b) (b) The name, type of entity, and governing law of the surviving entity and, if the surviving entity is created by the merger, a statement to that effect.

181.11045(1)(c) (c) A statement that the plan of merger has been approved and adopted by each constituent entity in accordance with its governing law.

181.11045(1)(d) (d)

181.11045(1)(d)1. 1. If the surviving entity preexists the merger, any amendments to its organizational documents under s. 181.1102 (1) (d) that are to be in a public record under its governing law or, if there are no such amendments, a statement to that effect.

181.11045(1)(d)2. 2. If the surviving entity is to be created in the merger, any of its organizational documents under s. 181.1102 (1) (e) that are to be in a public record under its governing law.

181.11045(1)(e) (e) A statement that the plan of merger is on file at the principal office of the surviving entity.

181.11045(1)(f) (f) A statement that upon request the surviving entity will provide a copy of the plan of merger to any person that was an interest holder of a constituent entity.

181.11045(2) (2) In addition to the requirements of sub. (1), the articles of merger may contain any other provisions relating to the merger, as determined by the constituent entities in accordance with the plan of merger.

181.11045(3) (3) If the surviving entity is a foreign entity that will be required to register to do business in this state immediately after the merger and it has not previously registered to do so, it shall so register.

181.11045(4) (4) A merger takes effect at the effective date and time of the articles of merger.

181.11045 History History: 2021 a. 258.

181.11055 181.11055 Effect of merger.

181.11055(1) (1) When a merger becomes effective, all of the following apply:

181.11055(1)(a) (a) Each merging entity merges into the surviving entity, and the separate existence of every constituent entity that is a party to the merger, except the surviving entity, ceases.

181.11055(1)(am) (am)

181.11055(1)(am)1. 1. Except as provided in this paragraph, no interest holder shall have interest holder liability with respect to any of the constituent entities.

181.11055(1)(am)2. 2. If, under the governing law of a constituent entity, one or more of the interest holders thereof had interest holder liability prior to the merger with respect to the entity, such interest holder or holders shall continue to have such liability and any associated contribution or other rights to the extent provided in such governing law with respect to debts, obligations, and other liabilities of the entity that accrued during the period or periods in which such interest holder or holders had such interest holder liability.

181.11055(1)(am)3. 3. If, under the governing law of the surviving entity, one or more of the interest holders thereof will have interest holder liability after the merger with respect to the surviving entity, such interest holder or holders will have such liability and any associated contribution and other rights to the extent provided in such governing law with respect to the debts, obligations, and other liabilities of the surviving entity that accrue on or after the merger.

181.11055(1)(am)4. 4. This paragraph does not affect liability under any taxation laws.

181.11055(1)(b) (b) The title to all property owned by each constituent entity is vested in the surviving entity without transfer, reversion, or impairment.

181.11055(1)(c) (c) The surviving entity has all debts, obligations, and other liabilities of each constituent entity.

181.11055(1)(d) (d) A civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding pending by or against any constituent entity may be continued as if the merger did not occur, or the surviving entity may be substituted in the proceeding for a constituent entity whose existence ceased.

181.11055(1)(e) (e)

181.11055(1)(e)1. 1. If the surviving entity preexists the merger, its organizational documents are amended to the extent, if any, provided in the plan of merger and, to the extent such amendments are to be reflected in a public record, as provided in the articles of merger.

181.11055(1)(e)2. 2. If the surviving entity is created in the merger, its organizational documents are as provided in the plan of merger and, to the extent such organizational documents are to be reflected in a public record, as provided in the articles of merger.

181.11055(1)(f) (f) The interests of each constituent entity that are to be converted into interests, securities, or obligations of the surviving entity, rights to acquire such interests or securities, money, other property, or any combination of the foregoing, are converted as provided in the plan of merger, and the former interest holders of the interests are entitled only to the rights provided to them in the plan of merger or to their rights, if any, under ss. 178.1161, 179.1161, 180.1301 to 180.1331, 181.1180, and 183.1061, or otherwise under the governing law of the constituent entity. All other terms and conditions of the merger also take effect.

181.11055(1)(g) (g) Except as prohibited by other law or as otherwise provided in the articles and plan of merger, all of the rights, privileges, immunities, powers, and purposes of each constituent entity vest in the surviving entity.

181.11055(1)(h) (h) Except as otherwise provided in the articles and plan of merger, if a merging entity is a partnership, limited liability company, or other entity subject to dissolution under its governing law, the merger does not dissolve the merging entity for the purposes of its governing law.

181.11055(2) (2) 

181.11055(2)(a) (a) When a merger takes effect, the department is the agent of any foreign surviving entity for service of process in a proceeding to enforce any obligation or the rights of interest holders, in their capacity as such, of each domestic constituent entity.

181.11055(2)(b) (b) When a merger takes effect, any foreign surviving entity shall timely honor the rights and obligations of interest holders under this chapter with respect to each domestic corporation constituent entity.

181.11055(3) (3) When a merger takes effect, any foreign surviving entity may be served with process in this state for the collection and enforcement of any debts, obligations, or other liabilities of a domestic merging entity as provided in s. 181.1510.

181.11055 History History: 2021 a. 258.

181.11055 Annotation Successor liability under s. 181.1106 (3) [now sub. (1) (c)] does not change the identity of a past actor; it merely carries liability for the past actor’s actions forward to that actor’s successor. Likewise, dissolution by merger under s. 181.1106 (1) [now sub. (1) (a)] does not mean that the merged entity never existed, just that it ceases to exist upon merger. Shannon v. Mayo Clinic Health System - Northwest Wisconsin Region, Inc., 2021 WI App 49, 398 Wis. 2d 685, 963 N.W.2d 115, 20-1186.

181.1108 181.1108 Bequests, devises, and gifts. Any bequest, devise, gift, grant, or promise contained in a will or other instrument of donation, subscription, or conveyance, that is made to a constituent business entity and that takes effect or remains payable after the merger, inures to the surviving business entity unless the will or other instrument otherwise specifically provides.

181.1108 History History: 1997 a. 79; 2001 a. 44.

181.1131 181.1131 Interest exchange authorized.

181.1131(1) (1) A domestic corporation may acquire all of one or more classes or series of interests of another domestic or foreign entity pursuant to ss. 181.1131 to 181.1135 and a plan of interest exchange if the interest exchange is permitted under the governing law applicable to the corporation and the acquired entity.

181.1131(2) (2) All of one or more classes or series of interests of a domestic corporation may be acquired by another domestic or foreign entity pursuant to ss. 181.1131 to 181.1135 and a plan of interest exchange if the interest exchange is permitted under the governing law applicable to the acquiring entity and the corporation.

181.1131 History History: 2021 a. 258.

181.1132 181.1132 Plan of interest exchange.

181.1132(1) (1) The plan of interest exchange must be in a record and contain all of the following:

181.1132(1)(a) (a) As to both the acquiring entity and the acquired entity, its name, type of entity, and governing law.

181.1132(1)(b) (b) The terms and conditions of the interest exchange.

181.1132(1)(c) (c) The manner and basis of exchanging the interests to be acquired for interests, securities, or obligations of the surviving entity, rights to acquire such interests or securities, money, other property, or any combination of the foregoing.

181.1132(1)(d) (d) Any proposed amendments to the organizational documents of the acquiring or acquired entity that will take effect when the interest exchange becomes effective.

181.1132(1)(e) (e) Any other matters required under the governing law of the acquired or acquiring entity.

181.1132(1)(f) (f) A statement whether s. 181.1180 applies to the interest exchange.

181.1132(2) (2) In addition to the requirements of sub. (1), a plan of interest exchange may contain any other provision relating to the interest exchange and not prohibited by law.

181.1132 History History: 2021 a. 258.