Chapter 185

185.034 History History: 1987 a. 13; 1993 a. 112; 2003 a. 139.

185.035 185.035 Mandatory indemnification.

185.035(1) (1) A cooperative shall indemnify a director or officer, to the extent he or she has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of a proceeding, for all reasonable expenses incurred in the proceeding if the director or officer was a party because he or she is a director or officer of the cooperative.

185.035(2) (2) 

185.035(2)(a) (a) In cases not included under sub. (1), a cooperative shall indemnify a director or officer against liability incurred by the director or officer in a proceeding to which the director or officer was a party because he or she is a director or officer of the cooperative, unless liability was incurred because the director or officer breached or failed to perform a duty he or she owes to the cooperative and the breach or failure to perform constitutes any of the following:

185.035(2)(a)1. 1. A willful failure to deal fairly with the cooperative, its members or stockholders in connection with a matter in which the director or officer has a material conflict of interest.

185.035(2)(a)2. 2. A violation of criminal law, unless the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was lawful or no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

185.035(2)(a)3. 3. A transaction from which the director or officer derived an improper personal profit.

185.035(2)(a)4. 4. Willful misconduct.

185.035(2)(b) (b) Determination of whether indemnification is required under this subsection shall be made under s. 185.036.

185.035(2)(c) (c) The termination of a proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of no contest or an equivalent plea, does not, by itself, create a presumption that indemnification of the director or officer is not required under this subsection.

185.035(3) (3) A director or officer who seeks indemnification under this section shall make a written request to the cooperative.

185.035(4) (4) Indemnification under this section is not required if the director or officer has previously received indemnification or allowance of expenses from any person, including the cooperative, in connection with the same proceeding.

185.035 History History: 1987 a. 13.

185.035 Annotation Cooperative indemnification. La Rowe and Weine. WBB Sept. 1988.

185.036 185.036 Determination of right to indemnification. Unless otherwise provided by the articles or bylaws or by written agreement between the director or officer and the cooperative, the director or officer seeking indemnification under s. 185.035 (2) shall select one of the following means for determining his or her right to indemnification:

185.036(1) (1) By majority vote of a quorum of the board consisting of directors not at the time parties to the same or related proceedings. If a quorum of disinterested directors cannot be obtained, by majority vote of a committee duly appointed by the board and consisting solely of 2 or more directors not at the time parties to the same or related proceedings. Directors who are parties to the same or related proceedings may participate in the designation of members of the committee.

185.036(2) (2) By independent legal counsel selected by a quorum of the board or its committee in the manner prescribed in sub. (1) or, if unable to obtain such a quorum or committee, by a majority vote of the full board, including directors who are parties to the same or related proceedings.

185.036(3) (3) By a panel of 3 arbitrators consisting of one arbitrator selected by those directors entitled under sub. (2) to select independent legal counsel, one arbitrator selected by the director or officer seeking indemnification and one arbitrator selected by the 2 arbitrators previously selected.

185.036(4) (4) By a majority vote of a quorum of the members. Members who are at the time parties to the same or related proceedings, whether as plaintiffs or defendants or in any other capacity, may not vote in making the determination.

185.036(5) (5) By a court under s. 185.039.

185.036(6) (6) By any other method provided for in any additional right to indemnification permitted under s. 185.038.

185.036 History History: 1987 a. 13.

185.037 185.037 Allowance of expenses as incurred. Upon written request by a director or officer who is a party to a proceeding, a cooperative may pay or reimburse his or her reasonable expenses as incurred if the director or officer provides the cooperative with all of the following:

185.037(1) (1) A written affirmation of his or her good faith belief that he or she has not breached or failed to perform his or her duties to the cooperative.

185.037(2) (2) A written undertaking, executed personally or on his or her behalf, to repay the allowance and, if required by the cooperative, to pay reasonable interest on the allowance to the extent that it is ultimately determined under s. 185.036 that indemnification under s. 185.035 (2) is not required and that indemnification is not ordered by a court under s. 185.039 (2) (b). The undertaking under this subsection shall be an unlimited general obligation of the director or officer and may be accepted without reference to his or her ability to repay the allowance. The undertaking may be secured or unsecured.

185.037 History History: 1987 a. 13.

185.038 185.038 Additional rights to indemnification and allowance of expenses.

185.038(1) (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), ss. 185.035 and 185.037 do not preclude any additional right to indemnification or allowance of expenses that a director or officer may have under any of the following:

185.038(1)(a) (a) The articles or bylaws.

185.038(1)(b) (b) A written agreement between the director or officer and the cooperative.

185.038(1)(c) (c) A resolution of the board.

185.038(1)(d) (d) A resolution, after notice, adopted by a majority vote of members who are entitled to vote.

185.038(2) (2) Regardless of the existence of an additional right under sub. (1), the cooperative may not indemnify a director or officer, or permit a director or officer to retain any allowance of expenses unless it is determined by or on behalf of the cooperative that the director or officer did not breach or fail to perform a duty he or she owes to the cooperative which constitutes conduct under s. 185.035 (2) (a) 1., 2., 3. or 4. A director or officer who is a party to the same or related proceeding for which indemnification or an allowance of expenses is sought may not participate in a determination under this subsection.

185.038(3) (3) Sections 185.034 to 185.042 do not affect a cooperative’s power to pay or reimburse expenses incurred by a director or officer in any of the following circumstances:

185.038(3)(a) (a) As a witness in a proceeding to which he or she is not a party.

185.038(3)(b) (b) As a plaintiff or petitioner in a proceeding because he or she is or was an employee, agent, director or officer of the cooperative.

185.038 History History: 1987 a. 13.

185.039 185.039 Court-ordered indemnification.

185.039(1) (1) Except as provided otherwise by written agreement between the director or officer and the cooperative, a director or officer who is a party to a proceeding may apply for indemnification to the court conducting the proceeding or to another court of competent jurisdiction. Application shall be made for an initial determination by the court under s. 185.036 (5) or for review by the court of an adverse determination under s. 185.036 (1), (2), (3), (4) or (6). After receipt of an application, the court shall give any notice it considers necessary.

185.039(2) (2) The court shall order indemnification if it determines any of the following:

185.039(2)(a) (a) That the director or officer is entitled to indemnification under s. 185.035 (1) or (2). If the court also determines that the cooperative unreasonably refused the director’s or officer’s request for indemnification, the court shall order the cooperative to pay the director’s or officer’s reasonable expenses incurred to obtain the court-ordered indemnification.

185.039(2)(b) (b) That the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all the relevant circumstances, regardless of whether indemnification is required under s. 185.035 (2).

185.039 History History: 1987 a. 13.

185.04 185.04 Indemnification and allowance of expenses of employees and agents. A cooperative may indemnify and allow reasonable expenses of an employee or agent who is not a director or officer to the extent provided by the articles or bylaws, by general or specific action of the board or by contract.

185.04 History History: 1987 a. 13.

185.041 185.041 Insurance. A cooperative may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of an individual who is an employee, agent, director or officer of the cooperative against liability asserted against and incurred by the individual in his or her capacity as an employee, agent, director or officer, or arising from his or her status as an employee, agent, director or officer, regardless of whether the cooperative is required or authorized to indemnify or allow expenses to the individual against the same liability under ss. 185.035, 185.037, 185.038 and 185.04.

185.041 History History: 1987 a. 13.

185.042 185.042 Indemnification and insurance against securities law claims.

185.042(1) (1) It is the public policy of this state to require or permit indemnification, allowance of expenses and insurance for any liability incurred in connection with a proceeding involving securities regulation described under sub. (2) to the extent required or permitted under ss. 185.034 to 185.041.

185.042(2) (2) Sections 185.034 to 185.041 apply, to the extent applicable to any other proceeding, to any proceeding involving a federal or state statute, rule or regulation regulating the offer, sale or purchase of securities, securities brokers or dealers, or investment companies or investment advisers.

185.042 History History: 1987 a. 13.

185.043 185.043 Incorporators.

185.043(1) (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), 5 or more adults, one of whom must be a resident, may form a cooperative by signing, acknowledging and filing articles.

185.043(2) (2) If the cooperative is formed for purposes of operating as a small winery cooperative wholesaler under s. 125.545, 3 or more individuals, at least one of whom must be a resident and all of which must be owners of small wineries certified by the division of alcohol beverages in the department of revenue under s. 125.545 (6) (a), may form a cooperative by signing, acknowledging, and filing articles. Membership in a cooperative formed under this subsection is limited to small wineries certified by the division of alcohol beverages under s. 125.545 (6) (a).

Effective date note NOTE: Sub. (2) is amended eff. 1-1-25 by 2023 Wis. Act 73 to read:

Effective date text (2) If the cooperative is formed for purposes of operating as a small cooperative wholesaler under s. 125.545, 3 or more individuals, at least one of whom must be a resident and all of which must be owners of small wineries or small manufacturers certified by the division of alcohol beverages in the department of revenue under s. 125.545 (6) (a), may form a cooperative by signing, acknowledging, and filing articles. Membership in a cooperative formed under this subsection is limited to small wineries or small manufacturers certified by the division of alcohol beverages under s. 125.545 (6) (a).

185.043 History History: 1981 c. 337; 1985 a. 30 s. 42; 1987 a. 13 s. 23; Stats. 1987 s. 185.043; 2007 a. 85; 2023 a. 73.

185.045 185.045 Reserved or registered name. Sections 180.0122 (1m) (c) to (i), 180.0402 and 180.0403 (2), (3), (3m) and (4) (b) apply to cooperatives, with the word “cooperative” substituted for the words “corporate” and “corporation”.

185.045 History History: 1985 a. 338; 1989 a. 303; 1993 a. 331; 2021 a. 258.

185.05 185.05 Articles.

185.05(1) (1) The articles shall set forth:

185.05(1)(a) (a) The name of the cooperative.

185.05(1)(b) (b) The period of existence, unless perpetual.

185.05(1)(c) (c) The purposes for which organized. It is sufficient to state that the cooperative may engage in any activity within the purposes for which cooperatives may be organized, and all such activities shall then be deemed within its purposes, subject to express limitations.

185.05(1)(d) (d) Whether the cooperative is organized with or without capital stock.

185.05(1)(e) (e) The designation of classes of members, if more than one.

185.05(1)(f) (f) The number and par value of shares of each authorized class of stock; if more than one class is authorized, the designation, preferences, limitations and relative rights of each class shall also be set forth.

185.05(1)(g) (g) Which classes of stock are membership stock.

185.05(1)(h) (h) As to each class of stock, the rate of dividend, or that the rate of dividend may be fixed by the board, or that no dividend will be paid. If the dividend on any class of stock is to be cumulative, this shall also be stated.

185.05(1)(i) (i) Any reservation of a right to acquire or recall any stock.

185.05(1)(j) (j) The basis of distribution of assets upon liquidation and, if changes in the basis of distribution are to be prohibited, a statement that this provision may not be changed and a reference to the restriction under s. 185.033.

185.05(1)(k) (k) The complete address, including street number, city, town or village, county and zip code of its principal office or the name and complete address, including street number, city, town or village, county and zip code of its registered agent.

185.05(1)(L) (L) The name and address of each incorporator.

185.05(1)(m) (m) The names and addresses of at least 5 incorporators who will act as the temporary board.

185.05(2) (2) It is not necessary to set forth in the articles any of the powers granted by this chapter. The articles may include additional provisions, consistent with law, including provisions which are required or permitted to be set forth in the bylaws. Any provision required or permitted in the bylaws has equal force and effect if stated in the articles. Whenever a provision of the articles is inconsistent with a bylaw, the articles control.

185.05(3) (3) The articles shall be filed and recorded as provided in s. 185.82. The legal existence of a cooperative begins when the articles are filed. Upon the filing of the articles, the department shall issue a certificate of incorporation. The department shall forward within 5 days a duplicate original of the articles to the register of deeds of the county of the cooperative’s principal office or registered agent for recording.

185.05(4) (4) The certificate of incorporation shall be conclusive evidence, except as against this state in a proceeding to cancel or revoke such certificate, that all conditions precedent to existence have been met.

185.05 History History: 1981 c. 337; 1985 a. 30 ss. 9, 10, 42; 1985 a. 274; 1995 a. 27.

185.05 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See s. 182.01 (3) for provision that certain corporate documents may not be filed with secretary of state unless they bear the drafter’s name.

185.06 185.06 Organization meetings.

185.06(1) (1) After articles have been filed, an organization meeting of the temporary board shall be held at the call of a majority of the incorporators or of a majority of the temporary directors for the adoption of bylaws, election of temporary officers, and transaction of other business.

185.06(2) (2) The first meeting of the members shall be called by the temporary president or a majority of the temporary directors. Such meeting shall be held as soon as reasonably possible after the organization meeting of the temporary board, but not later than 6 months after filing the articles. Failure to hold such meeting within the time specified does not affect the validity of organization.

185.06 History History: 1981 c. 337.

185.07 185.07 Bylaws.

185.07(1) (1) The initial bylaws may be adopted by the temporary board. Thereafter, except as provided in sub. (4), bylaws may be adopted and amended only by the members unless the members adopt a bylaw which permits the board to make and amend specified bylaws.

185.07(2) (2) Any bylaw adopted or amended by the board shall be reported at the next regular member meeting. Any such bylaw shall be at any time subject to amendment or repeal by the members.

185.07(3) (3) Unless the bylaws provide otherwise, any bylaw may be adopted, amended or repealed by a majority of the member votes cast at a meeting.

185.07(4) (4)