Wisconsin Legislature: 44,23

(4) The department may waive any of the requirements of subs. (1) to (3) subs. (1r) to (3) if it appears from the face of the document that the document's failure to satisfy the requirement is immaterial.

44,13 Section 13. 178.48 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

178.48 (1) (intro.) The Except as provided under sub. (4), the department shall collect the following fees when the documents described under this subsection are delivered to the department for filing:

44,14 Section 14. 178.48 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

178.48 (4) The department, by rule, may specify a larger fee for filing documents described in sub. (1) in paper format.

44,15 Section 15. 178.51 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

178.51 (1) Upon receipt of a document by the department for filing, the department shall stamp or otherwise endorse the date and time of receipt on the original document copy and, upon request, any additional document copy received. The department shall return any additional document copy to the person delivering it, as confirmation of the date and time of receipt.

44,16 Section 16. 179.03 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

179.03 (2) The Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the reservation shall be made by filing with the department an application executed by the applicant to reserve a specified name together with a fee of $10, or such larger amount as the department requires by rule, if the application is filed in paper format. The reservation may be made by making a telephone application to reserve a specified name. The fee for a telephone application to reserve a specified name for 60 days is $20. If the department finds that the name is available for use by a domestic limited partnership or foreign limited partnership, the department shall reserve the name for the exclusive use of the applicant for a period of 60 days. The department shall cancel the telephone application to reserve a specified name if the department does not receive the proper fee within 15 business days after the application. Once having reserved a name, the same applicant may not again reserve the same name until more than 60 days after the expiration of the last 60-day period for which that applicant reserved that name. The Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the right to the exclusive use of a reserved name may be transferred to any other person by filing with the department, together with a fee of $10, a notice of the transfer executed by the applicant for whom the name was reserved and specifying the name and address of the transferee. The department may, by rule, specify a larger fee for filing a notice of transfer in paper format.

44,17 Section 17. 179.04 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

179.04 (1) (b) An agent for service of process on the limited partnership, which agent must be an individual resident of this state, a domestic corporation, nonstock corporation, limited partnership, registered limited liability partnership, or limited liability company, or a foreign corporation, nonstock corporation, limited partnership, registered limited liability partnership, or limited liability company authorized to do business in this state, whose business office is identical with the registered office.

44,18 Section 18. 179.045 of the statutes is created to read:

179.045 Resignation of agent for service of process. (1) An agent for service of process may resign by executing and filing with the department a statement, in duplicate, containing all of the following information, as applicable:

(a) The name of the domestic or foreign limited partnership for which the agent is acting.

(b) The name and current street address of the agent.

(c) If the agent is acting for a domestic limited partnership, the address of the domestic limited partnership's record office.

(d) If the agent is acting for a foreign limited partnership, the address of the foreign limited partnership's office in its state of organization.

(e) A statement that the agent resigns.

(2) The department shall note on one of the duplicates filed under sub. (1) the date of filing and shall mail that duplicate to the limited partnership at the address provided under sub. (1) (c) or (d).

(3) A resignation under this section is effective on the earlier of the following:

(a) Thirty days after the date on which the statement is filed under sub. (1).

(b) The date on which the appointment of a successor agent is effective.

44,19 Section 19. 179.11 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

179.11 (1) (intro.) To form a limited partnership, a certificate of limited partnership must be executed and filed with the department. The certificate shall be filed together with a fee of $70 and, except that the department, by rule, may specify a larger fee for certificates that are filed in paper format. Each certificate shall contain all of the following information:

44,20 Section 20. 179.12 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

179.12 (1) (intro.) A Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a certificate of limited partnership is amended by filing a certificate of amendment with the department, together with a fee of $25. The department, by rule, may specify a larger fee for certificates that are filed in paper format. No fee may be collected for filing a certificate of amendment to reflect only a change in the name of a registered agent. The certificate of amendment shall specify all of the following:

44,21 Section 21. 179.13 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

179.13 Cancellation of certificate. (intro.) A certificate of limited partnership shall be canceled upon the dissolution and the commencement of winding up of the limited partnership or at any other time that there are no limited partners. A certificate of cancellation shall be filed together with a fee of $10 with the department and , except that the department, by rule, may specify a larger fee for certificates that are filed in paper format. Each certificate shall specify all of the following:

44,22 Section 22. 179.14 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 179.14 (1r).

44,23 Section 23. 179.14 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:

179.14 (1g) In this section:

(a) "Electronic" has the meaning given in s. 179.16 (1g) (b).

(b) "Electronic signature" means an electronic sound, symbol, or process, attached to or logically associated with a writing and executed or adopted by a person with intent to authenticate the writing.

(c) "Sign" means to execute or adopt a manual, facsimile, conformed, or electronic signature or any symbol with intent to authenticate a writing.

44,24 Section 24. 179.16 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 179.16 (1r).

44,25 Section 25. 179.16 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:

179.16 (1g) In this section:

(a) "Deliver" means deliver by hand, mail, commercial delivery service, electronic transmission, or any other method of delivery used in conventional commercial practice.

(b) "Electronic" means relating to technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities.

44,26 Section 26. 179.185 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

179.185 (1) A limited partnership may integrate into a single instrument the operative provisions of its certificate of limited partnership, as shown by the original certificate and amendments filed under this subchapter, and it may at the same time also further amend its certificate of limited partnership by adopting a restated certificate of limited partnership. The restated certificate shall be filed together with a fee of $25 with the department, except that the department, by rule, may specify a larger fee for certificates that are filed in paper format.

44,27 Section 27. 179.24 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

179.24 (1) (b) Withdraws from future equity participation in the enterprise by executing and filing with the department, together with a $15 filing fee, a certificate declaring withdrawal under this paragraph, except that the department, by rule, may specify a larger fee for certificates that are filed in paper format.

44,28 Section 28. Subchapter VIII (title) of chapter 179 [precedes 179.70] of the statutes is amended to read:

Chapter 179

Subchapter VIIi
DISSOLUTION; conversion; merger

44,29 Section 29. 179.70 of the statutes is created to read:

179.70 Definitions. In this subchapter:

(1) "Business entity" means a domestic business entity and a foreign business entity.

(2) "Domestic business entity" means a corporation, as defined in s. 180.0103 (5), a limited liability company, as defined in s. 183.0102 (10), a limited partnership, or a corporation, as defined in s. 181.0103 (5).

(3) "Foreign business entity" means a foreign limited liability company, as defined in s. 183.0102 (8), a foreign limited partnership, a foreign corporation, as defined in s. 180.0103 (9), or a foreign corporation, as defined in s. 181.0103 (13).

44,30 Section 30. 179.76 of the statutes is created to read:

179.76 Conversion. (1) A domestic limited partnership may convert to another form of business entity if it satisfies the requirements under this section and if the conversion is permitted under the applicable law of the jurisdiction that governs the organization of the business entity into which the domestic limited partnership is converting.

(2) (a) A business entity other than a domestic limited partnership may convert to a domestic limited partnership if it satisfies the requirements under this section and if the conversion is permitted under the applicable law of the jurisdiction that governs the business entity.

(b) A business entity converting into a domestic limited partnership shall comply with the procedures that govern the submission and approval of a plan of conversion of the jurisdiction that governs the business entity.

(3) A plan of conversion shall set forth all of the following:

(a) The name, form of business entity, and the identity of the jurisdiction governing the business entity that is to be converted.

(b) The name, form of business entity, and the identity of the jurisdiction that will govern the business entity after conversion.

(d) The manner and basis of converting the shares or other ownership interests of the business entity that is to be converted into the shares or other ownership interests of the new form of business entity.

(e) The effective date and time of the conversion, if the conversion is to be effective other than at the time of filing the certificate of conversion, as provided under s. 179.11 (2) or otherwise.

(f) A copy of the articles of incorporation, articles of organization, certificate of limited partnership, or other similar governing document of the business entity after conversion.

(g) Other provisions relating to the conversion, as determined by the business entity.

(4) When a conversion is effective, all of the following apply:

(a) 1. Except with respect to taxation laws of each jurisdiction that are applicable upon the conversion of the business entity, the business entity that is converted is no longer subject to the applicable law of the jurisdiction that governed the organization of the prior form of business entity and is subject to the applicable law of the jurisdiction that governs the new form of business entity.

2. If the conversion is from or to a business entity under the laws applicable to which one or more of the owners thereof is liable for the debts and obligations of such business entity, such owner or owners shall continue to be or become so liable for debts and obligations of such business entity, but only for such debts and obligations accrued during the period or periods in which such laws are applicable to such owner or owners. This subdivision does not affect liability under any taxation laws.

(b) The business entity continues to have all liabilities of the business entity that was converted.

(c) The business entity continues to be vested with title to all property owned by the business entity that was converted without reversion or impairment, provided that, if the converting business entity has an interest in real estate in Wisconsin on the date of the conversion, the converting business entity shall transfer that interest to the business entity surviving the conversion and shall execute any real estate transfer return required under s. 77.22. The business entity surviving the conversion shall promptly record the instrument of conveyance under s. 59.43 in the office of the register of deeds for each county in which the real estate is located.

(d) The articles of incorporation, articles of organization, certificate of limited partnership, or other similar governing document, whichever is applicable, of the business entity are as provided in the plan of conversion.

(e) All other provisions of the plan of conversion apply.

(5) Except as provided under sub. (7), after a plan of conversion is submitted and approved, the business entity that is to be converted shall deliver to the department for filing a certificate of conversion that includes all of the following together with a fee of $150:

(a) The plan of conversion.

(b) A statement that the plan of conversion was approved in accordance with the applicable law of the jurisdiction that governs the organization of the business entity.

(c) The registered agent and registered office, record agent and record office, or other similar agent and office of the business entity before and after conversion.

(6) Any civil, criminal, administrative, or investigatory proceeding that is pending by or against a business entity that is converted may be continued by or against the business entity after the effective date of conversion.

(7) The department, by rule, may specify a larger fee for filing a certificate of conversion under sub. (5) in paper format.

44,31 Section 31. 179.77 of the statutes is created to read:

179.77 Merger. (1) One or more domestic limited partnerships may merge with or into one or more other business entities if the merger is permitted under the applicable laws of the jurisdiction that governs each other business entity that is a party to the merger and each business entity approves the plan of merger in the manner required by the laws applicable to the business entity.

(2) The plan of merger shall set forth all of the following:

(a) The name, form of business entity, and identity of the jurisdiction governing each business entity that is a party to the merger and the name, form of business entity, and identity of the jurisdiction of the surviving business entity with, or into, which each other business entity proposes to merge.

(b) The manner and basis of converting the interests in each business entity that is a party to the merger into shares, interests obligations, or other securities of the surviving business entity or any other business entity or into cash or other property in whole or in part.

(3) The plan of merger may set forth any of the following:

(a) Amendments to the certificate of limited partnership or other similar governing document of the surviving business entity.

(b) Other provisions relating to the merger.

(4) After a merger is authorized, and at any time before the articles of merger are filed with the department, the planned merger may be abandoned, subject to any contractual rights, without further action on the part of the shareholders or other owners, in accordance with the procedure set forth in the plan of merger or, if none is set forth, in the manner determined by the governing body of any business entity that is a party to the merger.

(5) After a plan of merger is approved by each business entity that is a party to the merger in the manner required by the laws applicable to each business entity, the surviving business entity shall deliver to the department the fee specified under sub. (5m) and articles of merger that include all of the following:

(a) The plan of merger.

(b) A statement that the plan was approved by each business entity that is a party to the merger in the manner required by the laws applicable to each business entity.

(c) The effective date and time of the merger, if the merger is to take effect at a time other than the close of business on the date of filing the articles of merger under s. 179.11 (2).