180.1301(2)
(2) "Corporation" means the issuer corporation or, if the corporate action giving rise to dissenters' rights under
s. 180.1302 is a merger or share exchange that has been effectuated, the surviving domestic corporation or foreign corporation of the merger or the acquiring domestic corporation or foreign corporation of the share exchange.
180.1301(3)
(3) "Dissenter" means a shareholder or beneficial shareholder who is entitled to dissent from corporate action under
s. 180.1302 and who exercises that right when and in the manner required by
ss. 180.1320 to
180.1328.
180.1301(4)
(4) "Fair value", with respect to a dissenter's shares other than in a business combination, means the value of the shares immediately before the effectuation of the corporate action to which the dissenter objects, excluding any appreciation or depreciation in anticipation of the corporate action unless exclusion would be inequitable. "Fair value", with respect to a dissenter's shares in a business combination, means market value, as defined in
s. 180.1130 (9) (a) 1. to
4.
180.1301(5)
(5) "Interest" means interest from the effectuation date of the corporate action until the date of payment, at the average rate currently paid by the corporation on its principal bank loans or, if none, at a rate that is fair and equitable under all of the circumstances.
180.1301(6)
(6) "Issuer corporation" means a domestic corporation that is the issuer of the shares held by a dissenter before the corporate action.
180.1301 History
History: 1989 a. 303;
1991 a. 16.
180.1302(1)(1) Except as provided in
sub. (4) and
s. 180.1008 (3), a shareholder or beneficial shareholder may dissent from, and obtain payment of the fair value of his or her shares in the event of, any of the following corporate actions:
180.1302(1)(a)
(a) Consummation of a plan of merger to which the issuer corporation is a party if any of the following applies:
180.1302(1)(b)
(b) Consummation of a plan of share exchange if the issuer corporation's shares will be acquired, and the shareholder or the shareholder holding shares on behalf of the beneficial shareholder is entitled to vote on the plan.
180.1302(1)(c)
(c) Consummation of a sale or exchange of all, or substantially all, of the property of the issuer corporation other than in the usual and regular course of business, including a sale in dissolution, but not including any of the following:
180.1302(1)(c)2.
2. A sale for cash pursuant to a plan by which all or substantially all of the net proceeds of the sale will be distributed to the shareholders within one year after the date of sale.
180.1302(1)(d)
(d) Except as provided in
sub. (2), any other corporate action taken pursuant to a shareholder vote to the extent that the articles of incorporation, bylaws or a resolution of the board of directors provides that the voting or nonvoting shareholder or beneficial shareholder may dissent and obtain payment for his or her shares.
180.1302(2)
(2) Except as provided in
sub. (4) and
s. 180.1008 (3), the articles of incorporation may allow a shareholder or beneficial shareholder to dissent from an amendment of the articles of incorporation and obtain payment of the fair value of his or her shares if the amendment materially and adversely affects rights in respect of a dissenter's shares because it does any of the following:
180.1302(2)(a)
(a) Alters or abolishes a preferential right of the shares.
180.1302(2)(b)
(b) Creates, alters or abolishes a right in respect of redemption, including a provision respecting a sinking fund for the redemption or repurchase, of the shares.
180.1302(2)(c)
(c) Alters or abolishes a preemptive right of the holder of shares to acquire shares or other securities.
180.1302(2)(d)
(d) Excludes or limits the right of the shares to vote on any matter or to cumulate votes, other than a limitation by dilution through issuance of shares or other securities with similar voting rights.
180.1302(2)(e)
(e) Reduces the number of shares owned by the shareholder or beneficial shareholder to a fraction of a share if the fractional share so created is to be acquired for cash under
s. 180.0604.
180.1302(4)
(4) Except in a business combination or unless the articles of incorporation provide otherwise,
subs. (1) and
(2) do not apply to the holders of shares of any class or series if the shares of the class or series are registered on a national securities exchange or quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., automated quotations system on the record date fixed to determine the shareholders entitled to notice of a shareholders meeting at which shareholders are to vote on the proposed corporate action.
180.1302(5)
(5) Except as provided in
s. 180.1833, a shareholder or beneficial shareholder entitled to dissent and obtain payment for his or her shares under
ss. 180.1301 to
180.1331 may not challenge the corporate action creating his or her entitlement unless the action is unlawful or fraudulent with respect to the shareholder, beneficial shareholder or issuer corporation.
180.1302 History
History: 1989 a. 303;
1991 a. 16;
2001 a. 44.
180.1302 Annotation
Minority discounts are inappropriate under dissenters' rights statutes and will not be applied in determining "fair value" under sub. (1). Each dissenting shareholder should be assigned the proportionate interest of his or her shares in the going interest in the entire company. HMO-W Incorporated v. SSM Health Care System, 2000 WI 46,
234 Wis. 2d 707,
611 N.W.2d 250.
180.1302 Annotation
The Role of Discounts in Determining "Fair Value" Under Wisconsin's Dissenters' Rights Statutes: The Case for Discounts. Emory. 1995 WLR 1155.
180.1303
180.1303
Dissent by shareholders and beneficial shareholders. 180.1303(1)(1) A shareholder may assert dissenters' rights as to fewer than all of the shares registered in his or her name only if the shareholder dissents with respect to all shares beneficially owned by any one person and notifies the corporation in writing of the name and address of each person on whose behalf he or she asserts dissenters' rights. The rights of a shareholder who under this subsection asserts dissenters' rights as to fewer than all of the shares registered in his or her name are determined as if the shares as to which he or she dissents and his or her other shares were registered in the names of different shareholders.
180.1303(2)
(2) A beneficial shareholder may assert dissenters' rights as to shares held on his or her behalf only if the beneficial shareholder does all of the following:
180.1303(2)(a)
(a) Submits to the corporation the shareholder's written consent to the dissent not later than the time that the beneficial shareholder asserts dissenters' rights.
180.1303(2)(b)
(b) Submits the consent under
par. (a) with respect to all shares of which he or she is the beneficial shareholder.
180.1303 History
History: 1989 a. 303.
180.1320
180.1320
Notice of dissenters' rights. 180.1320(1)
(1) If proposed corporate action creating dissenters' rights under
s. 180.1302 is submitted to a vote at a shareholders' meeting, the meeting notice shall state that shareholders and beneficial shareholders are or may be entitled to assert dissenters' rights under
ss. 180.1301 to
180.1331 and shall be accompanied by a copy of those sections.
180.1320(2)
(2) If corporate action creating dissenters' rights under
s. 180.1302 is authorized without a vote of shareholders, the corporation shall notify, in writing and in accordance with
s. 180.0141, all shareholders entitled to assert dissenters' rights that the action was authorized and send them the dissenters' notice described in
s. 180.1322.
180.1320 History
History: 1989 a. 303.
180.1321
180.1321
Notice of intent to demand payment. 180.1321(1)
(1) If proposed corporate action creating dissenters' rights under
s. 180.1302 is submitted to a vote at a shareholders' meeting, a shareholder or beneficial shareholder who wishes to assert dissenters' rights shall do all of the following:
180.1321(1)(a)
(a) Deliver to the issuer corporation before the vote is taken written notice that complies with
s. 180.0141 of the shareholder's or beneficial shareholder's intent to demand payment for his or her shares if the proposed action is effectuated.
180.1321(1)(b)
(b) Not vote his or her shares in favor of the proposed action.
180.1321(2)
(2) A shareholder or beneficial shareholder who fails to satisfy
sub. (1) is not entitled to payment for his or her shares under
ss. 180.1301 to
180.1331.
180.1321 History
History: 1989 a. 303.
180.1322(1)(1) If proposed corporate action creating dissenters' rights under
s. 180.1302 is authorized at a shareholders' meeting, the corporation shall deliver a written dissenters' notice to all shareholders and beneficial shareholders who satisfied
s. 180.1321.
180.1322(2)
(2) The dissenters' notice shall be sent no later than 10 days after the corporate action is authorized at a shareholders' meeting or without a vote of shareholders, whichever is applicable. The dissenters' notice shall comply with
s. 180.0141 and shall include or have attached all of the following:
180.1322(2)(a)
(a) A statement indicating where the shareholder or beneficial shareholder must send the payment demand and where and when certificates for certificated shares must be deposited.
180.1322(2)(b)
(b) For holders of uncertificated shares, an explanation of the extent to which transfer of the shares will be restricted after the payment demand is received.
180.1322(2)(c)
(c) A form for demanding payment that includes the date of the first announcement to news media or to shareholders of the terms of the proposed corporate action and that requires the shareholder or beneficial shareholder asserting dissenters' rights to certify whether he or she acquired beneficial ownership of the shares before that date.
180.1322(2)(d)
(d) A date by which the corporation must receive the payment demand, which may not be fewer than 30 days nor more than 60 days after the date on which the dissenters' notice is delivered.
180.1322 History
History: 1989 a. 303.
180.1323
180.1323
Duty to demand payment. 180.1323(1)
(1) A shareholder or beneficial shareholder who is sent a dissenters' notice described in
s. 180.1322, or a beneficial shareholder whose shares are held by a nominee who is sent a dissenters' notice described in
s. 180.1322, must demand payment in writing and certify whether he or she acquired beneficial ownership of the shares before the date specified in the dissenters' notice under
s. 180.1322 (2) (c). A shareholder or beneficial shareholder with certificated shares must also deposit his or her certificates in accordance with the terms of the notice.
180.1323(2)
(2) A shareholder or beneficial shareholder with certificated shares who demands payment and deposits his or her share certificates under
sub. (1) retains all other rights of a shareholder or beneficial shareholder until these rights are canceled or modified by the effectuation of the corporate action.
180.1323(3)
(3) A shareholder or beneficial shareholder with certificated or uncertificated shares who does not demand payment by the date set in the dissenters' notice, or a shareholder or beneficial shareholder with certificated shares who does not deposit his or her share certificates where required and by the date set in the dissenters' notice, is not entitled to payment for his or her shares under
ss. 180.1301 to
180.1331.
180.1323 History
History: 1989 a. 303.
180.1324
180.1324
Restrictions on uncertificated shares. 180.1324(1)(1) The issuer corporation may restrict the transfer of uncertificated shares from the date that the demand for payment for those shares is received until the corporate action is effectuated or the restrictions released under
s. 180.1326.
180.1324(2)
(2) The shareholder or beneficial shareholder who asserts dissenters' rights as to uncertificated shares retains all of the rights of a shareholder or beneficial shareholder, other than those restricted under
sub. (1), until these rights are canceled or modified by the effectuation of the corporate action.
180.1324 History
History: 1989 a. 303.
180.1325(1)(1) Except as provided in
s. 180.1327, as soon as the corporate action is effectuated or upon receipt of a payment demand, whichever is later, the corporation shall pay each shareholder or beneficial shareholder who has complied with
s. 180.1323 the amount that the corporation estimates to be the fair value of his or her shares, plus accrued interest.
180.1325(2)
(2) The payment shall be accompanied by all of the following:
180.1325(2)(a)
(a) The corporation's latest available financial statements, audited and including footnote disclosure if available, but including not less than a balance sheet as of the end of a fiscal year ending not more than 16 months before the date of payment, an income statement for that year, a statement of changes in shareholders' equity for that year and the latest available interim financial statements, if any.
180.1325(2)(b)
(b) A statement of the corporation's estimate of the fair value of the shares.
180.1325(2)(d)
(d) A statement of the dissenter's right to demand payment under
s. 180.1328 if the dissenter is dissatisfied with the payment.
180.1325 History
History: 1989 a. 303.
180.1326
180.1326
Failure to take action. 180.1326(1)
(1) If an issuer corporation does not effectuate the corporate action within 60 days after the date set under
s. 180.1322 for demanding payment, the issuer corporation shall return the deposited certificates and release the transfer restrictions imposed on uncertificated shares.
180.1326(2)
(2) If after returning deposited certificates and releasing transfer restrictions, the issuer corporation effectuates the corporate action, the corporation shall deliver a new dissenters' notice under
s. 180.1322 and repeat the payment demand procedure.
180.1326 History
History: 1989 a. 303.
180.1327
180.1327
After-acquired shares. 180.1327(1)
(1) A corporation may elect to withhold payment required by
s. 180.1325 from a dissenter unless the dissenter was the beneficial owner of the shares before the date specified in the dissenters' notice under
s. 180.1322 (2) (c) as the date of the first announcement to news media or to shareholders of the terms of the proposed corporate action.
180.1327(2)
(2) To the extent that the corporation elects to withhold payment under
sub. (1) after effectuating the corporate action, it shall estimate the fair value of the shares, plus accrued interest, and shall pay this amount to each dissenter who agrees to accept it in full satisfaction of his or her demand. The corporation shall send with its offer a statement of its estimate of the fair value of the shares, an explanation of how the interest was calculated, and a statement of the dissenter's right to demand payment under
s. 180.1328 if the dissenter is dissatisfied with the offer.
180.1327 History
History: 1989 a. 303.
180.1328
180.1328
Procedure if dissenter dissatisfied with payment or offer. 180.1328(1)(1) A dissenter may, in the manner provided in
sub. (2), notify the corporation of the dissenter's estimate of the fair value of his or her shares and amount of interest due, and demand payment of his or her estimate, less any payment received under
s. 180.1325, or reject the offer under
s. 180.1327 and demand payment of the fair value of his or her shares and interest due, if any of the following applies:
180.1328(1)(a)
(a) The dissenter believes that the amount paid under
s. 180.1325 or offered under
s. 180.1327 is less than the fair value of his or her shares or that the interest due is incorrectly calculated.
180.1328(1)(c)
(c) The issuer corporation, having failed to effectuate the corporate action, does not return the deposited certificates or release the transfer restrictions imposed on uncertificated shares within 60 days after the date set under
s. 180.1322 for demanding payment.
180.1328(2)
(2) A dissenter waives his or her right to demand payment under this section unless the dissenter notifies the corporation of his or her demand under
sub. (1) in writing within 30 days after the corporation made or offered payment for his or her shares. The notice shall comply with
s. 180.0141.
180.1328 History
History: 1989 a. 303.
180.1328 Annotation
When payment is made by check, the payment date under sub. (2) is the date the payee receives the check. Kohler Co. v. Sogen International Fund, Inc. 2000 WI App 60,
233 Wis. 2d 592,
608 N.W.2d 746.
