180.1101(1)(1) One or more corporations may merge with or into one or more other business entities if the board of directors of each corporation, by resolution adopted by each board, approves a plan of merger and, if required by
s. 180.1103, its shareholders also approve the plan of merger, and if the merger is permitted under the applicable law of the jurisdiction that governs each other business entity that is a party to the merger and each such business entity approves the plan of merger in the manner required by the laws applicable to the business entity.
180.1101(2)
(2) The plan of merger shall set forth all of the following:
180.1101(2)(a)
(a) The name, form of business entity, and identity of the jurisdiction governing each business entity planning to merge and the name, form of business entity, and identity of the jurisdiction of the surviving business entity into which each other business entity plans to merge.
180.1101(2)(c)
(c) The manner and basis of converting the shares or other 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 part.
180.1101(3)
(3) The plan of merger may set forth any of the following:
180.1101(3)(a)
(a) Amendments to the articles of incorporation or other similar governing document of the surviving business entity.
180.1101 History
History: 1989 a. 303;
2001 a. 44.
180.1102(1)(1) A corporation may acquire all of the outstanding shares of one or more classes or series of another business entity if the board of directors of each corporation, by resolution adopted by each board, approves a plan of share exchange and, if required by
s. 180.1103, its shareholders also approve the plan of share exchange, and if the share exchange is permitted under the applicable law of the jurisdiction that governs the other business entity and the other business entity approves the plan of share exchange in the manner required by the laws of the jurisdiction that governs the other business entity.
180.1102(2)
(2) The plan of share exchange shall set forth all of the following:
180.1102(2)(a)
(a) The name, form of business entity, and identity of the jurisdiction governing the business entity whose shares will be acquired and the name of the acquiring business entity.
180.1102(2)(c)
(c) The manner and basis of exchanging the shares or other ownership interests to be acquired for shares, obligations or other securities of the acquiring or any other business or for cash or other property in whole or part.
180.1102(3)
(3) The plan of share exchange may set forth other provisions relating to the exchange.
180.1102(4)
(4) This section does not limit the power of a corporation to acquire all or part of the shares of one or more classes or series of another corporation through a voluntary exchange or otherwise.
180.1102 History
History: 1989 a. 303;
2001 a. 44.
180.1103
180.1103
Action on plan of merger or share exchange. 180.1103(1)(1)
Submit to shareholders. After adopting and approving a plan of merger or share exchange, the board of directors of each corporation that is party to the merger, and the board of directors of the corporation whose shares will be acquired in the share exchange, shall submit the plan of merger, except as provided in
sub. (5), or share exchange for approval by its shareholders.
180.1103(2)
(2) Meeting notice. The corporation shall notify each shareholder, whether or not entitled to vote, of the proposed shareholders' meeting in accordance with
s. 180.0705, except that the notice shall be given at least 20 days before the meeting date. The notice shall also state that the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting is to consider the plan of merger or share exchange and shall contain or be accompanied by a copy or summary of the plan.
180.1103(3)
(3) Required vote. Unless this chapter, the articles of incorporation or bylaws adopted under authority granted in the articles of incorporation require a greater vote or a vote by voting groups, the plan of merger or share exchange to be authorized shall be approved by each voting group entitled to vote separately on the plan by a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the plan by that voting group.
180.1103(4)
(4) Separate voting by voting groups. Separate voting by voting groups is required on any of the following:
180.1103(4)(a)
(a) A plan of merger if the plan contains a provision that, if contained in a proposed amendment to articles of incorporation, would require action by one or more separate voting groups on the proposed amendment under
s. 180.1004, except as provided in
s. 180.1707.
180.1103(4)(b)
(b) A plan of share exchange by each class or series of shares included in the exchange, with each class or series constituting a separate voting group.
180.1103(5)
(5) When shareholder approval of merger not required. 180.1103(5)(a)1.
1. "Participating shares" means shares that entitle their holders to participate, without limitation, in distributions.
180.1103(5)(a)2.
2. "Voting shares" means shares that entitle their holders to vote unconditionally in elections of directors.
180.1103(5)(b)
(b) Action by the shareholders of the surviving corporation on a plan of merger is not required if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
180.1103(5)(b)1.
1. The articles of incorporation of the surviving corporation will not differ, except for amendments enumerated in
s. 180.1002, from its articles of incorporation before the merger.
180.1103(5)(b)2.
2. Each shareholder of the surviving corporation whose shares were outstanding immediately before the effective date of the merger will hold the same number of shares, with identical designations, preferences, limitations and relative rights, immediately after.
180.1103(5)(b)3.
3. The number of voting shares outstanding immediately after the merger, plus the number of voting shares issuable as a result of the merger, either by the conversion of securities issued pursuant to the merger or the exercise of rights or warrants issued pursuant to the merger, will not exceed by more than 20% the total number of voting shares of the surviving corporation outstanding immediately before the merger.
180.1103(5)(b)4.
4. The number of participating shares outstanding immediately after the merger, plus the number of participating shares issuable as a result of the merger, either by the conversion of securities issued pursuant to the merger or the exercise of rights or warrants issued pursuant to the merger, will not exceed by more than 20% the total number of participating shares of the surviving corporation outstanding immediately before the merger.
180.1103(6)
(6) Merger or share exchange abandoned. After a merger or share exchange is authorized, and at any time before articles of merger or share exchange are filed, the planned merger or share exchange may be abandoned, subject to any contractual rights, without further action on the part of shareholders or other owners, in accordance with the procedure set forth in the plan of merger or share exchange or, if none is set forth, in the manner determined by the board of directors or other similar governing body of any other business entity that is a party to the merger.
180.1103 History
History: 1989 a. 303;
1991 a. 16;
2001 a. 44.
180.1104
180.1104
Merger of subsidiary or parent. 180.1104(1)
(1) A parent corporation owning at least 90% of the outstanding shares of each class of a subsidiary corporation or at least 90% of the outstanding interests of each class of any other subsidiary business entity may merge the subsidiary into the parent or the parent into the subsidiary without approval of the shareholders of the parent or the shareholders or other owners of the subsidiary.
180.1104(2)
(2) The board of directors of the parent corporation shall adopt a plan of merger that sets forth all of the following:
180.1104(2)(b)
(b) The manner and basis of converting the shares or other interests of the subsidiary or parent 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 part.
180.1104(3)
(3) The parent shall mail a copy or summary of the plan of merger to each shareholder or other owner of the merging business entity who does not waive the mailing requirement in writing.
180.1104(4)
(4) The parent may not deliver articles of merger to the department for filing until at least 10 days after the date on which it mailed a copy of the plan of merger to each shareholder or other owner of the merging business entity who did not waive the mailing requirement.
180.1104(5)
(5) Articles of merger under this section may not contain amendments to the articles of incorporation of the surviving business entity, except for amendments enumerated in
s. 180.1002 or otherwise not requiring the approval of the shareholders or other owners of the entity.
180.1104 History
History: 1989 a. 303;
1995 a. 27;
2001 a. 44.
180.1105
180.1105
Articles of merger or share exchange. 180.1105(1)(1) Except as provided in
s. 180.1104 (4), after a plan of merger or share exchange is approved by the shareholders of the corporation, or adopted by the board of directors if shareholder approval is not required, and by each other business entity that is a party to the merger in the manner required by the laws applicable to the business entity, the surviving or acquiring business entity shall deliver to the department for filing articles of merger or share exchange setting forth all of the following:
180.1105(1)(b)
(b) A statement that the plan was approved by each domestic corporation that is a party to the merger in accordance with
s. 180.1103 or
180.1104, whichever is applicable, and by each other business entity that is a party to the merger in the manner required by the laws applicable to the business entity.
180.1105(1)(c)
(c) The effective date and time of the merger or share exchange, if the merger or share exchange is to take effect at a time other than the close of business on the date of filing the articles of merger, as provided under
s. 180.0123.
180.1105(1)(d)
(d) Other provisions relating to the merger, as determined by the surviving business entity.
180.1105(2)
(2) A merger or share exchange takes effect upon the effective date of the articles of merger or share exchange.
180.1105 History
History: 1989 a. 303;
1995 a. 27;
2001 a. 44.
180.1106
180.1106
Effect of merger or share exchange. 180.1106(1)
(1) All of the following occur when a merger takes effect:
180.1106(1)(a)
(a) Every other business entity that is party to the merger merges into the surviving business entity, and the separate existence of every business entity that is a party to the merger, except the surviving business entity, ceases.
180.1106(1)(am)1.1. If, under the laws applicable to a business entity that is a party to the merger, 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 liable for the debts and obligations of the 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.
180.1106(1)(am)2.
2. If, under the laws applicable to the surviving business entity, one or more of the owners thereof is liable for the debts and obligations of such business entity, the owner or owners of a business entity that is party to the merger, other than the surviving business entity, who become subject to such laws shall be liable for the debts and obligations of the surviving business entity to the extent provided in such laws, but only for such debts and obligations accrued after the merger. The owner or owners of the surviving business entity prior to the merger shall continue to be liable for the debts and obligations of the surviving business entity to the extent provided in
subd. 1.
180.1106(1)(am)3.
3. This paragraph does not affect liability under any taxation laws.
180.1106(1)(b)
(b) The title to all property owned by each business entity that is party to the merger is vested in the surviving business entity without reversion or impairment, provided that, if a merging business entity has an interest in real estate in Wisconsin on the date of the merger, the merging business entity shall transfer that interest to the business entity surviving the merger and shall execute any real estate transfer return required under
s. 77.22. The business entity surviving the merger 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.
180.1106(1)(c)
(c) The surviving business entity has all liabilities of each business entity that is party to the merger.
180.1106(1)(d)
(d) A civil, criminal, administrative, or investigatory proceeding pending by or against any business entity that is a party to the merger may be continued as if the merger did not occur, or the surviving business entity may be substituted in the proceeding for the business entity whose existence ceased.
180.1106(1)(e)
(e) The articles of incorporation, articles of organization, certificate of limited partnership, or other similar governing document, whichever is applicable, of the surviving business entity shall be amended to the extent provided in the plan of merger.
180.1106(1)(f)
(f) The shares or other interests of each business entity that is party to the merger that are to be converted into shares, interests, obligations, or other securities of the surviving business entity or any other business entity or into cash or other property are converted, and the former holders of the shares or interests are entitled only to the rights provided in the articles of merger or to their rights under
ss. 180.1301 to
180.1331 or otherwise under the laws applicable to each business entity that is party to the merger.
180.1106(2)
(2) When a share exchange takes effect, the shares of each acquired corporation are exchanged as provided in the plan, and the former holders of the shares are entitled only to the exchange rights provided in the articles of share exchange or to their rights under
ss. 180.1301 to
180.1331.
180.1106(3)(a)(a) When a merger or share exchange under this section takes effect, the department is the agent of any surviving foreign business entity of a merger or any acquiring foreign business entity in a share exchange, for service of process in a proceeding to enforce any obligation or the rights of dissenting shareholders or other owners of each domestic business entity that is a party to the merger or share exchange.
180.1106(3)(b)
(b) When a merger or share exchange under this section takes effect, any surviving foreign business entity of a merger or any acquiring foreign business entity in a share exchange shall promptly pay to the dissenting shareholders of each domestic corporation or dissenting owners of each other domestic business entity that is a party to the merger or share exchange the amount, if any, to which they are entitled under
ss. 180.1301 to
180.1331 or under any law applicable to such other domestic business entity.
180.1106 History
History: 1989 a. 303;
2001 a. 44,
105.
180.1106 Annotation
The Conveyance Glitch in the Next Economy Law. Boatwright. Wis. Law. July 2003.
180.1130(1)
(1) "Associate" of a person means any of the following:
180.1130(1)(a)
(a) An organization, other than the resident domestic corporation or a subsidiary of the resident domestic corporation, of which the person is an officer, director, manager or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of 10% or more of a class of voting securities.
180.1130(1)(b)
(b) A trust or estate in which the person has a substantial beneficial interest or as to which the person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity.
180.1130(1)(c)
(c) A relative or spouse of the person, or a relative of the spouse, who has the same principal residence as the person who is a director or officer of the resident domestic corporation or of an affiliate of the resident domestic corporation.
180.1130(2)
(2) "Beneficial owner" has the meaning prescribed in rule 13d-3 under the securities exchange act of 1934. A person is not a "beneficial owner" solely because of any of the following:
180.1130(2)(a)
(a) The existence of an agreement by or on behalf of the person and by or on behalf of a record or beneficial owner of securities under which the owner agrees to vote the securities in favor of a proposed merger, share exchange or sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of assets.
180.1130(2)(b)
(b) The existence of an option from, or other arrangement with, a resident domestic corporation to acquire securities of the resident domestic corporation.
180.1130(3)
(3) "Business combination" means any of the following:
180.1130(3)(a)
(a) Unless the merger or share exchange is subject to
s. 180.1104, does not alter the contract rights of the shares as set forth in the articles of incorporation or does not change or convert in whole or in part the outstanding shares of the resident domestic corporation, a merger or share exchange of the resident domestic corporation or a subsidiary of the resident domestic corporation with any of the following:
180.1130(3)(a)2.
2. Any other corporation, whether or not itself a significant shareholder, which is, or after the merger or share exchange would be, an affiliate of a significant shareholder that was a significant shareholder before the transaction.
180.1130(3)(b)
(b) A sale, lease, exchange or other disposition, other than a mortgage or pledge if not made to avoid the requirements of
ss. 180.1130 to
180.1134, to a significant shareholder, other than the resident domestic corporation or a subsidiary of the resident domestic corporation, or to an affiliate of the significant shareholder, of all or substantially all of the property and assets, with or without goodwill, of a resident domestic corporation, if not made in the usual and regular course of its business.
180.1130(4)
(4) "Commencement of a tender offer" has the meaning prescribed in rule 14d-2 under the securities exchange act of 1934.
180.1130(5)
(5) "Common shares" means shares other than preferred or preference shares.
180.1130(6)
(6) "Control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting shares, by contract or otherwise.
180.1130(7)
(7) "Determination date" means the date on which a significant shareholder first becomes a significant shareholder.
