Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 180 - Business corporations.
180.0302 - General powers.

180.0302 General powers. Unless its articles of incorporation provide otherwise, a corporation has perpetual duration and succession in its corporate name and has the same powers as a natural person to do all things necessary or convenient to carry out its business and affairs, including but not limited to power to do all of the following:
(1) Sue and be sued, complain and defend in its corporate name.
(2) Have a corporate seal, which may be altered at will, and to use it, or a facsimile of it, by impressing or affixing it or in any other manner reproducing it.
(3) Make and amend bylaws, not inconsistent with its articles of incorporation or with the laws of this state, for managing the business and regulating the affairs of the corporation.
(4) Purchase, receive, lease or otherwise acquire, and own, hold, improve, use and otherwise deal with, property or any legal or equitable interest in property, wherever located.
(5) Sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange and otherwise dispose of all or any part of its property.
(6) Purchase, receive, subscribe for or otherwise acquire, and own, hold, vote, use, sell, mortgage, lend, pledge or otherwise dispose of and deal in and with shares or other interests in, or obligations of, any other entity.
(7) Make contracts and guarantees; incur liabilities; borrow money; issue its notes, bonds and other obligations, which may be convertible into or include the option to purchase other securities of the corporation; and secure any of its obligations by mortgage or pledge of any of its property, franchises or income.
(8) Lend money, invest and reinvest its funds and receive and hold property as security for repayment.
(9) Be a promoter, partner, member, associate or manager of an entity.
(10) Conduct its business, locate offices and exercise the powers granted by this chapter in or outside this state.
(11) Elect directors and appoint officers, employees and agents of the corporation, define their duties, fix their compensation and, subject to s. 180.0832, lend them money and credit.
(12) Pay pensions and establish pension plans, pension trusts, profit-sharing plans, share bonus plans, share option plans and benefit or incentive plans for any or all of its current or former directors, officers, employees and agents of the corporation and its subsidiaries.
(13) Make donations and otherwise devote its resources for the public welfare or for charitable, scientific, educational, humanitarian, philanthropic or religious purposes.
(14) Transact any lawful business that will aid governmental policy.
(15) Make payments or donations, or do any other act, not prohibited by law, that furthers the business and affairs of the corporation.
(16) Provide benefits or payments to directors, officers and employees of the corporation or its subsidiaries, and to their estates, families, dependents or beneficiaries, in recognition of the past services of the directors, officers and employees to the corporation or its subsidiaries.
History: 1989 a. 303.
A corporation under this chapter cannot offer general trust services to the public, notwithstanding compliance with s. 223.105. 78 Atty. Gen. 153.

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