Article 9. Conversions And Mergers  



 
    (805 ILCS 206/Art. 9 heading)
ARTICLE 9
CONVERSIONS AND MERGERS

    (805 ILCS 206/901)
    Sec. 901. Definitions. In this Article:
        (1) "General partner" means a partner in a

    
partnership and a general partner in a limited partnership.
        (2) "Limited partner" means a limited partner in a
    
limited partnership.
        (3) "Limited partnership" means a limited partnership
    
created under the Uniform Limited Partnership Act (2001), predecessor law, or comparable law of another jurisdiction.
        (4) "Partner" includes both a general partner and a
    
limited partner.
(Source: P.A. 92-740, eff. 1-1-03; 93-967, eff. 1-1-05.)

    (805 ILCS 206/902)
    Sec. 902. Conversion of partnership to limited partnership.
    (a) A partnership may be converted to a limited partnership pursuant to this Section.
    (b) The terms and conditions of a conversion of a partnership to a limited partnership must be approved by all of the partners or by a number or percentage specified for conversion in the partnership agreement.
    (c) After the conversion is approved by the partners, the partnership shall file a certificate of limited partnership in the jurisdiction in which the limited partnership is to be formed. The certificate must include:
        (1) a statement that the partnership was converted to

    
a limited partnership from a partnership;
        (2) its former name; and
        (3) a statement of the number of votes cast by the
    
partners for and against the conversion and, if the vote is less than unanimous, the number or percentage required to approve the conversion under the partnership agreement.
    (d) The conversion takes effect when the certificate of limited partnership is filed or at any later date specified in the certificate.
    (e) A general partner who becomes a limited partner as a result of the conversion remains liable as a general partner for an obligation incurred by the partnership before the conversion takes effect. If the other party to a transaction with the limited partnership reasonably believes when entering the transaction that the limited partner is a general partner, the limited partner is liable for an obligation incurred by the limited partnership within 90 days after the conversion takes effect. The limited partner's liability for all other obligations of the limited partnership incurred after the conversion takes effect is that of a limited partner as provided in the Uniform Limited Partnership Act (2001).
(Source: P.A. 92-740, eff. 1-1-03; 93-967, eff. 1-1-05.)

    (805 ILCS 206/903)
    Sec. 903. Conversion of limited partnership to partnership.
    (a) A limited partnership may be converted to a partnership pursuant to this Section.
    (b) Notwithstanding a provision to the contrary in a limited partnership agreement, the terms and conditions of a conversion of a limited partnership to a partnership must be approved by all of the partners.
    (c) After the conversion is approved by the partners, the limited partnership shall cancel its certificate of limited partnership.
    (d) The conversion takes effect when the certificate of limited partnership is canceled.
    (e) A limited partner who becomes a general partner as a result of the conversion remains liable only as a limited partner for an obligation incurred by the limited partnership before the conversion takes effect. Except as otherwise provided in Section 306, the partner is liable as a general partner for an obligation of the partnership incurred after the conversion takes effect.
(Source: P.A. 92-740, eff. 1-1-03.)

    (805 ILCS 206/904)
    Sec. 904. Effect of conversion; entity unchanged.
    (a) A partnership or limited partnership that has been converted pursuant to this Article is for all purposes the same entity that existed before the conversion.
    (b) When a conversion takes effect:
        (1) all property owned by the converting partnership

    
or limited partnership remains vested in the converted entity;
        (2) all obligations of the converting partnership or
    
limited partnership continue as obligations of the converted entity; and
        (3) an action or proceeding pending against the
    
converting partnership or limited partnership may be continued as if the conversion had not occurred.
(Source: P.A. 92-740, eff. 1-1-03.)

    (805 ILCS 206/905)
    Sec. 905. Merger of partnerships.
    (a) Pursuant to a plan of merger approved as provided in subsection (c) of this Section, a partnership may be merged with one or more partnerships or limited partnerships.
    (b) The plan of merger must set forth:
        (1) the name of each partnership or limited

    
partnership that is a party to the merger;
        (2) the name of the surviving entity into which the
    
other partnerships or limited partnerships will merge;
        (3) whether the surviving entity is a partnership or
    
a limited partnership and the status of each partner;
        (4) the terms and conditions of the merger;
        (5) the manner and basis of converting the interests
    
of each party to the merger into interests or obligations of the surviving entity, or into money or other property in whole or part; and
        (6) the street address of the surviving entity's
    
chief executive office.
    (c) The plan of merger must be approved:
        (1) in the case of a partnership that is a party to
    
the merger, by all of the partners, or a number or percentage specified for merger in the partnership agreement; and
        (2) in the case of a limited partnership that is a
    
party to the merger, by the vote required for approval of a merger by the law of the State or foreign jurisdiction in which the limited partnership is organized and, in the absence of such a specifically applicable law, by all of the partners, notwithstanding a provision to the contrary in the partnership agreement.
    (d) After a plan of merger is approved and before the merger takes effect, the plan may be amended or abandoned as provided in the plan.
    (e) The merger takes effect on the later of:
        (1) the approval of the plan of merger by all parties
    
to the merger, as provided in subsection (c);
        (2) the filing of all documents required by law to be
    
filed as a condition to the effectiveness of the merger; or
        (3) any effective date specified in the plan of
    
merger.
(Source: P.A. 92-740, eff. 1-1-03.)

    (805 ILCS 206/906)
    Sec. 906. Effect of merger.
    (a) When a merger takes effect:
        (1) the separate existence of every partnership or

    
limited partnership that is a party to the merger, other than the surviving entity, ceases;
        (2) all property owned by each of the merged
    
partnerships or limited partnerships vests in the surviving entity;
        (3) all obligations of every partnership or limited
    
partnership that is a party to the merger become the obligations of the surviving entity; and
        (4) an action or proceeding pending against a
    
partnership or limited partnership that is a party to the merger may be continued as if the merger had not occurred, or the surviving entity may be substituted as a party to the action or proceeding.
    (b) The Secretary of State of this State is the agent for service of process in an action or proceeding against a surviving foreign partnership or limited partnership to enforce an obligation of a domestic partnership or limited partnership that is a party to a merger. The surviving entity shall promptly notify the Secretary of State of the mailing address of its chief executive office and of any change of address. Upon receipt of process, the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of the process to the surviving foreign partnership or limited partnership.
    (c) A partner of the surviving partnership or limited partnership is liable for:
        (1) all obligations of a party to the merger for
    
which the partner was personally liable before the merger;
        (2) all other obligations of the surviving entity
    
incurred before the merger by a party to the merger, but those obligations may be satisfied only out of property of the entity; and
        (3) except as otherwise provided in Section 306 of
    
this Act, all obligations of the surviving entity incurred after the merger takes effect, but those obligations may be satisfied only out of property of the entity if the partner is a limited partner.
    (d) If the obligations incurred before the merger by a party to the merger are not satisfied out of the property of the surviving partnership or limited partnership, the general partners of that party immediately before the effective date of the merger shall contribute the amount necessary to satisfy that party's obligations to the surviving entity, in the manner provided in Section 807 or in the Limited Partnership Act of the jurisdiction in which the party was formed, as the case may be, as if the merged party were dissolved.
    (e) A partner of a party to a merger who does not become a partner of the surviving partnership or limited partnership is dissociated from the entity, of which that partner was a partner, as of the date the merger takes effect. The surviving entity shall cause the partner's interest in the entity to be purchased under Section 701 of this Act or another statute specifically applicable to that partner's interest with respect to a merger. The surviving entity is bound under Section 702 by an act of a general partner dissociated under this subsection, and the partner is liable under Section 703 for transactions entered into by the surviving entity after the merger takes effect.
(Source: P.A. 92-740, eff. 1-1-03.)

    (805 ILCS 206/907)
    Sec. 907. Statement of merger.
    (a) After a merger, the surviving partnership or limited partnership may file a statement that one or more partnerships or limited partnerships have merged into the surviving entity.
    (b) A statement of merger must contain:
        (1) the name of each partnership or limited

    
partnership that is a party to the merger;
        (2) the name of the surviving entity into which the
    
other partnerships or limited partnerships were merged;
        (3) the street address of the surviving entity's
    
chief executive office and of an office in this State, if any; and
        (4) whether the surviving entity is a partnership or
    
a limited partnership.
    (c) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d) of this Section, for the purposes of Section 302, property of the surviving partnership or limited partnership which before the merger was held in the name of another party to the merger is property held in the name of the surviving entity upon filing a statement of merger.
    (d) For the purposes of Section 302, real property of the surviving partnership or limited partnership which before the merger was held in the name of another party to the merger is property held in the name of the surviving entity upon recording a certified copy of the statement of merger in the office for recording transfers of that real property.
    (e) A filed and, if appropriate, recorded statement of merger, executed and declared to be accurate pursuant to Section 105(c), stating the name of a partnership or limited partnership that is a party to the merger in whose name property was held before the merger and the name of the surviving entity, but not containing all of the other information required by subsection (b) of this Section, operates with respect to the partnerships or limited partnerships named to the extent provided in subsections (c) and (d).
(Source: P.A. 92-740, eff. 1-1-03.)

    (805 ILCS 206/908)
    Sec. 908. Merger of partnership and limited liability company.
    (a) Under a plan of merger approved under subsection (c) of this Section, any one or more partnerships of this State may merge with or into one or more limited liability companies of this State, any other state or states of the United States, or the District of Columbia, if the laws of the other state or states or the District of Columbia permit the merger. The partnership or partnerships and the limited liability company or companies may merge with or into a partnership, which may be any one of these partnerships, or they may merge with or into a limited liability company, which may be any one of these limited liability companies, which shall be a partnership or limited liability company of this State, any other state of the United States, or the District of Columbia, which permits the merger.
    (b) A plan of merger must set forth all of the following:
        (1) The name of each entity that is a party to the

    
merger.
        (2) The name of the surviving entity into which the
    
other entities will merge.
        (3) The type of organization of the surviving entity.
        (4) The terms and conditions of the merger.
        (5) The manner and basis for converting the interests
    
of each party to the merger into interests, obligations, or other securities of the surviving entity, or into money or other property in whole or in part.
        (6) The street address of the surviving entity's
    
principal place of business.
    (c) The plan of merger required by subsection (b) of this Section must be approved by each party to the merger in accordance with all of the following:
        (1) In the case of a partnership, by all of the
    
partners or by the number or percentage of the partners required to approve a merger specified in the partnership agreement.
        (2) In the case of a limited liability company, by
    
all members or by the number or percentage of members required to approve a merger specified in the operating agreement.
    (d) After a plan of merger is approved and before the merger takes effect, the plan may be amended or abandoned as provided in the plan of merger.
    (e) After approval of the plan of merger under this Section, unless the merger is abandoned under subsection (d) of this Section, a statement of merger must be signed on behalf of each party to the merger and delivered to the Secretary of State of this State for filing. The statement of merger must set forth all of the following:
        (1) The name and, in the case of a limited liability
    
partnership, jurisdiction of each partnership and the name and jurisdiction of organization of each limited liability company that is a party to the merger.
        (2) That a plan of merger has been approved and
    
signed by each partnership and each limited liability company that is a party to the merger.
        (3) The name and address of the surviving partnership
    
or surviving limited liability company.
        (4) The effective date of the merger.
        (5) If a party to the merger is a foreign limited
    
liability company or a foreign limited liability partnership, the jurisdiction and date of the filing of its articles of organization or statement of qualification, as the case may be, and the date when its application for authority was filed with the Secretary of State of this State or, if an application has not been filed, a statement to that effect.
        (6) If the surviving entity is not a partnership or
    
limited liability company organized under the laws of this State, an agreement that the surviving entity may be served with process in this State and is subject to liability in any action or proceeding for the enforcement of any liability or obligation of any partnership or limited liability company which is a party to the merger or which was previously subject to suit in this State, and for the enforcement, as provided in this Act, of the right of partners of any partnership or members of any limited liability company to receive payment for their interests in the partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, against the surviving entity.
    (f) If a foreign limited liability company or a foreign limited liability partnership is the surviving entity of a merger, it may not do business in this State until an application for that authority is filed with the Secretary of State.
    (g) The surviving partnership or other entity shall furnish a copy of the plan of merger, on request, and without cost, to any person holding an interest in an entity that is to merge.
    (h) To the extent that the statement of merger is inconsistent with the articles of organization of a limited liability company or the statement of qualification of a limited liability partnership, the statement of merger shall operate as an amendment to the articles of organization or statement of qualification, as the case may be.
    (i) The merger is effective upon the filing of the statement of merger with the Secretary of State of this State, or on a later date as specified in the statement of merger not later than 30 days subsequent to the filing of the statement of merger under subsection (e) of this Section.
    (j) When any merger becomes effective under this Section:
        (1) the separate existence of each partnership and
    
each limited liability company that is a party to the merger, other than the surviving entity, terminates;
        (2) all property owned by each partnership and each
    
limited liability company that is a party to the merger vests in the surviving entity;
        (3) all debts, liabilities, and other obligations of
    
each partnership and each limited liability company that is a party to the merger become the obligations of the surviving entity;
        (4) an action or proceeding by or against a
    
partnership or limited liability company that is a party to the merger may be continued as if the merger had not occurred or the surviving entity may be substituted as a party to the action or proceeding; and
        (5) except as prohibited by other law, all the
    
rights, privileges, immunities, powers, and purposes of each partnership and limited liability company that is a party to the merger vest in the surviving entity.
    (k) The Secretary of State of this State is an agent for service of process in an action or proceeding against any surviving foreign entity to enforce an obligation of any party to a merger if the surviving foreign entity fails to appoint or maintain an agent designated for service of process in this State or the agent for service of process cannot with reasonable diligence be found at the designated office. Service is effected under this subsection (k) at the earliest of:
        (1) the date the surviving entity receives the
    
process notice or demand;
        (2) the date shown on the return receipt, if signed
    
on behalf of the surviving entity; or
        (3) 5 days after its deposit in the mail, if mailed
    
postpaid and correctly addressed.
    (l) Service under subsection (k) of this Section shall be made by the person instituting the action by doing all of the following:
        (1) Serving on the Secretary of State of this State,
    
or on any employee having responsibility for administering this Act in his or her office, a copy of the process, notice, or demand, together with any papers required by law to be delivered in connection with service and paying the fee prescribed by Section 108 of this Act.
        (2) Transmitting notice of the service on the
    
Secretary of State of this State and a copy of the process, notice, or demand and accompanying papers to the surviving entity being served, by registered or certified mail at the address set forth in the statement of merger.
        (3) Attaching an affidavit of compliance with this
    
Section, in substantially the form that the Secretary of State of this State may by rule prescribe, to the process, notice, or demand.
    (m) Nothing contained in this Section shall limit or affect the right to serve any process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law to be served upon a partnership in any other manner now or hereafter permitted by law.
    (n) The Secretary of State of this State shall keep, for a period of 5 years from the date of service, a record of all processes, notices, and demands served upon him or her under this Section and shall record the time of the service and the person's action with reference to the service.
    (o) Except as provided by agreement with a person to whom a partner of a partnership is obligated, a merger of a partnership that has become effective shall not affect any obligation or liability existing at the time of the merger of a partner of a partnership that is merging.
(Source: P.A. 92-740, eff. 1-1-03.)

    (805 ILCS 206/909)
    Sec. 909. Approval of conversion into a limited liability company. A partnership may convert into a limited liability company organized, formed, or created under the laws of this State, upon approval of the conversion in accordance with this Section. The terms and conditions of a conversion of a partnership to a limited liability company must be approved by all of the partners or by a number or percentage of the partners required for conversion in the partnership agreement.
    After a conversion is approved, the partnership shall file articles of organization in the Office of the Secretary of State in accordance with subsection (d) of Section 37-10 of the Limited Liability Company Act.
(Source: P.A. 92-740, eff. 1-1-03.)

    (805 ILCS 206/910)
    Sec. 910. Nonexclusive. This Article is not exclusive. Partnerships or limited partnerships may be converted or merged in any other manner provided by law.
(Source: P.A. 92-740, eff. 1-1-03.)