2023 Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations › Chapter 181 - Nonstock corporations. › 181.0302 - General powers.

181.0302
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 an individual to do all things necessary or convenient to carry out its affairs, including the power to do all of the following:
(1)
Legal actions. Sue and be sued, complain and defend in its corporate name.
(2)
Corporate seal. 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)
Bylaws. Make and amend bylaws not inconsistent with its articles of incorporation or with the laws of this state, for regulating and managing the affairs of the corporation.
(4)
Property acquisition. 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)
Disposition of property. Sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange and otherwise dispose of all or any part of its property.
(6)
Interests in other entities. 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)
Contracts and liabilities. Make contracts and guarantees; incur liabilities; borrow money; issue notes, bonds and other obligations; and secure any of its obligations by mortgage or pledge of any of its property, franchises or income.
(8)
Loans. Lend money, invest and reinvest its funds and receive and hold property as security for repayment, except as limited by s. 181.0832.
(9)
Participation in other entities. Be a promoter, partner, member, associate or manager of any entity.
(10)
Exercise of powers. Conduct its activities, locate offices and exercise the powers granted by this chapter in or outside this state.
(11)
Directors, officers, employees and agents. Elect or appoint directors, officers, employees and agents of the corporation, define their duties and fix their compensation.
(12)
Pension and incentive plans. Pay pensions and establish pension plans, pension trusts and other benefit and incentive plans for any of its current or former directors, officers, employees and agents of the corporation, its subsidiaries or its affiliates.
(13)
Benefit plans. Provide benefits or payments to directors, officers and employees of the corporation, its subsidiaries or its affiliates, and to their estates, families, dependents or beneficiaries, in recognition of the past services of the directors, officers and employees to the corporation, its subsidiaries or its affiliates.
(14)
Compensation. Establish reasonable compensation for all directors for services to the corporation as directors, officers or otherwise. Unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation or bylaws, the board of directors, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office and irrespective of any personal interest of any of its members, may establish reasonable compensation for all directors for such services or delegate this authority to an appropriate committee.
(15)
Donations. Make donations and otherwise devote its resources for the public welfare or for charitable, scientific, educational, humanitarian, philanthropic or religious purposes.
(16)
Dues. Impose dues, assessments, admission and transfer fees upon its members.
(17)
Admission of members. Establish conditions for admission of members, admit members and issue memberships.
(18)
Businesses. Carry on a business.
(19)
Other. Do all things necessary or convenient, not inconsistent with law, to further the activities and affairs of the corporation.
History:  1997 a. 79.