605.0706 Election to purchase instead of dissolution.—
(1) In a proceeding initiated by a member of a limited liability company under s. 605.0702(1)(b), the company may elect, or, if it fails to elect, one or more other members may elect, to purchase the entire interest of the petitioner in the company at the fair value of the interest. An election pursuant to this section is irrevocable unless the court determines that it is equitable to set aside or modify the election.
(2) An election to purchase pursuant to this section may be filed with the court within 90 days after the filing of the petition by the petitioning member under s. 605.0702(1)(b) or at such later time as the court may allow. If the election to purchase is filed, the company shall within 10 days thereafter give written notice to all members, other than the petitioning member. The notice must describe the interest in the company owned by each petitioning member and must advise the recipients of their right to join in the election to purchase the petitioning member’s interest in accordance with this section. Members who wish to participate must file notice of their intention to join in the purchase within 30 days after the effective date of the notice. A member who has filed an election or notice of the intent to participate in the election to purchase thereby becomes a party to the proceeding and shall participate in the purchase in proportion to the ownership interest as of the date the first election was filed unless the members otherwise agree or the court otherwise directs. After an election to purchase has been filed by the limited liability company or one or more members, the proceeding under s. 605.0702(1)(b) may not be discontinued or settled, and the petitioning member may not sell or otherwise dispose of the interest of the petitioner in the company unless the court determines that it would be equitable to the company and the members, other than the petitioner, to authorize such discontinuance, settlement, sale, or other disposition or the sale is pursuant to a deadlock sale provision described in s. 605.0702(1)(b).
(3) If, within 60 days after the filing of the first election, the parties reach an agreement as to the fair value and terms of the purchase of the petitioner’s interest, the court shall enter an order directing the purchase of the petitioner’s interest upon the terms and conditions agreed to by the parties, unless the petitioner’s interest has been acquired pursuant to a deadlock sale provision before the order.
(4) If the parties are unable to reach an agreement as provided for in subsection (3), the court, upon application of a party, may stay the proceedings to dissolve under s. 605.0702(1)(b) and shall, whether or not the proceeding is stayed, determine the fair value of the petitioner’s interest as of the day before the date on which the petition was filed or as of such other date as the court deems appropriate under the circumstances.
(5) Upon determining the fair value of the petitioner’s interest in the company, unless the petitioner’s interest has been acquired pursuant to a deadlock sale provision before the order, the court shall enter an order directing the purchase upon such terms and conditions as the court deems appropriate, which may include: payment of the purchase price in installments, when necessary in the interests of equity; a provision for security to ensure payment of the purchase price and additional costs, fees, and expenses as may have been awarded; and, if the interest is to be purchased by members, the allocation of the interest among those members. In allocating the petitioner’s interest among holders of different classes or series of interests in the company, the court shall attempt to preserve any existing distribution of voting rights among holders of different classes or series insofar as practicable and may direct that holders of any specific class or classes or series may not participate in the purchase. Interest may be allowed at the rate and from the date determined by the court to be equitable; however, if the court finds that the refusal of the petitioning member to accept an offer of payment was arbitrary or otherwise not in good faith, payment of interest is not allowed. If the court finds that the petitioning member had probable grounds for relief under s. 605.0702(1)(b), it may award expenses to the petitioning member, including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel and of experts employed by petitioner.
(6) The entry of an order under subsection (3) or subsection (5) shall be subject to subsection (8), and the order may not be entered unless the award is determined by the court to be allowed under subsection (8). In determining compliance with s. 605.0405, the court may rely on an affidavit from the limited liability company as to compliance with that section as of the measurement date. Upon entry of an order under subsection (3) or subsection (5), the court shall dismiss the petition to dissolve the limited liability company under s. 605.0702(1)(b), and the petitioning member shall no longer have rights or status as a member of the limited liability company except the right to receive the amounts awarded by the order of the court, which shall be enforceable in the same manner as any other judgment.
(7) The purchase ordered pursuant to subsection (5) shall be made within 10 days after the date the order becomes final.
(8) Any award pursuant to an order under subsection (3) or subsection (5), other than an award of fees and expenses pursuant to subsection (5), is subject to s. 605.0405. Unless otherwise provided in the court’s order, the effect of a distribution under s. 605.0405 shall be measured as of the date of the court’s order under subsection (3) or subsection (5).
