TITLE 6

Commerce and Trade

SUBTITLE II

Other Laws Relating to Commerce and Trade

CHAPTER 15. Delaware Revised Uniform Partnership Act

Subchapter VII. Partner’s Dissociation When Business or Affairs Not Wound Up

§ 15-701. Purchase of dissociated partner’s partnership interest.

(a) If a partner is dissociated from a partnership without resulting in a dissolution and winding up of the partnership business or affairs under § 15-801 of this title, the partnership shall cause the dissociated partner’s interest in the partnership to be purchased for a buyout price determined pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.

(b) The buyout price of a dissociated partner’s partnership interest is an amount equal to the fair value of such partner’s economic interest as of the date of dissociation based upon such partner’s right to share in distributions from the partnership. Interest must be paid from the date of dissociation to the date of payment.

(c) Damages for wrongful dissociation under § 15-602(b) of this title, and all other amounts owing, whether or not presently due, from the dissociated partner to the partnership, must be offset against the buyout price. Interest must be paid from the date the amount owed becomes due to the date of payment.

(d) A partnership shall indemnify a dissociated partner whose partnership interest is being purchased against all partnership obligations, whether incurred before or after the dissociation, except partnership obligations incurred by an act of the dissociated partner under § 15-702 of this title.

(e) If no agreement for the purchase of a dissociated partner’s partnership interest is reached within 120 days after a written demand for payment, the partnership shall pay, or cause to be paid, in cash to the dissociated partner the amount the partnership estimates to be the buyout price and accrued interest, reduced by any offsets and accrued interest under subsection (c) of this section.

(f) If a deferred payment is authorized under subsection (h) of this section, the partnership may tender a written offer to pay the amount it estimates to be the buyout price and accrued interest, reduced by any offsets under subsection (c) of this section, stating the time of payment, the amount and type of security for payment, and the other terms and conditions of the obligation.

(g) The payment or tender required by subsection (e) or (f) of this section must be accompanied by the following:

(1) A written statement of partnership assets and liabilities as of the date of dissociation;

(2) The latest available partnership balance sheet and income statement, if any;

(3) A written explanation of how the estimated amount of the payment was calculated; and

(4) Written notice which shall state that the payment is in full satisfaction of the obligation to purchase unless, within 120 days after the written notice, the dissociated partner commences an action in the Court of Chancery under subsection (i) of this section to determine the buyout price of that partner’s partnership interest, any offsets under subsection (c) of this section or other terms of the obligation to purchase.

(h) A partner who wrongfully dissociates before the expiration of a definite term or the completion of a particular undertaking is not entitled to payment of any portion of the buyout price until the expiration of the term or completion of the undertaking, unless the partner establishes to the satisfaction of the Court of Chancery that earlier payment will not cause undue hardship to the business of the partnership. A deferred payment must bear interest and, to the extent it would not cause undue hardship to the business of the partnership, be adequately secured.

(i) A dissociated partner may maintain an action against the partnership, pursuant to § 15-405(b)(2)(ii) of this title, to determine the buyout price of that partner’s partnership interest, any offsets under subsection (c) of this section, or other terms of the obligation to purchase. The action must be commenced within 120 days after the partnership has tendered payment or an offer to pay or within one year after written demand for payment if no payment or offer to pay is tendered. The Court of Chancery shall determine the buyout price of the dissociated partner’s partnership interest, any offset due under subsection (c) of this section, and accrued interest, and enter judgment for any additional payment or refund. If deferred payment is authorized under subsection (h) of this section, the Court of Chancery shall also determine the security, if any, for payment and other terms of the obligation to purchase. The Court of Chancery may assess reasonable attorney’s fees and the fees and expenses of appraisers or other experts for a party to the action, in amounts the Court of Chancery finds equitable, against a party that the Court of Chancery finds acted arbitrarily, vexatiously or not in good faith. The finding may be based on the partnership’s failure to tender payment or an offer to pay or to comply with subsection (g) of this section.

72 Del. Laws, c. 151, §  172 Del. Laws, c. 390, §  21

§ 15-702. Dissociated partner’s power to bind and liability to partnership.

(a) For one year after a partner dissociates without resulting in a dissolution and winding up of the partnership business, the partnership, including a surviving partnership under subchapter IX of this chapter, is bound by an act of the dissociated partner which would have bound the partnership under § 15-301 of this title before dissociation only if at the time of entering into the transaction the other party:

(1) Reasonably believed that the dissociated partner was then a partner and reasonably relied on such belief in entering into the transaction;

(2) Did not have notice of the partner’s dissociation; and

(3) Is not deemed to have had knowledge under § 15-303(c) of this title or notice under § 15-704(c) of this title.

(b) A dissociated partner is liable to the partnership for any damage caused to the partnership arising from an obligation incurred by the dissociated partner after dissociation for which the partnership is liable under subsection (a) of this section.

72 Del. Laws, c. 151, §  1

§ 15-703. Dissociated partner’s liability to other persons.

(a) A partner’s dissociation does not of itself discharge the partner’s liability for a partnership obligation incurred before dissociation. A dissociated partner is not liable for a partnership obligation incurred after dissociation, except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section.

(b) A partner who dissociates without resulting in a dissolution and winding up of the partnership business is liable as a partner to the other party in a transaction entered into by the partnership, or a surviving partnership under subchapter IX of this chapter, within 1 year after the partner’s dissociation, only if the partner is liable for the obligation under § 15-306 of this title and at the time of entering into the transaction the other party:

(1) Reasonably believed that the dissociated partner was then a partner and reasonably relied on such belief in entering into the transaction;

(2) Did not have notice of the partner’s dissociation; and

(3) Is not deemed to have had knowledge under § 15-303(c) of this title or notice under § 15-704(c) of this title.

(c) By agreement with the partnership creditor and the partners continuing the business, a dissociated partner may be released from liability for a partnership obligation.

(d) A dissociated partner is released from liability for a partnership obligation if a partnership creditor, with notice of the partner’s dissociation but without the partner’s consent, agrees to a material alteration in the nature or time of payment of a partnership obligation.

72 Del. Laws, c. 151, §  1

§ 15-704. Statement of dissociation.

(a) A dissociated partner or, after the filing by the partnership of a statement of partnership existence, the partnership may file a statement of dissociation stating the name of the partnership and that the partner is dissociated from the partnership.

(b) A statement of dissociation is a limitation on the authority of a dissociated partner for the purposes of § 15-303(b) and (c) of this title.

(c) For the purposes of §§ 15-702(a)(3) and 15-703(b)(3) of this title, a person not a partner is deemed to have notice of the dissociation 60 days after the statement of dissociation is filed.

72 Del. Laws, c. 151, §  1

§ 15-705. Continued use of partnership name.

Continued use of a partnership name, or a dissociated partner’s name as part thereof, by partners continuing the business does not of itself make the dissociated partner liable for an obligation of the partners or the partnership.

72 Del. Laws, c. 151, §  1