TITLE 6

Commerce and Trade

SUBTITLE II

Other Laws Relating to Commerce and Trade

CHAPTER 18. Limited Liability Company Act

Subchapter XII. Statutory Public Benefit Limited Liability Companies

81 Del. Laws, c. 357, § 34
§ 18-1201. Law applicable to statutory public benefit limited liability companies; how formed.

This subchapter applies to all statutory public benefit limited liability companies, as defined in § 18-1202(a) of this title. If a limited liability company is formed as or elects to become a statutory public benefit limited liability company in the manner prescribed in this section, it shall be subject in all respects to the provisions of this chapter, except to the extent this subchapter imposes additional or different requirements, in which case such additional or different requirements shall apply, and notwithstanding § 18-1101 of this title or any other provision of this title, such additional or different requirements imposed by this subchapter may not be altered in the limited liability company agreement. If a limited liability company is not formed as a statutory public benefit limited liability company, it may become a statutory public benefit limited liability company in the manner specified in its limited liability company agreement or by amending its limited liability company agreement and certificate of formation to comply with the requirements of this subchapter.

81 Del. Laws, c. 357, § 3483 Del. Laws, c. 61, § 5

§ 18-1202. Statutory public benefit limited liability company defined; contents of certificate of formation and limited liability company agreement.

(a) A “statutory public benefit limited liability company” is a for-profit limited liability company formed under and subject to the requirements of this chapter that is intended to produce a public benefit or public benefits and to operate in a responsible and sustainable manner. To that end, a statutory public benefit limited liability company shall be managed in a manner that balances the members’ pecuniary interests, the best interests of those materially affected by the limited liability company’s conduct, and the public benefit or public benefits set forth in its limited liability company agreement and in its certificate of formation. A statutory public benefit limited liability company shall state in its limited liability company agreement and in the heading of its certificate of formation that it is a statutory public benefit limited liability company and shall set forth in its limited liability company agreement and in its certificate of formation 1 or more specific public benefits to be promoted by the limited liability company. In the event of any inconsistency between the public benefit or benefits to be promoted by the limited liability company as set forth in its limited liability company agreement and in its certificate of formation, the limited liability company agreement shall control as among the members, the managers and other persons who are party to or otherwise bound by the liability company agreement. A manager of a statutory public benefit limited liability company or, if there is no manager, then any member of a statutory public benefit limited liability company who becomes aware that the specific public benefit or benefits to be promoted by the limited liability company as set forth in its limited liability company agreement are inaccurately set forth in its certificate of formation, shall promptly amend the certificate of formation. Any provision in the limited liability company agreement or certificate of formation of a statutory public benefit limited liability company that is inconsistent with this subchapter shall not be effective to the extent of such inconsistency.

(b) “Public benefit” means a positive effect (or reduction of negative effects) on 1 or more categories of persons, entities, communities or interests (other than members in their capacities as members) including, but not limited to, effects of an artistic, charitable, cultural, economic, educational, environmental, literary, medical, religious, scientific or technological nature. “Public benefit provisions” means the provisions of a limited liability company agreement contemplated by this subchapter.

81 Del. Laws, c. 357, § 3483 Del. Laws, c. 61, § 6

§ 18-1203. Certain amendments and mergers; votes required [Repealed].
81 Del. Laws, c. 357, § 34repealed by 83 Del. Laws, c. 61, § 7, effective Aug. 1, 2021.

§ 18-1204. Duties of members or managers.

(a) The members or managers or other persons with authority to manage or direct the business and affairs of a statutory public benefit limited liability company shall manage or direct the business and affairs of the statutory public benefit limited liability company in a manner that balances the pecuniary interests of the members, the best interests of those materially affected by the limited liability company’s conduct, and the specific public benefit or public benefits set forth in its limited liability company agreement and certificate of formation. Unless otherwise provided in a limited liability company agreement, no member, manager or other person with authority to manage or direct the business and affairs of the statutory public benefit limited liability company shall have any liability for monetary damages for the failure to manage or direct the business and affairs of the statutory public benefit limited liability company as provided in this subsection.

(b) A member or manager of a statutory public benefit limited liability company or any other person with authority to manage or direct the business and affairs of the statutory public benefit limited liability company shall not, by virtue of the public benefit provisions or § 18-1202(a) of this title, have any duty to any person on account of any interest of such person in the public benefit or public benefits set forth in its limited liability company agreement and certificate of formation or on account of any interest materially affected by the limited liability company’s conduct and, with respect to a decision implicating the balance requirement in subsection (a) of this section, will be deemed to satisfy such person’s fiduciary duties to members and the limited liability company if such person’s decision is both informed and disinterested and not such that no person of ordinary, sound judgment would approve.

81 Del. Laws, c. 357, § 3483 Del. Laws, c. 61, § 8

§ 18-1205. Periodic statements and third-party certification.

A statutory public benefit limited liability company shall no less than biennially provide its members with a statement as to the limited liability company’s promotion of the public benefit or public benefits set forth in its limited liability company agreement and certificate of formation and as to the best interests of those materially affected by the limited liability company’s conduct. The statement shall include:

(1) The objectives that have been established to promote such public benefit or public benefits and interests;

(2) The standards that have been adopted to measure the limited liability company’s progress in promoting such public benefit or public benefits and interests;

(3) Objective factual information based on those standards regarding the limited liability company’s success in meeting the objectives for promoting such public benefit or public benefits and interests; and

(4) An assessment of the limited liability company’s success in meeting the objectives and promoting such public benefit or public benefits and interests.

81 Del. Laws, c. 357, § 3483 Del. Laws, c. 61, § 9

§ 18-1206. Derivative suits.

Members of a statutory public benefit limited liability company or assignees of limited liability company interests in a statutory public benefit limited liability company owning individually or collectively, as of the date of instituting such derivative suit, at least 2% of the then-current percentage or other interest in the profits of the limited liability company or, in the case of a limited liability company with limited liability company interests listed on a national securities exchange, the lesser of such percentage or limited liability company interests of at least $2,000,000 in market value, may maintain a derivative lawsuit to enforce the requirements set forth in § 18-1204(a) of this title.

81 Del. Laws, c. 357, § 34

§ 18-1207. No effect on other limited liability companies.

This subchapter shall not affect a statute or rule of law that is applicable to a limited liability company that is not a statutory public benefit limited liability company.

81 Del. Laws, c. 357, § 34

§ 18-1208. Accomplishment by other means.

The provisions of this subchapter shall not be construed to limit the accomplishment by any other means permitted by law of the formation or operation of a limited liability company that is formed or operated for a public benefit (including a limited liability company that is designated as a public benefit limited liability company) that is not a statutory public benefit limited liability company.

81 Del. Laws, c. 357, § 34