§ 17-221 — Registered series of limited partners, general partners, partnership interests or assets
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(a) If a partnership agreement provides for the establishment or formation of 1 or more series, then a registered series may be formed by complying with this section. A partnership agreement does not need to use the term registered when referencing series or refer to this section, and a reference in a partnership agreement for a registered series, including a registered series resulting from the conversion of a protected series to a registered series, may continue to refer to § 17-218 of this title, which reference shall be deemed a reference to this section with respect to such registered series. A registered series is formed by the filing of a certificate of registered series in the office of the Secretary of State.
(b) Notice of the limitation on liabilities of a registered series as referenced in subsection (c) of this section shall be set forth in the certificate of limited partnership of the limited partnership. Notice in a certificate of limited partnership of the limitation on liabilities of a registered series as referenced in subsection (c) of this section shall be sufficient for all purposes of this subsection whether or not the limited partnership has formed any registered series when such notice is included in the certificate of limited partnership, and there shall be no requirement that (i) any specific registered series of the limited partnership be referenced in such notice, (ii) such notice use the term registered when referencing series or include a reference to this section, or (iii) the certificate of limited partnership be amended if it includes a reference to § 17-218 of this title. Any reference to § 17-218 of this title in a certificate of limited partnership of a limited partnership that has 1 or more registered series shall be deemed a reference to this section with respect to such registered series. The fact that a certificate of limited partnership that contains the foregoing notice of the limitation on liabilities of a series is on file in the office of the Secretary of State shall constitute notice of such limitation on liabilities of a registered series.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this chapter or under other applicable law, to the extent the records maintained for a registered series account for the assets associated with such series separately from the other assets of the limited partnership, or any other series thereof, then the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to such series shall be enforceable against the assets of such series or the general partners associated with such series only, and not against the assets of the limited partnership generally, any other series thereof, or any general partner not associated with such series, and, unless otherwise provided in the partnership agreement, none of the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to the limited partnership generally or any other series thereof shall be enforceable against the assets of such series or the general partners associated with such series who are not also general partners of the limited partnership generally or general partners associated with the other series, as the case may be. Neither the preceding sentence nor any provision pursuant thereto in a partnership agreement, certificate of limited partnership or certificate of registered series shall (i) restrict a registered series or limited partnership on behalf of a registered series or a general partner associated with a registered series from agreeing in the partnership agreement or otherwise that any or all of the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to the limited partnership generally or any other series thereof shall be enforceable against the assets of such series or such general partner associated with such registered series, (ii) restrict a limited partnership from agreeing in the partnership agreement or otherwise that any or all of the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a registered series shall be enforceable against the assets of the limited partnership generally or (iii) restrict a general partner of the limited partnership from agreeing in the partnership agreement or otherwise that any or all of the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a registered series shall be enforceable against the assets of such general partner. Assets associated with a registered series may be held directly or indirectly, including in the name of such series, in the name of the limited partnership, through a nominee or otherwise. Records maintained for a registered series that reasonably identify its assets, including by specific listing, category, type, quantity, computational or allocational formula or procedure (including a percentage or share of any asset or assets) or by any other method where the identity of such assets is objectively determinable, will be deemed to account for the assets associated with such series separately from the other assets of the limited partnership, or any other series thereof. As used in this chapter, a reference to assets of a registered series includes assets associated with such series and a reference to assets associated with a registered series includes assets of such series, a reference to limited partners or general partners of a registered series includes limited partners or general partners associated with such series, and a reference to limited partners or general partners associated with a registered series includes limited partners or general partners of such series. The following shall apply to a registered series:
(1) A limited partnership governed by a partnership agreement that establishes or provides for the establishment of 1 or more series shall have at least 1 general partner of the partnership generally and at least 1 general partner associated with each of its registered series. If a partnership agreement does not designate an initial general partner of a particular registered series, then each general partner of the limited partnership generally shall be deemed to be a general partner associated with such series. If a partnership agreement does not designate an initial general partner of the limited partnership generally, then each general partner of the limited partnership not associated with a registered series or a protected series shall be deemed to be a general partner of the limited partnership generally, but if there is no such general partner, then each general partner of the limited partnership shall be deemed to be a general partner of the limited partnership generally. General partners of the limited partnership generally and general partners associated with a registered series are general partners of the limited partnership under this chapter. Limited partners of the limited partnership generally and limited partners associated with a registered series are limited partners of the limited partnership under this chapter. The same person may be a general partner of the limited partnership generally and be associated with any or all registered series thereof. The same person may be a limited partner of the limited partnership generally and be associated with any or all registered series thereof.
(2) A registered series may carry on any lawful business, purpose or activity, whether or not for profit, with the exception of the business of banking as defined in § 126 of Title 8. Unless otherwise provided in a partnership agreement, a registered series shall have the power and capacity to, in its own name, contract, hold title to assets (including real, personal and intangible property), grant liens and security interests, and sue and be sued.
(3) A limited partner of a registered series is not liable for the obligations of such series unless such limited partner is also a general partner of such series or, in addition to the exercise of the rights and powers of a limited partner of such series, such limited partner participates in the control of the business of such series. If a limited partner of a registered series participates in the control of the business of such series, such limited partner is liable only to persons who transact business with such series reasonably believing, based upon such limited partner’s conduct, that such limited partner is a general partner of such series. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, under a partnership agreement or under another agreement, a limited partner of a registered series may agree to be obligated personally for any or all of the debts, obligations and liabilities of one or more registered series.
(4) A limited partner may possess or exercise any of the rights and powers or act or attempt to act in 1 or more of the capacities as permitted under § 17-303 of this title, with respect to the limited partnership and any series, without participating in the control of the business of the limited partnership or with respect to any series within the meaning of § 17-303(a) of this title. A partnership agreement may provide for classes or groups of general partners or limited partners associated with a registered series having such relative rights, powers and duties as the partnership agreement may provide, and may make provision for the future creation in the manner provided in the partnership agreement of additional classes or groups of general partners or limited partners associated with such series having such relative rights, powers and duties as may from time to time be established, including rights, powers and duties senior to existing classes and groups of general partners or limited partners associated with such series. A partnership agreement may provide for the taking of an action, including the amendment of the partnership agreement, without the vote or approval of any general partner or limited partner or class or group of general partners or limited partners, including an action to create under the provisions of the partnership agreement a class or group of a registered series of partnership interests that was not previously outstanding. A partnership agreement may provide that any limited partner or class or group of limited partners associated with a registered series shall have no voting rights.
(5) A partnership agreement may grant to all or certain identified general partners or limited partners or a specified class or group of the general partners or limited partners associated with a registered series the right to vote separately or with all or any class or group of the general partners or limited partners associated with such series, on any matter. Voting by general partners or limited partners associated with a registered series may be on a per capita, number, financial interest, class, group or any other basis.
(6) Section 17-603 of this title shall apply to a limited partner with respect to any registered series with which the limited partner is associated. Except as otherwise provided in a partnership agreement, any event under this subsection or in a partnership agreement that causes a limited partner of a registered series to cease to be associated with such series shall not, in itself, cause such limited partner to cease to be associated with any other series or to be a limited partner of the limited partnership generally or cause the dissolution of the registered series, regardless of whether such limited partner was the last remaining limited partner associated with such series. A limited partner of a registered series shall cease to be a limited partner with respect to such series and to have the power to exercise any rights or powers of a limited partner with respect to such series upon the happening of either of the following events:
a. The limited partner withdraws with respect to such series in accordance with § 17-603 of this title; or
b. Except as otherwise provided in the partnership agreement, the limited partner assigns all of that limited partner’s own partnership interest with respect to such series.
(7) Section 17-602 of this title shall apply to a general partner with respect to any registered series with which the general partner is associated. A general partner of a registered series shall cease to be a general partner with respect to such series and to have the power to exercise any rights or powers of a general partner with respect to such series upon an event of withdrawal of the general partner with respect to such series. Except as otherwise provided in a partnership agreement, either of the following events or any event in a partnership agreement that causes a general partner of a registered series to cease to be associated with such series shall not, in itself, cause such general partner to cease to be associated with any other series or to be a general partner of the limited partnership generally:
a. The general partner withdraws with respect to such series in accordance with § 17-602 of this title; or
b. The general partner assigns all of the general partner’s partnership interest with respect to such series.
(8) Notwithstanding § 17-606 of this title, but subject to paragraphs (c)(9) and (c)(11) of this section, and unless otherwise provided in a partnership agreement, at the time a partner of a registered series becomes entitled to receive a distribution with respect to such series, the partner has the status of, and is entitled to all remedies available to, a creditor of such series, with respect to the distribution. A partnership agreement may provide for the establishment of a record date with respect to allocations and distributions with respect to a registered series.
(9) Notwithstanding § 17-607(a) of this title, a limited partnership may make a distribution with respect to registered series. A limited partnership shall not make a distribution with respect to a registered series to a partner to the extent that at the time of the distribution, after giving effect to the distribution, all liabilities of such series, other than liabilities to partners on account of their partnership interests with respect to such series and liabilities for which the recourse of creditors is limited to specified property of such series, exceed the fair value of the assets associated with such series, except that the fair value of property of such series that is subject to a liability for which the recourse of creditors is limited shall be included in the assets associated with such series only to the extent that the fair value of that property exceeds that liability. For purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, the term “distribution” shall not include amounts constituting reasonable compensation for present or past services or reasonable payments made in the ordinary course of business pursuant to a bona fide retirement plan or other benefits program. A limited partner of a registered series who receives a distribution in violation of this subsection, and who knew at the time of the distribution that the distribution violated this subsection, shall be liable to such series for the amount of the distribution. A limited partner of a registered series who receives a distribution in violation of this subsection, and who did not know at the time of the distribution that the distribution violated this subsection, shall not be liable for the amount of the distribution. Subject to § 17-607(c) of this title, which shall apply to any distribution made with respect to a registered series under this subsection, this subsection shall not affect any obligation or liability of a limited partner under an agreement or other applicable law for the amount of a distribution.
(10) Subject to § 17-801 of this title, except to the extent otherwise provided in the partnership agreement, a registered series may be dissolved and its affairs wound up without causing the dissolution of the limited partnership. The dissolution of a registered series shall not affect the limitation on liabilities of such series provided by this subsection. A registered series is dissolved and its affairs shall be wound up upon the dissolution of the limited partnership under § 17-801 of this title or otherwise upon the first to occur of the following:
a. At the time specified in the partnership agreement;
b. Upon the happening of events specified in the partnership agreement;
c. Unless otherwise provided in the partnership agreement, upon the vote or consent of (i) all general partners associated with such series and (ii) limited partners associated with such series who own more than2/3of the then-current percentage or other interest in the profits of such series owned by all of the limited partners associated with such series;
d. An event of withdrawal of a general partner associated with such series unless at the time there is at least 1 other general partner associated with such series and the partnership agreement permits the business of such series to be carried on by the remaining general partner associated with such series and that partner does so, but such series is not dissolved and is not required to be wound up by reason of any event of withdrawal if (i) within 90 days or such other period as is provided for in the partnership agreement after the withdrawal either (A) if provided for in the partnership agreement, the then-current percentage or other interest in the profits of such series specified in the partnership agreement owned by the remaining partners associated with such series agree or vote to continue the business of such series and to appoint, effective as of the date of withdrawal, 1 or more additional general partners for such series if necessary or desired, or (B) if no such right to agree or vote to continue the business of such series of the limited partnership and to appoint 1 or more additional general partners for such series is provided for in the partnership agreement, then more than 50% of the then-current percentage or other interest in the profits of such series owned by the remaining partners associated with such series agree or vote to continue the business of such series and to appoint, effective as of the date of withdrawal, 1 or more additional general partners for such series if necessary or desired, or (ii) the business of such series is continued pursuant to a right to continue stated in the partnership agreement and the appointment, effective as of the date of withdrawal, of 1 or more additional general partners to be associated with such series if necessary or desired; or
e. The dissolution of such series under paragraph (c)(12) of this section.
(11) Notwithstanding § 17-803(a) of this title, unless otherwise provided in the partnership agreement, a general partner associated with a registered series who has not wrongfully dissolved such series or, if none, the limited partners associated with such series or a person approved by the limited partners associated with such series, in either case, by limited partners who own more than 50% of the then current percentage or other interest in the profits of such series owned by all of the limited partners associated with such series, may wind up the affairs of such series; but, the Court of Chancery, upon cause shown, may wind up the affairs of a registered series upon application of any partner associated with such series, the partner’s personal representative or assignee, and in connection therewith, may appoint a liquidating trustee. The persons winding up the affairs of a registered series may, in the name of the limited partnership and for and on behalf of the limited partnership and such series, take all actions with respect to such series as are permitted under § 17-803(b) of this title. The persons winding up the affairs of a registered series shall provide for the claims and obligations of such series and distribute the assets of such series as provided in § 17-804 of this title, which section shall apply to the winding up and distribution of assets of a registered series. Actions taken in accordance with this subsection shall not affect the liability of limited partners and shall not impose liability on a liquidating trustee.
(12) On application by or for a partner associated with a registered series, the Court of Chancery may decree dissolution of such series whenever it is not reasonably practicable to carry on the business of such series in conformity with a partnership agreement.
(13) For all purposes of the laws of the State of Delaware, a registered series is an association, regardless of the number of partners of such series.
(d) In order to form a registered series of a limited partnership, a certificate of registered series must be filed in accordance with this subsection.
(1) A certificate of registered series:
a. Shall set forth:
(i) The name of the limited partnership;
(ii) The name of the registered series; and
(iii) The name and the business, residence or mailing address of each general partner of the registered series.
b. May include any other matter that the partners of such registered series determine to include therein.
(2) A certificate of registered series shall be executed in accordance with § 17-204 of this title and shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State in accordance with § 17-206 of this title. A certificate of registered series shall be effective as of the effective time of such filing unless a later effective date or time (which shall be a date or time certain) is provided for in the certificate of registered series. A certificate of registered series is not an amendment to the certificate of limited partnership of the limited partnership. The filing of a certificate of registered series in the office of the Secretary of State shall make it unnecessary to file any other documents under Chapter 31 of this title.
(3) A certificate of registered series is amended by filing a certificate of amendment thereto in the office of the Secretary of State. The certificate of amendment of certificate of registered series shall set forth:
a. The name of the limited partnership;
b. The name of the registered series; and
c. The amendment to the certificate of registered series.
(4) A general partner of a registered series who becomes aware that any statement in a certificate of registered series filed with respect to such registered series was false when made, or that any matter described therein has changed making the certificate of registered series false in any material respect or noncompliant with paragraph (e)(1) of this section, shall promptly amend the certificate of registered series.
(5) Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraph (d)(4) of this section, no later than 90 days after the happening of any of the following events an amendment to a certificate of registered series reflecting the occurrence of the event or events shall be filed by a general partner of such registered series:
a. The admission of a new general partner to such registered series;
b. The withdrawal of a general partner of such registered series; or
c. A change in the name of the registered series.
(6) A certificate of registered series may be amended at any time for any other proper purpose.
(7) Unless otherwise provided in this chapter or unless a later effective date or time (which shall be a date or time certain) is provided for in the certificate of amendment of certificate of registered series, a certificate of amendment of certificate of registered series shall be effective at the time of its filing with the Secretary of State.
(8) A certificate of registered series shall be canceled upon the cancellation of the certificate of limited partnership of the limited partnership named in the certificate of registered series, or upon the filing of a certificate of cancellation of certificate of registered series or upon the future effective date or time of a certificate of cancellation of certificate of registered series, or as provided in § 17-1110(b) of this title, or upon the filing of a certificate of merger or consolidation of registered series if the registered series is not the surviving or resulting registered series in a merger or consolidation or upon the future effective date or time of a certificate of merger or consolidation of registered series if the registered series is not the surviving or resulting registered series in a merger or consolidation, or upon the filing of a certificate of conversion of registered series to protected series or upon the future effective date or time of a certificate of conversion of registered series to protected series. A certificate of cancellation of certificate of registered series may be filed at any time, and shall be filed, in the office of the Secretary of State to accomplish the cancellation of a certificate of registered series upon the dissolution of a registered series for which a certificate of registered series was filed and completion of the winding up of such registered series. A certificate of cancellation of certificate of registered series shall set forth:
a. The name of the limited partnership;
b. The name of the registered series;
c. The date of filing of the certificate of registered series;
d. The future effective date or time (which shall be a date or time certain) of cancellation if it is not to be effective upon the filing of the certificate of cancellation; and
e. Any other information the person filing the certificate of cancellation of certificate of registered series determines.
(9) A certificate of cancellation of certificate of registered series that is filed in the office of the Secretary of State prior to the dissolution or the completion of winding up of a registered series may be corrected as an erroneously executed certificate of cancellation of certificate of registered series by filing with the office of the Secretary of State a certificate of correction of such certificate of cancellation of certificate of registered series in accordance with § 17-213 of this title.
(10) The Secretary of State shall not issue a certificate of good standing with respect to a registered series if its certificate of registered series is canceled or the limited partnership has ceased to be in good standing.
(e) The name of each registered series as set forth in its certificate of registered series:
(1) Shall begin with the name of the limited partnership, including any word, abbreviation or designation required by § 17-102 of this title;
(2) May contain the name of a limited partner or general partner;
(3) Must be such as to distinguish it upon the records in the office of the Secretary of State from the name on such records of any corporation, partnership, limited partnership, statutory trust, limited liability company, registered series of a limited liability company or registered series of a limited partnership reserved, registered, formed or organized under the laws of the State of Delaware or qualified to do business or registered as a foreign corporation, foreign limited partnership, foreign statutory trust, foreign partnership or foreign limited liability company in the State of Delaware; provided, however, that a registered series may register under any name which is not such as to distinguish it upon the records in the office of the Secretary of State from the name on such records of any domestic or foreign corporation, partnership, statutory trust, limited liability company, registered series of a limited liability company, registered series of a limited partnership, or foreign limited partnership reserved, registered, formed or organized under the laws of the State of Delaware with the written consent of the other corporation, partnership, statutory trust, limited liability company, registered series of a limited liability company, registered series of a limited partnership, or foreign limited partnership, which written consent shall be filed with the Secretary of State;
(4) May contain the following words: “Company,” “Association,” “Club,” “Foundation,” “Fund,” “Institute,” “Society,” “Union,” “Syndicate,” “Limited,” “Public Benefit” or “Trust” (or abbreviations of like import); and
(5) Shall not contain the word “bank,” or any variation thereof, except for the name of a bank reporting to and under the supervision of the State Bank Commissioner of this State or a subsidiary of a bank or savings association (as those terms are defined in the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended, at 12 U.S.C. § 1813), or a limited partnership regulated under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, 12 U.S.C. § 1841 et seq., or the Home Owners’ Loan Act, as amended, 12 U.S.C. § 1461 et seq.; provided, however, that this section shall not be construed to prevent the use of the word “bank,” or any variation thereof, in a context clearly not purporting to refer to a banking business or otherwise likely to mislead the public about the nature of the business of the limited partnership or the registered series, or to lead to a pattern and practice of abuse that might cause harm to the interests of the public or this State as determined by the Division of Corporations in the Department of State.
(f) If a partnership agreement provides the manner in which a dissolution of a registered series may be revoked, it may be revoked in that manner and, unless the limited partnership has dissolved and such dissolution has not been revoked or the partnership agreement prohibits revocation of dissolution of a registered series, then notwithstanding the occurrence of an event set forth in paragraph (c)(10)a., b., c., or d. of this section, the registered series shall not be dissolved and its affairs shall not be wound up if, prior to the filing of a certificate of cancellation of the certificate of registered series in the office of the Secretary of State, the business of the registered series is continued, effective as of the occurrence of such event:
(1) In the case of dissolution effected by the vote or consent of the partners associated with the registered series (or other persons whose approval is required for such dissolution pursuant to the partnership agreement), pursuant to such vote or consent (and the approval of any partners associated with the registered series or other persons whose approval is required under the partnership agreement to revoke a dissolution contemplated by this paragraph);
(2) In the case of dissolution under paragraph (c)(10)a. or b. of this section (other than a dissolution effected by the vote or consent of the partners associated with the registered series (or other persons whose approval is required for such dissolution pursuant to the partnership agreement) or an event of withdrawal of a general partner associated with the registered series), pursuant to such vote or consent that, pursuant to the terms of the partnership agreement, is required to amend the provision of the partnership agreement effecting such dissolution (and the approval of any partners associated with the registered series or other persons whose approval is required under the partnership agreement to revoke a dissolution contemplated by this paragraph); and
(3) In the case of dissolution effected by an event of withdrawal of a general partner associated with the registered series, pursuant to the vote or consent of:
a. All remaining general partners associated with the registered series; and
b. Limited partners associated with the registered series who own more than2/3of the then-current percentage or other interest in the profits of such series owned by all of the limited partners associated with such series, or if there is no limited partner associated with such series, the assignee of all of the limited partners’ partnership interests in such series (and the approval of any partners associated with the registered series or other persons whose approval is required under the partnership agreement to revoke a dissolution contemplated by this paragraph); provided, however, if there is no remaining general partner associated with the registered series and no limited partner associated with such series or assignee of all of the limited partners’ partnership interests in such series, the business of such series is continued, effective as of the occurrence of such event, pursuant to the vote or consent of the personal representative of the last remaining general partner associated with such series or the assignee of all of the general partners’ partnership interests in such series (and the approval of any partners associated with the registered series or other persons whose approval is required under the partnership agreement to revoke a dissolution contemplated by this paragraph).
If dissolution is revoked pursuant to paragraph (f)(3) of this section and there is no remaining general partner associated with the registered series, 1 or more general partners associated with such series shall be appointed, effective as of the date of withdrawal of the last remaining general partner associated with such series, by the vote or consent of the limited partners associated with such series who own more than2/3of the then-current percentage or other interest in the profits of such series owned by all of the limited partners associated with such series, or if there is no limited partner associated with such series, the assignee of all of the limited partners’ partnership interests in such series. If dissolution is revoked pursuant to paragraph (f)(3) of this section and there is no remaining general partner associated with such series and no limited partner associated with such series or assignee of all of the limited partners’ partnership interests in such series, 1 or more general partners associated with such series shall be appointed, effective as of the date of withdrawal of the last remaining general partner associated with such series, by the vote or consent of the personal representative of the last remaining general partner associated with such series or the assignee of all of the general partners’ partnership interests associated with such series.
If the dissolution of the limited partnership under § 17-801 of this title results in the dissolution of a registered series under this section, unless a certificate of cancellation of the certificate of registered series with respect to such series has been filed in the office of the Secretary of State or the partnership agreement prohibits revocation of dissolution of such series, the dissolution of such series shall be automatically revoked upon any revocation of dissolution of the limited partnership in accordance with § 17-806 of this title provided there is at least 1 general partner associated with such series. If an event of withdrawal of a general partner who was both the last remaining general partner of the limited partnership and the last remaining general partner associated with a registered series results in both the dissolution of the limited partnership under § 17-801 of this title and the dissolution of such series under this section, unless a certificate of cancellation of the certificate of registered series with respect to such series has been filed in the office of the Secretary of State or the partnership agreement prohibits revocation of dissolution of such series, the dissolution of such series shall be automatically revoked upon any revocation of dissolution of the limited partnership in accordance with § 17-806 of this title, and the general partner of the limited partnership appointed pursuant to § 17-806 of this title shall also be the general partner associated with such series effective as of the date of withdrawal of the last remaining general partner associated with such series.
The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to limit the accomplishment of a revocation of dissolution of a registered series by other means permitted by law.
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