Loans, Guarantees and Suretyship

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  1. Prerequisites.  Unless otherwise provided in chapters 201-248 of this title or the articles or operating agreement, an LLC may lend money to, guarantee an obligation of, become a surety for, or otherwise financially assist a person:
    1. In the usual and regular course of business of the LLC;
    2. With, or for the benefit of, a related LLC, an organization in which the LLC has a financial interest, an organization with which the LLC has a business relationship, or an organization to which the LLC has the power to make donations; or
    3. With, or for the benefit of, a manager or other employee of the LLC or a subsidiary, including a manager or employee who is a member but not a governor of the LLC or a subsidiary, and may reasonably be expected, in the judgment of the body giving the requisite approval, to benefit the LLC. In the case of a loan or guarantee which is with, or for the benefit of, a person who is a governor, approval by a majority of the membership interests of disinterested members entitled to vote is required.
  2. Interest and Security.  A loan, guaranty, surety contract, or other financial assistance under subsection (a) may be with or without interest and may be unsecured or may be secured in any manner, including, without limitation, a grant of a security interest in a member's financial rights in the LLC.
  3. Banking Authority not Granted.  This section does not grant any authority to act as a bank or to carry on the business of banking.
  4. Requisite Approval.
    1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, for purposes of this section, “requisite approval” means:
      1. If the LLC is board-managed, an action taken at a duly held meeting and approved by a majority of the disinterested governors or by a majority of the disinterested members at a duly held meeting of the members; or
      2. If the LLC is member-managed, an action taken at a duly held meeting and approved by a majority of the voting interest of members entitled to vote which are held by disinterested persons.
    2. For purposes of this section, a “disinterested person” is a person other than:
      1. A person who receives a direct or indirect benefit from receipt of the loan or guarantee;
      2. The spouse, parents, children and spouses of children, brothers and sisters, other lineal descendants and spouses of brothers and sisters of such person; or
      3. Any entity in which any of the people, or any combination of the people, in subdivisions (d)(2)(A) and (B) have a material financial interest.
  5. Validity of Obligation of Borrower.  The fact that a loan or guarantee is made in violation of this section does not affect the borrower's liability on the loan.
  6. Exception for Sales on Credit.  A sale on credit in the ordinary course of business shall not be subject to the restrictions of this section.


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