South Carolina § 35-2-205 - "Business combination" defined.

§ 35-2-205. "Business combination" defined.

As used in this article, "business combination", when used in reference to any resident domestic corporation and any interested shareholder of the resident domestic corporation, means any of the following:

(1) Any merger of the resident domestic corporation or any subsidiary of the resident domestic corporation with:

(A) the interested shareholder; or

(B) any other corporation (whether or not itself an interested shareholder of the resident domestic corporation) that is, or after the merger or consolidation would be, an affiliate or associate of the interested shareholder.

(2) Any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer, or other disposition in one transaction or a series of transactions to or with the interested shareholder or any affiliate or associate of the interested shareholder of assets of the resident domestic corporation or any subsidiary of the resident domestic corporation:

(A) having an aggregate market value equal to ten percent or more of the aggregate market value of all the assets, determined on a consolidated basis, of the resident domestic corporation;

(B) having an aggregate market value equal to ten percent or more of the aggregate market value of all the outstanding shares of the resident domestic corporation; or

(C) representing ten percent or more of the earning power or net income, determined on a consolidated basis, of the resident domestic corporation.

(3) The issuance or transfer by the resident domestic corporation or any subsidiary of the resident domestic corporation in one transaction or a series of transactions of any shares of the resident domestic corporation or any subsidiary of the resident domestic corporation that have an aggregate market value equal to five percent or more of the aggregate market value of all the outstanding shares of the resident domestic corporation to the interested shareholder or any affiliate or associate of the interested shareholder except under the exercise of warrants or rights to purchase shares offered, or a dividend or distribution paid or made, pro rata to all shareholders of the resident domestic corporation.

(4) The adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the resident domestic corporation proposed by, or under any agreement, arrangement, or understanding (whether or not in writing) with, the interested shareholder or any affiliate or associate of the interested shareholder.

(5) Any:

(A) reclassification of securities (including without limitation any share split, share dividend, or other distribution of shares in respect of shares, or any reverse share split);

(B) recapitalization of the resident domestic corporation;

(C) merger or consolidation of the resident domestic corporation with any subsidiary of the resident domestic corporation; or

(D) other transaction (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving the interested shareholder) proposed by, or under any agreement, arrangement, or understanding (whether or not in writing) with, the interested shareholder or any affiliate or associate of the interested shareholder, that has the effect (directly or indirectly) of increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class or series of voting shares or securities convertible into voting shares of the resident domestic corporation or any subsidiary of the resident domestic corporation that is (directly or indirectly) owned by the interested shareholder or any affiliate or associate of the interested shareholder, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments.

(6) Any receipt by the interested shareholder or any affiliate or associate of the interested shareholder of the benefit (directly or indirectly, except proportionately as a shareholder of the resident domestic corporation) of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges, or other financial assistance or any tax credits or other tax advantages provided by or through the resident domestic corporation.

HISTORY: 1988 Act No. 444, SECTION 5, eff April 22, 1988.