South Carolina § 33-6-400 - Distributions to shareholders.

§ 33-6-400. Distributions to shareholders.

(a) A board of directors may authorize and the corporation may make distributions to its shareholders subject to restriction by the articles of incorporation and the limitation in subsection (c).

(b) If the board of directors does not fix the record date for determining shareholders entitled to a distribution (other than one involving a repurchase or reacquisition of shares), it is the date the board of directors authorizes the distribution.

(c) No distribution may be made if, after giving it effect:

(1) the corporation would not be able to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of business; or

(2) the corporation's total assets would be less than the sum of its total liabilities plus (unless the articles of incorporation permit otherwise) the amount that would be needed, if the corporation were to be dissolved at the time of the distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of shareholders whose preferential rights are superior to those receiving the distribution.

(d) The board of directors may base a determination that a distribution is not prohibited under subsection (c) either on financial statements prepared on the basis of accounting practices and principles that are reasonable in the circumstances or on a fair valuation or other method that is reasonable in the circumstances.

(e) The effect of a distribution under subsection (c) is measured:

(1) in the case of distribution by purchase, redemption, or other acquisition of the corporation's shares, as of the earlier of (i) the date money or other property is transferred or debt incurred by the corporation or (ii) the date the shareholder ceases to be a shareholder with respect to the acquired shares;

(2) in the case of any other distribution of indebtedness, as of the date the indebtedness is distributed;

(3) in all other cases, as of (i) the date the distribution is authorized if the payment occurs within one hundred twenty days after the date of authorization or (ii) the date the payment is made if it occurs more than one hundred twenty days after the date of authorization.

(f) A corporation's indebtedness to a shareholder incurred by reason of a distribution made in accordance with this section is at parity with the corporation's indebtedness to its general, unsecured creditors except to the extent subordinated by agreement.

HISTORY: Derived from 1976 Code SECTION 33-9-150 [1962 Code SECTION 12-15.14; 1952 Code SECTION 12-201; 1942 Code SECTION 7724-3; 1932 Code SECTION 1353; Cr. C. '22 SECTION 244; Cr. C. '12 SECTION 211; 1909 (26) 21; 1962 (52) 1996; 1981 Act No. 146, SECTION 2; Repealed, 1988 Act No. 444, SECTION 2], SECTION 33-9-170 [1962 Code SECTION 12-15.16; 1962 (52) 1996; 1963 (53) 327; 1981 Act No. 146, SECTION 2; Repealed, 1988 Act No. 444, SECTION 2], 33-9-190 R 1988 No. 444 SECTION 2; Recod as 33-6-101 and 33-6-400 by 1988 No. 444 SECTION 2, SECTION 33-9-180 [1962 Code SECTION 12-15.17; 1962 (52) 1996; 1963 (53) 327; 1981 Act No. 146, SECTION 2; Repealed, 1988 Act No. 444, SECTION 2], SECTION 33-9-190 [1962 Code SECTION 12-15.18; 1962 (52) 1996; 1963 (53) 327; 1981 Act No. 146, SECTION 2; Repealed, 1988 Act No. 444, SECTION 2], SECTION 33-9-200 [1962 Code SECTION 12-15.19; 1962 (52) 1996; 1981 Act No. 146, SECTION 2; Repealed, 1988 Act No. 444, SECTION 2], SECTION 33-9-210 [1962 Code SECTION 12-15.20; 1962 (52) 1996; 1963 (53) 327; 1981 Act No. 146, SECTION 2; Repealed, 1988 Act No. 444, SECTION 2], and SECTION 33-9-260 [1985 Act No. 72 SECTION 6; Repealed, 1988 Act No. 444, SECTION 2]; 1988 Act No. 444, SECTION 2.