Did you know the laws in Tennessee regarding merger, share exchange, and conversion changed at the beginning of 2013? Below is one of the new statutes that sets out some of the rules for a merger. If you are planning to merge two companies, you should make sure you consult a licensed Tennessee business lawyer to make the merger compliant with the new laws.
Luke D. Bottorff
Nashville Business Lawyer
615-829-8250
[email protected]
48-21-102. Merger. [Effective on January 1, 2013. See the version effective until January 1, 2013.]
(a) One (1) or more corporations may merge with one (1) or more domestic or foreign business corporations or eligible entities pursuant to a plan of merger, or two (2) or more foreign business corporations or domestic or foreign eligible entities may merge into a new domestic business corporation to be created in the merger in the manner provided in this chapter. The merger shall result in a single survivor.
(b) A foreign business corporation, or a foreign eligible entity, may be a party to a merger with a domestic business corporation, or may be created by the terms of the plan of merger, only if the merger is permitted by the laws under which the foreign business corporation or eligible entity is organized or by which it is governed. If the organic law of a domestic eligible entity does not provide procedures for the approval of a merger, a plan of merger may be adopted and approved, the merger effectuated, and dissenters’ rights exercised in accordance with the procedures in this chapter and chapter 23 of this title. For the purposes of applying this chapter and chapter 23 of this title:
(1) The eligible entity, its members or interest holders, eligible interests, and organic documents taken together shall be deemed to be a domestic business corporation, shareholders, shares and charter, respectively and vice versa, as the context may require; and
(2) If the business and affairs of the eligible entity are managed by a group of persons that is not identical to the members or interest holders, that group shall be deemed to be the board of directors.
(c) The plan of merger must set forth:
(1) The name of each domestic or foreign business corporation or eligible entity planning to merge and the name of each domestic or foreign business corporation or eligible entity that shall survive the merger;
(2) The terms and conditions of the merger;
(3) The manner and basis of converting the shares of each merging domestic or foreign business corporation and eligible interest of each merging domestic or foreign eligible entity into shares or other securities, eligible interests, obligations, rights to acquire shares, other securities or eligible interest, cash, other property, or any combination of the foregoing;
(4) The charter of any domestic or foreign business corporation or nonprofit corporation, or the organic documents of any domestic or foreign unincorporated entity, to be created by the merger, or if a new domestic or foreign business or nonprofit corporation or unincorporated is not to be created by the merger, any amendments to the survivor’s charter or organic documents; and
(5) Any other provision required by the laws under which any party to the merger is organized or by which it is governed, or by the charter or organic documents of any such party.
(d) The plan of merger may set forth any other provisions relating to the merger.
(e) Terms of a plan of merger may be made dependent on facts objectively ascertainable outside the plan in accordance with § 48-11-301(j).
(f) The plan of merger may also include a provision that the plan may be amended prior to filing articles of merger, but if the shareholders of a domestic corporation that is a party to the merger are required or permitted to vote on the plan, the plan must provide that subsequent to approval of the plan by such shareholders the plan may not be amended to change:
(1) The amount or kind of shares or other securities, eligible interests, obligations, rights to acquire shares, other securities, or eligible interests, cash, or other property to be received under the plan by the shareholders of or owners of eligible interests in any party to the merger;
(2) The charter of any corporation, or the organic documents of any unincorporated entity, that will survive or be created as a result of the merger, except for changes permitted by § 48-20-102 or by comparable provisions of the organic laws of any such foreign corporation or domestic or foreign unincorporated entity; or
(3) Any of the other terms or conditions of the plan if the change would adversely affect such shareholders in any material respect.
(g) Property held in trust or for charitable purposes under the laws of this state by a domestic or foreign eligible entity shall not be diverted by a merger from the objects for which it was donated, granted, or devised, unless and until the eligible entity obtains a court order specifying the disposition of the property to the extent required by and pursuant to § 35-15-413.
