(1) Pursuant to a plan adopted by the board of directors and approved by the Board as equitable and as adequately protecting the interests of the association, its members or stockholders, its deposit account holders, and the public, an association shall, subject to Article 4 of this chapter, have power to reorganize, to merge, or consolidate into another association or company, or to sell all or substantially all of its assets out of the ordinary course of business to another association or company, provided the plan of the reorganization, merger, or consolidation or sale of assets meets the procedural requirements of the South Carolina Business Corporation Act, Chapters 1 to 25 of Title 33, for these transactions.

(2) The Board may provide by regulation for the procedures to be followed by any association submitting a plan of reorganization, merger, or consolidation pursuant to this section.

(3) The Board may not approve any proposed transactions set forth in this section:

(a) Which would result in a monopoly, or which would be in furtherance of any combination or conspiracy to monopolize or to attempt to monopolize the savings and loan business in this State; or

(b) The effect of which in this State may be substantially to lessen competition, or to tend to create a monopoly, or which in any other manner would be in restraint of trade, unless it finds that the anticompetitive effects of the proposed transaction are clearly outweighed in the public interest by the probable effect of the proposed reorganization, merger, or consolidation or sale of assets in meeting the convenience and needs of the primary service area to be served.

(4) Each application for reorganization, merger, consolidation, or sale of assets out of the ordinary course of business must be accompanied by a nonrefundable filing fee as determined by the Board.

(5) In the event of any conflict between this section and Article 4 of this chapter, the provisions of Article 4 shall control.

HISTORY: 1985 Act No. 124, Section 1.