MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2002 Regular Session

To: Judiciary

By: Senator(s) Ross

Senate Bill 2356

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 79-4-13.01, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CORRECT A TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR IN THE DEFINITION OF "AFFILIATE"; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  Section 79-4-13.01, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     79-4-13.01.  In this article:

          (1)  "Affiliate" means a person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with another person or is a senior executive thereof.  For purposes of Section 79-4-13.02(b)(5), a person is deemed to be an affiliate of its senior executives.

          (2)  "Beneficial shareholder" means a person who is the beneficial owner of shares held in a voting trust or by a nominee on the beneficial owner's behalf.

          (3)  "Corporation" means the issuer of the shares held by a shareholder demanding appraisal and, for matters covered in Sections 79-4-13.22 through 79-4-13.31, includes the surviving entity in a merger.

          (4)  "Fair value" means the value of the corporation's shares determined:

              (i)  Immediately before the effectuation of the corporate action to which the shareholder objects;

              (ii)  Using customary and current valuation concepts and techniques generally employed for similar businesses in the context of the transaction requiring appraisal; and

              (iii)  Without discounting for lack of marketability or minority status except, if appropriate, for amendments to the articles pursuant to Section 79-4-13.02(a)(5).

          (5)  "Interest" means interest from the effective date of the corporate action until the date of payment, at the rate of interest on judgments in this state on the effective date of the corporate action.

          (6)  "Preferred shares" means a class or series of shares whose holders have preference over any other class or series with respect to distributions.

          (7)  "Record shareholder" means the person in whose name shares are registered in the records of the corporation or the beneficial owner of shares to the extent of the rights granted by a nominee certificate on file with the corporation.

          (8)  "Senior executive" means the chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, and anyone in charge of a principal business unit or function.

          (9)  "Shareholder" means both a record shareholder and a beneficial shareholder.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.