Section 14-9-206.1. Merger

   (a) Pursuant to a written agreement, a domestic limited partnership may merge with one or more domestic or foreign limited partnerships, limited liability companies, or corporations. The agreement shall designate the surviving domestic or foreign limited partnership, domestic or foreign limited liability company, or domestic or foreign corporation. The agreement of merger may also set forth:

   (1) The terms and conditions of the merger;

   (2) The manner and basis of converting the interests in the constituent domestic or foreign limited partnerships, domestic or foreign limited liability companies, or domestic or foreign corporations into interests in the surviving domestic or foreign limited partnership, domestic or foreign limited liability company, or domestic or foreign corporation or, in whole or in part, into cash or other property; and

   (3) The rights and, subject to Code Section 14-9-502, obligations of the partners of the surviving domestic limited partnership.

(b) The surviving entity shall file a certificate of merger with the Secretary of State on behalf of each domestic limited partnership that is a party to the merger. The certificate shall state:

   (1) The name and state of domicile of each of the constituent entities;

   (2) That an agreement of merger has been approved by the requisite action by each of the constituent entities;

   (3) The name and state of domicile of the surviving partnership, limited liability company, or corporation;

   (4) If the merger is to become effective later than the time of filing of the certificate of merger, the effective date or the effective time and date of the merger, which may not be later than 90 days after the filing; and

   (5) If the surviving entity is a foreign limited partnership, foreign corporation, or foreign limited liability company without a certificate of authority to do business in this state, that the Secretary of State is appointed agent of the surviving limited partnership, foreign corporation, or foreign limited liability company on whom process in this state in any action, suit, or proceeding for the enforcement of an obligation of a domestic limited partnership constituent to the merger may be served and the address to which a copy of the process is to be mailed.

If the surviving entity is a domestic or foreign limited liability company, it shall also comply with the filing requirements of the laws of the state of its formation governing limited liability companies. If the surviving entity is a domestic or foreign corporation, it shall also comply with the filing requirements of the laws of the state of its incorporation governing corporations.

(c) On the effective date of the merger, each partnership that is not the surviving limited partnership in the merger is terminated.

(d) The certificate of merger filed pursuant to subsection (b) of this Code section shall have the effect of the certificate of cancellation for a domestic or registered foreign limited partnership that is not the surviving domestic or foreign limited partnership in the merger.

(e) On service on the Secretary of State pursuant to appointment under paragraph (5) of subsection (b) of this Code section, subsection (i) of Code Section 14-9-902.1 is applicable, except that the plaintiff in the action, suit, or proceeding shall certify to the Secretary of State that he or she has forwarded by registered mail or statutory overnight delivery such process, service, or demand to the address specified in the certificate of merger as required by paragraph (5) of subsection (b) of this Code section.

(f) When the certificate of merger required by subsection (b) of this Code section is effective, then for all purposes of the law of this state:

   (1) The surviving entity shall thereupon and thereafter possess all of the rights, privileges, immunities, franchises, and powers of each of the merging domestic limited partnerships, and all property, real, personal, and mixed, and all debts due to any of those limited partnerships, as well as all other choses in action, and each and every other interest of or belonging to or due to each of the merged domestic limited partnerships shall be taken and deemed to be transferred to and vested in the surviving entity without further act or deed; and the title to any real estate, or any interest therein, vested in any of the merged domestic limited partnerships shall not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of such merger;

   (2) The surviving entity shall thereupon and thereafter be responsible and liable for all the liabilities and obligations of each of the merged domestic limited partnerships; and any claim existing or action or proceeding pending by or against any of such partnerships may be prosecuted as if such merger had not taken place, or such surviving entity may be substituted in its place. Neither the rights of creditors nor any liens upon the property of any such partnership shall be impaired by such merger;

   (3) When a limited partnership merges with a corporation pursuant to this Code section, the effect of the merger shall be the same as if the limited partnership had been a corporation under the law governing the surviving corporation; and

   (4) When a limited partnership merges with a limited liability company pursuant to this Code section, the effect of the merger shall be the same as if the limited partnership had been a limited liability company under the law governing the surviving limited liability company.

(g) A foreign corporation or foreign limited liability company authorized to transact business in this state that merges with and into a domestic limited partnership pursuant to this Code section and is not the surviving entity in such merger need not obtain a certificate of withdrawal from the Secretary of State.

Code 1981, § 14-9-206.1, enacted by Ga. L. 1988, p. 1016, § 1; Ga. L. 1989, p. 931, § 5; Ga. L. 1993, p. 123, § 3; Ga. L. 1995, p. 470, § 13; Ga. L. 1996, p. 787, § 10; Ga. L. 2000, p. 1589, § 4; Ga. L. 2003, p. 140, § 14.