§ 2563. Acquiring person safe harbor.
(a) Nonparticipant.--For the purposes of this subchapter, a person shall not be deemed an acquiring person, absent significant other activities indicating that a person should be deemed an acquiring person, by reason of voting or giving a proxy or consent as a shareholder of the corporation if the person is one who:
(1) did not acquire any voting shares of the corporation with the purpose of changing or influencing control of the corporation, seeking to acquire control of the corporation or influencing the outcome of a vote of shareholders under section 2564 (relating to voting rights of shares acquired in a control-share acquisition) or in connection with or as a participant in any agreement, arrangement, relationship, understanding or otherwise having any such purpose;
(2) if the control-share acquisition were consummated, would not be a person that has control over the corporation and will not receive, directly or indirectly, any consideration from a person that has control over the corporation other than consideration offered proportionately to all holders of voting shares of the corporation; and
(3) if a proxy or consent is given, executes a revocable proxy or consent given without consideration in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act under circumstances not then reportable on Schedule 13d under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report) by the person who gave the proxy or consent.
(b) Certain holders.--For the purpose of this subchapter, a person shall not be deemed an acquiring person if such person holds voting power within any of the ranges specified in the definition of "control-share acquisition":
(1) in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this subchapter, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee or trustee for one or more beneficial owners who do not individually or, if they are a group acting in concert, as a group have the voting power specified in any of the ranges in the definition of "control-share acquisition";
(2) in connection with the solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of the corporation in connection with shareholder meetings or actions of the corporation;
(3) as a result of the solicitation of revocable proxies or consents with respect to voting shares if such proxies or consents both:
(i) are given without consideration in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act; and
(ii) do not empower the holder thereof, whether or not this power is shared with any other person, to vote such shares except on the specific matters described in such proxy or consent and in accordance with the instructions of the giver of such proxy or consent; or
(4) to the extent of voting power arising from a contingent right of the holders of one or more classes or series of preference shares to elect one or more members of the board of directors upon or during the continuation of a default in the payment of dividends on such shares or another similar contingency.
(Dec. 19, 1990, P.L.834, No.198, eff. imd.)
1990 Amendment. Act 198 renumbered section 2562.1 to section 2563, renumbered former section 2563 to section 2564, amended subsecs. (a)(1) and (b)(2) and (3) and added subsec. (b)(4).
Cross References. Section 2563 is referred to in section 2562 of this title.
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