(a) A foreign limited partnership may apply for a certificate of authority with the Secretary of State under any name, whether or not it is the name under which it is registered in its state of organization, that could be registered by a domestic limited partnership.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this Code section, whenever a foreign limited partnership is unable to obtain a certificate of authority to transact business in this state because its name does not comply with any part of Code Section 14-9-102, it may nonetheless apply for authority to transact business in this state by adding in parentheses to its name in such application a word, abbreviation, or other distinctive and distinguishing element such as the name of the state where it is organized. If in the judgment of the Secretary of State the name of the limited partnership with such addition would comply with Code Section 14-9-102, said Code section shall not be a bar to the issuance to such limited partnership of a certificate of authority to transact business in this state. In such case, any such certificate issued to such foreign limited partnership shall be issued in its name with such additions, and the limited partnership shall use such name with such additions in all its dealings with the Secretary of State and in the conduct of its affairs in this state.

(c) Whenever the name of a foreign limited partnership that was organized prior to July 1 of the year in which this chapter becomes effective and that on such date is transacting business in this state does not comply with any part of Code Section 14-9-102, such foreign limited partnership may nonetheless apply for authority to transact business in this state and Code Section 14-9-102 shall not be a bar to the issuance to such limited partnership of a certificate of authority to transact business in this state; provided, however, in any such case such foreign limited partnership shall be distinguished on the records of the Secretary of State by the Secretary of State's adding to the name of such foreign limited partnership on its records in parentheses the name of the state in which it was organized and, if necessary to distinguish multiple partnerships having such characteristics and making such application that were organized in the same state, by adding a numerical distinction to the state name. Such addition of a state name and numerical distinction to the name of a foreign limited partnership by the Secretary of State shall be solely for the purpose of distinguishing limited partnerships on the files of the Secretary of State, shall not constitute a change in the name of the foreign limited partnership, and shall have no effect whatsoever on the authority of the foreign limited partnership to use its name.