Any manufacturer, brewer, or importer of beer as referenced in Section 61-4-1115, or its affiliate may hold an interest in a limited partnership providing financial assistance to a general partner wholesaler, but may only exercise that control of the limited partnership business as is permitted by this Uniform Limited Partnership Act. However, in no event may the limited partner, directly or indirectly, have any managerial control or decision-making authority including personnel decisions, with respect to the day-to-day operations of the limited partnership, and upon a default by the general partner wholesaler, the limited partner is not entitled, directly or indirectly, to any additional control, ownership, or financial interest in the general partner wholesaler, nor may the limited partner become the general partner in the limited partnership. No manufacturer, brewer, or importer of beer or its affiliate licensed in this State, directly or indirectly, may have any financial or ownership interest in the general partner wholesaler. It is further declared an unfair trade practice for any manufacturer, brewer, or importer of beer or its affiliate holding an interest in a limited partnership providing financial assistance to a general partner wholesaler pursuant to this section to have directly or indirectly any managerial control or decision-making authority, including personnel decisions, with respect to the day-to-day operations of the limited partnership.

The only financial assistance that may be provided under the provisions of this section is the initial financial assistance to the limited partnership to acquire a licensed beer wholesaler. In this arrangement for financial assistance, the federal basic permit and the wholesaler's license issued by the department must be issued in the name of the general partner wholesaler on behalf of the limited partnership, and not in the name of the limited partnership nor in the name of the manufacturer, brewer, or importer or its affiliate.

The limited partnership may not exist for more than ten years from the date of its creation and may not be recreated, renewed, or extended beyond that date. The limited partnership shall not be considered as amending or otherwise altering Title 61 except for the limited purposes permitted in this section in connection with a manufacturer, brewer, or importer of beer or its affiliate who is licensed in this State providing the financial assistance. A manufacturer, brewer, or importer or its affiliate shall not mandate, directly or indirectly, that a wholesaler use the financial assistance as described in this section.

A violation of this section is deemed to be a violation of the South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices Act.

HISTORY: 2001 Act No. 76, Section 6.