This chapter shall not affect a statute or other rule of law applicable to a domestic business corporation that is not a for-profit benefit corporation, except as provided in § 48-28-104. Specifically, no implication is made by, and no inference may be drawn from, the enactment of this chapter as to whether, in exercising their duties, the officers or directors of a domestic business corporation that is not a for-profit benefit corporation may consider the impact of the corporation’s transactions or other conduct on:

(1) The interests of those materially affected by the corporation’s conduct, including the pecuniary interests of shareholders; or

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 48-28-109

  • Business: includes every trade, occupation, profession, investment activity and other lawful purpose for gain or the preservation of assets whether or not carried on for profits. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Charter: includes amended and restated charters and articles of merger. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Directors: means natural persons, designated in the charter or bylaws or elected or appointed by the incorporators, and their successors and natural persons elected or appointed to act as members of the board, irrespective of the names or titles by which such persons are described. See Tennessee Code 48-51-201
  • domestic business corporation: means a corporation for profit, which is not a foreign corporation, incorporated under or subject to chapters 11-27 of this title. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • For-profit benefit corporation: means a domestic business corporation organized under and subject to the Tennessee Business Corporation Act, compiled in chapters 11-27 of this title that intends to pursue a public benefit or public benefits. See Tennessee Code 48-28-103
  • Public benefit: means a positive effect or reduction of negative effects on one (1) or more categories of persons, entities, communities, or interests, other than shareholders in their capacities as shareholders, including, but not limited to, an artistic, charitable, cultural, economic, educational, environmental, literary, medical, religious, scientific, or technological effect. See Tennessee Code 48-28-103
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
(2) Any public benefit or public benefits identified in its charter.