Conflict of interest transactions; burden of proof as to fairness; indirect interest of director; ratification of conflict of interest transaction.
S.C. Code Ann. § 54-3-90
in effect(A) A conflict of interest transaction is a transaction with the State Ports Authority in which a director has a direct or indirect interest. A conflict of interest transaction is not voidable by the authority solely because of the director's interest in the transaction if any one of the following is true: (1) the material facts of the transaction and the director's interest were disclosed or known to the board or a committee of the board, and the board or a committee of the board authorized, approved, or ratified the transaction; or (2) the transaction was fair to the authority and its customers. If item (1) has been accomplished, the burden of proving unfairness of any transaction covered by this section is on the party claiming unfairness. If item (1) has not been accomplished, the party seeking to uphold the transaction has the burden of proving fairness. (B) For purposes of this section, a director has an indirect interest in a transaction if: (1) another entity in which he has a material financial interest or in which he is a general partner is a party to the transaction; (2) another entity of which he is a director, officer, member, or trustee is a party to the transaction and the transaction is or should be considered by the board; or (3) another entity of which an immediate family member has a material financial interest or in which an immediate family member is a general partner, director, officer, member, or trustee is a party to the transaction and the transaction is or should be considered by the board. (C) For purposes of subsection (A)(1), a conflict of interest transaction is authorized, approved, or ratified if it receives the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors on the board of directors, or on the committee, who have no direct or indirect interest in the transaction, but a transaction may not be authorized, approved, or ratified under this section by a single director. If a majority of the directors who have no direct or indirect interest in the transaction vote to authorize, approve, or ratify the transaction, a quorum is present for the purpose of taking action under this section. The presence of, or a vote cast by, a director with a direct or indirect interest in the transaction does not affect the validity of any action taken under subsection (A)(1) if the transaction is otherwise authorized, approved, or ratified as provided in that subsection.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t54c003.phpFetched: 10/17/2026