The merger is decided by the general meeting of each of the companies concerned, deliberating under the conditions laid down in Article R. 322-65.
The merger entails the dissolution without liquidation of the company or companies which are disappearing and the transfer of all their assets and liabilities to the acquiring or new company, in the state in which they are on the date of definitive completion of the operation.
The merger takes effect:
1° In the event of the creation of a new company, on the date of filing of the documents mentioned in article R. 322-85 with the clerk of the court of the registered office;
2° In the case of a merger with an existing company, on the date of the last general meeting which approved the transaction, unless the draft terms of merger provide that the transaction takes effect on another date, which must be no later than the closing date of the current financial year of the acquiring company and no earlier than the closing date of the last financial year of the company or companies transferring their assets and liabilities.
Where the merger involves the creation of a new mutual insurance company, the draft articles of association of the new company are approved by the general meeting of each of the disappearing companies, deliberating in accordance with the conditions laid down in article R. 322-65. There is no need for the operation to be approved by the general meeting of the new company or for Article R. 322-51 to be applied.