(a)
No foreign (other state) industrial loan company that does not already maintain a California branch office may:
(1)
Merge as the surviving corporation (Section 148) with a California industrial loan company or California bank pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 18684 unless the California industrial loan company or California bank has been in existence for at least five years.
(2)
Purchase the whole business unit, of a California industrial loan company or California bank pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 18684 unless the California industrial loan company or California bank has been in existence for at least five years.
(b)
For purposes of this section, a California industrial loan company or California bank that is established solely for the purpose of, and does not open for business prior to, acquiring the whole business unit of a second California industrial loan company or California bank through a merger or purchase is deemed to have been in existence for the same period of time as the second California industrial loan company or California bank.