citation: CORP § 25102

text:
The following transactions are exempted from the provisions of Section 25110:

(a) Any offer (but not a sale) not involving any public offering and the execution and delivery of any agreement for the sale of securities pursuant to the offer if (1) the agreement contains substantially the following provision: “The sale of the securities that are the subject of this agreement has not been qualified with the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation and the issuance of the securities or the payment or receipt of any part of the consideration therefor prior to the qualification is unlawful, unless the sale of securities is exempt from the qualification by Section 25100, 25102, or 25105 of the California Corporations Code. The rights of all parties to this agreement are expressly conditioned upon the qualification being obtained, unless the sale is so exempt;” and (2) no part of the purchase price is paid or received and none of the securities are issued until the sale of the securities is qualified under this law unless the sale of securities is exempt from the qualification by this section or Section 25100 or 25105.

(b) Any offer (but not a sale) of a security for which a registration statement has been filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, but has not yet become effective, or for which an offering statement under Regulation A has been filed but has not yet been qualified, if no stop order or refusal order is in effect and no public proceeding or examination looking towards an order is pending under Section 8 of the act and no order under Section 25140 or subdivision (a) of Section 25143 is in effect under this law.

(c) Any offer (but not a sale) and the execution and delivery of any agreement for the sale of securities pursuant to the offer as may be permitted by the commissioner upon application. Any negotiating permit under this subdivision shall be conditioned to the effect that none of the securities may be issued and none of the consideration therefor may be received or accepted until the sale of the securities is qualified under this law.

(d) Any transaction or agreement between the issuer and an underwriter or among underwriters if the sale of the securities is qualified, or exempt from qualification, at the time of distribution thereof in this state, if any.

(e) Any offer or sale of any evidence of indebtedness, whether secured or unsecured, and any guarantee thereof, in a transaction not involving any public offering.

(f) Any offer or sale of any security in a transaction (other than an offer or sale to a pension or profit-sharing trust of the issuer) that meets each of the following criteria:

(1) Sales of the security are not made to more than 35 persons, including persons not in this state.

(2) All purchasers either have a preexisting personal or business relationship with the offeror or any of its partners, officers, directors or controlling persons, or managers (as appointed or elected by the members) if the offeror is a limited liability company, or by reason of their business or financial experience or the business or financial experience of their professional advisers who are unaffiliated with and who are not compensated by the issuer or any affiliate or selling agent of the issuer, directly or indirectly, could be reasonably assumed to have the capacity to protect their own interests in connection with the transaction.

(3) Each purchaser represents that the purchaser is purchasing for the purchaser’s own account (or a trust account if the purchaser is a trustee) and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution of the security.

(4) The offer and sale of the security is not accomplished by the publication of any advertisement. The number of purchasers referred to above is exclusive of any described in subdivision (i), any officer, director, or affiliate of the issuer, or manager (as appointed or elected by the members) if the issuer is a limited liability company, and any other purchaser who the commissioner designates by rule. For purposes of this section, spouses (together with any custodian or trustee acting for the account of their minor children) are counted as one person and a partnership, corporation, or other organization that was not specifically formed for the purpose of purchasing the security offered in reliance upon this exemption, is counted as one person. The commissioner shall by rule require the issuer to file a notice of transactions under this subdivision.

The failure to file the notice or the failure to file the notice within the time specified by the rule of the commissioner shall not affect the availability of the exemption. Any issuer that fails to file the notice as provided by rule of the commissioner shall, within 15 business days after discovery of the failure to file the notice or after demand by the commissioner, whichever occurs first, file the notice and pay to the commissioner a fee equal to the fee payable had the transaction been qualified under Section 25110. Neither the filing of the notice nor the failure by the commissioner to comment thereon precludes the commissioner from taking any action that the commissioner deems necessary or appropriate under this division with respect to the offer and sale of the securities.

(g) Any offer or sale of conditional sale agreements, equipment trust certificates, or certificates of interest or participation therein or partial assignments thereof, covering the purchase of railroad rolling stock or equipment or the purchase of motor vehicles, aircraft, or parts thereof, in a transaction not involving any public offering.

(h) Any offer or sale of voting common stock by a corporation incorporated in any state if, immediately after the proposed sale and issuance, there will be only one class of stock of the corporation outstanding that is owned beneficially by no more than 35 persons, provided all of the following requirements have been met:

(1) The offer and sale of the stock is not accompanied by the publication of any advertisement, and no selling expenses have been given, paid, or incurred in connection therewith.

(2) The consideration to be received by the issuer for the stock to be issued consists of any of the following:

(A) Only assets (which may include cash) of an existing business enterprise transferred to the issuer upon its initial organization, of which all of the persons who are to receive the stock to be issued pursuant to this exemption were owners during, and the enterprise was operated for, a period of not less than one year immediately preceding the proposed issuance, and the ownership of the enterprise immediately prior to the proposed issuance was in the same proportions as the shares of stock are to be issued.

(B) Only cash or cancellation of indebtedness for money borrowed, or both, upon the initial organization of the issuer, provided all of the stock is issued for the same price per share.

(C) Only cash, provided the sale is approved in writing by each of the existing shareholders and the purchaser or purchasers are existing shareholders.

(D) In a case where after the proposed issuance there will be only one owner of the stock of the issuer, only any legal consideration.

(3) No promotional consideration has been given, paid, or incurred in connection with the issuance. Promotional consideration means any consideration paid directly or indirectly to a person who, acting alone or in conjunction with one or more other persons, takes the initiative in founding and organizing the business or enterprise of an issuer for services rendered in connection with the founding or organizing.

(4) A notice in a form prescribed by rule of the commissioner, signed by an active member of the State Bar of California, is filed with or mailed for filing to the commissioner not later than 10 business days after receipt of consideration for the securities by the issuer. That notice shall contain an opinion of the member of the State Bar of California that the exemption provided by this subdivision is available for the offer and sale of the securities. The failure to file the notice as required by this subdivision and the rules of the commissioner shall not affect the availability of this exemption. An issuer who fails to file the notice within the time specified by this subdivision shall, within 15 business days after discovery of the failure to file the notice or after demand by the commissioner, whichever occurs first, file the notice and pay to the commissioner a fee equal to the fee payable had the transaction been qualified under Section 25110. The notice, except when filed on behalf of a California corporation, shall be accompanied by an irrevocable consent, in the form that the commissioner by rule prescribes, appointing the commissioner or the commissioner’s successor in office to be the issuer’s attorney to receive service of any lawful process in any noncriminal suit, action, or proceeding against it or its successor that arises under this law or any rule or order hereunder after the consent has been filed, with the same force and validity as if served personally on the issuer. An issuer on whose behalf a consent has been filed in connection with a previous qualification or exemption from qualification under this law (or application for a permit under any prior law if the application or notice under this law states that the consent is still effective) need not file another. Service may be made by leaving a copy of the process in the office of the commissioner, but it is not effective unless (A) the plaintiff, who may be the commissioner in a suit, action, or proceeding instituted by the commissioner, forthwith sends notice of the service and a copy of the process by registered or certified mail to the defendant or respondent at its last address on file with the commissioner, and (B) the plaintiff’s affidavit of compliance with this section is filed in the case on or before the return day of the process, if any, or within the further time as the court allows.

(5) Each purchaser represents that the purchaser is purchasing for the purchaser’s own account, or a trust account if the purchaser is a trustee, and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution of the stock.

For the purposes of this subdivision, all securities held by spouses, whether or not jointly, shall be considered to be owned by one person, and all securities held by a corporation that has issued stock pursuant to this exemption shall be considered to be held by the shareholders to whom it has issued the stock.

All stock issued by a corporation pursuant to this subdivision as it existed prior to the effective date of the amendments to this section made during the 1996 portion of the 1995–96 Regular Session that required the issuer to have stamped or printed prominently on the face of the stock certificate a legend in a form prescribed by rule of the commissioner restricting transfer of the stock in a manner provided for by that rule shall not be subject to the transfer restriction legend requirement and, by operation of law, the corporation is authorized to remove that transfer restriction legend from the certificates of those shares of stock issued by the corporation pursuant to this subdivision as it existed prior to the effective date of the amendments to this section made during the 1996 portion of the 1995–96 Regular Session.

(i) Any offer or sale (1) to a bank, savings and loan association, trust company, insurance company, investment company registered under the federal Investment Company Act of 1940, pension or profit-sharing trust (other than a pension or profit-sharing trust of the issuer, a self-employed individual retirement plan, or individual retirement account), or other institutional investor or governmental agency or instrumentality that the commissioner may designate by rule, whether the purchaser is acting for itself or as trustee, or (2) to any corporation with outstanding securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any wholly owned subsidiary of the corporation that after the offer and sale will own directly or indirectly 100 percent of the outstanding capital stock of the issuer, provided the purchaser represents that it is purchasing for its own account (or for the trust account) for investment and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution of the security.

(j) Any offer or sale of any certificate of interest or participation in an oil or gas title or lease (including subsurface gas storage and payments out of production) if either of the following apply:

(1) All of the purchasers meet one of the following requirements:

(A) Are and have been during the preceding two years engaged primarily in the business of drilling for, producing, or refining oil or gas (or whose corporate predecessor, in the case of a corporation, has been so engaged).

(B) Are persons described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (i).

(C) Have been found by the commissioner upon written application to be substantially engaged in the business of drilling for, producing, or refining oil or gas so as not to require the protection provided by this law (which finding shall be effective until rescinded).

(2) The security is concurrently hypothecated to a bank in the ordinary course of business to secure a loan made by the bank, provided that each purchaser represents that it is purchasing for its own account for investment and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution of the security.

(k) Any offer or sale of any security under, or pursuant to, a plan of reorganization under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy law that has been confirmed or is subject to confirmation by the decree or order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(l) Any offer or sale of an option, warrant, put, call, or straddle, and any guarantee of any of these securities, by a person who is not the issuer of the security subject to the right, if the transaction, had it involved an offer or sale of the security subject to the right by the person, would not have violated Section 25110 or 25130.

(m) Any offer or sale of a stock to a pension, profit-sharing, stock bonus, or employee stock ownership plan, provided that (1) the plan meets the requirements for qualification under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code, and (2) the employees are not required or permitted individually to make any contributions to the plan. The exemption provided by this subdivision shall not be affected by whether the stock is contributed to the plan, purchased from the issuer with contributions by the issuer or an affiliate of the issuer, or purchased from the issuer with funds borrowed from the issuer, an affiliate of the issuer, or any other lender.

(n) Any offer or sale of any security in a transaction, other than an offer or sale of a security in a rollup transaction, that meets all of the following criteria:

(1) The issuer is (A) a California corporation or foreign corporation that, at the time of the filing of the notice required under this subdivision, is subject to Section 2115, or (B) any other form of business entity, including without limitation a partnership or trust organized under the laws of this state. The exemption provided by this subdivision is not available to a “blind pool” issuer, as that term is defined by the commissioner, or to an investment company subject to the federal Investment Company Act of 1940.

(2) Sales of securities are made only to qualified purchasers or other persons the issuer reasonably believes, after reasonable inquiry, to be qualified purchasers. A corporation, partnership, or other organization specifically formed for the purpose of acquiring the securities offered by the issuer in reliance upon this exemption may be a qualified purchaser if each of the equity owners of the corporation, partnership, or other organization is a qualified purchaser. Qualified purchasers include the following:

(A) A person designated in Section 260.102.13 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations.

(B) A person designated in subdivision (i) or any rule of the commissioner adopted thereunder.

(C) A pension or profit-sharing trust of the issuer, a self-employed individual retirement plan, or an individual retirement account, if the investment decisions made on behalf of the trust, plan, or account are made solely by persons who are qualified purchasers.

(D) An organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, corporation, Massachusetts or similar business trust, or partnership, each with total assets in excess of five million dollars ($5,000,000) according to its most recent audited financial statements.

(E) With respect to the offer and sale of one class of voting common stock of an issuer or of preferred stock of an issuer entitling the holder thereof to at least the same voting rights as the issuer’s one class of voting common stock, provided that the issuer has only one-class voting common stock outstanding upon consummation of the offer and sale, a natural person who, either individually or jointly with the person’s spouse, (i) has a minimum net worth of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) and had, during the immediately preceding tax year, gross income in excess of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) and reasonably expects gross income in excess of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) during the current tax year or (ii) has a minimum net worth of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000). “Net worth” shall be determined exclusive of home, home furnishings, and automobiles. Other assets included in the computation of net worth may be valued at fair market value.

Each natural person specified above, by reason of that person’s business or financial experience, or the business or financial experience of that person’s professional adviser, who is unaffiliated with and who is not compensated, directly or indirectly, by the issuer or any affiliate or selling agent of the issuer, can be reasonably assumed to have the capacity to protect that person’s interests in connection with the transaction. The amount of the investment of each natural person shall not exceed 10 percent of the net worth, as determined by this subparagraph, of that natural person.

(F) Any other purchaser designated as qualified by rule of the commissioner.

(3) Each purchaser represents that the purchaser is purchasing for the purchaser’s own account (or trust account, if the purchaser is a trustee) and not with a view to or for sale in connection with a distribution of the security.

(4) Each natural person purchaser, including a corporation, partnership, or other organization specifically formed by natural persons for the purpose of acquiring the securities offered by the issuer, receives, at least five business days before securities are sold to, or a commitment to purchase is accepted from, the purchaser, a written offering disclosure statement that shall meet the disclosure requirements of Regulation D (17 C.F.R. 230.501 et seq.), and any other information as may be prescribed by rule of the commissioner, provided that the issuer shall not be obligated pursuant to this paragraph to provide this disclosure statement to a natural person qualified under Section 260.102.13 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations. The offer or sale of securities pursuant to a disclosure statement required by this paragraph that is in violation of Section 25401, or that fails to meet the disclosure requirements of Regulation D (17 C.F.R. 230.501 et seq.), shall not render unavailable to the issuer the claim of an exemption from Section 25110 afforded by this subdivision. This paragraph does not impose, directly or indirectly, any additional disclosure obligation with respect to any other exemption from qualification available under any other provision of this section.

(5) (A) A general announcement of proposed offering may be published by written document only, provided that the general announcement of proposed offering sets forth the following required information:

(i) The name of the issuer of the securities.

(ii) The full title of the security to be issued.

(iii) The anticipated suitability standards for prospective purchasers.

(iv) A statement that (I) no money or other consideration is being solicited or will be accepted, (II) an indication of interest made by a prospective purchaser involves no obligation or commitment of any kind, and, if the issuer is required by paragraph (4) to deliver a disclosure statement to prospective purchasers, (III) no sales will be made or commitment to purchase accepted until five business days after delivery of a disclosure statement and subscription information to the prospective purchaser in accordance with the requirements of this subdivision.

(v) Any other information required by rule of the commissioner.

(vi) The following legend: “For more complete information about (Name of Issuer) and (Full Title of Security), send for additional information from (Name and Address) by sending this coupon or calling (Telephone Number).”

(B) The general announcement of proposed offering referred to in subparagraph (A) may also set forth the following information:

(i) A brief description of the business of the issuer.

(ii) The geographic location of the issuer and its business.

(iii) The price of the security to be issued, or, if the price is not known, the method of its determination or the probable price range as specified by the issuer, and the aggregate offering price.

(C) The general announcement of proposed offering shall contain only the information that is set forth in this paragraph.

(D) Dissemination of the general announcement of proposed offering to persons who are not qualified purchasers, without more, shall not disqualify the issuer from claiming the exemption under this subdivision.

(6) No telephone solicitation shall be permitted until the issuer has determined that the prospective purchaser to be solicited is a qualified purchaser.

(7) The issuer files a notice of transaction under this subdivision both (A) concurrent with the publication of a general announcement of proposed offering or at the time of the initial offer of the securities, whichever occurs first, accompanied by a filing fee, and (B) within 10 business days following the close or abandonment of the offering, but in no case more than 210 days from the date of filing the first notice. The first notice of transaction under subparagraph (A) shall contain an undertaking, in a form acceptable to the commissioner, to deliver any disclosure statement required by paragraph (4) to be delivered to prospective purchasers, and any supplement thereto, to the commissioner within 10 days of the commissioner’s request for the information. The exemption from qualification afforded by this subdivision is unavailable if an issuer fails to file the first notice required under subparagraph (A) or to pay the filing fee. The commissioner has the authority to assess an administrative penalty of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) against an issuer that fails to deliver the disclosure statement required to be delivered to the commissioner upon the commissioner’s request within the time period set forth above. Neither the filing of the disclosure statement nor the failure by the commissioner to comment thereon precludes the commissioner from taking any action deemed necessary or appropriate under this division with respect to the offer and sale of the securities.

(o) An offer or sale of any security issued by a corporation or limited liability company pursuant to a purchase plan or agreement, or issued pursuant to an option plan or agreement, where the security at the time of issuance or grant is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to Rule 701 adopted pursuant to that act (17 C.F.R. 230.701), the provisions of which are hereby incorporated by reference into this section, provided that (1) the terms of any purchase plan or agreement shall comply with Sections 260.140.42, 260.140.45, and 260.140.46 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations, (2) the terms of any option plan or agreement shall comply with Sections 260.140.41, 260.140.45, and 260.140.46 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations, and (3) the issuer files a notice of transaction in accordance with rules adopted by the commissioner no later than 30 days after the initial issuance of any security under that plan, accompanied by a filing fee as prescribed by subdivision (y) of Section 25608. The failure to file the notice of transaction within the time specified in this subdivision shall not affect the availability of this exemption. An issuer that fails to file the notice shall, within 15 business days after discovery of the failure to file the notice or after demand by the commissioner, whichever occurs first, file the notice and pay the commissioner a fee equal to the maximum aggregate fee payable had the transaction been qualified under Section 25110.

Offers and sales exempt pursuant to this subdivision shall be deemed to be part of a single, discrete offering and are not subject to integration with any other offering or sale, whether qualified under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 25110), or otherwise exempt, or not subject to qualification.

(p) An offer or sale of nonredeemable securities to accredited investors (Section 28031) by a person licensed under the Capital Access Company Law (Division 3 (commencing with Section 28000) of Title 4), provided that all purchasers either (1) have a preexisting personal or business relationship with the offeror or any of its partners, officers, directors, controlling persons, or managers (as appointed or elected by the members), or (2) by reason of their business or financial experience or the business or financial experience of their professional advisers who are unaffiliated with and who are not compensated by the issuer or any affiliate or selling agent of the issuer, directly or indirectly, could be reasonably assumed to have the capacity to protect their own interests in connection with the transaction. All nonredeemable securities shall be evidenced by certificates that shall have stamped or printed prominently on their face a legend in a form to be prescribed by rule or order of the commissioner restricting transfer of the securities in the manner as the rule or order provides. The exemption under this subdivision shall not be available for any offering that is exempt or asserted to be exempt pursuant to Section 3(a)(11) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. Sec. 77c(a)(11)) or Rule 147 (17 C.F.R. 230.147) thereunder or otherwise is conducted by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising.

(q) Any offer or sale of any viatical or life settlement contract or fractionalized or pooled interest therein in a transaction that meets all of the following criteria:

(1) Sales of securities described in this subdivision are made only to qualified purchasers or other persons the issuer reasonably believes, after reasonable inquiry, to be qualified purchasers. A corporation, partnership, or other organization specifically formed for the purpose of acquiring the securities offered by the issuer in reliance upon this exemption may be a qualified purchaser only if each of the equity owners of the corporation, partnership, or other organization is a qualified purchaser. Qualified purchasers include the following:

(A) A person designated in Section 260.102.13 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations.

(B) A person designated in subdivision (i) or any rule of the commissioner adopted thereunder.

(C) A pension or profit-sharing trust of the issuer, a self-employed individual retirement plan, or an individual retirement account, if the investment decisions made on behalf of the trust, plan, or account are made solely by persons who are qualified purchasers.

(D) An organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, corporation, Massachusetts or similar business trust, or partnership, each with total assets in excess of five million dollars ($5,000,000) according to its most recent audited financial statements.

(E) A natural person who, either individually or jointly with the person’s spouse, (i) has a minimum net worth of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) and had, during the immediately preceding tax year, gross income in excess of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) and reasonably expects gross income in excess of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) during the current tax year or (ii) has a minimum net worth of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000). “Net worth” shall be determined exclusive of home, home furnishings, and automobiles. Other assets included in the computation of net worth may be valued at fair market value.

Each natural person specified above, by reason of that person’s business or financial experience, or the business or financial experience of that person’s professional adviser, who is unaffiliated with and who is not compensated, directly or indirectly, by the issuer or any affiliate or selling agent of the issuer, can be reasonably assumed to have the capacity to protect that person’s interests in connection with the transaction.

The amount of the investment of each natural person shall not exceed 10 percent of the net worth, as determined by this subdivision, of that natural person.

(F) Any other purchaser designated as qualified by rule of the commissioner.

(2) Each purchaser represents that the purchaser is purchasing for the purchaser’s own account (or trust account, if the purchaser is a trustee) and not with a view to or for sale in connection with a distribution of the security.

(3) Each natural person purchaser, including a corporation, partnership, or other organization specifically formed by natural persons for the purpose of acquiring the securities offered by the issuer, receives, at least five business days before securities described in this subdivision are sold to, or a commitment to purchase is accepted from, the purchaser, the following information in writing:

(A) The name, principal business and mailing address, and telephone number of the issuer.

(B) The suitability standards for prospective purchasers as set forth in paragraph (1) of this subdivision.

(C) A description of the issuer’s type of business organization and the state in which the issuer is organized or incorporated.

(D) A brief description of the business of the issuer.

(E) If the issuer retains ownership or becomes the beneficiary of the insurance policy, an audit report of an independent certified public accountant together with a balance sheet and related statements of income, retained earnings, and cashflows that reflect the issuer’s financial position, the results of the issuer’s operations, and the issuer’s cashflows as of a date within 15 months before the date of the initial issuance of the securities described in this subdivision. The financial statements listed in this subparagraph shall be prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. If the date of the audit report is more than 120 days before the date of the initial issuance of the securities described in this subdivision, the issuer shall provide unaudited interim financial statements.

(F) The names of all directors, officers, partners, members, or trustees of the issuer.

(G) A description of any order, judgment, or decree that is final as to the issuing entity of any state, federal, or foreign country governmental agency or administrator, or of any state, federal, or foreign country court of competent jurisdiction (i) revoking, suspending, denying, or censuring for cause any license, permit, or other authority of the issuer or of any director, officer, partner, member, trustee, or person owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, 10 percent or more of the outstanding interest or equity securities of the issuer, to engage in the securities, commodities, franchise, insurance, real estate, or lending business or in the offer or sale of securities, commodities, franchises, insurance, real estate, or loans, (ii) permanently restraining, enjoining, barring, suspending, or censuring any such person from engaging in or continuing any conduct, practice, or employment in connection with the offer or sale of securities, commodities, franchises, insurance, real estate, or loans, (iii) convicting any such person of, or pleading nolo contendere by any such person to, any felony or misdemeanor involving a security, commodity, franchise, insurance, real estate, or loan, or any aspect of the securities, commodities, franchise, insurance, real estate, or lending business, or involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, embezzlement, fraudulent conversion, or misappropriation of property, or (iv) holding any such person liable in a civil action involving breach of a fiduciary duty, fraud, deceit, embezzlement, fraudulent conversion, or misappropriation of property. This subparagraph does not apply to any order, judgment, or decree that has been vacated, overturned, or is more than 10 years old.

(H) Notice of the purchaser’s right to rescind or cancel the investment and receive a refund pursuant to Section 25508.5.

(I) The name, address, and telephone number of the issuing insurance company, and the name, address, and telephone number of the state or foreign country regulator of the insurance company.

(J) The total face value of the insurance policy and the percentage of the insurance policy the purchaser will own.

(K) The insurance policy number, issue date, and type.

(L) If a group insurance policy, the name, address, and telephone number of the group, and, if applicable, the material terms and conditions of converting the policy to an individual policy, including the amount of increased premiums.

(M) If a term insurance policy, the term and the name, address, and telephone number of the person who will be responsible for renewing the policy if necessary.

(N) That the insurance policy is beyond the state statute for contestability and the reason therefor.

(O) The insurance policy premiums and terms of premium payments.

(P) The amount of the purchaser’s moneys that will be set aside to pay premiums.

(Q) The name, address, and telephone number of the person who will be the insurance policy owner and the person who will be responsible for paying premiums.

(R) The date on which the purchaser will be required to pay premiums and the amount of the premium, if known.

(S) A statement to the effect that any projected rate of return to the purchaser from the purchase of a viatical or life settlement contract or a fractionalized or pooled interest therein is based on an estimated life expectancy for the person insured under the life insurance policy; that the return on the purchase may vary substantially from the expected rate of return based upon the actual life expectancy of the insured that may be less than, equal to, or may greatly exceed the estimated life expectancy; and that the rate of return would be higher if the actual life expectancy were less than, and lower if the actual life expectancy were greater than the estimated life expectancy of the insured at the time the viatical or life settlement contract was closed.

(T) A statement that the purchaser should consult with the purchaser’s tax adviser regarding the tax consequences of the purchase of the viatical or life settlement contract or fractionalized or pooled interest therein and, if the purchaser is using retirement funds or accounts for that purchase, whether or not any adverse tax consequences might result from the use of those funds for the purchase of that investment.

(U) Any other information as may be prescribed by rule of the commissioner.

(r) Any offer or sale of any security that meets each of the following criteria:

(1) The issuer meets all of the following criteria:

(A) Is a California corporation or a foreign corporation, which at the time of filing an application under this subdivision is subject to Section 2115, and neither corporation is a “blind pool” company, as that term is defined by the commissioner.

(B) Is not issuing fractional undivided interests in oil or gas rights, or a similar interest in other mineral rights.

(C) Is not an investment company subject to the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(D) Is not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

(2) The offering is conducted in accordance with the requirements of Section 3(a)(11) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 147 (17 C.F.R. 230.147) or Rule 147A (17 C.F.R. 230.147A) under that act.

(3) The offering is conducted in accordance with the requirements of Subpart B of Regulation CF (17 C.F.R. 227.100 to 227.206, inclusive), except as follows:

(A) The aggregate amount of securities sold to all investors by the issuer in reliance on this subdivision during the 12-month period preceding the date of such offer or sale, including the securities offered in such transaction, shall not exceed three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000).

(B) The issuer may comply with the requirements of paragraph (t)(1), instead of paragraph (t)(2), of Section 227.201 of Title 17 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(C) Such issuer shall prominently provide a statement that financial information certified by the principal executive officer of the issuer has been provided instead of financial statements reviewed by a public accountant that is independent of the issuer. The aggregate offering price for all securities sold (within the 12 months before the start, and during the offering, of the securities) under Rule 147 or Rule 147A under the Securities Act of 1933 or in violation of subdivision (a) of Section 5 of that act shall be included in the aggregate offering price for purposes of this paragraph.

(4) Integration of offers and sales made in reliance on this section shall be governed by Section 230.152 of Title 17 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(5) The issuer has taken reasonable steps to ensure that each purchaser who is a natural person who is not an accredited investor as defined in Rule 501 (17 C.F.R. 230.501) under the Securities Act of 1933, either alone or with their purchaser representative or representatives, has knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and that they are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment.

(6) The purchaser shall have a three-day right to rescind any investment made in any security offered under this subdivision. The three-day period shall end at 11:59 p.m. Pacific standard time on the third business day after the date on which the issuer’s confirmation of its acceptance of the purchaser’s investment is communicated in writing and received by the purchaser.

(7) The issuer shall set aside in a separate third-party escrow account all funds raised as part of the offering, to be held in escrow until the time that the minimum offering amount, if any, is reached. If the minimum offering amount is not reached within one year of the effective date of the offering, the issuer shall return all funds to purchasers.

(8) The issuer shall not, itself or through any third party not licensed as a broker-dealer, conduct any direct solicitation of the securities offered by this subdivision.

(9) The issuer shall not require or impose an obligation on any purchaser or potential purchaser to do any of the following:

(A) Waive the right to a jury trial in a court action.

(B) Be bound by or subject to any law other than California law.

(C) File or resolve any claim or dispute in any forum other than California.

(10) The issuer shall file, on a form prescribed by the commissioner, a notice of transactions under this subdivision at least 15 days prior to the publication of an initial offer of the securities. The failure to file the notice or the failure to file the notice within the time specified shall not affect the availability of the exemption so long as the issuer, within 15 business days after discovery of the failure to file the notice or after demand by the commissioner, whichever occurs first, files the notice and pays to the commissioner a fee equal to the fee payable had the transaction been qualified under Section 25110. Neither the filing of the notice nor the failure by the commissioner to comment thereon precludes the commissioner from taking any action that the commissioner deems necessary or appropriate under this division with respect to the offer and sale of the securities.

(11) The issuer submits all state, federal, or other filings related to the offer or sale of securities under this subdivision to the Commissioner of the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. The filings shall be submitted electronically and in compliance with the Americans for Disability Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0, or its subsequent versions.

(12) The issuer pays any fees required by subdivision (c) of Section 25608.

(13) Any other requirement set forth by rule adopted by the commissioner.

(14) To the extent allowable, any inconsistency between federal and state law shall be interpreted to the benefit of investors or potential investors.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 452, Sec. 72. (SB 1498) Effective January 1, 2023.)

title: 4. SECURITIES


kind: section

code: CORP

text:
The following transactions are not subject to Sections 25110, 25120, and 25130:

(a) Any offer or sale of a security to a “qualified purchaser” as that term is defined by rule of the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 18(b)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77r), if all of the following requirements are met:

(1) A notice is filed with the commissioner prior to an offer in this state, along with any documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in annual or periodic reports that the commissioner by rule or order deems appropriate.

(2) A consent to service of process under Section 25165 is filed with the notice required by paragraph (1).

(3) Payment of a notice filing fee provided for in subdivision (b) of Section 25608.1.

(b) Any offer and sale of a security with respect to a transaction that is exempt from registration under Section 4(4) of the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Section 18(b)(4)(B) of that act.

(c) Any offer or sale of a security with respect to a transaction that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Section 18(b)(4)(C) of that act.

(d) Any offer or sale of a security with respect to a transaction that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Section 18 (b)(4)(F) of that act, if all of the following requirements are met:

(1) A notice in the form of a copy of the completed Form D (17 C.F.R. 239.500) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is filed with the commissioner within 15 days of the first sale in this state, along with documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in annual or periodic reports that the commissioner by rule or order deems appropriate. The commissioner may allow for a notice in the form of the electronic transmission of the information in Form D.

(2) A consent to service of process under Section 25165 is filed with the notice as required by paragraph (1).

(3) Payment of the notice filing fee provided for in subdivision (c) of Section 25608.1 is made.

(e) Notwithstanding the language of subdivisions (a), (b), (c), and (d) of this section, an issuer may file an application for qualification pursuant to Section 25111, 25112, 25113, 25121, 25131, or 25142.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 143, Sec. 46. (SB 251) Effective January 1, 2020.)

division: 1. CORPORATE SECURITIES LAW OF 1968

title: 4. SECURITIES

path: 4. SECURITIES > 1. CORPORATE SECURITIES LAW OF 1968 > 1. Exemptions and Certain Securities and Transactions Not Subject to Qualification


text: The commissioner shall require any issuer that is engaged in the business of purchasing, selling, financing, or brokering real estate, and that relies upon an exemption authorized by subdivision (e), (f), (h), or (n) of Section 25102, for an offering which involves the offer or sale of securities to any person who is not an accredited investor, as defined in Regulation D of the Securities and Exchange Commission (17 C.F.R. 230.501 et seq.), in a transaction that is not registered pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, to provide additional information regarding the nature of the proposed offering on a form prescribed by the commissioner. This information shall include the names of the issuer’s officers and directors in the case of a corporation, managers in the case of a manager-managed limited liability company, members in the case of a member-managed limited liability company, general partner in the case of a limited partnership, or persons performing similar functions in the case of other types of issuers, the offering disclosure documents provided to prospective purchasers, a list of all state and federal licenses required to further the purposes of the investment, and the names of all licensed persons that will undertake those activities.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 263, Sec. 4. (SB 647) Effective January 1, 2016.)

title: 4. SECURITIES

chapter: 1. Exemptions and Certain Securities and Transactions Not Subject to Qualification


text: There shall be exempted from Section 25110 a transaction that is the sale of a series of notes secured directly by an interest in the same real property, or the sale of undivided interests in a note secured directly by real property equivalent to a series transaction, that complies with all of the provisions of Article 6 (commencing with Section 10237) of Chapter 3 of Part 1 of Division 4 of the Business and Professions Code. For purposes of this section, a real estate broker licensed by the Real Estate Commissioner of this state who engages in the offer and sale of notes secured directly by real property of various makers, which are a series of notes or notes in which undivided interests are offered and sold, shall be deemed to be the issuer of these notes and undivided interests if the notes of the various makers are offered and sold pursuant to a plan or arrangement that is common to the various makers with respect to documentation and loan standards and that include provisions for servicing these notes on behalf of purchasers.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 902, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2004.)

title: 4. SECURITIES


citation: CORP § 25103

text:
The following transactions are exempted from the provisions of Section 25110 and Section 25120:

(a) Any negotiations or agreements prior to general solicitation of approval by the holders of equity securities, and subject to that approval, of (1) a change in the rights, preferences, privileges, or restrictions of or on outstanding securities, (2) a merger, consolidation, or sale of assets in consideration of the issuance of securities, or (3) an entity conversion transaction.

(b) Any change in the rights, preferences, privileges, or restrictions of or on outstanding securities or any entity conversion transaction, unless the holders of at least 25 percent of the outstanding shares or units of any class of securities that will be directly or indirectly affected substantially and adversely by that change or transaction have addresses in this state according to the records of the issuer.

(c) Any exchange incident to a merger, consolidation, or sale of assets in consideration of the issuance of securities of another issuer, unless at least 25 percent of the outstanding securities of any class, any holders of which are to receive securities in the exchange, are held by persons who have addresses in this state according to the records of the issuer of which they are holders. This exemption is not available for a rollup transaction as defined by Section 25014.6. The exemption is also not available for a transaction excluded from the definition of rollup transaction by virtue of paragraph (5) or (6) of subdivision (b) of Section 25014.6 if the transaction is one of a series of transactions that directly or indirectly through acquisition or otherwise involves the combination or reorganization of one or more rollup participants.

(d) For the purposes of subdivision (b) and subdivision (c) of this section, (1) any securities held to the knowledge of the issuer in the names of broker-dealers or nominees of broker-dealers and (2) any securities controlled by any one person who controls directly or indirectly 50 percent or more of the outstanding securities of that class shall not be considered outstanding. The determination of whether 25 percent of the outstanding securities are held by persons having addresses in this state, for the purposes of subdivision (b) and subdivision (c) of this section, shall be made as of the record date for the determination of the security holders entitled to vote on or consent to the action, if approval of those holders is required, or, if not, as of the date of directors’ approval of that action.

(e) Any change (other than a stock split or reverse stock split) in the rights, preferences, privileges, or restrictions of or on outstanding equity securities, except the following if they materially and adversely affect any class of equity securities: (1) to add, change, or delete assessment provisions; (2) to change the rights to dividends thereon; (3) to change the redemption provisions; (4) to make them redeemable; (5) to change the amount payable on liquidation; (6) to change, add, or delete conversion rights; (7) to change, add, or delete voting rights; (8) to change, add, or delete preemptive rights; (9) to change, add, or delete sinking fund provisions; (10) to rearrange the relative priorities of outstanding equity securities; (11) to impose, change, or delete restrictions upon the transfer of equity securities in the organizational documents for the entity; (12) to change the right of holders of equity securities with respect to the calling of special meetings of holders of equity securities; and (13) to change, add, or delete any rights, preferences, privileges, or restrictions of, or on, the outstanding shares or memberships of a mutual water company or other corporation or entity organized primarily to provide services or facilities to its shareholders or members. Changes in the rights, preferences, privileges, or restrictions of or on outstanding equity securities do not materially and adversely affect any class of holders of equity securities within the meaning of this subdivision if they arise from (i) the addition to articles of incorporation of the provisions described or referred to in subdivision (a) of Section 158 upon the conversion of an existing corporation to a close corporation pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 158, (ii) the deletion from the articles of incorporation of the provisions described or referred to in subdivision (a) of Section 158 upon the voluntary termination of close corporation status pursuant to subdivisions (c) and (e) of Section 158, (iii) the involuntary cessation of close corporation status pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 158, or (iv) the termination of a shareholders’ agreement pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 300.

(f) Any stock split or reverse stock split, except the following: (1) any stock split or reverse stock split if the corporation has more than one class of shares outstanding and the split would have a material effect on the proportionate interests of the respective classes as to voting, dividends, or distributions; (2) any stock split of a stock that is traded in the market and its market price as of the date of directors’ approval of the stock split adjusted to give effect to the split was less than two dollars ($2) per share; and (3) any reverse stock split if the corporation has the option of paying cash for any fractional shares created by the reverse split and as a result of that action the proportionate interests of the shareholders would be substantially altered. Any shares issued upon a stock split or reverse stock split exempted by this subdivision shall be subject to any conditions previously imposed by the commissioner applicable to the shares with respect to which they are issued.

(g) Any change in the rights of outstanding debt securities, except the following if they substantially and adversely affect any class of securities: (1) to change the rights to interest thereon; (2) to change their redemption provisions; (3) to make them redeemable; (4) to extend the maturity thereof or to change the amount payable thereon at maturity; (5) to change their voting rights; (6) to change their conversion rights; (7) to change sinking fund provisions; and (8) to make them subordinate to other indebtedness.

(h) Any exchange incident to a merger, consolidation, or sale of assets, other than a rollup transaction (as defined in Section 25014.6), in consideration of the issuance of equity securities of another entity or any entity conversion transaction that meets the following conditions:

(1) The exchange incident to a merger, consolidation, or sale of assets or the entity conversion transaction, had the exchange transaction involved the issuance of a security in a transaction subject to the provisions of Section 25110, would have been exempt from qualification by subdivision (f) of Section 25102, without giving effect to paragraph (3) thereof, and either of the following is applicable:

(A) (i) Not less than 75 percent of the outstanding equity securities of each constituent or converting entity entitled to vote on the proposed transaction voted in favor of the transaction, (ii) not more than 10 percent of the outstanding equity securities of each constituent or converting entity entitled to vote on the proposed transaction voted against the transaction, and (iii) each constituent or converting entity whose security holders are entitled to vote on the proposed transaction is subject to a state statute that has provisions for dissenters’ rights for holders of equity securities entitled to vote on the proposed transaction that do not vote in favor of or voted against the transaction.

(B) (i) The transaction is solely for the purposes of changing the issuer’s state of incorporation or organization, or form of organization, (ii) all the securities of the same class or series, unless all the security holders of the class or series consent, are treated equally, and (iii) the holders of nonredeemable voting equity securities receive nonredeemable voting equity securities.

(2) The commissioner may, by rule, require the acquiring or surviving entity to file a notice of transaction under this section. However, the failure to file the notice or the failure to file the notice within the time specified by the rule of the commissioner shall not affect the availability of this exemption. An acquiring or surviving entity that fails to file the notice as provided by rule of the commissioner shall, within 15 business days after demand by the commissioner, file the notice and pay to the commissioner a fee equal to the fee payable had the transaction been qualified under Section 25110 or 25120.

(i) Any exchange of securities in connection with any merger or consolidation or sale of corporate assets in consideration wholly or in part of the issuance of securities or any entity conversion transaction under, or pursuant to, a plan of reorganization that pursuant to the provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the United States Code) has been confirmed or is subject to confirmation by the decree or order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 500, Sec. 29. (AB 1059) Effective January 1, 2010.)

title: 4. SECURITIES


citation: CORP § 25104

text:
The following transactions are exempted from the provisions of Section 25130:

(a) Any offer or sale of a security by the bona fide owner thereof for his or her own account if the sale (1) is not accompanied by the publication of any advertisement and (2) is not effected by or through a broker-dealer in a public offering.

(b) Any offer or sale effected by or through a licensed broker-dealer pursuant to an unsolicited order or offer to buy. For the purpose of this subdivision, an inquiry regarding a written bid for a security or a written solicitation of an offer to sell a security made by another broker-dealer within the previous 60 days shall not be considered the solicitation of an order or offer to buy.

(c) Any offer or sale to a bank, savings and loan association, trust company, insurance company, investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, pension or profit-sharing trust (other than a pension or profit-sharing trust of the issuer, a self-employed individual retirement plan, or individual retirement account), or such other institutional investor or governmental agency or instrumentality as the commissioner may designate by rule, whether the purchaser is acting for itself or as trustee; provided the purchaser represents that it is purchasing for its own account (or for the trust account) for investment and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution of the security.

(d) Any transaction or agreement between a person on whose behalf an offering is made and an underwriter or among underwriters, if the sale of the securities is exempt from qualification at the time of or qualified prior to distribution in this state, if any.

(e) Any offer or sale of any security by or for the account of a bona fide secured party selling the security in the ordinary course of business to liquidate a bona fide debt.

(f) Any transaction by an executor, administrator, sheriff, marshal, receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, guardian, or conservator.

(g) Any offer (but not a sale) of a security for which a registration statement has been filed under the Securities Act of 1933 but has not yet become effective, or for which an offering statement under Regulation A has been filed but has not yet been qualified, if no stop order or refusal order is in effect and no public proceeding or examination looking toward such an order is pending under Section 8 of that act and no order under Section 25140 or subdivision (a) of Section 25143 is in effect under this division.

(h) Any offer or sale of a security if a qualification under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 25110) of this part for any securities of the same class has become effective within 18 months, or longer period as the commissioner may order provided that each consecutive order shall be for no more than six months, prior to the offer or sale or if a qualification under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 25120) or Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 25130) of this part for any securities of the same class has become effective within 12 months prior to that offer or sale, provided no order under Section 25140 or subdivision (a) of Section 25143 is in effect under this division with respect to the qualification, and, provided further, that this exemption does not apply to securities offered pursuant to a registration under the Securities Act of 1933 or pursuant to an exemption under Regulation A under that act if the aggregate offering price of the securities offered under such exemption exceeds fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). The commissioner may, by rule or order, withhold this exemption with respect to securities qualified only pursuant to a limited offering qualification.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 193, Sec. 2. Effective July 26, 1993.)

title: 4. SECURITIES


citation: CORP § 25105

text: There shall be exempted from the provisions of Section 25110, 25120 or 25130 any other transaction which the commissioner by rule exempts as not being comprehended within the purposes of this law and the qualification of which he finds is not necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1968, Ch. 88.)

title: 4. SECURITIES


citation: CORP § 25110

text: It is unlawful for any person to offer or sell in this state any security in an issuer transaction (other than in a transaction subject to Section 25120), whether or not by or through underwriters, unless such sale has been qualified under Section 25111, 25112 or 25113 (and no order under Section 25140 or subdivision (a) of Section 25143 is in effect with respect to such qualification) or unless such security or transaction is exempted or not subject to qualification under Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 25100) of this part. The offer or sale of such a security in a manner that varies or differs from, exceeds the scope of, or fails to conform with either a material term or material condition of qualification of the offering as set forth in the permit or qualification order, or a material representation as to the manner of offering which is set forth in the application for qualification, shall be an unqualified offer or sale.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 391, Sec. 10. Effective January 1, 1998.)

title: 4. SECURITIES

chapter: 2. Issuer Transactions

path: 4. SECURITIES > 1. CORPORATE SECURITIES LAW OF 1968 > 2. Issuer Transactions


citation: CORP § 25111

text:
(a) Any security for which a registration statement has been filed under the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the same offering may be qualified by coordination under this section either in an issuer or nonissuer transaction. The term “registration statement” as used in this section includes an offering statement as defined by Rule 252(a) under Regulation A (17 C.F.R. 230.252(a)) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The term “effective,” as used in this section in connection with an offering statement, means an offering statement that has been qualified under Regulation A of the Securities Act of 1933.

(b) Except as provided in subdivision (d), an application for qualification under this section shall contain the following information and be accompanied by the following documents, in addition to the information specified in Section 25160 and the consent to service of process required by Section 25165: (1) a copy of the registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, together with all exhibits (other than exhibits incorporated by reference and those specified by rule of the commissioner, unless requested by the commissioner); (2) an undertaking to forward to the commissioner all future amendments to the registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, other than an amendment that merely delays the effective date of the registration statement, promptly and in any event not later than the first business day after the day they are forwarded to or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, whichever first occurs; and (3) other information required to evidence compliance with any rules of the commissioner. The application must be filed with the commissioner not later than the fifth business day following filing of the registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, unless that time is extended by rule or order of the commissioner.

(c) Except as provided in subdivision (d), qualification of the sale of securities under this section automatically becomes effective (and the securities may be offered and sold in accordance with the terms of the application as amended) at the moment the federal registration statement becomes effective if all the following conditions are satisfied: (1) no stop order or order under subdivision (a) of Section 25143 is in effect under this law; (2) the application has been on file with the commissioner for at least 10 days; and (3) a statement of the maximum and minimum proposed offering prices and the maximum underwriting discounts and commissions has been on file for two business days or such shorter period as the commissioner permits by rule or order and the offering is made within those limitations. The applicant shall promptly notify the commissioner by telephone or telegram of the date and time when the federal registration statement became effective and the content of the price amendment, if any, and shall promptly file a posteffective amendment to the application containing the information and documents in the price amendment. “Price amendment” means the final federal amendment that includes a statement of the offering price, underwriting and selling discounts or commissions, amount of proceeds, interest, dividend or conversion rates, call prices and other matters related to the offering price. Upon failure to receive the required notification and posteffective amendment with respect to the price amendment, the commissioner may enter a stop order, without notice or hearing, retroactively denying effectiveness to the application for qualification or suspending its effectiveness until compliance with this subdivision, if he or she promptly notifies the applicant by telephone or telegram (and promptly confirms by letter or telegram when he or she notifies by telephone) of the issuance of the order. If the applicant proves compliance with the requirements of this subdivision as to notice and posteffective amendment, the stop order is void as of the time of its entry. The commissioner may by rule or order waive either or both of the conditions specified in clauses (2) and (3) of this subdivision. If the federal registration statement becomes effective before all the conditions in this subdivision are satisfied and they are not waived, the application for qualification automatically becomes effective as soon as all the conditions are satisfied. If the applicant advises the commissioner of the date when the federal registration statement is expected to become effective, the commissioner shall promptly advise the applicant by telephone or telegram, at the applicant’s expense, whether all the conditions are satisfied and whether he or she then contemplates the institution of a proceeding under Section 25140 or 25143; but this advice by the commissioner does not preclude the institution of such a proceeding at any time.

(d) (1) An open-end investment company or a unit investment trust that has previously qualified the sale of its securities pursuant to this section shall, in lieu of filing the application specified in subdivision (b), file pursuant to this subdivision if it has made no material change in its offering and if it is in compliance with all terms of its prior qualification. An application filed pursuant to this subdivision shall contain the following information and be accompanied by the following documents, in addition to the information specified in Section 25160 and the consent to service of process required by Section 25165: (A) a statement that the applicant has made no material change in its offering and that it is in compliance with the terms of its qualification; and (B) a copy of its current registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933.

If no stop order or orders under subdivision (a) of Section 25143 are in effect under this law, qualification of the sale of securities under this subdivision automatically becomes effective (and the securities may be offered and sold in accordance with the terms of the application) upon the day following the expiration of its prior qualification pursuant to this section or, if that qualification has expired, upon the first business day following the filing of the application pursuant to this subdivision. Nothing contained in this subdivision shall restrict the authority of the commissioner pursuant to Section 25140 or 25143.

(2) A unit investment trust that has not previously applied to qualify the sale of its securities pursuant to this section but that is substantially the same as one or more unit investment trusts previously qualified under this section by the same sponsor, shall file pursuant to this subdivision if it can make the statements specified below. An application filed pursuant to this subdivision shall contain the following information and be accompanied by the following documents, in addition to the information specified in Section 25160 and the consent to service of process required by Section 25165: (A) a statement that the applicant, in its organization, its plan of business, its securities and its offering, is substantially the same as a unit investment trust previously qualified under this section by the same sponsor; (B) a statement that those previously qualified unit investment trusts are in compliance with the terms of their qualifications and (C) a copy of its current registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933. If no stop order or orders under subdivision (a) of Section 25143 are in effect under this law, qualification of the sale of securities under this subdivision automatically becomes effective (and the security may be offered and sold in accordance with the terms of the application) at the moment the federal registration becomes effective or, if the registration is effective when the application is filed, upon the first business day following the filing of the application pursuant to this subdivision.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 41, Sec. 3. Effective May 6, 1996.)

title: 4. SECURITIES


citation: CORP § 25112

text:
(a) Any security issued by a person which is the issuer of any security registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or issued, by an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and which is not eligible for qualification under Section 25111, may be qualified by notification under this section.

(b) An application for qualification under this section shall contain such information and be accompanied by such documents as shall be required by rule of the commissioner, in addition to the information specified in Section 25160 and the consent to service of process required by Section 25165. For this purpose, the commissioner may classify issuers and types of securities.

(c) If no stop order or order under subdivision (a) of Section 25143 is in effect under this law, qualification of the sale of the securities under this section automatically becomes effective (and the securities may be offered and sold in accordance with the terms of the application as amended) at 12 o’clock noon California time of the 10th business day after the filing of the application or the last amendment thereto or at such earlier time as the commissioner determines.

title: 4. SECURITIES


citation: CORP § 25113

text:
(a) All securities, whether or not eligible for qualification by coordination under Section 25111 or qualification by notification under Section 25112, may be qualified by permit under this section.

(b) (1) An application for a permit under this section shall contain any information and be accompanied by any documents as shall be required by rule of the commissioner, in addition to the information specified in Section 25160 and the consent to service of process required by Section 25165. For this purpose, the commissioner may classify issuers and types of securities.

(2) An applicant may file a small company application for permit under this section if it meets all of the following conditions:

(A) The applicant is: (i) a California corporation or a foreign corporation, which at the time of filing an application under this subdivision is subject to Section 2115, and neither corporation is a “blind pool” company, as that term is defined by the commissioner; (ii) not engaged in oil and gas exploration or production, or mining or other extractive industries; (iii) not an investment company subject to the Investment Company Act of 1940; and (iv) not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

(B) The total offering of voting common stock and preferred stock by the applicant to be sold in a 12-month period, within or outside this state, is limited to one million dollars ($1,000,000), less the aggregate offering price for all securities sold (within the 12 months before the start, and during the offering, of the voting common stock or preferred stock) under Rule 504 of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in reliance on any exemption under subdivision (b) of Section 3 of the Securities Act of 1933, or in violation of subdivision (a) of Section 5 of that act, and immediately after the proposed sale and issuance there will be only one class of voting common stock.

(C) The minimum offering price of the voting common stock and preferred stock (and the conversion price if the preferred stock is convertible into the voting common stock) to be sold is two dollars ($2) per share and the applicant files an undertaking with the commissioner that there will be no stock splits, stock dividends, spinoffs, or mergers for a period of two years from the close of the offering. The undertaking notwithstanding, the commissioner may approve a spinoff or merger pursuant to an application for qualification filed by an applicant.

(D) The net proceeds from the offering are to be expended in the operations of the business.

(E) The offering is made pursuant to a Small Corporate Offering Registration disclosure document based on the Form U-7 as adopted by the North American Securities Administrators Association and any additional requirements as the commissioner shall prescribe, that may include, but not be limited to, investor suitability and due diligence investigation requirements.

(F) The application and disclosure document is reviewed and signed by a majority of the members of the board of directors of the applicant.

(G) The application shall contain that information and be accompanied by those documents required by rule of the commissioner, in addition to the information specified in Section 25610 and the consent to service of process required by Section 25165.

(c) Qualification of securities under this section becomes effective upon the commissioner issuing a permit authorizing the issuance of those securities.

(d) The commissioner shall annually prepare a report, and make that report publicly available by posting the report on the department’s Internet Web site, summarizing data collected from persons to which it issues permits pursuant to this section. The report shall include, but not be limited to, a summary of the general categories of investments for which permits are approved; the minimum, maximum, and average net worth required of those persons to whom permits are issued for each category of activity; the least stringent and most stringent suitability standards imposed on persons issued permits for each category of activity; the experience requirements imposed on persons issued permits for each category of activity; the total dollar amount of money sought to be raised per category of activity; the number and nature of enforcement actions taken against permitholders; and any other information the commissioner deems relevant to inform the Legislature about the activities of permitholders and the protections for those who invest with permitholders. The commissioner shall take steps to ensure that the publication of data collected from permitholders does not result in the release of proprietary information about individuals or businesses.

(e) The commissioner may examine those persons to whom permits are issued pursuant to this section to review compliance with the conditions of the permit and other applicable state law. The commissioner may disqualify an offering permitted pursuant to this section if he or she finds that the issuer has materially violated the provisions of its permit.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 669, Sec. 6. (SB 978) Effective January 1, 2013.)

title: 4. SECURITIES


citation: CORP § 25114

text: Every qualification under this chapter is effective for 12 months from its effective date, unless the commissioner by order or rule specifies a different period, except during the time an order under Section 25140 or subdivision (a) of Section 25143 is in effect.

title: 4. SECURITIES


citation: CORP § 25115

text: Every application for qualification of an issuer transaction under this chapter shall be signed and verified by the issuer; every application for qualification of a nonissuer transaction under Section 25111 shall be signed and verified by the person on whose behalf the offering is being made or by the issuer on behalf of such person.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1970, Ch. 612.)

title: 4. SECURITIES


citation: CORP § 25116

text:
(a) An evidence of indebtedness issued pursuant to a qualification under this chapter or Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 25120), and the purchasers or holders thereof, shall be exempt from the usury provisions of the Constitution, subject to compliance by the issuer and purchaser with the terms and requirements that may be imposed by the commissioner as a condition of the qualification. This section creates and authorizes a class of transactions and persons pursuant to Section 1 of Article XV of the Constitution.

(b) Any evidence of indebtedness issued in compliance with this section shall be entitled to the benefits of the usury exemption contained in this section regardless of whether subsequent to its issuance the evidence of indebtedness is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be a “security.”

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 477, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997.)

title: 4. SECURITIES


citation: CORP § 25117

text:
(a) An evidence of indebtedness, and the purchasers or holders thereof, shall be exempt from the usury provisions of Section 1 of Article XV of the California Constitution if (1) the evidence of indebtedness is rated or provisionally rated by Standard & Poor’s Corporation as AAA, AA, A, BBB, or investment grade commercial paper, or by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. as Aaa, Aa, A, Baa, or investment grade commercial paper, including any such ratings with “+” or “—” designation or other variations that occur within these ratings, or has a rating or a provisional rating by another nationally recognized rating agency or system, which rating and agency or system have been certified by rule or order of the commissioner, or (2) the issuer thereof either (A) has any security listed or approved for listing upon notice of issuance on a national securities exchange, if the exchange has been certified by the commissioner, pursuant to subdivision (o) of Section 25100, or (B) meets each of the following requirements:

(i) The issuer is a corporation which is subject to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

(ii) The issuer had total shareholders’ equity of at least one million dollars ($1,000,000) at the end of its most recent fiscal year, and had consolidated net income, after all charges, including taxes and extraordinary losses, and excluding extraordinary gains, of at least five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for three of its last four fiscal years, including its most recent fiscal year. The determination of total shareholders’ equity and net income shall be determined in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applicable to that fiscal year or years, on a consolidated basis, or (3) the evidence of indebtedness is issued by any corporation all of the outstanding shares of which are owned by an issuer which meets the requirements of subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (2).

(b) This section creates and authorizes a class of transactions and persons pursuant to Section 1 of Article XV of the California Constitution.

(c) Any evidence of indebtedness issued in compliance with this section shall be entitled to the benefits of the usury exemption contained in this section regardless of whether subsequent to its issuance the evidence of indebtedness is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be a “security.”

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 131, Sec. 11. (AB 991) Effective January 1, 2010.)

title: 4. SECURITIES


citation: CORP § 25118

text:
(a) An evidence of indebtedness issued by an entity or guaranteed by an entity that is an affiliate (as defined in Section 150) of the borrower that, on the day the evidence of indebtedness issued or guaranty is first issued or entered into, has total assets of at least two million dollars ($2,000,000) according to its then most recent financial statements, and the purchasers or holders thereof, shall be exempt from the usury provisions of the California Constitution. The financial statements referred to in the preceding sentence shall meet both of the following requirements:

(1) Be as of a date not more than 90 days before the date the evidence of indebtedness or guaranty is first issued or entered into.

(2) Be prepared in accordance with either of the following:

(A) In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and, if the entity has consolidated subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis.

(B) In accordance with the rules and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, whether or not required by law to be prepared in accordance with those rules and requirements.

(b) Any one or more evidences of indebtedness, and the purchasers or holders thereof, shall be exempt from the usury provisions of the California Constitution if either of the following applies:

(1) The evidences of indebtedness aggregate at the time of issuance at least three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) in original face amount, or, if the evidences of indebtedness are purchased with original issue discount, they are purchased for an aggregate purchase price at the time of issuance of at least three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000).

(2) The evidences of indebtedness are issued pursuant to a bona fide written commitment for the lending to the issuer of at least three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000), or the provision of a line of credit to the issuer in a principal amount of at least three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000). The exemption provided by this paragraph shall not be affected by a subsequent event of default or other event not in the lender’s control that has relieved or may relieve the lender from its commitment.

(c) Any evidence of indebtedness described in subdivision (a) or (b), and the purchasers or holders thereof, shall be entitled to the benefits of the usury exemption contained in this section regardless of whether, at any time after the evidence of indebtedness or guaranty upon which the exemption is based is first issued or entered into, the evidence of indebtedness or guaranty is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction not to be a “security.”

(d) This section creates and authorizes a class of transactions and persons pursuant to Section 1 of Article XV of the California Constitution.

(e) This section does not apply to:

(1) Any evidence of indebtedness issued or guaranteed (if the guaranty is part of the consideration for the indebtedness) by an individual, a revocable trust having one or more individuals as trustors, or a partnership in which, at the time of issuance, one or more individuals are general partners.

(2) Any transaction subject to the limitation on permissible rates of interest set forth in paragraph (1) of the first sentence of Section 1 of Article XV of the California Constitution.

(f) The exemptions created by this section shall only be available in a transaction that meets either of the following criteria:

(1) The lender and either the issuer of the indebtedness or the guarantor, as the case may be, or any of their respective officers, directors, or controlling persons, or, if any party is a limited liability company, the managers as appointed or elected by the members, have a preexisting personal or business relationship.

(2) The lender and the issuer, or the lender and the guarantor, by reason of their own business and financial experience or that of their professional advisers, could reasonably be assumed to have the capacity to protect their own interests in connection with the transaction.

(g) For purposes of this section, “preexisting personal or business relationship” and “capacity to protect their own interests in connection with the transaction” as used in subdivision (f) shall have the same meaning as, and be determined according to the same standards as, specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 25102 and its implementing regulations provided that, solely with respect to this section, a lender or purchaser who is represented by counsel may designate that person as its professional adviser whether or not that person is compensated by the issuer or guarantor, as long as that person has a bona fide attorney-client relationship with the lender or purchaser.

(h) This section shall not exempt any person from the application of the California Financing Law (Division 9 (commencing with Section 22000) of the Financial Code).

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 143, Sec. 47. (SB 251) Effective January 1, 2020.)

title: 4. SECURITIES


citation: CORP § 25120

text:
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), it is unlawful for any person to offer or sell in this state any security in any of the following manners:

(1) In an issuer transaction in connection with any change in the rights, preferences, privileges, or restrictions of or on outstanding securities.

(2) In any exchange of securities by the issuer with its existing security holders exclusively.

(3) In any exchange in connection with any merger or consolidation or purchase of assets in consideration wholly or in part of the issuance of securities.

(4) In an entity conversion transaction.

(b) Subdivision (a) shall not apply to a security if the security is qualified for sale under this chapter (and no order under Section 25140 or subdivision (a) of Section 25143 is in effect with respect to the qualification) or if the security or transaction is exempted or not subject to qualification under Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 25100) of this part.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 964, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2003.)

title: 4. SECURITIES

path: 4. SECURITIES > 1. CORPORATE SECURITIES LAW OF 1968 > 3. Recapitalizations and Reorganizations


citation: CORP § 25121

text: The securities qualified for sale under this chapter shall be qualified by permit under this section. The application for the permit shall be signed and verified by the issuer and shall contain such information and be accompanied by such documents as shall be required by rule of the commissioner, in addition to the information specified in Section 25160 and the consent to service of process required by Section 25165. For this purpose, the commissioner may classify issuers and types of securities and transactions.

title: 4. SECURITIES

chapter: 3. Recapitalizations and Reorganizations


citation: CORP § 25122

text: Qualification of securities under this chapter becomes effective upon the commissioner issuing a permit authorizing the issuance of such securities.

title: 4. SECURITIES


citation: CORP § 25130

text: It is unlawful for any person to offer or sell any security in this state in any nonissuer transaction unless it is qualified for such sale under this chapter or under Section 25111 or 25113 of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 25110) of this part (and no order under Section 25140 or subdivision (a) of Section 25143 is in effect with respect to such qualification) or unless such security or transaction is exempted or not subject to qualification under Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 25100) of this part.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 391, Sec. 12. Effective January 1, 1998.)

title: 4. SECURITIES

chapter: 4. Nonissuer Transactions

path: 4. SECURITIES > 1. CORPORATE SECURITIES LAW OF 1968 > 4. Nonissuer Transactions


citation: CORP § 25131

text:
(a) The securities to be offered or sold in a nonissuer transaction, which are not eligible for qualification under Section 25111, shall be qualified by notification under this section; provided however that securities offered in a nonissuer transaction pursuant to an exemption under Regulation A under the Securities Act of 1933 shall be qualified under Section 25113.

(b) The application for qualification by notification under this section shall be signed and verified by the person on whose behalf the offering is being made or by the issuer or by any broker-dealer and shall contain such information and be accompanied by such documents as shall be required by rule of the commissioner, in addition to the information specified in Section 25160 and the consent to service of process required by Section 25165. For this purpose, the commissioner may classify issuers and types of securities.

(c) If no stop order or order under subdivision (a) of Section 25143 is in effect under this law, a qualification under this section automatically becomes effective (and the securities may be offered and sold in accordance with the terms of the application as amended) at 12 o’clock noon California time on the 10th business day after the filing of the application or the last amendment thereto or at such earlier time as the commissioner determines.

(d) Information may not be required under this section unless it is known to the person filing the application or to the persons on whose behalf the distribution is to be made, or can be furnished by them without unreasonable effort or expense.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1974, Ch. 1103.)

title: 4. SECURITIES


citation: CORP § 25132

text: Every qualification under this chapter and every qualification of a nonissuer transaction under Section 25111 is effective for 12 months from its effective date, except during the time a stop order under Section 25140 or an order under subdivision (a) of Section 25143 is in effect. A qualification under this chapter may be withdrawn only in the discretion of the commissioner. The commissioner may by rule or order extend the effective period of any qualification under this chapter.

title: 4. SECURITIES


citation: CORP § 25133

text: It is unlawful for any person without the written consent of the commissioner to consummate the sale or transfer of any securities heretofore or hereafter placed in escrow pursuant to a condition ordered by the commissioner and that have not been released from escrow, or that are subject to a currently effective legend condition requiring such consent (except as permitted therein), or concerning which the commissioner has issued a written notice to the holders thereof pursuant to Section 25534 ordering the certificates evidencing the securities to be stamped or printed with a legend as provided in the section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 41, Sec. 5. Effective May 6, 1996.)

title: 4. SECURITIES


citation: CORP § 25134

text: Every applicant seeking qualification for the sale of securities shall, upon request of the commissioner, furnish to the commissioner an authorization for examination of the applicant’s financial records of the sale of such securities pursuant to Section 7473 of the Government Code.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1320.)

title: 4. SECURITIES


citation: CORP § 25140

text:
(a) (1) The commissioner may issue a stop order denying effectiveness to, or suspending or revoking the effectiveness of, any qualification of an underwritten offering of securities under Section 25111, 25112 or 25131 or may suspend or revoke any permit issued under Section 25113 or 25122 if he or she finds (A) that the order is in the public interest and (B) that the proposed plan of business of the issuer or the proposed issuance or sale of securities is not fair, just, or equitable, or that the issuer does not intend to transact its business fairly and honestly, or that the securities proposed to be issued or the method to be used in issuing them will tend to work a fraud upon the purchaser thereof.

(2) In the case of an application for or qualification of securities under Section 25111, 25112, or 25131 that is not an underwritten offering of securities, the commissioner may issue a stop order denying effectiveness to, or suspending or revoking the effectiveness of the qualification unless he or she finds (A) that the stop order is not in the public interest and (B) that the proposed plan of business of the applicant or the proposed issuance of securities is fair, just, and equitable, that the issuer intends to transact its business fairly and honestly, and that the securities that the issuer proposes to issue or the method to be used in issuing them are not such as will work a fraud upon the purchaser thereof.

(b) The commissioner may refuse to issue a permit under Section 25113 unless he or she finds that the proposed plan of business of the applicant and the proposed issuance of securities are fair, just, and equitable, that the applicant intends to transact its business fairly and honestly, and that the securities which it proposes to issue and the methods to be used by it in issuing them are not such as, in his or her opinion, will work a fraud upon the purchaser thereof.

(c) The commissioner may refuse to issue a permit under Section 25122 unless he or she finds that the proposed plan of recapitalization or reorganization and the proposed issuance of securities are fair, just, and equitable to all security holders affected.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (a) and (b) of this section, the commissioner shall not have authority to issue any stop order or to refuse to issue or to suspend or revoke any permit on the basis that the price at which the security is to be offered is unfair, unjust or inequitable in any case where the security is being publicly offered for cash pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 and the offering is the subject of a firm commitment underwriting by an underwriter or syndicate of underwriters all of whom are registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. For the purposes of this subdivision a firm commitment underwriting means an underwriting pursuant to which the underwriter or syndicate of underwriters is committed to take up and pay for the securities subject only to the usual or customary conditions, but not including any “market out” or similar condition operative after the time of commencement of the offering. (A condition relating to the suspension of all trading on a national securities exchange, a banking holiday, war, civil insurrection, or the like is not a “market out” or similar condition within the meaning of this subdivision.) Nothing contained in this subdivision shall deny authority to the commissioner to issue a stop order or to refuse to issue or to suspend or revoke a permit because of unreasonable discounts, commissions or other compensation to underwriters, sellers or others, unreasonable promoters’ profits or participations or unreasonable amounts or kinds of options.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1035, Sec. 2.)

title: 4. SECURITIES

chapter: 5. Authority of the Commissioner

path: 4. SECURITIES > 1. CORPORATE SECURITIES LAW OF 1968 > 5. Authority of the Commissioner


citation: CORP § 25141

text: The commissioner may impose as a condition of qualification under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 25110) or Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 25120) of this part conditions requiring the deposit in escrow of securities, imposing a legend condition restricting the transferability thereof, impounding the proceeds from the sale thereof, limiting the expense in connection with the sale thereof, requiring the waiver of assets, dividends or voting rights by the holders of promotional securities, or any other condition if the commissioner finds that without such condition the offering will be unfair, unjust or inequitable. The commissioner may in his or her discretion modify or remove any such conditions when in his or her opinion they are no longer necessary or appropriate.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 41, Sec. 6. Effective May 6, 1996.)

title: 4. SECURITIES


citation: CORP § 25142

text: When application is made for a permit to issue securities or to deliver other consideration (whether or not the security or transaction is exempt from qualification or not required to be qualified) in exchange for one or more bona fide outstanding securities, claims, or property interests, or partly in such exchange and partly for cash, the commissioner is expressly authorized to approve the terms and conditions of such issuance and exchange or such delivery and exchange and the fairness of such terms and conditions, and is expressly authorized to hold a hearing upon the fairness of such terms and conditions, at which all persons to whom it is proposed to issue securities or to deliver such other consideration in such exchange have the right to appear. The application for a permit to deliver consideration other than securities shall be in such form, contain such information and be accompanied by such documents as shall be required by rule of the commissioner or, in the absence thereof, in substantially the form of an application filed pursuant to Section 25121.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1977, Ch. 235.)

title: 4. SECURITIES