Amended in Senate April 6, 2015

Senate BillNo. 577


Introduced by Senator Hueso

February 26, 2015


An act to amend Sections 25100 and 25102 of the Corporations Code, relating to securities.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 577, as amended, Hueso. Securities: qualification: exemptions.

Existing law, the Corporate Securities Law of 1968, requires the offer and sale of securities in the state to be qualified with the Commissioner of Business Oversight, unless exempt. That law exempts specific securities or transactions from qualification, including, among others, any shares or memberships issued by a consumer cooperative corporation, provided the aggregate investment of any shareholder or member does not exceed $300.

This bill would increase the aggregate investment amount for the exemption for qualification of shares or memberships in a consumer cooperative corporation from $300 to $1,000.begin delete The bill would exempt from qualification the offer or sale of a portion of a future crop, animal production, or both, of a community-supported agriculture program, as defined, provided that the aggregate purchase by a natural person does not exceed $1,000.end delete The bill would exempt from qualification the offer or sale ofbegin delete evidence of indebtedness, whether secured or unsecured,end deletebegin insert any security in a transactionend insert that meets specified requirements that include, among others, that the aggregate amount sold to all investors within 12 months does not exceedbegin delete $100,000 orend delete $500,000, or a percentage of the amounts raised by the offering be allocated to acquiring either an interest in real property used for agricultural purposes or to purchase solar photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, and related equipment. The bill would authorize the commissioner to by rule require specified issuers to file a notice of transaction, and if the issuer fails to file that notice, to pay a specified fee to the commissioner. The bill would change references throughout these provisions from husband and wife to spouses, generally.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P2    1

SECTION 1.  

Section 25100 of the Corporations Code is
2amended to read:

3

25100.  

The following securities are exempted from Sections
425110, 25120, and 25130:

5(a) Any security (including a revenue obligation) issued or
6guaranteed by the United States, any state, any city, county, city
7and county, public district, public authority, public corporation,
8public entity, or political subdivision of a state or any agency or
9corporate or other instrumentality of any one or more of the
10foregoing; or any certificate of deposit for any of the foregoing.

11(b) Any security issued or guaranteed by Canada, any Canadian
12province, any political subdivision or municipality of that province,
13or by any other foreign government with which the United States
14 currently maintains diplomatic relations, if the security is
15 recognized as a valid obligation by the issuer or guarantor; or any
16certificate of deposit for any of the foregoing.

17(c) Any security issued or guaranteed by and representing an
18interest in or a direct obligation of a national bank or a bank or
19trust company incorporated under the laws of this state, and any
20security issued by a bank to one or more other banks and
21representing an interest in an asset of the issuing bank.

22(d) Any security issued or guaranteed by a federal savings
23association or federal savings bank or federal land bank or joint
24land bank or national farm loan association or by any savings
25association, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 5102 of the
26Financial Code, which is subject to the supervision and regulation
27of the Commissioner of Business Oversight of this state.

28(e) Any security (other than an interest in all or portions of a
29parcel or parcels of real property which are subdivided land or a
P3    1subdivision or in a real estate development), the issuance of which
2is subject to authorization by the Insurance Commissioner, the
3Public Utilities Commission, or the Real Estate Commissioner of
4this state.

5(f) Any security consisting of any interest in all or portions of
6a parcel or parcels of real property that are subdivided lands or a
7subdivision or in a real estate development; provided that the
8exemption in this subdivision shall not be applicable to: (1) any
9investment contract sold or offered for sale with, or as part of, that
10interest, or (2) any person engaged in the business of selling,
11distributing, or supplying water for irrigation purposes or domestic
12use that is not a public utility except that the exemption is
13applicable to any security of a mutual water company (other than
14an investment contract as described in paragraph (1)) offered or
15sold in connection with subdivided lands pursuant to Chapter 2
16(commencing with Section 14310) of Part 7 of Division 3 of Title
171.

18(g) Any mutual capital certificates or savings accounts, as
19defined in the Savings Association Law, issued by a savings
20association, as defined by subdivision (a) of Section 5102 of the
21Financial Code, and holding a license or certificate of authority
22then in force from the Commissioner of Business Oversight of this
23state.

24(h) Any security issued or guaranteed by any federal credit
25union, or by any credit union organized and supervised, or
26regulated, under the Credit Union Law.

27(i) Any security issued or guaranteed by any railroad, other
28common carrier, public utility, or public utility holding company
29which is (1) subject to the jurisdiction of the Interstate Commerce
30Commission or its successor or (2) a holding company registered
31with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Public
32Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or a subsidiary of that
33company within the meaning of that act or (3) regulated in respect
34of the issuance or guarantee of the security by a governmental
35authority of the United States, of any state, of Canada or of any
36Canadian province; and the security is subject to registration with
37or authorization of issuance by that authority.

38(j) Any security (except evidences of indebtedness, whether
39interest bearing or not) of an issuer (1) organized exclusively for
40educational, benevolent, fraternal, religious, charitable, social, or
P4    1reformatory purposes and not for pecuniary profit, if no part of the
2net earnings of the issuer inures to the benefit of any private
3shareholder or individual, or (2) organized as a chamber of
4commerce or trade or professional association. The fact that
5amounts received from memberships or dues or both will or may
6be used to construct or otherwise acquire facilities for use by
7members of the nonprofit organization does not disqualify the
8organization for this exemption. This exemption does not apply
9to the securities of any nonprofit organization if any promoter
10thereof expects or intends to make a profit directly or indirectly
11from any business or activity associated with the organization or
12operation of that nonprofit organization or from remuneration
13received from that nonprofit organization.

14(k) Any agreement, commonly known as a “life income
15contract,” of an issuer (1) organized exclusively for educational,
16benevolent, fraternal, religious, charitable, social, or reformatory
17purposes and not for pecuniary profit and (2) which the
18commissioner designates by rule or order, with a donor in
19consideration of a donation of property to that issuer and providing
20for the payment to the donor or persons designated by him or her
21of income or specified periodic payments from the donated
22property or other property for the life of the donor or those other
23persons.

24(l) Any note, draft, bill of exchange, or banker’s acceptance
25which is freely transferable and of prime quality, arises out of a
26current transaction or the proceeds of which have been or are to
27be used for current transactions, and which evidences an obligation
28to pay cash within nine months of the date of issuance, exclusive
29of days of grace, or any renewal of that paper which is likewise
30limited, or any guarantee of that paper or of that renewal, provided
31that the paper is not offered to the public in amounts of less than
32twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) in the aggregate to any one
33purchaser. In addition, the commissioner may, by rule or order,
34exempt any issuer of any notes, drafts, bills of exchange or banker’s
35acceptances from qualification of those securities when the
36commissioner finds that the qualification is not necessary or
37appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors.

38(m) Any security issued by any corporation organized and
39existing under the provisions of Chapter 1 (commencing with
40Section 54001) of Division 20 of the Food and Agricultural Code.

P5    1(n) Any beneficial interest in an employees’ pension,
2profit-sharing, stock bonus or similar benefit plan which meets the
3requirements for qualification under Section 401 of the federal
4Internal Revenue Code or any statute amendatory thereof or
5supplementary thereto. A determination letter from the Internal
6Revenue Service stating that an employees’ pension, profit-sharing,
7stock bonus or similar benefit plan meets those requirements shall
8be conclusive evidence that the plan is an employees’ pension,
9profit-sharing, stock bonus or similar benefit plan within the
10meaning of the first sentence of this subdivision until the date the
11determination letter is revoked in writing by the Internal Revenue
12Service, regardless of whether or not the revocation is retroactive.

13(o) Any security listed or approved for listing upon notice of
14issuance on a national securities exchange, if the exchange has
15been certified by rule or order of the commissioner and any warrant
16or right to purchase or subscribe to the security. The exemption
17afforded by this subdivision does not apply to securities listed or
18approved for listing upon notice of issuance on a national securities
19exchange, in a rollup transaction unless the rollup transaction is
20an eligible rollup transaction as defined in Section 25014.7.

21That certification of any exchange shall be made by the
22commissioner upon the written request of the exchange if the
23commissioner finds that the exchange, in acting on applications
24for listing of common stock, substantially applies the minimum
25standards set forth in either subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph
26(1), and, in considering suspension or removal from listing,
27substantially applies each of the criteria set forth in paragraph (2).

28(1) Listing standards:

29(A) (i) Shareholders’ equity of at least four million dollars
30($4,000,000).

31(ii) Pretax income of at least seven hundred fifty thousand
32dollars ($750,000) in the issuer’s last fiscal year or in two of its
33last three fiscal years.

34(iii) Minimum public distribution of 500,000 shares (exclusive
35of the holdings of officers, directors, controlling shareholders, and
36other concentrated or family holdings), together with a minimum
37of 800 public holders or minimum public distribution of 1,000,000
38shares together with a minimum of 400 public holders. The
39exchange may also consider the listing of a company’s securities
40if the company has a minimum of 500,000 shares publicly held, a
P6    1minimum of 400 shareholders and daily trading volume in the
2issue has been approximately 2,000 shares or more for the six
3months preceding the date of application. In evaluating the
4suitability of an issue for listing under this trading provision, the
5exchange shall review the nature and frequency of that activity
6and any other factors as it may determine to be relevant in
7ascertaining whether the issue is suitable for trading. A security
8that trades infrequently shall not be considered for listing under
9this paragraph even though average daily volume amounts to 2,000
10shares per day or more.

11Companies whose securities are concentrated in a limited
12geographical area, or whose securities are largely held in block by
13institutional investors, normally may not be considered eligible
14for listing unless the public distribution appreciably exceeds
15500,000 shares.

16(iv) Minimum price of three dollars ($3) per share for a
17reasonable period of time prior to the filing of a listing application;
18provided, however, in certain instances an exchange may favorably
19consider listing an issue selling for less than three dollars ($3) per
20share after considering all pertinent factors, including market
21conditions in general, whether historically the issue has sold above
22three dollars ($3) per share, the applicant’s capitalization, and the
23number of outstanding and publicly held shares of the issue.

24(v) An aggregate market value for publicly held shares of at
25least three million dollars ($3,000,000).

26(B) (i) Shareholders’ equity of at least four million dollars
27($4,000,000).

28(ii) Minimum public distribution set forth in clause (iii) of
29subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1).

30(iii) Operating history of at least three years.

31(iv) An aggregate market value for publicly held shares of at
32least fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000).

33(2) Criteria for consideration of suspension or removal from
34listing:

35(i) If a company that (A) has shareholders’ equity of less than
36one million dollars ($1,000,000) has sustained net losses in each
37of its two most recent fiscal years, or (B) has net tangible assets
38of less than three million dollars ($3,000,000) and has sustained
39net losses in three of its four most recent fiscal years.

P7    1(ii) If the number of shares publicly held (excluding the holdings
2of officers, directors, controlling shareholders and other
3concentrated or family holdings) is less than 150,000.

4(iii) If the total number of shareholders is less than 400 or if the
5number of shareholders of lots of 100 shares or more is less than
6300.

7(iv) If the aggregate market value of shares publicly held is less
8than seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000).

9(v) If shares of common stock sell at a price of less than three
10dollars ($3) per share for a substantial period of time and the issuer
11shall fail to effectuate a reverse stock split of the shares within a
12reasonable period of time after being requested by the exchange
13to take that action.

14A national securities exchange, certified by rule or order of the
15commissioner under this subdivision, shall file annual reports when
16requested to do so by the commissioner. The annual reports shall
17contain, by issuer: the variances granted to an exchange’s listing
18standards, including variances from corporate governance and
19voting rights’ standards, for any security of that issuer; the reasons
20for the variances; a discussion of the review procedure instituted
21by the exchange to determine the effect of the variances on
22investors and whether the variances should be continued; and any
23other information that the commissioner deems relevant. The
24purpose of these reports is to assist the commissioner in
25determining whether the quantitative and qualitative requirements
26of this subdivision are substantially being met by the exchange in
27general or with regard to any particular security.

28The commissioner after appropriate notice and opportunity for
29hearing in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative
30Procedure Act, Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of
31Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, may, in
32his or her discretion, by rule or order, decertify any exchange
33previously certified that ceases substantially to apply the minimum
34standards or criteria as set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2).

35A rule or order of certification shall conclusively establish that
36any security listed or approved for listing upon notice of issuance
37on any exchange named in a rule or order of certification, and any
38warrant or right to purchase or subscribe to that security, is exempt
39under this subdivision until the adoption by the commissioner of
40any rule or order decertifying the exchange.

P8    1(p) A promissory note secured by a lien on real property, which
2is neither one of a series of notes of equal priority secured by
3interests in the same real property nor a note in which beneficial
4interests are sold to more than one person or entity.

5(q) Any unincorporated interindemnity or reciprocal or
6interinsurance contract, that qualifies under the provisions of
7Section 1280.7 of the Insurance Code, between members of a
8cooperative corporation, organized and operating under Part 2
9(commencing with Section 12200) of Division 3 of Title 1, and
10whose members consist only of physicians and surgeons licensed
11in California, which contracts indemnify solely in respect to
12medical malpractice claims against the members, and which do
13not collect in advance of loss any moneys other than contributions
14by each member to a collective reserve trust fund or for necessary
15expenses of administration.

16(1) Whenever it appears to the commissioner that any person
17has engaged or is about to engage in any act or practice constituting
18a violation of any provision of Section 1280.7 of the Insurance
19Code, the commissioner may, in the commissioner’s discretion,
20bring an action in the name of the people of the State of California
21in the superior court to enjoin the acts or practices or to enforce
22compliance with Section 1280.7 of the Insurance Code. Upon a
23proper showing a permanent or preliminary injunction, a restraining
24order, or a writ of mandate shall be granted and a receiver or
25conservator may be appointed for the defendant or the defendant’s
26assets.

27(2) The commissioner may, in the commissioner’s discretion,
28(A) make public or private investigations within or outside of this
29state as the commissioner deems necessary to determine whether
30any person has violated or is about to violate any provision of
31Section 1280.7 of the Insurance Code or to aid in the enforcement
32of Section 1280.7, and (B) publish information concerning the
33violation of Section 1280.7.

34(3) For the purpose of any investigation or proceeding under
35this section, the commissioner or any officer designated by the
36commissioner may administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena
37witnesses, compel their attendance, take evidence, and require the
38production of any books, papers, correspondence, memoranda,
39agreements, or other documents or records which the commissioner
40deems relevant or material to the inquiry.

P9    1(4) In case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpoena
2issued to, any person, the superior court, upon application by the
3commissioner, may issue to the person an order requiring the
4person to appear before the commissioner, or the officer designated
5by the commissioner, to produce documentary evidence, if so
6ordered, or to give evidence touching the matter under investigation
7or in question. Failure to obey the order of the court may be
8punished by the court as a contempt.

9(5) No person is excused from attending or testifying or from
10producing any document or record before the commissioner or in
11obedience to the subpoena of the commissioner or any officer
12designated by the commissioner, or in any proceeding instituted
13by the commissioner, on the ground that the testimony or evidence
14(documentary or otherwise), required of the person may tend to
15incriminate the person or subject the person to a penalty or
16forfeiture, but no individual may be prosecuted or subjected to any
17penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any transaction, matter,
18or thing concerning which the person is compelled, after validly
19claiming the privilege against self-incrimination, to testify or
20produce evidence (documentary or otherwise), except that the
21individual testifying is not exempt from prosecution and
22punishment for perjury or contempt committed in testifying.

23(6) The cost of any review, examination, audit, or investigation
24made by the commissioner under Section 1280.7 of the Insurance
25Code shall be paid to the commissioner by the person subject to
26the review, examination, audit, or investigation, and the
27commissioner may maintain an action for the recovery of these
28costs in any court of competent jurisdiction. In determining the
29cost, the commissioner may use the actual amount of the salary or
30other compensation paid to the persons making the review,
31examination, audit, or investigation plus the actual amount of
32expenses including overhead reasonably incurred in the
33performance of the work.

34The recoverable cost of each review, examination, audit, or
35investigation made by the commissioner under Section 1280.7 of
36the Insurance Code shall not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars
37($25,000), except that costs exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars
38($25,000) shall be recoverable if the costs are necessary to prevent
39a violation of any provision of Section 1280.7 of the Insurance
40Code.

P10   1(r) Any shares or memberships issued by any corporation
2organized and existing pursuant to the provisions of Part 2
3(commencing with Section 12200) of Division 3 of Title 1,
4provided the aggregate investment of any shareholder or member
5in shares or memberships sold pursuant to this subdivision does
6not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000). This exemption does
7not apply to the shares or memberships of that corporation if any
8promoter thereof expects or intends to make a profit directly or
9indirectly from any business or activity associated with the
10corporation or the operation of the corporation or from
11remuneration, other than reasonable salary, received from the
12corporation. This exemption does not apply to nonvoting shares
13or memberships of that corporation issued to any person who does
14not possess, and who will not acquire in connection with the
15issuance of nonvoting shares or memberships, voting power
16(Section 12253) in the corporation. This exemption also does not
17apply to shares or memberships issued by a nonprofit cooperative
18corporation organized to facilitate the creation of an unincorporated
19interindemnity arrangement that provides indemnification for
20medical malpractice to its physician and surgeon members as set
21forth in subdivision (q).

22(s) Any security consisting of or representing an interest in a
23pool of mortgage loans that meets each of the following
24requirements:

25(1) The pool consists of whole mortgage loans or participation
26interests in those loans, which loans were originated or acquired
27in the ordinary course of business by a national bank or federal
28savings association or federal savings bank having its principal
29office in this state, by a bank incorporated under the laws of this
30state or by a savings association as defined in subdivision (a) of
31Section 5102 of the Financial Code and which is subject to the
32supervision and regulation of the Commissioner of Financial
33Institutions, and each of which at the time of transfer to the pool
34is an authorized investment for the originating or acquiring
35institution.

36(2) The pool of mortgage loans is held in trust by a trustee which
37is a financial institution specified in paragraph (1) as trustee or
38otherwise.

39(3) The loans are serviced by a financial institution specified in
40paragraph (1).

P11   1(4) The security is not offered in amounts of less than
2twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) in the aggregate to any one
3purchaser.

4(5) The security is offered pursuant to a registration under the
5Securities Act of 1933, or pursuant to an exemption under
6Regulation A under that act, or in the opinion of counsel for the
7issuer, is offered pursuant to an exemption under Section 4(2) of
8that act.

9(t) (1) Any security issued or guaranteed by and representing
10an interest in or a direct obligation of an industrial loan company
11incorporated under the laws of the state and authorized by the
12Commissioner of Financial Institutions to engage in industrial loan
13business.

14(2) Any investment certificate in or issued by any industrial
15loan company that is organized under the laws of a state of the
16United States other than this state, that is insured by the Federal
17Deposit Insurance Corporation, and that maintains a branch office
18in this state.

19

SEC. 2.  

Section 25102 of the Corporations Code is amended
20to read:

21

25102.  

The following transactions are exempted from the
22provisions of Section 25110:

23(a) Any offer (but not a sale) not involving any public offering
24and the execution and delivery of any agreement for the sale of
25securities pursuant to the offer if (1) the agreement contains
26substantially the following provision: “The sale of the securities
27that are the subject of this agreement has not been qualified with
28the Commissioner of Corporations of the State of California and
29the issuance of the securities or the payment or receipt of any part
30of the consideration therefor prior to the qualification is unlawful,
31unless the sale of securities is exempt from the qualification by
32Section 25100, 25102, or 25105 of the California Corporations
33Code. The rights of all parties to this agreement are expressly
34 conditioned upon the qualification being obtained, unless the sale
35is so exempt”; and (2) no part of the purchase price is paid or
36received and none of the securities are issued until the sale of the
37securities is qualified under this law unless the sale of securities
38is exempt from the qualification by this section, Section 25100,
39or 25105.

P12   1(b) Any offer (but not a sale) of a security for which a
2registration statement has been filed under the Securities Act of
31933 but has not yet become effective, or for which an offering
4statement under Regulation A has been filed but has not yet been
5qualified, if no stop order or refusal order is in effect and no public
6proceeding or examination looking towards an order is pending
7under Section 8 of the act and no order under Section 25140 or
8subdivision (a) of Section 25143 is in effect under this law.

9(c) Any offer (but not a sale) and the execution and delivery of
10any agreement for the sale of securities pursuant to the offer as
11may be permitted by the commissioner upon application. Any
12negotiating permit under this subdivision shall be conditioned to
13the effect that none of the securities may be issued and none of
14the consideration therefor may be received or accepted until the
15sale of the securities is qualified under this law.

16(d) Any transaction or agreement between the issuer and an
17underwriter or among underwriters if the sale of the securities is
18qualified, or exempt from qualification, at the time of distribution
19thereof in this state, if any.

20(e) Any offer or sale of any evidence of indebtedness, whether
21secured or unsecured, and any guarantee thereof, in a transaction
22not involving any public offering.

23(f) Any offer or sale of any security in a transaction (other than
24an offer or sale to a pension or profit-sharing trust of the issuer)
25that meets each of the following criteria:

26(1) Sales of the security are not made to more than 35 persons,
27including persons not in this state.

28(2) All purchasers either have a preexisting personal or business
29relationship with the offeror or any of its partners, officers,
30directors or controlling persons, or managers (as appointed or
31elected by the members) if the offeror is a limited liability
32company, or by reason of their business or financial experience or
33the business or financial experience of their professional advisers
34who are unaffiliated with and who are not compensated by the
35issuer or any affiliate or selling agent of the issuer, directly or
36indirectly, could be reasonably assumed to have the capacity to
37protect their own interests in connection with the transaction.

38(3) Each purchaser represents that the purchaser is purchasing
39for the purchaser’s own account (or a trust account if the purchaser
P13   1is a trustee) and not with a view to or for sale in connection with
2any distribution of the security.

3(4) The offer and sale of the security is not accomplished by
4the publication of any advertisement. The number of purchasers
5referred to above is exclusive of any described in subdivision (i),
6any officer, director, or affiliate of the issuer, or manager (as
7appointed or elected by the members) if the issuer is a limited
8liability company, and any other purchaser who the commissioner
9designates by rule. For purposes of this section, spouses (together
10with any custodian or trustee acting for the account of their minor
11children) are counted as one person and a partnership, corporation,
12or other organization that was not specifically formed for the
13purpose of purchasing the security offered in reliance upon this
14exemption, is counted as one person. The commissioner shall by
15rule require the issuer to file a notice of transactions under this
16subdivision.

17The failure to file the notice or the failure to file the notice within
18the time specified by the rule of the commissioner shall not affect
19the availability of the exemption. Any issuer that fails to file the
20notice as provided by rule of the commissioner shall, within 15
21business days after discovery of the failure to file the notice or
22after demand by the commissioner, whichever occurs first, file the
23notice and pay to the commissioner a fee equal to the fee payable
24had the transaction been qualified under Section 25110. Neither
25the filing of the notice nor the failure by the commissioner to
26comment thereon precludes the commissioner from taking any
27action that the commissioner deems necessary or appropriate under
28this division with respect to the offer and sale of the securities.

29(g) Any offer or sale of conditional sale agreements, equipment
30trust certificates, or certificates of interest or participation therein
31or partial assignments thereof, covering the purchase of railroad
32rolling stock or equipment or the purchase of motor vehicles,
33aircraft, or parts thereof, in a transaction not involving any public
34offering.

35(h) Any offer or sale of voting common stock by a corporation
36incorporated in any state if, immediately after the proposed sale
37and issuance, there will be only one class of stock of the
38corporation outstanding that is owned beneficially by no more than
3935 persons, provided all of the following requirements have been
40met:

P14   1(1) The offer and sale of the stock is not accompanied by the
2publication of any advertisement, and no selling expenses have
3been given, paid, or incurred in connection therewith.

4(2) The consideration to be received by the issuer for the stock
5to be issued consists of any of the following:

6(A) Only assets (which may include cash) of an existing business
7enterprise transferred to the issuer upon its initial organization, of
8which all of the persons who are to receive the stock to be issued
9pursuant to this exemption were owners during, and the enterprise
10was operated for, a period of not less than one year immediately
11preceding the proposed issuance, and the ownership of the
12enterprise immediately prior to the proposed issuance was in the
13same proportions as the shares of stock are to be issued.

14(B) Only cash or cancellation of indebtedness for money
15borrowed, or both, upon the initial organization of the issuer,
16provided all of the stock is issued for the same price per share.

17(C) Only cash, provided the sale is approved in writing by each
18of the existing shareholders and the purchaser or purchasers are
19existing shareholders.

20(D) In a case where after the proposed issuance there will be
21only one owner of the stock of the issuer, only any legal
22consideration.

23(3) No promotional consideration has been given, paid, or
24incurred in connection with the issuance. Promotional consideration
25means any consideration paid directly or indirectly to a person
26who, acting alone or in conjunction with one or more other persons,
27takes the initiative in founding and organizing the business or
28enterprise of an issuer for services rendered in connection with the
29founding or organizing.

30(4) A notice in a form prescribed by rule of the commissioner,
31signed by an active member of the State Bar of California, is filed
32with or mailed for filing to the commissioner not later than 10
33business days after receipt of consideration for the securities by
34the issuer. That notice shall contain an opinion of the member of
35the State Bar of California that the exemption provided by this
36subdivision is available for the offer and sale of the securities. The
37failure to file the notice as required by this subdivision and the
38rules of the commissioner shall not affect the availability of this
39exemption. An issuer who fails to file the notice within the time
40specified by this subdivision shall, within 15 business days after
P15   1discovery of the failure to file the notice or after demand by the
2commissioner, whichever occurs first, file the notice and pay to
3the commissioner a fee equal to the fee payable had the transaction
4been qualified under Section 25110. The notice, except when filed
5on behalf of a California corporation, shall be accompanied by an
6irrevocable consent, in the form that the commissioner by rule
7prescribes, appointing the commissioner or his or her successor in
8office to be the issuer’s attorney to receive service of any lawful
9process in any noncriminal suit, action, or proceeding against it
10or its successor that arises under this law or any rule or order
11hereunder after the consent has been filed, with the same force and
12validity as if served personally on the issuer. An issuer on whose
13behalf a consent has been filed in connection with a previous
14qualification or exemption from qualification under this law (or
15application for a permit under any prior law if the application or
16notice under this law states that the consent is still effective) need
17not file another. Service may be made by leaving a copy of the
18process in the office of the commissioner, but it is not effective
19unless (A) the plaintiff, who may be the commissioner in a suit,
20action, or proceeding instituted by him or her, forthwith sends
21notice of the service and a copy of the process by registered or
22certified mail to the defendant or respondent at its last address on
23file with the commissioner, and (B) the plaintiff’s affidavit of
24compliance with this section is filed in the case on or before the
25return day of the process, if any, or within the further time as the
26court allows.

27(5) Each purchaser represents that the purchaser is purchasing
28for the purchaser’s own account, or a trust account if the purchaser
29is a trustee, and not with a view to or for sale in connection with
30any distribution of the stock.

31For the purposes of this subdivision, all securities held by
32 spouses, whether or not jointly, shall be considered to be owned
33by one person, and all securities held by a corporation that has
34issued stock pursuant to this exemption shall be considered to be
35held by the shareholders to whom it has issued the stock.

36All stock issued by a corporation pursuant to this subdivision as
37it existed prior to the effective date of the amendments to this
38section made during the 1996 portion of the 1995-96 Regular
39Session that required the issuer to have stamped or printed
40prominently on the face of the stock certificate a legend in a form
P16   1prescribed by rule of the commissioner restricting transfer of the
2stock in a manner provided for by that rule shall not be subject to
3the transfer restriction legend requirement and, by operation of
4law, the corporation is authorized to remove that transfer restriction
5legend from the certificates of those shares of stock issued by the
6corporation pursuant to this subdivision as it existed prior to the
7effective date of the amendments to this section made during the
81996 portion of the 1995-96 Regular Session.

9(i) Any offer or sale (1) to a bank, savings and loan association,
10trust company, insurance company, investment company registered
11under the Investment Company Act of 1940, pension or
12profit-sharing trust (other than a pension or profit-sharing trust of
13the issuer, a self-employed individual retirement plan, or individual
14retirement account), or other institutional investor or governmental
15agency or instrumentality that the commissioner may designate
16by rule, whether the purchaser is acting for itself or as trustee, or
17(2) to any corporation with outstanding securities registered under
18Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any wholly
19owned subsidiary of the corporation that after the offer and sale
20will own directly or indirectly 100 percent of the outstanding
21capital stock of the issuer, provided the purchaser represents that
22it is purchasing for its own account (or for the trust account) for
23investment and not with a view to or for sale in connection with
24any distribution of the security.

25(j) Any offer or sale of any certificate of interest or participation
26in an oil or gas title or lease (including subsurface gas storage and
27payments out of production) if either of the following apply:

28(1) All of the purchasers meet one of the following requirements:

29(A) Are and have been during the preceding two years engaged
30primarily in the business of drilling for, producing, or refining oil
31or gas (or whose corporate predecessor, in the case of a corporation,
32has been so engaged).

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

34(C) Have been found by the commissioner upon written
35application to be substantially engaged in the business of drilling
36for, producing, or refining oil or gas so as not to require the
37protection provided by this law (which finding shall be effective
38until rescinded).

39(2) The security is concurrently hypothecated to a bank in the
40ordinary course of business to secure a loan made by the bank,
P17   1provided that each purchaser represents that it is purchasing for
2its own account for investment and not with a view to or for sale
3in connection with any distribution of the security.

4(k) Any offer or sale of any security under, or pursuant to, a
5plan of reorganization under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy
6law that has been confirmed or is subject to confirmation by the
7decree or order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

8(l) Any offer or sale of an option, warrant, put, call, or straddle,
9and any guarantee of any of these securities, by a person who is
10not the issuer of the security subject to the right, if the transaction,
11had it involved an offer or sale of the security subject to the right
12by the person, would not have violated Section 25110 or 25130.

13(m) Any offer or sale of a stock to a pension, profit-sharing,
14stock bonus, or employee stock ownership plan, provided that (1)
15the plan meets the requirements for qualification under Section
16401 of the Internal Revenue Code, and (2) the employees are not
17required or permitted individually to make any contributions to
18the plan. The exemption provided by this subdivision shall not be
19affected by whether the stock is contributed to the plan, purchased
20from the issuer with contributions by the issuer or an affiliate of
21the issuer, or purchased from the issuer with funds borrowed from
22the issuer, an affiliate of the issuer, or any other lender.

23(n) Any offer or sale of any security in a transaction, other than
24an offer or sale of a security in a rollup transaction, that meets all
25of the following criteria:

26(1) The issuer is (A) a California corporation or foreign
27corporation that, at the time of the filing of the notice required
28under this subdivision, is subject to Section 2115, or (B) any other
29form of business entity, including without limitation a partnership
30or trust organized under the laws of this state. The exemption
31provided by this subdivision is not available to a “blind pool”
32issuer, as that term is defined by the commissioner, or to an
33investment company subject to the Investment Company Act of
341940.

35(2) Sales of securities are made only to qualified purchasers or
36other persons the issuer reasonably believes, after reasonable
37inquiry, to be qualified purchasers. A corporation, partnership, or
38other organization specifically formed for the purpose of acquiring
39the securities offered by the issuer in reliance upon this exemption
40may be a qualified purchaser if each of the equity owners of the
P18   1corporation, partnership, or other organization is a qualified
2purchaser. Qualified purchasers include the following:

3(A) A person designated in Section 260.102.13 of Title 10 of
4the California Code of Regulations.

5(B) A person designated in subdivision (i) or any rule of the
6commissioner adopted thereunder.

7(C) A pension or profit-sharing trust of the issuer, a
8self-employed individual retirement plan, or an individual
9retirement account, if the investment decisions made on behalf of
10the trust, plan, or account are made solely by persons who are
11qualified purchasers.

12(D) An organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the
13Internal Revenue Code, corporation, Massachusetts or similar
14business trust, or partnership, each with total assets in excess of
15five million dollars ($5,000,000) according to its most recent
16audited financial statements.

17(E) With respect to the offer and sale of one class of voting
18common stock of an issuer or of preferred stock of an issuer
19entitling the holder thereof to at least the same voting rights as the
20issuer’s one class of voting common stock, provided that the issuer
21has only one-class voting common stock outstanding upon
22consummation of the offer and sale, a natural person who, either
23individually or jointly with the person’s spouse, (i) has a minimum
24net worth of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) and
25had, during the immediately preceding tax year, gross income in
26excess of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) and reasonably
27expects gross income in excess of one hundred thousand dollars
28($100,000) during the current tax year or (ii) has a minimum net
29worth of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000). “Net worth”
30shall be determined exclusive of home, home furnishings, and
31automobiles. Other assets included in the computation of net worth
32may be valued at fair market value.

33Each natural person specified above, by reason of his or her
34business or financial experience, or the business or financial
35experience of his or her professional adviser, who is unaffiliated
36with and who is not compensated, directly or indirectly, by the
37issuer or any affiliate or selling agent of the issuer, can be
38reasonably assumed to have the capacity to protect his or her
39interests in connection with the transaction. The amount of the
40investment of each natural person shall not exceed 10 percent of
P19   1the net worth, as determined by this subparagraph, of that natural
2person.

3(F) Any other purchaser designated as qualified by rule of the
4commissioner.

5(3) Each purchaser represents that the purchaser is purchasing
6for the purchaser’s own account (or trust account, if the purchaser
7is a trustee) and not with a view to or for sale in connection with
8a distribution of the security.

9(4) Each natural person purchaser, including a corporation,
10partnership, or other organization specifically formed by natural
11persons for the purpose of acquiring the securities offered by the
12issuer, receives, at least five business days before securities are
13sold to, or a commitment to purchase is accepted from, the
14purchaser, a written offering disclosure statement that shall meet
15the disclosure requirements of Regulation D (17 C.F.R. 230.501
16et seq.), and any other information as may be prescribed by rule
17of the commissioner, provided that the issuer shall not be obligated
18pursuant to this paragraph to provide this disclosure statement to
19a natural person qualified under Section 260.102.13 of Title 10 of
20the California Code of Regulations. The offer or sale of securities
21pursuant to a disclosure statement required by this paragraph that
22is in violation of Section 25401, or that fails to meet the disclosure
23requirements of Regulation D (17 C.F.R. 230.501 et seq.), shall
24not render unavailable to the issuer the claim of an exemption from
25Section 25110 afforded by this subdivision. This paragraph does
26not impose, directly or indirectly, any additional disclosure
27obligation with respect to any other exemption from qualification
28available under any other provision of this section.

29(5) (A) A general announcement of proposed offering may be
30published by written document only, provided that the general
31announcement of proposed offering sets forth the following
32required information:

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

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

35(iii) The anticipated suitability standards for prospective
36purchasers.

37(iv) A statement that (I) no money or other consideration is
38being solicited or will be accepted, (II) an indication of interest
39made by a prospective purchaser involves no obligation or
40commitment of any kind, and, if the issuer is required by paragraph
P20   1(4) to deliver a disclosure statement to prospective purchasers,
2(III) no sales will be made or commitment to purchase accepted
3until five business days after delivery of a disclosure statement
4and subscription information to the prospective purchaser in
5accordance with the requirements of this subdivision.

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

7(vi) The following legend: “For more complete information
8about (Name of Issuer) and (Full Title of Security), send for
9additional information from (Name and Address) by sending this
10coupon or calling (Telephone Number).”

11(B) The general announcement of proposed offering referred
12to in subparagraph (A) may also set forth the following
13information:

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

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

16(iii) The price of the security to be issued, or, if the price is not
17known, the method of its determination or the probable price range
18as specified by the issuer, and the aggregate offering price.

19(C) The general announcement of proposed offering shall
20contain only the information that is set forth in this paragraph.

21(D) Dissemination of the general announcement of proposed
22offering to persons who are not qualified purchasers, without more,
23shall not disqualify the issuer from claiming the exemption under
24this subdivision.

25(6) No telephone solicitation shall be permitted until the issuer
26has determined that the prospective purchaser to be solicited is a
27qualified purchaser.

28(7) The issuer files a notice of transaction under this subdivision
29both (A) concurrent with the publication of a general announcement
30of proposed offering or at the time of the initial offer of the
31securities, whichever occurs first, accompanied by a filing fee, and
32(B) within 10 business days following the close or abandonment
33of the offering, but in no case more than 210 days from the date
34of filing the first notice. The first notice of transaction under
35subparagraph (A) shall contain an undertaking, in a form acceptable
36to the commissioner, to deliver any disclosure statement required
37by paragraph (4) to be delivered to prospective purchasers, and
38any supplement thereto, to the commissioner within 10 days of
39the commissioner’s request for the information. The exemption
40from qualification afforded by this subdivision is unavailable if
P21   1an issuer fails to file the first notice required under subparagraph
2(A) or to pay the filing fee. The commissioner has the authority
3to assess an administrative penalty of up to one thousand dollars
4($1,000) against an issuer that fails to deliver the disclosure
5statement required to be delivered to the commissioner upon the
6commissioner’s request within the time period set forth above.
7Neither the filing of the disclosure statement nor the failure by the
8commissioner to comment thereon precludes the commissioner
9from taking any action deemed necessary or appropriate under this
10division with respect to the offer and sale of the securities.

11(o) An offer or sale of any security issued by a corporation or
12limited liability company pursuant to a purchase plan or agreement,
13or issued pursuant to an option plan or agreement, where the
14security at the time of issuance or grant is exempt from registration
15under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to Rule
16701 adopted pursuant to that act (17 C.F.R. 230.701), the provisions
17of which are hereby incorporated by reference into this section,
18provided that (1) the terms of any purchase plan or agreement shall
19comply with Sections 260.140.42, 260.140.45, and 260.140.46 of
20Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations, (2) the terms of
21any option plan or agreement shall comply with Sections
22260.140.41, 260.140.45, and 260.140.46 of Title 10 of the
23California Code of Regulations, and (3) the issuer files a notice of
24transaction in accordance with rules adopted by the commissioner
25no later than 30 days after the initial issuance of any security under
26that plan, accompanied by a filing fee as prescribed by subdivision
27(y) of Section 25608. The failure to file the notice of transaction
28within the time specified in this subdivision shall not affect the
29availability of this exemption. An issuer that fails to file the notice
30shall, within 15 business days after discovery of the failure to file
31the notice or after demand by the commissioner, whichever occurs
32first, file the notice and pay the commissioner a fee equal to the
33maximum aggregate fee payable had the transaction been qualified
34under Section 25110.

35Offers and sales exempt pursuant to this subdivision shall be
36deemed to be part of a single, discrete offering and are not subject
37to integration with any other offering or sale, whether qualified
38under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 25110), or otherwise
39exempt, or not subject to qualification.

P22   1(p) An offer or sale of nonredeemable securities to accredited
2investors (Section 28031) by a person licensed under the Capital
3Access Company Law (Division 3 (commencing with Section
428000) of Title 4), provided that all purchasers either (1) have a
5preexisting personal or business relationship with the offeror or
6any of its partners, officers, directors, controlling persons, or
7managers (as appointed or elected by the members), or (2) by
8reason of their business or financial experience or the business or
9financial experience of their professional advisers who are
10unaffiliated with and who are not compensated by the issuer or
11any affiliate or selling agent of the issuer, directly or indirectly,
12could be reasonably assumed to have the capacity to protect their
13own interests in connection with the transaction. All nonredeemable
14securities shall be evidenced by certificates that shall have stamped
15or printed prominently on their face a legend in a form to be
16prescribed by rule or order of the commissioner restricting transfer
17of the securities in the manner as the rule or order provides. The
18exemption under this subdivision shall not be available for any
19offering that is exempt or asserted to be exempt pursuant to Section
203(a)(11) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. Sec. 77c(a)(11))
21or Rule 147 (17 C.F.R. 230.147) thereunder or otherwise is
22conducted by means of any form of general solicitation or general
23advertising.

24(q) Any offer or sale of any viatical or life settlement contract
25or fractionalized or pooled interest therein in a transaction that
26meets all of the following criteria:

27(1) Sales of securities described in this subdivision are made
28only to qualified purchasers or other persons the issuer reasonably
29believes, after reasonable inquiry, to be qualified purchasers. A
30corporation, partnership, or other organization specifically formed
31for the purpose of acquiring the securities offered by the issuer in
32reliance upon this exemption may be a qualified purchaser only if
33each of the equity owners of the corporation, partnership, or other
34organization is a qualified purchaser. Qualified purchasers include
35the following:

36(A) A person designated in Section 260.102.13 of Title 10 of
37the California Code of Regulations.

38(B) A person designated in subdivision (i) or any rule of the
39commissioner adopted thereunder.

P23   1(C) A pension or profit-sharing trust of the issuer, a
2self-employed individual retirement plan, or an individual
3retirement account, if the investment decisions made on behalf of
4the trust, plan, or account are made solely by persons who are
5qualified purchasers.

6(D) An organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the
7Internal Revenue Code, corporation, Massachusetts or similar
8business trust, or partnership, each with total assets in excess of
9five million dollars ($5,000,000) according to its most recent
10audited financial statements.

11(E) A natural person who, either individually or jointly with the
12person’s spouse, (i) has a minimum net worth of one hundred fifty
13thousand dollars ($150,000) and had, during the immediately
14preceding tax year, gross income in excess of one hundred thousand
15dollars ($100,000) and reasonably expects gross income in excess
16of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) during the current tax
17year or (ii) has a minimum net worth of two hundred fifty thousand
18dollars ($250,000). “Net worth” shall be determined exclusive of
19home, home furnishings, and automobiles. Other assets included
20in the computation of net worth may be valued at fair market value.

21Each natural person specified above, by reason of his or her
22business or financial experience, or the business or financial
23experience of his or her professional adviser, who is unaffiliated
24with and who is not compensated, directly or indirectly, by the
25issuer or any affiliate or selling agent of the issuer, can be
26reasonably assumed to have the capacity to protect his or her
27interests in connection with the transaction.

28The amount of the investment of each natural person shall not
29exceed 10 percent of the net worth, as determined by this
30subdivision, of that natural person.

31(F) Any other purchaser designated as qualified by rule of the
32commissioner.

33(2) Each purchaser represents that the purchaser is purchasing
34for the purchaser’s own account (or trust account, if the purchaser
35is a trustee) and not with a view to or for sale in connection with
36a distribution of the security.

37(3) Each natural person purchaser, including a corporation,
38partnership, or other organization specifically formed by natural
39persons for the purpose of acquiring the securities offered by the
40issuer, receives, at least five business days before securities
P24   1described in this subdivision are sold to, or a commitment to
2purchase is accepted from, the purchaser, the following information
3in writing:

4(A) The name, principal business and mailing address, and
5telephone number of the issuer.

6(B) The suitability standards for prospective purchasers as set
7forth in paragraph (1) of this subdivision.

8(C) A description of the issuer’s type of business organization
9and the state in which the issuer is organized or incorporated.

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

11(E) If the issuer retains ownership or becomes the beneficiary
12of the insurance policy, an audit report of an independent certified
13public accountant together with a balance sheet and related
14statements of income, retained earnings, and cashflows that reflect
15the issuer’s financial position, the results of the issuer’s operations,
16and the issuer’s cashflows as of a date within 15 months before
17the date of the initial issuance of the securities described in this
18subdivision. The financial statements listed in this subparagraph
19shall be prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting
20principles. If the date of the audit report is more than 120 days
21before the date of the initial issuance of the securities described
22in this subdivision, the issuer shall provide unaudited interim
23financial statements.

24(F) The names of all directors, officers, partners, members, or
25trustees of the issuer.

26(G) A description of any order, judgment, or decree that is final
27as to the issuing entity of any state, federal, or foreign country
28governmental agency or administrator, or of any state, federal, or
29foreign country court of competent jurisdiction (i) revoking,
30suspending, denying, or censuring for cause any license, permit,
31or other authority of the issuer or of any director, officer, partner,
32 member, trustee, or person owning or controlling, directly or
33indirectly, 10 percent or more of the outstanding interest or equity
34securities of the issuer, to engage in the securities, commodities,
35franchise, insurance, real estate, or lending business or in the offer
36or sale of securities, commodities, franchises, insurance, real estate,
37or loans, (ii) permanently restraining, enjoining, barring,
38suspending, or censuring any such person from engaging in or
39continuing any conduct, practice, or employment in connection
40with the offer or sale of securities, commodities, franchises,
P25   1insurance, real estate, or loans, (iii) convicting any such person
2of, or pleading nolo contendere by any such person to, any felony
3or misdemeanor involving a security, commodity, franchise,
4insurance, real estate, or loan, or any aspect of the securities,
5commodities, franchise, insurance, real estate, or lending business,
6or involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, embezzlement, fraudulent
7conversion, or misappropriation of property, or (iv) holding any
8such person liable in a civil action involving breach of a fiduciary
9duty, fraud, deceit, embezzlement, fraudulent conversion, or
10misappropriation of property. This subparagraph does not apply
11to any order, judgment, or decree that has been vacated, overturned,
12or is more than 10 years old.

13(H) Notice of the purchaser’s right to rescind or cancel the
14investment and receive a refund pursuant to Section 25508.5.

15(I) The name, address, and telephone number of the issuing
16insurance company, and the name, address, and telephone number
17of the state or foreign country regulator of the insurance company.

18(J) The total face value of the insurance policy and the
19percentage of the insurance policy the purchaser will own.

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

21(L) If a group insurance policy, the name, address, and telephone
22number of the group, and, if applicable, the material terms and
23conditions of converting the policy to an individual policy,
24including the amount of increased premiums.

25(M) If a term insurance policy, the term and the name, address,
26and telephone number of the person who will be responsible for
27renewing the policy if necessary.

28(N) That the insurance policy is beyond the state statute for
29contestability and the reason therefor.

30(O) The insurance policy premiums and terms of premium
31payments.

32(P) The amount of the purchaser’s moneys that will be set aside
33to pay premiums.

34(Q) The name, address, and telephone number of the person
35who will be the insurance policy owner and the person who will
36be responsible for paying premiums.

37(R) The date on which the purchaser will be required to pay
38premiums and the amount of the premium, if known.

39(S) A statement to the effect that any projected rate of return to
40the purchaser from the purchase of a viatical or life settlement
P26   1contract or a fractionalized or pooled interest therein is based on
2an estimated life expectancy for the person insured under the life
3insurance policy; that the return on the purchase may vary
4substantially from the expected rate of return based upon the actual
5life expectancy of the insured that may be less than, equal to, or
6may greatly exceed the estimated life expectancy; and that the rate
7of return would be higher if the actual life expectancy were less
8than, and lower if the actual life expectancy were greater than the
9estimated life expectancy of the insured at the time the viatical or
10life settlement contract was closed.

11(T) A statement that the purchaser should consult with his or
12her tax adviser regarding the tax consequences of the purchase of
13the viatical or life settlement contract or fractionalized or pooled
14interest therein and, if the purchaser is using retirement funds or
15accounts for that purchase, whether or not any adverse tax
16consequences might result from the use of those funds for the
17purchase of that investment.

18(U) Any other information as may be prescribed by rule of the
19commissioner.

begin delete

20(r) Any offer or sale of any evidence of indebtedness, whether
21secured or unsecured, and any guarantee thereof, that meets each
22of the following criteria:

23(1) The aggregate amount of securities sold to all purchasers
24by the issuer pursuant to this subdivision within any 12-month
25period does not exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).

26(2) The aggregate amount of securities sold to any purchaser
27by the issuer under this subdivision, including any amount sold
28during the 12-month period preceding the date of the transaction,
29does not exceed one hundred dollars ($100), or a greater amount
30as the commissioner may provide by rule or order, unless the
31purchaser is an accredited investor, as defined in Section 230.501
32of Title 17 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

33(3) Each purchaser represents that the purchaser is purchasing
34for the purchaser’s own account, or a trust account if the purchaser
35is a trustee, and not with a view to or for sale in connection with
36any distribution of the security.

37(4) For purposes of this subdivision, spouses, together with any
38custodian or trustee acting for the account of their minor children,
39are counted as one person, and a partnership, corporation, or other
40organization that was not specifically formed for the purpose of
P27   1purchasing the security offered in reliance upon this exemption,
2is counted as one person.

3(5) The commissioner shall by rule require the issuer to file a
4notice of transaction under this subdivision. The failure to file the
5notice or the failure to file the notice within the time specified by
6the rule of the commissioner shall not affect the availability of the
7exemption. Any issuer that fails to file the notice as provided by
8rule of the commissioner shall, within 15 business days after
9discovery of the failure to file the notice or after demand by the
10commissioner, whichever occurs first, file the notice and pay to
11the commissioner a fee equal to the fee payable had the transaction
12been qualified under Section 25110. Neither the filing of the notice
13nor the failure by the commissioner to comment thereon precludes
14the commissioner from taking any action that the commissioner
15deems necessary or appropriate under this division with respect
16to the offer and sale of the securities.

17(6) Offers and sales exempt pursuant to this subdivision shall
18be deemed to be part of a single, discrete offering and are not
19subject to integration with any other offering or sale, whether
20qualified under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 25110), or
21otherwise exempt, or not subject to qualification.

22(s)

end delete

23begin insert(r)end insert Any offer or sale of any evidence of indebtedness, whether
24secured or unsecured, and any guarantee thereof, that meets each
25of the following criteria:

26(1) The aggregate amount of securities sold to all purchasers
27by the issuer pursuant to this subdivision within any 12-month
28period does not exceed five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000).

29(2) The aggregate amount of securities sold to any purchaser
30by the issuer, including any amount sold during the 12-month
31period preceding the date of the transaction, does not exceed one
32thousand dollars ($1000), or a greater amount as the commissioner
33may provide by rule or order, unless the purchaser is an accredited
34investor, as defined in Section 230.501 of Title 17 of the Code of
35Federal Regulations.

36(3) Each purchaser represents that the purchaser is purchasing
37for the purchaser’s own account, or a trust account if the purchaser
38is a trustee, and not with a view to or for sale in connection with
39any distribution of the security.

P28   1(4) For purposes of this section, spouses, together with any
2custodian or trustee acting for the account of their minor children,
3are counted as one person, and a partnership, corporation, or other
4organization that was not specifically formed for the purpose of
5purchasing the security offered in reliance upon this exemption,
6is counted as one person.

7(5) The commissioner shall by rule require the issuer to file a
8notice of transactions under this subdivision. The issuer shall file
9the notice of transaction and attach all documents required in
10paragraph (6).

11(6) The issuer provides to purchasers, and makes available to
12potential purchasersbegin delete on the Internet Web site of the issuerend delete the
13following:

14(A) A cover sheet or heading containing all of the following
15statements, in bold typeface no smaller than 12-point type:

16(i) Investment in a small business is often risky. You should not
17invest any funds in this offering unless you can afford to lose your
18entire investment.

19(ii) Potential purchasers should review information about the
20enterprise and offering, and consider the terms and risks of this
21offering before investing. After reviewing the financial information,
22description of the business, activities, risk factors, and development
23timeline, potential purchasers should consider whether success of
24the enterprise is realistic.

25(iii) No government regulator is recommending these securities.
26No government regulator has verified that this document is accurate
27or determined that it is adequate. The Commissioner of Business
28Oversight has in no way passed upon the merits or qualifications
29of, or recommended or given approval to, any person, security, or
30transaction associated with this offering.

31(B) The issuer’s street address, telephone number, person to
32contact with respect to offering, type of securities offered, financial
33terms of the offering, thebegin delete maximumend deletebegin insert minimumend insert amount the issuer
34is seeking to raise, a description of the business of the issuer, a
35description of how the issuer plans to carry out its activities, a
36budget for the use of proceeds of the offering, a list of the factors
37that the issuer considers to be the most significant risks to an
38investor, and a description in chronological order of the steps
39management intends to take to achieve, maintain, or improve
P29   1profitability during the 36 months following receipt of the offering
2proceeds.

3(C) begin insert(i)end insertbegin insertend insertThe financial statements of the issuer for the most recent
4completed fiscal yearbegin delete andend deletebegin insert, if the business has existed for one year
5or longer, and theend insert
current fiscal year to date, prepared in
6accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and
7certified by the principal executive officer of the issuer to be true
8and complete in all material respects.

begin delete

9(7) Offers and sales exempt pursuant to this subdivision shall
10be deemed to be part of a single, discrete offering and are not
11subject to integration with any other offering or sale, whether
12qualified under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 25110), or
13otherwise exempt, or not subject to qualification.

end delete
begin insert

14(ii) If the issuer’s total amount raised under this exemption
15exceeds three thousand dollars ($3,000), reviewed financials for
16the most recently completed fiscal year shall be provided to all
17prospective purchasers. If the enterprise has existed for less than
18one year, reviewed financials of a partial year may be substituted
19for the previous year’s financial statements.

end insert
begin insert

20(D) A written statement of information about any material legal
21proceedings involving the company or its officers and directors.

end insert
begin insert

22(7) This exemption cannot be used to raise funds for an
23enterprise dependent upon the creation of a product or technology
24for which no fully functional prototype has been made in advance
25of the public offering of securities. Securities offerings made to
26produce a newly invented product must have a fully functional
27prototype. The prototype must be demonstrated in person to any
28potential investor upon request, or, to satisfy many requests for
29demonstration, the issuer may schedule several demonstrations
30throughout the offering and announce the dates and times in
31advance to prospective purchasers along with the materials
32described in paragraph (6).

end insert
begin insert

33(8) Issuers using this exemption may advertise the offering to
34California investors only, unless the offering complies with the
35securities laws of other jurisdictions. Issuers must take steps to
36ensure that any public advertising indicates that the offering is
37directed at California residents, or that any solicitations made to
38nonresidents of California comply with applicable laws of other
39individual states and the United States.

end insert
begin delete

40(t)

end delete

P30   1begin insert(s)end insert Any offer or sale of anybegin delete evidence of indebtedness, whether
2secured or unsecured, and any guarantee thereof,end delete
begin insert security in a
3transactionend insert
that meets each of the following criteria:

4(1) At least 75 percent of amounts raised through the offering
5will be reserved or allocated to the purchase of fee title, leases of
630 years or more, purchase of an easement, construction of, or
7improvement to real property to be used for agricultural purposes.

begin insert

8(2) The issuer is an agricultural enterprise that is majority
9controlled by one or more individuals who are farmers and actively
10engaged in the agricultural enterprise or the issuer is controlled
11by a nonprofit organization.

end insert
begin delete

12(2)

end delete

13begin insert(3)end insert The aggregate amount of securities sold to all purchasers
14by the issuer pursuant to this subdivision within any 12-month
15period does not exceed two million dollars ($2,000,000).

begin delete

16(3)

end delete

17begin insert(4)end insertbegin insertend insertbegin insert(A)end insert The aggregate amount of the issuer’s securities held by
18any purchaser pursuant to this subdivision does not exceed five
19thousand dollarsbegin delete ($5,000).end deletebegin insert ($5,000), if the purchaser signs and
20provides to the issuer a statement verifying that the purchaser has
21a minimum annual gross income of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000)
22or a minimum net worth of one hundred thousand dollars
23($100,000). The aggregate amount of securities sold pursuant to
24this subdivision to any purchaser who does not sign this statement
25shall not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).end insert

begin delete

26(4) (A) Any purchaser purchasing more than one thousand
27dollars ($1,000) in securities shall sign and provide to the issuer
28a statement verifying that the purchaser has a minimum annual
29gross income of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or a minimum
30net worth of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).

31(B) The aggregate amount of securities sold pursuant to this
32subdivision to any purchaser who does not sign a statement
33described in subparagraph (A) shall not exceed one thousand
34dollars ($1,000).

end delete
begin insert

35(B) For purposes of this paragraph, net worth shall be
36determined exclusive of home, home furnishings, and automobiles.
37Other assets included in the computation of net worth may be
38valued at fair market value.

end insert

39(5) The issuer may receive a greater amount from any purchaser
40as the commissioner may provide by rule or order, or as allowed
P31   1by law if the purchaser is an accredited investor, as defined in
2Section 230.501 of Title 17 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

3(6) In the case of real property purchases ofbegin delete unimprovedend delete land,
4the issuer sets aside in a separate third-party escrow account all
5funds raised as part of the offering, to be held in escrow until the
6issuer has entered into a contract to purchase a property. If the
7issuer does not enter into a contract to purchase a property within
8two years of the effective date of the offering, the issuer shall return
9all funds to the purchasers.

10(7) Each purchaser represents that the purchaser is purchasing
11for the purchaser’s own account, or a trust account if the purchaser
12is a trustee, and not with a view to or for sale in connection with
13any distribution of the security.

14(8) For purposes of this subdivision, spouses, together with any
15custodian or trustee acting for the account of their minor children,
16are counted as one person, and a partnership, corporation, or other
17organization that was not specifically formed for the purpose of
18purchasing the security offered in reliance upon this exemption,
19is counted as one person.

20(9) The commissioner shall by rule require the issuer to file a
21notice of transactions under this subdivision. The issuer shall file
22the notice of transaction and attach all documents required in
23paragraph (10).

24(10) The issuer provides to purchasers, and makes available to
25potential purchasersbegin delete on the Internet Web site of the issuerend delete the
26following:

27(A) A cover sheet or heading containing all of the following
28statements, in bold typeface no smaller than 12-point type:

29(i) Investment in a small business is often risky. You should not
30invest any funds in this offering unless you can afford to lose your
31entire investment.

32(ii) Potential purchasers should review information about the
33enterprise and offering, and consider the terms and risks of this
34offering before investing. After reviewing the financial information,
35description of the business, activities, risk factors, and development
36timeline, potential purchasers should consider whether success of
37the enterprise is realistic.

38(iii) No government regulator is recommending these securities.
39No government regulator has verified that this document is accurate
40or determined that it is adequate. The Commissioner of Business
P32   1Oversight has in no way passed upon the merits or qualifications
2of, or recommended or given approval to, any person, security, or
3transaction associated with this offering.

begin delete

4(iv) The company described in this disclosure form is seeking
5to raise a minimum offering of [insert minimum offering amount].

end delete
begin insert

6(iv) Where the goal of the issuer in conducting the offering is
7to purchase farmland, the offering must state “The company
8described in this disclosure form is seeking to purchase farmland.”

end insert

9(v) If the sum of the investment commitments received by the
10company does notbegin delete equal or exceed the minimum offering amount
11by [insert date] your investment in the company will be returned
12to you.end delete
begin insert amount to a sum sufficient to purchase farmland by [insert
13date two years after beginning of offering], your investment in the
14company will be returned to you after 60 days to the most recent
15address provided.end insert

16(B) The issuer’s street address, telephone number, person to
17contact with respect to offering, type of securities offered, financial
18terms of the offering, the maximum amount the issuer is seeking
19to raise, a description of the business of the issuer, a description
20of how the issuer plans to carry out its activities, a budget for the
21use of proceeds of the offering, a list of the factors that the issuer
22considers to be the most significant risks to an investor, and a
23description of the steps management intends to take to achieve,
24maintain, or improve profitability during the 36 months following
25receipt of the offering proceeds.

26(C) If the property to be purchased has been identified, a
27description and address of the property to be purchased, an
28appraisal of the property completed within the last year, and a
29description of all improvements to be made on the property in
30order to make it viable for agricultural use.

31(D) If the property to be purchased has not been identified, a
32description of the size, location, estimated costs, and characteristics
33of the property that the issuer is seeking.

34(E) The income tax returns filed by the issuer for the most
35recently completed year, if any.

36(F) The financial statements of the issuer for the most recent
37completed fiscal yearbegin delete andend deletebegin insert, if the enterprise has existed for one year
38or longer, and theend insert
current fiscal year to date, prepared in
39accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and
P33   1certified by the principal executive officer of the issuer to be true
2and complete in all material respects.

begin delete

3(11) Offers and sales exempt pursuant to this subdivision shall
4be deemed to be part of a single, discrete offering and are not
5subject to integration with any other offering or sale, whether
6qualified under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 25110), or
7otherwise exempt, or not subject to qualification.

end delete
begin insert

8(G) A written statement of information about any material legal
9proceedings involving the company or its officers and directors.

end insert
begin insert

10(11) This exemption cannot be used to raise funds for an
11enterprise dependent upon the creation of a product or technology
12for which no fully functional prototype has been made in advance
13of the public offering of securities. Securities offerings made to
14produce a newly invented product must have a fully functional
15prototype. The prototype must be demonstrated in person to any
16potential investor upon request, or, to satisfy many requests for
17demonstration, the issuer may schedule several demonstrations
18throughout the offering and announce the dates and times in
19advance to prospective purchasers along with the materials
20described in paragraph (10).

end insert
begin insert

21(12) Issuers using this exemption may advertise the offering to
22California investors only, unless the offering complies with the
23securities laws of other jurisdictions. Issuers must take steps to
24ensure that any public advertising indicates that the offering is
25directed at California residents, or that any solicitations made to
26nonresidents of California comply with applicable laws of other
27individual states and the United States.

end insert
begin delete

28(u)

end delete

29begin insert(t)end insert Any offer or sale of anybegin delete cooperative membership, nonprofit
30mutual benefit corporation membership, or evidence of
31indebtedness, whether secured or unsecured, and any guarantee
32thereof,end delete
begin insert security in a transactionend insert that meets each of the following
33criteria:

34(1) At least 75 percent of amounts raised through the offering
35will be reserved or allocated to the purchase of solar photovoltaic
36panels and related equipment or wind turbines and related
37equipment.

38(2) The issuer meets any one of the following qualifications:

begin delete

39(A) The issuer owns the land or improvements onto which the
40solar panels or wind turbine will be installed and reasonably
P34   1estimates that 50 percent or more of the energy generated will be
2used on the land or real property on which the improvements are
3located.

end delete
begin delete

4(B)

end delete

5begin insert(A)end insert The issuer is a cooperative corporation or a nonprofit mutual
6benefit corporation with the purpose of developing and operating
7one or more facilities to generate electricity for its members to
8install solar panels or wind turbines for its members, either by
9selling or leasing panels to members, or to arrange or allocate net
10metering credits among members.

begin delete

11(C)

end delete

12begin insert(B)end insert The issuer is a nonprofit public benefit corporation that is
13exempt from federal income taxation as an organization described
14in Section 501(c)(3) or Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue
15Code and the issuer is purchasing solar panels or wind turbines
16primarily to meet the energy needs of the corporation.

begin delete

17(D)

end delete

18begin insert(C)end insert The issuer is a nonprofit public benefit corporation with the
19purpose of developing and operating one or more facilities to
20generate electricity in a single city and for residents of that city,
21or within a similarly limited geographic area approved by the
22commissioner.

begin delete

23(E)

end delete

24begin insert(D)end insert The issuer is an entity owned or entirely controlled by
25tenants in multitenant housing, and the issuer has entered into a
26contract with the owner of the property to install solar panels on
27the property on which the multitenant housing is located.

28(3) The aggregate amount of securities sold to all purchasers
29by the issuer pursuant to this subdivision within any 12-month
30period does not exceed two million dollars ($2,000,000).

31(4) begin insert(A)end insertbegin insertend insert The aggregate amount of the issuer’s securities held
32by any purchaser pursuant to this subdivision does not exceed five
33thousand dollarsbegin delete ($5,000).end deletebegin insert ($5,000), so long as the purchaser signs
34and provides to the issuer a statement verifying that the purchaser
35has a minimum annual gross income of fifty thousand dollars
36($50,000) or a minimum net worth of one hundred thousand dollars
37($100,000). The aggregate amount of securities sold to any
38purchaser who does not sign this statement shall not exceed one
39thousand dollars ($1,000).end insert

begin delete

P35   1(5) (A) Any purchaser purchasing more than one thousand
2dollars ($1,000) in securities shall sign and provide to the issue a
3statement verifying that the purchaser has a minimum annual gross
4income of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or a minimum net worth
5of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).

end delete
begin delete

6(B) The aggregate amount of securities sold to any purchaser
7who does not sign a statement described in subparagraph (A) shall
8not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).

end delete
begin insert

9(B) For purposes of this paragraph, net worth shall be
10determined exclusive of home, home furnishings, and automobiles.
11Other assets included in the computation of net worth may be
12valued at fair market value.

end insert
begin delete

13(6)

end delete

14begin insert(5)end insert The issuer may receive a greater amount from any purchaser
15as the commissioner may provide by rule or order, or as allowed
16by law if the purchaser is an accredited investor, as defined in
17Section 230.501 of Title 17 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

begin delete

18(7)

end delete

19begin insert(6)end insert Each purchaser represents that the purchaser is purchasing
20for the purchaser’s own account, or a trust account if the purchaser
21is a trustee, and not with a view to or for sale in connection with
22any distribution of the security.

begin delete

23(8)

end delete

24begin insert(7)end insert For purposes of this section, spouses, together with any
25custodian or trustee acting for the account of their minor children,
26are counted as one person, and a partnership, corporation, or other
27organization that was not specifically formed for the purpose of
28purchasing the security offered in reliance upon this exemption,
29is counted as one person.

begin delete

30(9)

end delete

31begin insert(8)end insert The commissioner shall by rule require the issuer to file a
32notice of transactions under this subdivision. The issuer shall file
33the notice of transaction and attach all documents required in
34paragraphbegin delete (10).end deletebegin insert (9).end insert

begin delete

35(10)

end delete

36begin insert(9)end insert The issuer provides to purchasers, and makes available to
37potential purchasers begin delete on the Internet Web site of the issuerend delete the
38following:

39(A) A cover sheet or heading containing all of the following
40statements, in bold typeface no smaller than 12-point type:

P36   1(i) Investment in a small business is often risky. You should not
2invest any funds in this offering unless you can afford to lose your
3entire investment.

4(ii) Potential purchasers should review information about the
5enterprise and offering, and consider the terms and risks of this
6offering before investing. After reviewing the financial information,
7description of the business, activities, risk factors, and development
8timeline, potential purchasers should consider whether success of
9the enterprise is realistic.

10(iii) No government regulator is recommending these securities.
11No government regulator has verified that this document is accurate
12or determined that it is adequate. The Commissioner of Business
13Oversight has in no way passed upon the merits or qualifications
14of, or recommended or given approval to, any person, security, or
15transaction associated with this offering.

16(B) The issuer’s street address, telephone number, person to
17contact with respect to offering,begin insert the minimum amount the issuer
18is seeking to raise,end insert
type of securities offered, financial terms of
19the offering, a description of the business of the issuer, a
20description of how the issuer plans to carry out its activities, and
21a budget for the use of proceeds of thebegin delete offering.end deletebegin insert offering, a list of
22the factors that the issuer considers to be the most significant risks
23to an investor, and a description in chronological order of the
24steps management intends to take to achieve, maintain, or improve
25profitability during the 36 months following receipt of the offering
26proceeds.end insert

27(C) The financial statements of the issuer for the most recent
28completed fiscal yearbegin delete andend deletebegin insert, if the enterprise has existed for one year
29or longer,end insert
begin insert and theend insert current fiscal year to date, prepared in
30accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and
31certified by the principal executive officer of the issuer to be true
32and complete in all material respects.

begin insert

33(10) This exemption cannot be used to raise funds for an
34enterprise dependent upon the creation of a product or technology
35for which no fully functional prototype has been made in advance
36of the public offering of securities. Securities offerings made to
37produce a newly invented product must have a fully functional
38prototype. The prototype must be demonstrated in person to any
39potential investor upon request, or, to satisfy many requests for
40demonstration, the issuer may schedule several demonstrations
P37   1throughout the offering and announce the dates and times in
2advance to prospective purchasers along with the materials
3described in paragraph (8).

end insert
begin delete

4(11) Offers and sales exempt pursuant to this subdivision shall
5be deemed to be part of a single, discrete offering and are not
6subject to integration with any other offering or sale, whether
7qualified under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 25110), or
8otherwise exempt, or not subject to qualification.

end delete
begin insert

9(11) Issuers using this exemption may advertise the offering to
10California investors only, unless the offering complies with the
11securities laws of other jurisdictions. Issuers must take steps to
12ensure that any public advertising indicates that the offering is
13directed at California residents, or that any solicitations made to
14nonresidents of California comply with applicable laws of other
15individual states and the United States.

end insert
begin delete

16(v) Any offer or sale of a portion of the future crop, animal
17production, or both, of a community-supported agriculture program,
18as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 47060 of the Food and
19Agricultural Code, provided that the aggregate purchase pursuant
20to this subdivision does not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000)
21by any person who is a natural person.

end delete


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