Current through Bulletin 2024-18, September 15, 2024
(A) Authority and
purpose
(1) The Division enacts this rule
under authority granted by Sections
61-1-10,
61-1-11,
and 61-1- 24.
(2) This rule sets
forth the procedure and requirements to be met when applying for registration
by qualification in Utah. It is available for registration of securities by any
person who proposes to issue or sell any security.
(3) This rule requires that the registration
statement must contain certain information. The issuer, issuer-agent and
broker-dealer should be aware that information not specifically required by
this rule or by the Division prior to effectiveness may be necessary to be
included so as to meet the disclosure requirements of Section 61-1-1. Review of
the registration statement by the Division does not imply that the disclosure
requirements of Section
61-1-1
have been met.
(4) Section
61-1-12
enables the Director of the Division to deny effectiveness to, or revoke or
suspend effectiveness of, any securities registration statement, and to impose
a fine. Applicant should be aware that criteria contained in Section
61-1-12
will be applied in addition to the requirements of this rule.
(5) This rule requires that certain actions
be taken by the issuer after the effective date of the registration statement.
See paragraph (C) of this rule. Effectiveness of the registration statement may
be suspended or revoked, and a fine imposed, for failure to comply with these
requirements.
(6) Section
61-1-16
prohibits the filing of false or misleading documents with the Division.
Documents and information filed with the Division should be closely scrutinized
prior to signing and filing to insure their accuracy.
(7) Any security may be registered by
qualification.
(8) Qualifying
companies may utilize NASAA Form U-7 to satisfy the prospectus information
requirements set forth in subparagraphs (E)(1) and (E)(2) this rule.
(B) Definitions used in this rule
(1) "Development stage company" means a
company that is devoting substantially all of its efforts to acquiring or
establishing a new business and either of the following conditions exists:
(1)(a) planned principal operations have not
commenced; or
(1)(b) planned
principal operations have commenced, but there has been no significant revenue
therefrom.
(2)
"Director" means the Director of the Division of Securities, Utah Department of
Commerce.
(3) "Division" means the
Division of Securities, Utah Department of Commerce.
(4) "Expert" means any person referred to in
Subsection
61-1-10(2)(o),
whose opinion, appraisal, report, name or similar information, is used in the
registration statement or provides information which is used in the
registration statement.
(5)
"Financial statements" means a balance sheet, an income statement or statement
of operations, a statement of cash flows, a statement of stockholders' equity
or partners' capital, and appropriate notes to the financial
statements.
(6) "NASAA" means the
North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc.
(7) "SEC" means the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission.
(C) Registration requirements
(1) The issuer must file with the Division
the documents and information required by paragraphs (C) and (D) of this rule,
and pay a fee as specified in the Division's fee schedule.
(2) The registration statement must
(2)(a) contain the documents required by
paragraph (D) of this rule,
(2)(b)
comply with the merit requirements of paragraph (G) of this rule,
(2)(c) comply with the requirements of
Section
R164-11-1,
(2)(d) comply with the fund impound
requirements of Section R164-11-7 b, and
(2)(e) comply with the sales commission
requirements of Section R164-12-1 f.
(3) Within ten working days after the
effective date of the registration statement, issuer must file with the
Division two copies of the final prospectus.
(4) Within ten working days after the
expiration of the effectiveness of the registration statement, sale of the
entire amount of the securities registered in the offering, or termination of
the offering, whichever occurs first, issuer must file with the Division a
completed and executed closing report on Division Form 10-2-1 A.
(5) Within ten working days after the
expiration of effectiveness of the registration statement, sale of the entire
amount of the securities registered in the offering, or termination of the
offering, whichever occurs first, issuer must file with the Division a list of
persons who have purchased or subscribed to the offering, including the
residential address of each purchaser, the dates of and amount of securities
purchased or subscribed to, and the consideration paid by each purchaser or
subscriber.
(6) Subsequent to the
filing date of the registration statement, issuer must file with the Division
financial statements which meet the requirements of paragraph (H) of this
rule.
(7) Where the Division has
notified issuer in writing of any missing or incomplete documents, deficiencies
in the registration statement, or changes required in the prospectus, issuer
must respond promptly. If issuer does not respond to the Division's deficiency
letter within 30 calendar days of the mailing date of its deficiency letter,
the registration statement may be deemed incomplete and appropriate action may
be taken to deny effectiveness to the registration statement, and to impose a
fine.
(D) Documents to
be filed with the Division
The registration statement must contain the following:
(1) One original Division Form 10-2-1 which
has been manually executed by all officers, directors, or partners;
(2) One original Division Form 10-2-1B
certification for each officer, director, promoter, holder of 10% of the
outstanding stock, broker-dealer or issuer-agent, and attorney;
(3) One original NASAA Form U-2, Uniform
Consent to Service of Process, which is available from NASAA or the Division,
appointing the Director, Utah Division of Securities as issuer's agent for
service;
(4) Two copies of the
preliminary prospectus containing the information required by paragraph (E) of
this rule;
(5) Two copies of
financial statements conforming to the requirements of paragraph (F) of this
rule;
(6) One original opinion of
counsel as required by Subsection
61-1-10(2)(n);
(7) One original NASAA Form U-2A, Uniform
Corporate Resolution, which is available from NASAA or the Division, of the
issuer where the registration statement is filed by or on behalf of a person
other than an individual;
(8) One
copy of the organizational documents as required by paragraph (I) of this
rule;
(9) One copy of the
subscription agreement, if any, to be used in connection with the
offering;
(10) One original
specimen security as required by paragraph (J) of this rule;
(11) One copy of the executed selling
documents as required by paragraph (K) of this rule;
(12) One original of completed and executed
documents required by Section R164-11-7 b;
(13) One copy of any order, judgment or
decree described in subparagraph (E)(2)(d)(ix) of this rule;
(14) At the time of filing the registration
statement or not less than five days prior to use, one copy of any item, other
than the prospectus, intended to be used to advertise or solicit interest in
the offering; except no filing shall be required for notices and advertisements
used after the effective date of a registration statement which contains only
statements allowed by SEC Rule 134, Communications Not Deemed a Prospectus,
17 CFR
230.134, 1993, which is adopted and
incorporated by reference and available from the SEC or the Division;
(15) Original written consents as required by
paragraph (L) of this rule;
(16)
One copy of each material contract or agreement with an affiliate of the issuer
and one copy of any other material contract;
(17) One original of documents supporting the
value of assets as shown on the financial statements such as appraisals,
assays, reserve reports, engineer reports and similar expert evaluations as
discussed in the prospectus; and
(18) Other material documents or information
as requested by the Division. The provisions of subparagraph (C)(7) of this
rule apply to such requests.
(E) Prospectus information requirements
The prospectus must contain at least the following
information:
(1) Facing pages
(1)(a) Title of document;
(1)(b) Number and class of shares or units
offered;
(1)(c) Par or stated
value;
(1)(d) Entity description,
including:
(1)(d)(i) name,
(1)(d)(ii) address,
(1)(d)(iii) type,
(1)(d)(iv) state and date of incorporation or
organization;
(1)(e)
Statement as to whether or not a public market exists or will exist;
(1)(f) Statement as to how the securities are
registered or exempt at both the federal and state level;
(1)(g) Statement that registration with the
Division is neither a recommendation or endorsement of any security,
individual, firm or corporation;
(1)(h) Statement as to whom offering is
made;
(1)(i) In chart form,
including:
(1)(i)(i) shares or units
offered,
(1)(i)(ii) price per
share,
(1)(i)(iii)
commissions,
(1)(i)(iv) net
proceeds to the issuer, and
(1)(i)(v) minimums and maximums
sought;
(1)(j) Footnotes
including:
(1)(j)(i) consideration
sought,
(1)(j)(ii) manner of
offering,
(1)(j)(iii) amount and
type of sales commissions to be paid, and
(1)(j)(iv) the maximum amount of offering
expenses;
(1)(k)
Broker-dealer or agent name, address, and telephone number;
(1)(l) Statement that no person is authorized
to make any statements not contained in the disclosure document and that
practices to the contrary may be a criminal offense;
(1)(m) Effective date of the
prospectus.
(2)
Subsequent pages
(2)(a) The issuer:
(2)(a)(i) history,
(2)(a)(ii) purpose,
(2)(a)(iii) intentions,
(2)(a)(iv) predecessors;
(2)(b) Risk factors;
(2)(c) Conflicts of interest;
(2)(d) With respect to every director and
officer of the issuer, the following information:
(2)(d)(i) Name, age, residential
address;
(2)(d)(ii) Occupation and
business experience during the past five years;
(2)(d)(iii) The number of shares or
partnership interests of the issuer owned as of a specified date within 30 days
of the filing of the registration statement, the approximate date of purchase
and the consideration paid for those shares or interests;
(2)(d)(iv) The amount of the securities
covered by the registration statement to which an intention to subscribe has
been indicated;
(2)(d)(v) Any
material interest in any material transaction with the issuer or any
significant subsidiary effected within the past three years or proposed to be
effected;
(2)(d)(vi) Any family
relationship between any director or officer;
(2)(d)(vii) Any other director or officer or
similar position held in any other non-public company;
(2)(d)(viii) Any previous involvement in a
public company as an officer, director or promoter, including a complete
description of the company and affiliation with the company, the dates of and
amounts raised in public offerings of the company and, if the company has
undergone a reorganization, merger or an acquisition of assets in which an
amount of stock representing more than 50% of the company's outstanding stock
was issued, the consideration per share received by the company and the book
value per share of the company immediately before and after the reorganization,
merger or acquisition of assets;
(2)(d)(ix) Involvement in any material legal
proceeding;
(2)(d)(x) Any
remuneration paid directly or indirectly by the issuer, its predecessors,
parents, or subsidiaries, during the past twelve months and estimated to be
paid during the succeeding twelve months;
(2)(e) With respect to any person owning of
record, or beneficially, 10% of the outstanding shares of any class of equity
security of the issuer, the same information specified in subparagraphs
(E)(2)(d)(i) and (iii)-(x) of this rule.
(2)(f) With respect to every promoter, if the
issuer was organized within the past three years, the same information as
specified in subparagraph (E)(2)(d) of this rule and any amount paid by the
issuer within the past three years as well as the consideration given for such
payments.
(2)(g) With respect to
any person on whose behalf any part of the offering is to be made in a
nonissuer distribution the following information:
(2)(g)(i) The information required in
subparagraph (E)(2)(d)(i) of this rule;
(2)(g)(ii) The amount of securities of the
issuer held as of the date the registration statement was filed with the
Division;
(2)(g)(iii) The
information required in subparagraph (E)(2)(d)(v) of this rule;
(2)(g)(iv) Statement of reasons for making
the offering.
(2)(h)
Dilution, share ownership and capital contributions: narrative discussion and
graphic or tabular illustration, such as bar graphs or pie charts;
(2)(i) Fund impound:
(2)(i)(i) amount,
(2)(i)(ii) duration,
(2)(i)(iii) location, and
(2)(i)(iv) statement that funds will be
released only upon order of the Division;
(2)(j) Material litigation which affects the
offering;
(2)(k) Summary of the
Opinion of Counsel required by Subsection
61-1-10(2)(n);
(2)(l) The substance of reports, findings,
appraisals and valuations provided by persons who are named as having prepared
or certified such reports or valuations pursuant to Subsection
61-1-10(2)(o);
(2)(m) With respect to Limited Partnerships,
net worth of each individual general partner exclusive of home, automobile and
home furnishings or, in the alternative, a representation that the general
partner meets the net worth requirements of subparagraph (G)(3)(b)(iii) of this
rule;
(2)(n) Definition section,
where material;
(2)(o) Substance of
material contracts and agreements;
(2)(p) The amount of shares subject to
transferability restrictions, contractual or otherwise, and the nature of said
restriction;
(2)(q) Statement as to
the issuer's fiscal year-end date;
(2)(r) Financial statements as required by
this rule;
(2)(s) Statement of the
intended use of proceeds of the offering as required by Subsection 61-1-
10(2)(i);
(2)(t) Transfer agent's
name and street address;
(2)(u)
Statement that any and all amendments to the prospectus will be promptly filed
with the Division, distributed to purchasers in the offering, and made a part
of any prospectus used thereafter;
(2)(v) Statement that the Division, market
makers, and security holders will be promptly notified in writing of any change
in the management, purpose, and control of the issuer, or any material or
adverse condition affecting the issuer.
(3) Small Company Offering Registration
(SCOR)
(3)(a) A company issuing securities
exempt from federal registration under Rule 504 of Regulation D, Regulation A,
or Section 3(a)(11) of the Securities Act of 1933, may utilize the NASAA Form
U-7, which is available from NASAA or the Division, as the prospectus for the
offering to satisfy subparagraph (D)(4) of this rule, provided that the issuer:
(3)(a)(i) complies with each of the
requirements set forth in Part I(1) of the NASAA SCOR Issuer's
Manual;
(3)(a)(ii) complies with
all conditions set forth in, and provides all information required by Part I(2)
of the NASAA SCOR Issuer's Manual; and,
(3)(a)(iii) in all material respects complies
with all other requirements of this rule.
(3)(b) The filing of one original NASAA Form
U-1, Uniform Application to Register Securities, which has been manually
executed by all officers and directors of the issuer, satisfies subparagraph
(D)(1).
(F)
Financial statements
The financial statements contained in the registration
statement and the prospectus must meet the requirements of this paragraph
(F).
(1) Financial statements of the
issuer, or the issuer and its predecessors or any business to which the issuer
is a successor, which are to be filed as part of the registration statement
must be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
(GAAP).
(2) Audited financial
statements required herein must be accompanied by an unqualified opinion report
by an independent certified public accountant.
(3) Consolidated financial statements must be
prepared for an issuer that has majority-owned subsidiaries.
(4) The Division may permit the omission of
one or more of the financial statements required under this rule and in
substitution thereof permit appropriate comparable financial statements, upon
the written request of issuer and where consistent with the protection of Utah
investors.
(5) The Division may
require the filing of other financial statements in addition to or in
substitution for the financial statements herein required where such financial
statements are necessary or appropriate for an adequate presentation of the
issuer's financial condition or the financial condition of any person
considered necessary, where consistent with the protection of Utah
investors.
(6) Issuer must file
audited financial statements for the most recent fiscal year, or as of a date
within four months of the date the registration statement is filed with the
Division if the issuer, including predecessors, has existed for a period of
less than one fiscal year.
(7) When
the filing date of the registration statement falls after a date four months
subsequent to the issuer's most recent fiscal year end, unaudited interim
financial statements dated within four months of the filing date must also be
included in the registration statement.
(8) Unaudited financial statements must be
filed for the two fiscal years preceding the most recent fiscal year or for
such shorter period as the issuer and any predecessors have been in existence
if less than three years.
(9) If
the financial statements required herein are as of a date more than four months
prior to the date that the registration statement is expected to become
effective, the financial statements must be updated as of a date within four
months of the expected effective date and include the entire period since the
last fiscal year end. Such interim financial statements need not be
audited.
(10) If any part of the
proceeds of the offering is to be applied to the purchase of any business, the
same financial statements shall be required of that business as if it were the
issuer.
(11) An issuer which is a
limited partnership shall also be required to file the balance sheets of the
general partners as described below.
(11)(a)
Where a general partner of the limited partnership is a corporation there must
be filed an audited balance sheet of such corporation as of the end of its most
recently completed fiscal year.
(11)(b) Where a general partner of the
limited partnership is a partnership there must be filed an audited balance
sheet of such partnership as of the end of its most recently completed fiscal
year.
(11)(c) Where a general
partner of the limited partnership is a natural person there must be filed,
only as supplemental information, an unaudited balance sheet of such natural
person as of a date no more than four months prior to the date the registration
statement was filed.
(G) Merit requirements
(1) Minimum offering amount for a development
stage company
(1)(a) The minimum offering
amount for a development stage company shall not be less than an amount such
that immediately following the close of the offering the net tangible asset
value of the company is equal to or greater than $75,000, based on the net
tangible asset value of the most recent balance sheet included in the
prospectus as adjusted to give effect to the minimum net proceeds of the
offering and, at the discretion of the Division, any value not recognized for
financial statement purposes as supported by independent appraisal or other
recognized authority.
(2) Dilution
(2)(a) The maximum dilution to the net
tangible asset value of the securities offered in a public offering pursuant to
Section
61-1-10
shall not exceed 33 1/3% of the public offering price for a development stage
company or 50% for all other companies.
(2)(b) This subparagraph (G)(2) of this rule
shall apply to all offerings of preferred or common corporate stock.
(2)(c) Dilution shall be equal to the
difference between the offering price of the shares and the net tangible asset
value per share based on the most recent balance sheet included in the
prospectus as adjusted to give effect to the maximum net proceeds of the
offering. The net tangible asset value of the shares at the close of the
offering shall be determined by dividing the net tangible asset value of the
corporation by the total number of shares outstanding at the close of the
offering. The net tangible asset value of the corporation shall be equal to the
total assets of the corporation less the intangible assets and the liabilities
of the corporation.
(2)(d) In the
event that not all shares offered are sold, the shareholders, other than those
purchasing in the offering, shall be required to contribute to the company a
sufficient number of shares or tangible assets so that dilution, based on the
most recent balance sheet included in the prospectus and receipt of the net
proceeds from the shares actually sold, does not exceed the maximum dilution
allowed.
(2)(e) Registration will
not be permitted to close, and will not be issued a closing letter, where the
dilution at the close of the offering is greater than the maximum dilution
allowed and such violation has not been remedied.
(3) Equity
(3)(a) Corporate Equity and Debt Offering.
(3)(a)(i) Prior to and during the
effectiveness of a registration statement pertaining to an offering of
securities which are corporate equity securities, rights to obtain corporate
equity securities, securities convertible into corporate equity securities, or
corporate debt securities, the corporation must have equity equal to at least
10% of the maximum aggregate offering price of the securities which are
registered or to be registered. Equity shall be equal to the sum of stated
capital, capital surplus which was contributed in cash, and retained earnings.
Retained deficits will not reduce the equity of the corporation for purposes of
this subparagraph (G)(3)(a) of this rule. In no event shall capital contributed
in the form of services or any evidence of indebtedness qualify as any portion
of equity in order to meet the requirements of this subparagraph (G)(3)(a) of
this rule.
(3)(a)(ii) Tangible
property may be considered to satisfy this requirement, in the discretion of
the Division, only where the value of such property is ascertained and
supported by the issuer, where the value substantially exceeds the necessary
equity requirement and where clear title to the property is held by the
issuer.
(3)(b) Limited
Partnership and Trust Certificate Offering. Prior to the effectiveness of a
registration statement relating to limited partnership units, issuer must meet
one of the following requirements:
(3)(b)(i)
The general partner, promoter, or manager has paid, in cash, at least an amount
equal to 5% of the maximum aggregate offering price of the securities to be
registered to the issuer for equity interests in the issuer;
(3)(b)(ii) The general partner, promoter, or
manager has the ability to pay and commit themselves to pay, in cash, 5% of the
maximum aggregate offering price of the securities to be registered into the
fund impound prior to the release of the impound and in addition to any other
impound which may be required by the rules of the Division; or,
(3)(b)(iii) The general partner, promoter, or
manager has an aggregate net tangible asset value exclusive of home,
automobile, and home furnishings equal to 10% of the maximum aggregate offering
price of the securities to be registered. Where a general partner, promoter or
manager is also a general partner, promoter or manager of another partnership
or trust for which this subparagraph was used to satisfy the equity
requirements for a registered offering of that partnership or trust, the
aggregate net tangible asset value will be reduced by the amount required to
satisfy the equity requirements of the previous offering.
(4) Offering Expenses
The maximum offering expenses, not including commissions on
the sales of the securities, which shall be paid from the proceeds of the
public offering or by the issuer in connection with the public offering is the
greater of $6,000 or 8% of the minimum aggregate offering price of the
securities registered.
(H) Post filing financial statement
requirements
(1) The financial statements
required by this paragraph (H) of this rule must be prepared in accordance with
the requirements set forth in paragraph (F) of this rule.
(2) Subsequent to the filing date of a
registration statement, the following financial statements must be filed:
(2)(a) After the end of each fiscal year,
through and including the year in which 80% of the offering proceeds will have
been used, audited financial statements for the previous fiscal year must be
filed with the Division within 90 days after the end of the applicant fiscal
year.
(2)(b) If an effective
registered offering has not been completely sold at a date six months after the
end of the issuer's last fiscal year, unaudited interim financial statements
must be filed with the Division within 30 days of that date for the period
ending six months from the fiscal year end. Financial statements required by
this subparagraph (H)(2) of this rule shall not be required where interim
financial statements are filed pursuant to the requirements in paragraph (F) of
this rule which cover at least the same period covered by this subparagraph
(H)(2).
(3) If an
effective registered offering has not been completely sold, the financial
statements required by this paragraph (H) of this rule must be appended to
every prospectus used thereafter.
(I) Organizational documents
(1) Corporation. A registration statement for
the proposed sale of securities of a corporation must contain:
(1)(a) one copy of the certificate and
articles of incorporation and all amendments thereto; and
(1)(b) By-laws.
(2) Limited Partnership. A registration
statement for the proposed sale of securities of a limited partnership must
contain:
(2)(a) one copy of the limited
partnership agreement, and
(2)(b)
the documentation of the managing general partner which would be required by
this paragraph (I) of this rule if the managing general partner was the issuer
of the securities.
(3)
Others. As the Division specifies in each instance.
(J) Specimen Security
The registration statement must contain either:
(1) An original specimen security which
conforms to the description of the security in the registration statement; or
(2)(a) A letter, signed by a
director of the issuer, or a person of similar responsibility for an
unincorporated issuer, stating that a specimen security meeting the
requirements of subparagraph (J)(1) of this rule will be delivered prior to the
release of impounded funds, and
(2)(b) A notation on Item 12 of Division Form
11-7B that it shall be a condition of release of such impounded funds for the
issuer to provide a specimen security meeting the requirements of subparagraph
(J)(1) of this rule.
(K)
Selling documents
The registration statement must contain the following
documents with respect to the persons who propose to offer or sell the
securities pursuant to the registration statement:
(1) Where the securities are to be offered
through a licensed agent or broker-dealer, one copy of the signed agreement
between the agent OR broker-dealer and the issuer setting forth the
compensation each person will receive in connection with such distribution, and
a description of any transactions between such person and the issuer within the
twelve months preceding the filing of the registration statement.
(2) Where the securities are to be offered
through any person not licensed with the Division as a broker-dealer or agent,
the broker-dealer or agent application and supporting documents and
information, as required in Section
R164-4-1,
for such person must accompany the registration statement at the time of the
original filing.
(3) No
registration statement shall become effective where
(3)(a) the only person participating in the
distribution is a broker-dealer which is a member of FINRA, and
(3)(b) the Division has not received written
confirmation or oral confirmation to be followed by written confirmation that
FINRA has no objection to the compensation arrangements set forth in the
registration statement.
(4) No registration statement shall be
effective or become effective without complete compliance with Section
R164-4-1 by at least one person participating in the distribution.
(L) Consent of expert
(1) Where any information provided by an
expert is used in the registration statement or prospectus, the registration
statement must include the consent of the expert to the specific use of the
information in the prospectus or registration statement.
(2) Where the name of an expert is used in
the registration statement or prospectus, the registration statement or
prospectus must contain the consent of the expert as to the specific use of the
expert's name.
(M)
Amendments
(1) Whenever there is a material
change in any information or document filed with the Division, the issuer must
file a correcting amendment with the Division within ten working days after the
material change.
(2) There is no
charge for filing a correcting amendment.