Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 30. TRADE AND COMMERCE

CHAPTER 10. SECURITIES REGULATION

Part 2. Registration

Registration By Notification

30-10-203. Registration by notification. (1) The following securities may be registered by notification, whether or not they are also eligible for registration by coordination under parts 1 through 3 of this chapter:

(a) any security whose issuer and any predecessors have been in continuous operation for at least 5 years if:

(i) there has been no default during the current fiscal year or within the 3 preceding fiscal years in the payment of principal, interest, or dividends on any security of the issuer (or any predecessor) with a fixed maturity or a fixed interest or dividend provision; and

(ii) the issuer and any predecessors during the past 3 fiscal years have had average net earnings, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices, which are applicable to all securities without a fixed maturity or a fixed interest or dividend provision and which:

(A) equal at least 5% of the amount of securities without a fixed maturity or a fixed interest or dividend provision outstanding at the date the registration statement is filed (as measured by the maximum offering price or the market price on a day selected by the registrant within 30 days before the date of filing the registration statement, whichever is higher, or if there is neither a readily determinable market price nor an offering price, book value on a day selected by the registrant within 90 days of the date of filing the registration statement); or

(B) if the issuer and any predecessors have not had any securities without a fixed maturity or a fixed interest or dividend provision outstanding for 3 full fiscal years, equal at least 5% of the amount (as measured by the maximum public offering price) of such securities which will be outstanding if all the securities being offered or proposed to be offered (whether or not they are proposed to be registered or offered in this state) are issued;

(b) any security (other than a certificate of interest or participation in an oil, gas, or mining title or lease or in payments out of production under such a title or lease) registered for nonissuer distribution if any security of the same class has ever been registered under parts 1 through 3 of this chapter or a predecessor law or the security being registered was originally issued pursuant to an exemption under parts 1 through 3 of this chapter or a predecessor law.

(2) A registration statement by notification shall contain the following information and be accompanied by the following documents, in addition to payment of the registration fee prescribed in 30-10-209:

(a) a statement demonstrating eligibility for registration by notification;

(b) with respect to the issuer: its name, address, and form of organization, the state (or foreign jurisdiction) and the date of its organization, and the general character and location of its business;

(c) a description of the securities being registered;

(d) total amount of securities to be offered and amount of securities to be offered in this state;

(e) the price at which the securities are to be offered for sale to the public, any variation therefrom at which any portion of the offering is to be made to any persons (other than as underwriting and selling discounts or commissions) and the estimated maximum aggregate underwriting and selling discounts or commissions and finders' fees (including cash, securities, or anything else of value);

(f) names and addresses of the managing underwriters and a description of the plan of distribution of any securities which are to be offered otherwise than through an underwriter;

(g) description of any security options outstanding or to be created in connection with the offering;

(h) any adverse order, judgment, or decree previously entered in connection with the offering by any court or the United States securities and exchange commission;

(i) a copy of any offering circular or prospectus to be used in connection with the offering;

(j) in the case of any registration under subsection (1)(b) of this section relating to nonissuer distribution which does not also satisfy the conditions of subsection (1)(a) of this section, a balance sheet of the issuer as of a date within 4 months prior to the filing of the registration statement, and a summary of earnings for each of the 2 fiscal years preceding the date of the balance sheet and for any period between the close of the last fiscal year and the date of the balance sheet or for the period of the issuer's and any predecessor's existence if less than 2 years;

(k) a consent to service of process meeting the requirements of 30-10-208; and

(l) such other information as the commissioner may require.

(3) If no stop order is in effect and no proceeding is pending under 30-10-207, a registration statement by notification automatically becomes effective at noon the 10th business day after the filing of the registration statement or the last amendment, or at such earlier time as the commissioner determines.

History: En. Sec. 8, Ch. 251, L. 1961; R.C.M. 1947, 15-2008; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 279, L. 1981.