24-5-8-2. Disclosure document; cover sheet; contents

IN Code § 24-5-8-2 (2019) (N/A)
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Sec. 2. (a) At least seventy-two (72) hours before the time the investor signs a contract, or at least seventy-two (72) hours before receipt of any consideration by the seller, whichever occurs first, the seller shall provide the investor a written disclosure document, the cover sheet of which is entitled in at least ten (10) point bold face capital letters "DISCLOSURES REQUIRED BY INDIANA LAW". Under this title, the following statement must appear in at least ten (10) point type: "The state of Indiana has not reviewed and does not approve, recommend, endorse, or sponsor any business opportunity. The information contained in this disclosure has not been verified by the state. If you have any questions about this investment, see an attorney before you sign a contract.". Nothing except the title and statement may appear on the cover sheet.

(b) The disclosure document must also contain the following information:

(1) The name of the seller, whether the seller is doing business as an individual, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation, the names under which the seller has done, is doing, or intends to do business, and the name of any parent or affiliated company that will engage in business transactions with the investor or that will take responsibility for statements made by the seller.

(2) The names, business addresses, business telephone numbers, and titles of the seller's officers, directors, trustees, general partners, general managers, principal executives, and any other persons charged with responsibility for the seller's business activities relating to the sale of business opportunities.

(3) The names, business addresses, and business telephone numbers of all the seller's representatives who are soliciting business opportunities in Indiana.

(4) The length of time the seller has:

(A) solicited business opportunities; and

(B) solicited business opportunities involving the goods or services currently being offered to the investor.

(5) A statement of the initial payment to be paid by the investor, or when not known, a statement of the approximate initial payment to be paid.

(6) An unexecuted copy of all contracts.

(7) The following financial statements:

(A) A balance sheet of the seller as of the close of its last fiscal year.

(B) Income statements for each of the seller's last three (3) fiscal years or for the period of the seller's and any predecessor's existence, if the seller and any predecessor have been in existence for less than three (3) years.

(8) A complete and detailed description of any service that the seller undertakes to perform for the investor.

(9) A complete description of any training offered by the seller, the length of training, and a detailed itemization of all costs to be covered by any fee to be charged for the training.

(10) A statement disclosing the names, home addresses, and home telephone numbers of all persons who have been investors in a business opportunity offered by the seller within the last two (2) year period.

(11) A statement listing the name, home address, and home telephone number of any investor who has requested within the preceding three (3) year period that the seller return his money.

(12) A statement as to whether the seller or any of its officers, directors, trustees, general partners, general managers, principal executives, or representatives has been:

(A) held liable in a civil action for unfair, false, misleading, or deceptive practices;

(B) convicted of a crime involving fraud, embezzlement, conversion, or theft during the most recent seven (7) year period; or

(C) declared bankrupt in any judicial proceeding during the most recent seven (7) year period.

(13) A statement as to whether the seller or any of its officers, directors, trustees, general partners, general managers, principal executives, or representatives has been a party to any legal cause of action brought by an investor within the most recent seven (7) year period.

(14) A statement as to whether the seller or any of its officers, directors, trustees, general partners, general managers, principal executives, or representatives is currently involved in litigation alleging unfair, false, misleading, or deceptive practices.

(15) A statement containing the name of the parties, the name of the court, the cause or docket number of the lawsuit, the date the suit was filed, and the date the judgment was entered, if applicable, for each answer to subdivisions (12), (13), and (14).

(16) The following statement: "As required by Indiana law, the seller has secured a bond issued by _______________ (name and address of surety), a surety company authorized to do business in Indiana. Before signing a contract to invest in this business opportunity, you should check with the surety company to determine the bond's current status.".

(17) If the seller makes any statement concerning earnings or range of earnings that may be earned through the business opportunity, the seller must set forth the following:

"No guarantee of earnings or ranges of earnings can be made. The number of investors who have earned through this business opportunity an amount in excess of the amount of their initial payment is at least ________, which represents ________ percent of the total number of investors in this business opportunity.".

As added by P.L.134-1984, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.8-1993, SEC.362.