502.306 Denial, suspension, and revocation of securities registration.

1. Stop orders. The administrator may issue a stop order denying effectiveness to, or suspending or revoking the effectiveness of, a registration statement if the administrator finds that the order is in the public interest and that any of the following apply:

a. The registration statement as of its effective date or before the effective date in the case of an order denying effectiveness, or a report under section 502.305, subsection 9, is incomplete in a material respect or contains a statement that, in the light of the circumstances under which it was made, was false or misleading with respect to a material fact.

b. This chapter or a rule adopted or order issued under this chapter or a condition imposed under this chapter has been willfully violated, in connection with the offering, by the person filing the registration statement; by the issuer, a partner, officer, or director of the issuer or a person having a similar status or performing a similar function; a promoter of the issuer; or a person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by the issuer; but only if the person filing the registration statement is directly or indirectly controlled by or acting for the issuer; or by an underwriter.

c. The security registered or sought to be registered is the subject of a permanent or temporary injunction of a court of competent jurisdiction or an administrative stop order or similar order issued under any federal, foreign, or state law other than this chapter applicable to the offering, but the administrator shall not institute a proceeding against an effective registration statement under this paragraph more than one year after the date of the order or injunction on which it is based, and the administrator shall not issue an order under this paragraph on the basis of an order or injunction issued under the securities act of another state unless the order or injunction was based on conduct that would constitute, as of the date of the order, a ground for a stop order under this section.

d. The issuer’s enterprise or method of business includes or would include activities that are unlawful where performed.

e. With respect to a security sought to be registered under section 502.303, there has been a failure to comply with the undertaking required by section 502.303, subsection 2, paragraph “d”.

f. The applicant or registrant has not paid the filing fee, but the administrator shall void the order if the deficiency is corrected.

g. The offering is subject to any of the following:

(1) Will work or tend to work a fraud upon purchasers or would so operate.

(2) Has been or would be made with unreasonable amounts of underwriters’ and sellers’ discounts, commissions, or other compensation, or promoters’ profits or participations, or unreasonable amounts or kinds of options.

h. The financial condition of the issuer affects or would affect the soundness of the securities, except that applications for registration of securities by companies which are in the development stage shall not be denied based solely upon the financial condition of the company. For purposes of this paragraph, a “development stage company” is defined as a company which has been in existence for five years or less.

i. A person who is an issuer, correspondent, or applicant, as listed on the uniform application to register securities form known as “Form U-1”, has abandoned the registration statement. The administrator may enter an order pursuant to this paragraph if a notice of abandonment is sent to the last known address of each person, and the person fails to take corrective action within the time specified by the administrator. The notice of abandonment shall state the reasons for the administrator’s action, specify the corrective action required, and specify the time period for submitting a response. However, the time specified shall not be less than fifteen days.

2. Enforcement of subsection 1, paragraph “g”. To the extent practicable, the administrator by rule adopted or order issued under this chapter shall publish standards that provide notice of conduct that violates subsection 1, paragraph “g”.

3. Institution of stop order. The administrator shall not institute a stop order proceeding against an effective registration statement on the basis of conduct or a transaction known to the administrator when the registration statement became effective unless the proceeding is instituted within thirty days after the registration statement became effective.

4. Summary process. The administrator may summarily revoke, deny, postpone, or suspend the effectiveness of a registration statement pending final determination of an administrative proceeding. Upon the issuance of the order, the administrator shall promptly notify each person specified in subsection 5 that the order has been issued, the reasons for the revocation, denial, postponement, or suspension, and that within fifteen days after the receipt of a request in a record from the person the matter will be scheduled for a hearing. If a hearing is not requested and none is ordered by the administrator, within thirty days after the date of service of the order, the order becomes final. If a hearing is requested or ordered, the administrator, after notice of and opportunity for hearing for each person subject to the order, may modify or vacate the order or extend the order until final determination.

5. Procedural requirements for stop order. A stop order shall not be issued under this section without all of the following:

a. An appropriate notice to the applicant or registrant, the issuer, and the person on whose behalf the securities are to be or have been offered.

b. An opportunity for hearing.

c. Findings of fact and conclusions of law in a record in accordance with chapter 17A.

6. Modification or vacation of stop order. The administrator may modify or vacate a stop order issued under this section if the administrator finds that the conditions that caused its issuance have changed or that it is necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors.

2004 Acts, ch 1161, §15, 68; 2013 Acts, ch 90, §148; 2016 Acts, ch 1122, §4

Referred to in §502.201, 502.202, 502.203, 502.204, 502.303, 502.304, 502.304A, 502.305