It is unlawful for any person, in connection with the offer, sale or purchase of any security, directly or indirectly:

(1) To employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud;

(2) To make any untrue statement of a material fact or to omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; or

(3) To engage in any act, practice or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon any person.

In interpreting this section, courts will be guided by the interpretations given by federal courts to similar language set forth in § 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 [15 U.S.C. § 77q] and Rule 10b-5 [17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5] promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, to include, without limitation, any difference in pleading requirements governing actions brought by securities regulators as opposed to private litigants.

6 Del. C. 1953, §  7303;  59 Del. Laws, c. 208, §  1;  68 Del. Laws, c. 181, §  16;  78 Del. Laws, c. 175, §§  118, 122;  79 Del. Laws, c. 182, §  4;  84 Del. Laws, c. 230, § 4; 

It is unlawful for any person to offer or sell any security in this State unless:

(1) It is registered under this chapter;

(2) The security or transaction is exempted under § 73-207 of this title; or

(3) It is a federal covered security for which a notice filing has been made pursuant to the provisions of § 73-208 of this title.

6 Del. C. 1953, §  7304;  59 Del. Laws, c. 208, §  1;  71 Del. Laws, c. 162, §  6;  78 Del. Laws, c. 175, §§  6, 7, 88, 118; 

(a) Any security for which a registration statement has been filed under the Securities Act of 1933 [15 U.S.C. § 77a et seq.] in connection with the same offering may be registered by coordination.

(b) A registration statement under this section shall contain the following information and be accompanied by the following documents, in addition to the information specified in § 73-205(b) of this title and the consent to service of process required by § 73-702 of this title, and a filing fee as established by the Director under § 73-204(e) of this title:

(1) One copy of the latest form of prospectus filed under the Securities Act of 1933 [15 U.S.C. § 77a et seq.], unless the Director requires additional copies;

(2) If the Director by rule or otherwise requires, a copy of the articles of incorporation and bylaws (or their substantial equivalents) currently in effect, a copy of any agreements with or among underwriters, a copy of any indenture or other instrument governing the issuance of the security to be registered, and a specimen or copy of the security;

(3) If the Director requests, any other information, or copies of other documents, filed under the Securities Act of 1933 [15 U.S.C. § 77a et seq.] or with other states or regulatory agencies;

(4) An undertaking to forward all future amendments to the federal prospectus, other than an amendment which merely delays the effective date of the registration statement, promptly and in any event not later than the first business day after the day they are forwarded to or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, whichever first occurs.

(c) A registration statement under this section automatically becomes effective at the moment the federal registration statement becomes effective if all the following conditions are satisfied:

(1) No stop order is in effect and no proceeding is pending under § 73-206 of this title;

(2) The registration statement has been on file with the Director for at least 10 days; and

(3) A statement of the maximum and minimum proposed offering prices and the maximum underwriting discounts and commissions is then on file and the offering is made within those limitations. The registrant shall promptly notify the Director by telephone or telegram of the date and time when the federal registration statement became effective and the content of the price amendment, if any, and shall promptly file posteffective amendment containing the information and documents in the price amendment. “Price amendment” means the final federal amendment which includes a statement of the offering price, underwriting and selling discounts or commissions, amount of proceeds, conversion rates, call prices and other matters dependent upon the offering price. Upon failure to receive the required notification posteffective amendment with the respect to the price amendment, the Director may enter a stop order, without notice or hearing, retroactively denying effectiveness to the registration statement or suspending its effectiveness until compliance with this paragraph, if the Director promptly notifies the registrant by telephone or telegram (and promptly confirms by letter or telegram when notifying by telephone) of the issuance of the order. If the registrant proves compliance with the requirements of this paragraph as to notice and posteffective amendment, the stop order is void as of the time of its entry.

The Director may by rule or otherwise waive either or both of the conditions specified in paragraphs (c)(2) and (c)(3) of this section. If the federal registration statement becomes effective before all the conditions in this paragraph are satisfied and they are not waived, the registration statement automatically becomes effective as soon as all the conditions are satisfied.

(d) Any security for which the documents required by any regulation adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission under § 3(b) or (c) of the Securities Act of 1933 [15 U.S.C. § 77c(b) or (c)] have been filed with said Commission in connection with the same offering may be registered by coordination upon compliance with subsections (b) and (c) of this section in such manner as the Director by rule or order may prescribe. For purposes of this subsection, the terms “federal registration statement” and “federal prospectus” shall include the documents (including the offering circular, if any) which may be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to any such regulation.

6 Del. C. 1953, §  7305;  59 Del. Laws, c. 208, §  1;  67 Del. Laws, c. 274, §  2;  68 Del. Laws, c. 181, §  2;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1;  78 Del. Laws, c. 175, §§  8-13, 89, 118;  79 Del. Laws, c. 182, §  3; 

(a) Any security may be registered by qualification.

(b) A registration statement under this section shall contain the following information and be accompanied by the following documents in addition to the information specified in § 73-205(b) of this title and the consent to service of process required by § 73-702 of this title:

(1) The name of the issuer, its address, and form of organization; the state and date of its organization; the general character and location of its business; a description of its physical properties and equipment; and a statement of the general competitive conditions in the industry or business in which it is or will be engaged;

(2) With respect to every director and officer of the issuer, or person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions: The person’s name, address and principal occupation for the past 5 years; the amount of securities of the issuer held by the person as of a specified date within 30 days of the filing; the amount of the securities covered by the filing to which the person has indicated an intention to subscribe; and a description of any material interest in any material transaction with the issuer or any significant subsidiary effected within the past 3 years or proposed to be effected;

(3) With respect to persons covered by paragraph (b)(2) of this section: The remuneration paid during the past 12 months and estimated to be paid during the next 12 months, directly or indirectly, by the issuer (together with all predecessors, parents, subsidiaries and affiliates) to all those persons in the aggregate;

(4) With respect to any person owning of record, or beneficially 10 percent or more of the outstanding shares of any class or equity security of the issuer; the information specified in paragraph (b)(2) of this section other than the person’s occupation;

(5) With respect to every promoter if the issuer was organized within the past 3 years; the information specified in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, any amount paid within that period or intended to be paid to him or her, and the consideration for any such payment;

(6) With respect to any person on whose behalf any part of the offering is to be made in a nonissuer distribution or in a distribution in which only part of the securities are being distributed by the issuer: The person’s name and address; the amount of securities of the issuer held as of the date of the filing; a description of any material interest in any material transaction with the issuer or any significant subsidiary effected within the past 3 years or proposed to be effected; and a statement of the person’s reasons for making the offering;

(7) The capitalization and long-term debt (on both a current and a pro forma basis) of the issuer and any significant subsidiary, including a description of each security outstanding or being registered or otherwise offered, and a statement of the amount and kind of consideration (whether in the form of cash, physical assets, services, patents, goodwill, or anything else) for which the issuer or any subsidiary has issued any of its securities within the past 2 years or is obligated to issue any of its securities;

(8) The kind and amount of securities to be offered; the proposed offering price or the method by which it is to be computed; any variation therefrom at which any proportion of the offering is to be made to any person or class or persons other than the underwriters with a specification of any such person or class; the basis upon which the offering is to be made if otherwise than for cash; the estimated aggregate underwriting and selling discounts or commissions and finders’ fees (including separately cash, securities, contracts, or anything else of value to accrue to the underwriters or finders in connection with the offering) or, if the selling discounts or commissions are variable, the basis of determining them and their maximum and minimum amounts; the estimated amounts of other selling expenses, including legal, engineering, and accounting charges; the name and address of every underwriter and every recipient of a finder’s fee; a copy of any underwriting or selling-group agreement pursuant to which the distribution is to be made, or the proposed form of any such agreement whose terms have not yet been determined, and a description of the plan of distribution of any securities which are to be offered otherwise than through an underwriter;

(9) The estimated cash proceeds to be received by the issuer from the offering; the purposes for which the proceeds are to be used by the issuer; the amount to be used for each purpose; the order or priority in which the proceeds will be used for the purposes stated; the amounts of any funds to be raised from other sources to achieve the purposes stating the sources of any such funds; and, if any part of the proceeds is to be used to acquire any property (including goodwill) otherwise than in the ordinary course of business, the names and addresses of the vendors, the purchase price, the names of any persons who have received commissions in connection with the acquisition, and the amounts of any such commissions and any other expense in connection with the acquisition (including the cost of borrowing money to finance the acquisition);

(10) A description of any stock options or other security options outstanding or to be created in connection with the offering, together with the amount of any such options held or to be held by every person required to be named in paragraph (b)(2), (4), (5), (6), or (8) of this section and by any person who holds or will hold 10 percent or more in the aggregate of any such options;

(11) The dates of, parties to, and general effect concisely stated of, every management or other material contract made or to be made otherwise than in the ordinary course of business if it is to be performed in whole or in part at or after the filing of the registration statement or was made within the past 2 years, together with a copy of every such contract; and a description of any pending litigation or proceeding to which the issuer is a party and which materially affects its business or assets (including any such litigation or proceeding known to be contemplated by governmental authorities);

(12) Three copies of the prospectus required by subsection (d) of this section, together with a copy of any other prospectus, pamphlet, circular, form letter, advertisement, or other sales literature intended as of the effective date to be used in connection with the offering;

(13) A specimen or copy of the security being registered; a copy of the issuer’s articles of incorporation and bylaws, or their substantial equivalents, as currently in effect; and a copy of any indenture or other instrument covering the security to be registered;

(14) A signed or conformed copy of an opinion of counsel as to the legality of the security being registered (with an English translation if it is in a foreign language), which shall state whether the security when sold will be legally issued, fully paid, and nonassessable, and if a debt security, a binding obligation of the issuer;

(15) The written consent of any accountant, engineer, appraiser, or other person whose profession gives authority to a statement made by him or her, if any such person is named as having prepared or certified the report or evaluation (other than a public and official document or statement) which is used in connection with the registration statement;

(16) A balance sheet of the issuer as of a date within the last quarter prior to the filing of the registration statement; a profit and loss statement and analysis of surplus for each of the 3 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 predecessor’s existence of less than 3 years; and, if any part of the proceeds of the offering is to be applied to the purchase of any business, the same financial statements which would be required of that business for the registrant;

(17) Such additional information as the Director requires by rule, regulation, or order.

(c) A registration statement under this section becomes effective when the Director so orders.

(d) As a condition of registration under this section, a prospectus containing any designated part of the information specified in subsection (b) of this section shall be sent or given to each person to whom an offer is made before or concurrently with:

(1) The first written offer made to the person (otherwise than by means of a public advertisement) by or for the account of the issuer or any other person on whose behalf the offering is being made, or by any other writer or broker-dealer who is offering part of an unsold allotment or subscription taken by the person as a participant in the distribution;

(2) The confirmation of any sale made by or for the account of any such person;

(3) Payment pursuant to any such sale; or

(4) Delivery of the security pursuant to any such sale, whichever first occurs; provided, however, that paragraph (d)(1) of this section may be satisfied by the use of a preliminary prospectus, so designated and bearing such legend as the Director may prescribe, if a final prospectus is sent or given to each recipient of the preliminary prospectus before or concurrently with whichever event in paragraphs (d)(2), (3) and (4) of this section first occurs.

(e) Every person filing a registration statement under this section, or under § 73-203 of this title, shall pay a filing fee as provided by rule or regulation, but in no case shall the fee be less than $200 or more than $1,000. In addition, the Director may require reasonable fees for miscellaneous costs absorbed by the Investor Protection Unit for the printing, copying, filing or transcription of other documents.

(f) The Director may exercise rule making authority under § 73-102(b) of this title to establish special registration procedures for limited offerings. These procedures, including filing requirements and fees, may differ from the qualification procedures set forth above.

6 Del. C. 1953, §  7306;  59 Del. Laws, c. 208, §  1;  68 Del. Laws, c. 181, §§  1, 13;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1;  70 Del. Laws, c. 560, §§  1, 6;  78 Del. Laws, c. 175, §§  14-20, 90, 118;  79 Del. Laws, c. 182, §§  1, 3; 

(a) A registration statement may be filed by the issuer, and the other person on whose behalf the offering is to be made, or a registered broker-dealer.

(b) Every registration statement shall specify the amount of securities to be offered in this State; the states in which a registration statement or similar document in connection with the offering has been or is to be filed; and any adverse order, judgment, or decree entered in connection with the offering by the regulatory authorities in each state or by any court or the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(c) The Director may by rule or otherwise permit the omission of any item of information or document from any registration statement.

(d) Every registration statement is effective for any period during which the security is being offered or distributed in a nonexempted transaction by or for the account of the issuer or other person on whose behalf the offering is being made or by any underwriter or broker-dealer who is still offering part of an unsold allotment or subscription taken by him or her as a participant in the distribution, except during the time a stop order is in effect under § 73-206 of this title. The registration statement may be withdrawn only in the discretion of the Director.

(e) So long as a registration statement is effective, the Director may by rule or order require the person who filed the registration statement to file reports, not more often than quarterly, to keep reasonably current the information contained in the registration statement and to disclose the progress of the offering.

(f) (1) A registration statement relating to a security issued by a face-amount certificate company or a redeemable security issued by an open-end management company or unit investment trust, as those terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 [15 U.S.C. § 80a-1 et seq.], may be amended after its effective date so as to increase the securities specified as proposed to be offered. Such an amendment becomes effective when the Director so orders. Every person filing such an amendment shall pay a filing fee, in accordance with § 73-204(e) of this title, with respect to the additional securities proposed to be offered.

(2) The Director may require that registrations of securities be renewed annually. Where the Director finds that an additional security from the same issuer has different characteristics from the security first registered, such as being a separate portfolio or series of an investment company or mutual fund, the Director may require separate registration and renewal of the additional security.

(g) The Director may require by rule, regulation or order any issuer of securities registered under this chapter or those offered pursuant to § 73-207 of this title to file periodic reports with the Director, and to provide them to holders of those securities.

6 Del. C. 1953, §  7307;  59 Del. Laws, c. 208, §  1;  68 Del. Laws, c. 181, §  3;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1;  78 Del. Laws, c. 175, §§  21, 22, 91, 92, 118;  79 Del. Laws, c. 182, §  3; 

(a) Subject to § 73-208(e) of this title, the Director may issue a stop order prohibiting the offering and sale of a security, or the Director may issue a stop order denying effectiveness to, or suspending or revoking the effectiveness of, any registration statement, if the Director finds that the order is in the public interest and that:

(1) The registration statement as of its effective date or as of any earlier date in the case of an order denying effectiveness, or any amendment or renewal under § 73-205(f) of this title as of its effective date, or any report under § 73-205(e) of this title is incomplete in any material respect or contains any statement which was, in the light of the circumstances under which it was made, false or misleading with respect to any material fact;

(2) Any provision of this chapter or any rule, order, or condition lawfully imposed under this chapter has been violated, in connection with the offering, by:

a. The person filing the registration statement;

b. The issuer, any partner, officer, or director of the issuer, any person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions, or any 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

c. Any underwriter;

(3) The security registered or sought to be registered is the subject of an administrative stop order or similar order or permit or temporary injunction of any court of competent jurisdiction entered under any federal or state act applicable to the offering; but the Director may not institute the proceeding against an effective registration statement under this subsection more than one year from the date of the order or injunction relied on, and may not enter an order under this subsection on the basis of an order or injunction entered under any other state act unless that order or injunction is based on facts which would currently constitute a ground for stop order under this section;

(4) The issuer’s enterprise or method of business includes or would include activities which are illegal where performed;

(5) The offering has worked or tended to work a fraud upon purchasers or would so operate;

(6) The offering has been or would be made with unreasonable amounts of underwriters’ and sellers’ discounts, commissions, or other compensation, or promoters’ profits or participation, or unreasonable amounts or kinds of options;

(7) The applicant or registrant has failed to pay the proper filing fee; but the Director shall vacate any such order when the deficiency has been corrected; or

(8) When a security is sought to be registered by coordination, there has been a failure to comply with the undertaking required by § 73-203(b)(4) of this title.

(b) The Director may not institute a stop-order proceeding against an effective registration statement on the basis of a fact or transaction known to the Director when the registration statement became effective, unless the proceeding is instituted within the next 90 days.

(c) The Director may by order summarily postpone or suspend the effectiveness of the registration statement pending final determination of any proceeding under this section. Upon the entry of the order, the Director shall promptly notify each person specified in subsection (d) of this section that it has been entered and of the reasons therefor and that within 15 days after the receipt of a written request the matter will be set down for hearing. If no hearing is requested and none is ordered by the Director, the order will remain in effect until it is modified or vacated by the Director. If a hearing is requested or ordered, the Director, after notice of and opportunity for hearing to each person specified in subsection (d) of this section, may modify or vacate the order or extend it until final determination.

(d) No stop order may be entered under any part of this section, except the first sentence of subsection (c) of this section, without appropriate prior notice to the applicant making the filing, the issuer, and the person on whose behalf the securities are to be or have been offered, opportunity for hearing, and written findings of fact and conclusions of law.

(e) The Director may vacate or modify a stop order upon finding that the conditions which prompted entry have changed or that it is otherwise in the public interest to do so.

6 Del. C. 1953, §  7308;  59 Del. Laws, c. 208, §  1;  68 Del. Laws, c. 181, §  13;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1;  70 Del. Laws, c. 560, §  2;  71 Del. Laws, c. 162, §  7;  78 Del. Laws, c. 175, §§  23-27, 92, 118;  79 Del. Laws, c. 182, §  3; 

(a) The following securities are exempted from §§ 73-202, 73-208 and 73-211 of this title:

(1) Any security (including a revenue obligation) issued or guaranteed by the United States, any state, any political subdivision of a state, or any agency or corporation or other instrumentality of one or more of the foregoing, or any certificate of deposit for any of the foregoing;

(2) Any security issued or guaranteed by Canada, any Canadian province, any political subdivision of any such province, any agency or corporate or other instrumentality of 1 or more of the foregoing, or any other foreign government with which the United States currently maintains diplomatic relations, if the security is recognized as a valid obligation by the issuer or guarantor;

(3) Any security issued by and representing an interest in or a debt of, or guaranteed by, any bank organized under the laws of the United States, or any bank, savings institution, or trust company organized and supervised under the laws of any state;

(4) Any security issued by and representing an interest in or a debt of, or guaranteed by, any federal savings and loan association, or any building and loan association organized and supervised under the laws of any state and authorized to do business in this State;

(5) Any security issued by and representing an interest in or a debt of, or guaranteed by, any insurance company organized under the laws of any state and authorized to do business in this State;

(6) Any security issued or guaranteed by any federal credit union or any credit union, industrial loan association, or similar association organized and supervised under the laws of this State;

(7) Any security issued or guaranteed by any railroad, other common carrier, public utility, or holding company which is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Transportation; a registered holding company under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005 [42 U.S.C. § 16451 et seq.] or a subsidiary of such a company within the meaning of that Act; regulated in respect of its rates and charges by a governmental authority of the United States or any state; or regulated in respect of the issuance or guarantee of the security by a governmental authority of the United States, any state, Canada, or any Canadian province;

(8) Any security listed or approved for listing upon notice of issuance on the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE Amex Equities, the Pacific Exchange, Inc., the Chicago Stock Exchange, or the NASDAQ OMX PHLX or any other exchange which the Director deems to have substantially the same standards for listing as required by the above mentioned exchanges; any other security of the same issuer which is of senior or substantially equal rank; any security called for by subscription rights or warrants so listed or approved; or any warrant or right to purchase or subscribe to any of the foregoing;

(9) Any security issued by any person organized and operated not for private profit but exclusively for religious, educational, benevolent, charitable, fraternal, social, athletic, or reformatory purposes, or as a chamber of commerce, local industrial development corporation, or trade or professional association;

(10) Any commercial paper which arises out of a current transaction or the proceeds of which have been or are to be used for current transactions, and which evidences an obligation to pay cash within 9 months of the date of issuance, exclusive of days of grace, or any renewal of such paper which is likewise limited, or any guarantee of such paper or of any such renewal;

(11) Any investment contract issued after the effective date of this act in connection with an employee’s stock purchase, savings, pension, profit-sharing or similar benefit plan;

(12) Any security issued by a bona fide agricultural cooperative operating in this State that is organized under Chapter 85 of Title 3 or as a foreign cooperative association organized under the law of another state that has been duly qualified to transact business in this State;

(13) Any security traded pursuant to the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System for which the Director by rule has determined that registration is not necessary for the protection of investors.

(b) The following transactions are exempted from §§ 73-202, 73-208 and 73-211 of this title:

(1) Any isolated nonissuer transaction, whether effected through a broker-dealer or not;

(2) Any nonissuer transaction by a registered agent of a registered broker-dealer, and any resale transaction by a sponsor of a unit investment trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 [15 U.S.C. § 80a-1 et seq.], in a security of a class that has been outstanding in the hands of the public for at least 90 days, provided, at the time of the transaction:

a. The issuer of the security is actually engaged in business and not in the organization stage or in bankruptcy or receivership and is not a blank check, blind pool or shell company whose primary plan of business is to engage in a merger or combination of the business with, or an acquisition of, an unidentified person or persons;

b. The security is sold at a price reasonably related to the current market price of the security;

c. The security does not constitute the whole or part of an unsold allotment to, or a subscription or participation by, the broker-dealer as an underwriter of the security;

d. A nationally recognized securities manual designated by rule or order of the Director or a document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that is publicly available through the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval System (EDGAR) and contains:

1. A description of the business and operations of the issuer;

2. The names of the issuer’s officers and directors, if any, or, in the case of an issuer not domiciled in the United States, the corporate equivalents of such persons in the issuer’s country of domicile;

3. An audited balance sheet of the issuer as of a date within 18 months or, in the case of a reorganization or merger where parties to the reorganization or merger had such audited balance sheet, a pro forma balance sheet; and

4. An audited income statement for each of the issuer’s immediately preceding 2 fiscal years, or for the period of existence of the issuer, if in existence for less than 2 years or, in the case of a reorganization or merger where the parties to the reorganization or merger had such audited income statement, a pro forma income statement; and

e. The issuer of the security has a class of equity securities listed on a national securities exchange registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 [15 U.S.C. § 78a et seq.], or designated for trading on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (NASDAQ), unless:

1. The issuer of the security is a unit investment trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 [15 U.S.C. § 80a-1 et seq.];

2. The issuer of the security has been engaged in continuous business (including predecessors) for at least 3 years; or

3. The issuer of the security has total assets of at least $2,000,000 based on an audited balance sheet as of a date within 18 months or, in the case of a reorganization or merger where parties to the reorganization or merger had such audited balance sheet, a pro forma balance sheet.

(3) Any nonissuer transaction effected by or through a registered broker-dealer pursuant to an unsolicited order or offer to buy; but the Director may by rule require that the customer acknowledge upon a specified form that the sale was unsolicited, and that a signed copy of each such form be preserved by the broker-dealer for a specified period;

(4) Any transaction between the issuer or other person on whose behalf the offering is made and an underwriter, or among underwriters;

(5) Any transaction in a bond or other evidence of indebtedness secured by a real or chattel mortgage or deed of trust, or by an agreement for the sale of real estate or chattels, if the entire mortgage, deed of trust or agreement, together with all the bonds or other evidences of indebtedness secured thereby, is offered and sold as a unit;

(6) Any transaction by an executor, administrator, sheriff, marshal, receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, guardian, or conservator;

(7) Any transaction executed by a bona fide pledgee without any purpose of evading this chapter;

(8) Any offer or sale to a bank, savings institution, trust company, insurance company, investment company as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 [15 U.S.C. § 80a-1 et seq.], pension or profit-sharing trust, or other financial institution or institutional buyer, or to a broker-dealer, whether the purchaser is acting for itself or in some fiduciary capacity;

(9) Any transaction pursuant to an offer directed by the offerer to not more than 25 persons (other than those designated in paragraph (b)(8) of this section) in this State during any period of 12 consecutive months, whether or not the offerer or any of the offerees is then present in this State, if the seller reasonably believes that all the buyers in this State, other than those designated in paragraph (b)(8) of this section, are purchasing for investment; but the Director may by rule or order, as to any security or transaction or any type of security or transaction, withdraw or further condition this exemption, or increase or decrease the number of offerees permitted, or waive the condition relating to investment intent; provided, however, the Director may by rule or order exempt transactions that are exempt under federal securities laws or regulations;

(10) Any offer or sale of a preorganization certificate or subscription if no commission or other remuneration is paid or given directly or indirectly for soliciting any prospective subscriber, the number of subscribers does not exceed 10, and no payment is made by any subscriber;

(11) Any transaction pursuant to an offer to existing security holders of the issuer, including persons who at the time of the transaction are holders of the convertible securities, nontransferable warrants, or transferable warrants exercisable within not more than 90 days of their issuance, if no commission or other remuneration (other than a standby commission) is paid or given directly or indirectly for soliciting any security holder in this State, or the issuer first files a notice specifying the terms of the offer and the Director does not by order disallow the exemption within the next 5 full business days;

(12) Any offer (but not a sale) of a security for which a registration statement has been filed under this chapter if no stop order or refusal order is in effect and no public proceeding or examination looking toward such an order is pending, and if the offerer complies with § 73-204(d) of this title;

(13) Any offer or sale of a security by or through a registered broker-dealer if such offer or sale is not directly or indirectly for the benefit of the issuer or a person who is known or should reasonably be known to such broker-dealer to be the record or beneficial owner of 10 percent or more of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer; the security is not part of an unsold allotment or subscription taken by a participant in a distribution directly or indirectly for the benefit of the issuer or a person who is known or should reasonably be known by such broker-dealer to be the record or beneficial owner of 10 percent or more of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer; and no administrative stop order or similar order or permanent or temporary injunction of any court of competent jurisdiction is in effect under this subtitle or under any federal or state act against the offering or sale of the security or any security of the same class.

(14) Any offer or sale of a viatical settlement investment, if:

a. Such disclosure documents as the Director, by rule or order, requires are delivered to each offeree or purchaser; and

b. The Director is notified in writing of the offer at least 30 days before the offer is made.

(15) Any offer or sale of securities conducted solely in this State to residents of this State in which each of the following conditions is met:

a. The issuer of the security shall be a for-profit entity organized under the laws of the State of Delaware and registered with the Secretary of State with its principal place of business in the State of Delaware.

b. The transaction shall meet the requirements of the federal exemption for intrastate offerings in § 3(a)(11) of the Securities Act of 1933, 15 U.S.C. § 77c(a)(11), and SEC Rule 147, 17 C.F.R. § 230.147. Among other things, these laws and regulations require that such securities must be offered to and sold only to persons who are residents of the State of Delaware at the time of purchase. Prior to any offer or sale pursuant to this exemption, the seller shall obtain documentary evidence from each prospective purchaser that provides the seller with a reasonable basis to believe that such investor is a resident of the State of Delaware.

c. The sum of all cash and other consideration to be received for all sales of the security in reliance upon this exemption shall not exceed $1,000,000, less the aggregate amount received for all sales of securities by the issuer pursuant to this exemption within the 12 months before the first offer or sale made in reliance upon this exemption.

d. The issuer shall not accept more than $5,000 from any single purchaser unless the purchaser is an accredited investor as defined by SEC Rule 501, 17 C.F.R. §  230.501.

e. The issuer must reasonably believe that all purchasers of securities are purchasing for investment and not for sale in connection with a distribution of the security.

f. A commission or other form of remuneration shall not be paid or given, directly or indirectly, for any person’s participation in the offer or sale of securities for the issuer unless the person is registered as a broker-dealer or agent under this chapter.

g. All funds received from investors shall be deposited into a bank or depository institution authorized to do business in the State of Delaware, and all the funds shall be used in accordance with representations made to investors.

h. Not less than 10 days prior to the commencement of an offering pursuant to this exemption the issuer shall provide the Investor Protection Unit of the Delaware Department of Justice a notice in a form required by the Director by rule or order. The notice shall specify that the issuer is conducting an offering in reliance upon this exemption and shall contain, among any other requirements set forth by the Director, a copy of the disclosure document to be provided to prospective investors pursuant to paragraph (b)(15)j. of this section and the names and addresses of all of the following persons:

1. The issuer.

2. Officers, directors and any control person of the issuer.

3. All persons who will be involved in the offer or sale of securities on behalf of the issuer.

4. The bank or other depository institution in which investor funds will be deposited.

i. The issuer shall not be, either before or as a result of the offering:

1. An investment company as defined in § 3 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, 15 U.S.C. § 80a-3, or subject to the reporting requirements of §§ 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78m and 78o(d); or

2. An investment advisor as defined at § 73-103 of this title, nor a person who otherwise provides investment advice as a service or as a fee.

j. The issuer shall provide the following information to each prospective investor at the time the offer of securities is made:

1. A disclosure document that, at a minimum, contains the following information:

A. Evidence that the issuer is a business organization organized under the laws of this State and is authorized to do business in this State;

B. A description of the company, its form and date of business organization, the address and telephone number of its principal office, its history, its business plan, a description of material agreements and the intended use of the offering proceeds, at least 65 percent of which shall be specifically disclosed in dollar amount and percentage terms in a use of proceeds section and which shall also include any amounts to be paid, as compensation or otherwise, to any owner, executive officer, director, managing member, or other person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions on behalf of the issuer;

C. The identity of all persons owning more than 10 percent of the ownership interests of any class of securities of the company, with a description of options or other contingent securities outstanding and a description of the amount of those options or other contingent securities that those persons own;

D. The identity of the executive officers, directors, managing members, and other persons occupying a similar status or performing similar functions in the name of and on behalf of the issuer, including their titles and their prior experience, with a description of options or other contingent securities outstanding and a description of the amount of those options or other contingent securities that those persons own;

E. The terms and conditions of the securities being offered and of any outstanding securities of the company, the minimum and maximum amount of securities being offered, if any, and the percentage ownership of the company represented by the offered securities and the valuation of the company implied by the price of the offered securities;

F. The minimum offering amount that is necessary to implement the business plan, and a notice that the funds will only be released to the issuer if the minimum offering amount is reached;

G. The time and date, which may be no more than 12 months from the date of the offering, by which the minimum offering amount must be reached before the funds will be returned to investors;

H. A description of any litigation or legal proceedings involving the company or its management;

I. A discussion of significant factors that make the offering speculative or risky;

J. A description of any conflicts of interest;

K. Financial statements, including a balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement, and capitalization of issuer;

L. Any additional information material to the offering.

2. A notice informing all purchasers that the securities have not been registered under this chapter and, therefore, cannot be resold unless the purchaser registers the securities or they qualify for an exemption from registration under this section at the time of the subsequent sale by the purchaser. In addition, the notice shall make the disclosures required by SEC Rule 147(f), 17 C.F.R. § 230.147(f).

3. The issuer shall be responsible for timely updating this disclosure document in the event that there is a material change to any of the information required by paragraph (b)(15)j.1. of this section before the offering closes. The issuer shall distribute any such update to investors in the offering and provide an opportunity for those investors to review the updated disclosure and consent to maintaining their investment or request a refund of their investment. The issuer shall provide the Investor Protection Unit with a copy of all updated disclosure documents at or before the time they are distributed to investors.

k. An offer or sale pursuant to this exemption may be made through 1 or more internet sites subject to the following requirements:

1. Each internet site operator shall register with the Investor Protection Unit by filing an application for registration in a form required by the Director by rule or order. In addition to any other information required by the Director, such registration shall include the following:

A. That the internet site operator is a business entity organized under the laws of this State and authorized to do business in this State;

B. That the internet site is being utilized to offer and sell securities pursuant to this exemption; and

C. The identity and location of, and contact information for, the internet site operator;

2. Each internet site operator will be required to register with the Investor Protection Unit as a broker dealer unless:

A. The internet site operator is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 [15 U.S.C. § 78a et seq.];

B. Is a funding portal registered under the Securities Act of 1933 [15 U.S.C. § 77a et seq.]and provides copies of all documents submitted to the SEC in connection with such registration to the Director; or

C. All of the following apply:

I. It does not offer investment advice or recommendations;

II. It does not solicit purchases, sales, or offers to buy the securities offered or displayed on the internet site;

III. It does not compensate employees, agents, or other persons for the solicitation or based on the sale of securities displayed or referenced on the internet site;

IV. It is not compensated based on the amount of securities sold, and it does not hold, manage, possess, or otherwise handle investor funds or securities;

V. The fee it charges an issuer for an offering of securities on the internet site is a fixed amount for each offering, a variable amount based on the length of time that the securities are offered on the internet site, or a combination of such fixed and variable amounts;

VI. It does not identify, promote, or otherwise refer to any individual security offered on the internet site in any advertising for the internet site; and

VII. It does not engage in other activities the Director determines to be prohibited.

3. The issuer and the internet site operator shall maintain records of all offers and sales of securities effected through the internet site and shall provide ready access to the records to representatives of the Director, upon request. Representatives of the Director may access, inspect, and review any internet site registered under this section as well as its records.

l. This exemption shall not be used in conjunction with any other exemption under this chapter except the exemption to institutional investors at paragraph (b)(8) of this section and for offers and sales to controlling persons of the issuer. Sales to controlling persons shall not count toward the limitation in paragraph (b)(15)c. of this section.

m. This exemption shall not be available if the issuer, or any director, executive officer, general partner, managing member, or other person with management authority over the issuer, or any internet site operator, or any director, executive officer, general partner, managing member, or other person with management authority over the internet site operator, has been subject to any conviction, order, judgment, decree, or other action specified in SEC Rule 506(d)(1) adopted under the Securities Act of 1933 (17 C.F.R. § 230.506(d)(1)) that would disqualify an issuer under SEC Rule 506(d) adopted under the Securities Act of 1933 (17 C.F.R. § 230.506(d)) from claiming an exemption specified in SEC Rule 506(a) to (c) adopted under the Securities Act of 1933 (17 C.F.R. § 230.506(a) to (c)).

n. Nothing in this exemption shall be construed to alleviate any person from the anti-fraud provisions at § 73-201 of this title, nor shall such exemption be construed to provide relief from any other provision of this chapter or any rule or order hereunder, other than as expressly stated.

o. Every notice of exemption provided for in paragraph (b)(15)h. of this section shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable filing fee as required by rule or order of the Director.

(c) The Director may by rule or order deny or revoke any exemption in paragraph (a)(9) or (a)(11) or in subsection (b) of this section, either generally or with respect to a specific security or transaction. No such order may be entered without appropriate prior notice to all interested parties, opportunity for hearing, and written findings of fact and conclusions of law, except that the Director may by order summarily deny or revoke any of the specified exemptions pending final determination of any proceeding under this subsection. Upon the entry of a summary order the Director shall promptly notify all interested parties that it has been entered and of the reasons therefor and that within 15 days of the receipt of a written request the matter will be set down for a hearing. If no hearing is requested and none is ordered by the Director, the order will remain in effect until it is modified or vacated by the Director. If a hearing is requested or ordered, the Director, after notice of and opportunity for hearing to all interested persons, may modify or vacate the order or extend it until final determination. No order under this subsection may operate retroactively. No person may be considered to have violated § 73-202 or § 73-211 of this title by reason of any offer or sale effected after the entry of an order under this subsection if that person sustains the burden of proof that the person did not know, and in the exercise of reasonable care could not have known, of the order.

(d) In any proceeding under this chapter, the burden of proving an exemption from registration is upon the person claiming it.

6 Del. C. 1953, §  7309;  59 Del. Laws, c. 208, §  1;  63 Del. Laws, c. 160, §§  1, 2;  64 Del. Laws, c. 112, §  1;  68 Del. Laws, c. 181, §§  12, 13;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1;  70 Del. Laws, c. 560, §  1;  71 Del. Laws, c. 162, §§  8-10;  78 Del. Laws, c. 175, §§  28-39, 93, 118;  79 Del. Laws, c. 182, §§  3, 10, 11;  80 Del. Laws, c. 301, § 1;  84 Del. Laws, c. 42, § 1;  84 Del. Laws, c. 230, §§ 5, 6; 

(a) The Director, by rule or order, may require the filing of any or all of the following documents with respect to a covered security under § 18(b)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 [15 U.S.C. § 77r(b)(2)]:

(1) Prior to the initial offer of such federal covered security in this State, all documents that are part of a federal registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 [15 U.S.C. § 77a et seq.] (or, in lieu of filing such registration statement, a notice as prescribed by the Director by rule or order), together with a consent to service of process signed by the issuer and with a filing fee as provided by rule or regulation, but in no case shall the fee be less than $200 or more than $1,000. In addition, the Director may require reasonable fees for miscellaneous costs absorbed by the Investor Protection Unit for printing, copying, filing or transcription of other documents;

(2) After the initial offer of such federal covered security in this state, all documents that are part of an amendment to a federal registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 [15 U.S.C. § 77a et seq.], which shall be filed concurrently with the Director; and

(3) A report of the value of such covered securities offered or sold in this State, together with a filing fee as provided by rule or regulation, but in no case shall the fee be less than $200 or more than $1,000; provided, however, that if the filing fee paid is equal to $1,000, no report of the value of such covered securities offered or sold in this State need be filed.

(b) With respect to any security that is a covered security under § 18(b)(4)(E) (or as the same may be renumbered by a future act of the United States Congress) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. § 77r(b)(4)(E)) (or as the same may be renumbered by a future act of the United States Congress), the Director, by rule or order, may require the issuer to file a notice on SEC Form D and a consent to service of process signed by the issuer no later than 15 days after the first sale of such covered security in this State, together with a filing fee as provided by rule or regulation, but in no case shall the fee be less than $200 or more than $1,000.

(c) The Director, by rule or otherwise, may require the filing of any document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 [15 U.S.C. § 77a et seq.], with respect to a covered security under § 18(b)(3) or (4) of the Securities Act of 1933 [15 U.S.C. § 77r(b)(3) or (4)], together with a filing fee as provided by rule or regulation, but in no case shall the fee be less than $ 200 or more than $ 1,000.

(d) The Director may require that filings made and fees paid pursuant to subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section be renewed annually. Where the Director finds that an additional security from the same issuer has different characteristics from the security as to which the first filing was made, such as being a separate portfolio or series of an investment company or mutual fund, the Director may require separate filing, fee payment and renewal for the additional security.

(e) The Director may issue a stop order suspending the offer and sale of a covered security, except a covered security under § 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933 [15 U.S.C. § 77r(b)(1)], if it finds that:

(1) The order is in the public interest; and

(2) There is a failure to comply with any condition established under this section.

(f) The Director, by rule or order, may waive any and all provisions of this section.

(g) [Repealed.]

71 Del. Laws, c. 162, §  11;  78 Del. Laws, c. 175, §§  94, 118;  79 Del. Laws, c. 182, §§  1, 3, 6;  84 Del. Laws, c. 230, § 7; 

6 Del. C. 1953, §  7310;  59 Del. Laws, c. 208, §  1;  78 Del. Laws, c. 175, §§  95, 118;  79 Del. Laws, c. 182, §  3;  repealed by 84 Del. Laws, c. 230, § 8, effective Sept. 21, 2023.; 

(a) Neither the fact that a notice filing under this chapter, an application for registration under this chapter, or a registration statement under this chapter has been filed, nor the fact that a person or security is effectively registered, constitutes a finding by the Director that any document filed under this chapter is true, complete and not misleading. Neither any such fact nor the fact that an exemption or exception is available for a security or a transaction means that the Director has passed in any way upon the merits or qualifications of, or recommended or given approval to, any person, security, or transaction.

(b) It is unlawful to make, or cause to be made, to any prospective purchaser, customer, or client any representation inconsistent with subsection (a) of this section.

6 Del. C. 1953, §  7311;  59 Del. Laws, c. 208, §  1;  71 Del. Laws, c. 162, §§  12, 13;  78 Del. Laws, c. 175, §§  96, 118;  79 Del. Laws, c. 182, §  3; 

The Director may by rule or order require the filing of any prospectus, pamphlet, circular, form letter, advertisement or other sales literature or advertising communication addressed or intended for distribution to prospective investors, including clients or prospective clients of an investment adviser unless the security or transaction is exempted by § 73-207 of this title or is a federal covered security.

6 Del. C. 1953, §  7312;  59 Del. Laws, c. 208, §  1;  71 Del. Laws, c. 162, §  14;  78 Del. Laws, c. 175, §§  40, 97, 118;  79 Del. Laws, c. 182, §  3;