PROPOSED RULEMAKING

DEPARTMENT OF BANKING AND SECURITIES

[ 10 PA. CODE CHS. 1, 102, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 401, 404, 501, 504, 513, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 609, 610, 701, 901 AND 1001 ]

Securities Regulations Omnibus Amendments

[46 Pa.B. 3420]
[Saturday, July 2, 2016]

 The Department of Banking and Securities (Department) proposes to amend Chapters 1, 102, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 401, 404, 501, 504, 513, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 609, 610, 701, 901 and 1001 to read as set forth in Annex A. This rulemaking is proposed under the authority of section 202.C of the Department of Banking and Securities Code (71 P.S. § 733-202.C), section 609(a) of the Pennsylvania Securities Act of 1972 (1972 Act) (70 P.S. § 1-609(a)) and section 9(b) of the Takeover Disclosure Law (70 P.S. § 79(b)).

Purpose

 This proposed rulemaking will: replace terminology made obsolete by the 2012 merger of the former Securities Commission into the former Department of Banking (2012 merger); correct formatting and word choice issues; delete statements of policy; reduce compliance requirements; permit electronic format submissions and electronic filing; and align the language of the regulations with the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) model rules and the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations in 17 CFR 230.100—230.1001 (relating to general rules and regulations, Securities Act of 1933), 17 CFR 240.0-1—240.36a1-2 (relating to general rules and regulations, Securities Exchange Act of 1934) and 17 CFR 275.0-2—275.222-2 (relating to rules and regulations, Investment Advisers Act of 1940)).

Explanation of Proposed Amendments

Part I. General Provisions

Chapter 1. Preliminary Provisions

 Section 1.1 (relating to definitions) is proposed to be amended to add the definition of ''Commission'' to subsection (a) by referencing the statutes pertaining to the Banking and Securities Commission in sections 1121-A and 1122-A in the Department of Banking and Securities Code (71 P.S. §§ 733-1121-A and 1122-A).

Part VII. Securities

 Part VII (relating to securities) is proposed to be amended to: replace references to ''Commission'' relating to the former Pennsylvania Securities Commission with ''Department'' as a reflection of the 2012 merger; replace references to the ''United States Securities and Exchange Commission'' or ''SEC'' with ''Securities and Exchange Commission'' for consistency; delete references to ''order of'' to remove the requirement that the Department take actions through the format of an order; and replace ''the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD)'' with ''FINRA'' because the NASD merged with the regulatory arm of the New York Stock Exchange to form the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. as a regulatory body.

Subpart A. Definitions

Chapter 102. Definitions

 Proposed § 102.021 (relating to definitions) organizes the terms currently defined throughout the regulations into one section for readability and to add additional terms for clarity purposes. The proposed rulemaking amends and moves the following existing defined terms into proposed § 102.021 from other regulations: ''203(d) restricted securities,'' ''accountant's report,'' ''advertisement,'' ''agent,'' ''agricultural cooperative association,'' ''amount,'' ''any credit union,'' ''audit,'' ''bank,'' ''bank holding company,'' ''bond,'' ''broker-dealer,'' ''client,'' ''compensation,'' ''comparative financial statement,'' ''control,'' ''convicted,'' ''cooperative business association,'' ''custody,'' ''customer,'' ''date of filing,'' ''development stage company,'' ''engaged in agriculture,'' ''entity,'' ''equity security,'' ''equity securityholder,'' ''examination,'' ''exchange,'' ''executive officer,'' ''experienced private placement investor,'' ''feasibility study,'' ''financial forecast,'' ''financial institution,'' ''financial projection,'' ''fiscal year,'' ''franchise,'' ''going concern disclosure,'' ''guarantor,'' ''guaranty,'' ''hypothetical assumption,'' ''independent,'' ''independent party,'' ''individuals controlling,'' ''industrial loan association,'' ''industrial loan business,'' ''insolvent, insolvency,'' ''institutional investor,'' ''insurance holding company,'' ''investment adviser representative,'' ''investment supervisory services,'' ''majority-owned subsidiary,'' ''most recent audited financial statements,'' ''net capital,'' ''net worth,'' ''networking arrangement or brokerage affiliate arrangement,'' ''note or footnote,'' ''office of supervisory jurisdiction,'' ''parent,'' ''pooled investment vehicle,'' ''principal,'' ''prime quality,'' ''principal place of business,'' ''private placement offering of securities,'' ''pro rata,'' ''promotional securities,'' ''publish,'' ''purchase of securities by an experienced private placement investor,'' ''qualified custodian,'' ''registrant,'' ''related,'' ''related parties,'' ''rental pool arrangement,'' ''review,'' ''review report,'' ''security or securities,'' ''share,'' ''side-by-side fund,'' ''significant subsidiary,'' ''solicitor,'' ''sponsor,'' ''standby commission,'' ''subsidiary of a specified person,'' ''tangible book value of a company's common shares,'' ''tangible net worth,'' ''totally-held subsidiary,'' ''trade or professional association,'' ''trustee for the bondholders,'' ''voting shares,'' ''wholly-owned subsidiary'' and ''wrap fee program.''

 The proposed rulemaking adds the following terms to proposed § 102.021: ''3(c)(1) fund,'' ''accredited investor,'' ''agricultural cooperative association member,'' ''beneficial ownership,'' ''bona fide distribution,'' ''bona fide pledgee,'' ''branch office,'' ''CRD,'' ''class of a series,'' ''confidential information,'' ''discretionary power,'' ''FINRA,'' ''fair value,'' ''firm member,'' ''IARD,'' ''impersonal investment advisory services,'' ''independent certified public accountant,'' ''independent representative,'' ''NASAA,'' ''nonbranch office,'' ''portfolio management,'' ''private fund adviser,'' ''professional corporation,'' ''prospective financial statement,'' ''qualifying private fund,'' ''related person,'' ''Securities and Exchange Commission,'' ''securities issued by a credit union,'' ''securities issued by an industrial loan association'' and ''venture capital fund.''

 Section 102.031 (relating to agent registration) is proposed to be deleted as agent registration is included in the definition of ''agent'' in proposed § 102.021.

 Section 102.041 (relating to bank holding companies; banks in organization) is proposed to be deleted as the definitions of ''bank holding company'' and ''bank'' are in proposed § 102.021.

 Section 102.050 (relating to transfer agents and registrars) is proposed to be deleted as transfer agents and registrars are included in the definitions of ''agent'' and ''broker-dealer'' in proposed § 102.021.

 Section 102.060 (relating to Commission) is proposed to be deleted as the definition of ''Commission'' is included in § 1.1.

 Section 102.111 (relating to institutional investor) is proposed to be deleted as the definition of ''institutional investor'' is in proposed § 102.021.

 Section 102.112 (relating to SEPs, IRAs and KEOGHS as institutional investors) is proposed to be deleted as retirement and pension plans, SEPS, IRAs and KEOGHS are addressed in the definition of ''institutional investor'' in proposed § 102.021.

 Section 102.201 (relating to franchises) is proposed to be deleted as franchises are included in the definition of ''security'' in proposed § 102.021.

 Section 102.202 (relating to real property) is proposed to be deleted as real property is addressed in the definition of ''security'' in proposed § 102.021.

 Section 102.241 (relating to exchange) is proposed to be deleted as the definition of ''exchange'' is in proposed § 102.021.

Subpart B. Registration of Securities

Chapter 202. Exempt Securities

 Section 202.010 (relating to securities issued by a governmental unit) is proposed to be amended to include format and language choice changes for readability.

 Section 202.030 (relating to commercial paper) is proposed to be amended to: delete the definition of ''prime quality'' as it is in proposed § 102.021; add ''general solicitation through'' and ''Internet, or other means'' to subsection (d) for consistency with the 2004 amendment to section 203(d) of the 1972 Act (70 P.S. § 1-203(d)); and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 202.041 (relating to credit union and industrial loan association securities) is proposed to be deleted as credit unions and industrial loan association securities are included in the definition of ''any credit union'' in proposed § 102.021.

 Section 202.052 (relating to trade or professional association) is proposed to be deleted as the definition of ''trade or professional association'' is in proposed § 102.021.

 Section 202.091 (relating to shares of professional corporations) is proposed to be amended to: delete the definition of ''professional corporation'' as it is in proposed § 102.021; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 202.092 (relating to guaranties of certain debt securities exempt) is proposed to be amended to: delete ''as that term is defined in § 609.032(a)'' from subsection (c); delete subsection (d) as the definitions are in proposed § 102.021; delete cross-references to subsection (d); and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 202.093 (relating to charitable contributions to pooled income funds exempt) is proposed to be amended to: delete ''of 1954'' from subsection (a)(2); replace the ''Charitable Organization Reform Act (10 P.S. §§ 161.1—161.19)'' with ''Solicitation of Funds for Charitable Purposes Act (10 P.S. §§ 162.1—162.23)'' in subsection (a)(3) for citation accuracy; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Sections 202.094 and 202.095 (relating to world class issuer exemption; and charitable gift annuities) are proposed to be amended to make format and word choice changes for readability.

Chapter 203. Exempt Transactions

 Section 203.011 (relating to nonissuer transactions) is proposed to be amended to add ''or an affiliate'' after ''the issuer'' for consistency within the section and with 1972 Act. Format and word choice changes are proposed for readability.

 Section 203.041 (relating to limited offerings) is proposed to be amended for format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 203.091 (relating to equity securities issued by reporting company) is proposed to be deleted as the definition of ''equity security'' is in proposed § 102.021.

 Section 203.101 (relating to mortgages) is proposed to be amended to: delete ''market'' and ''as defined under § 609.032'' from subsection (a)(3) for consistency with the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standard Codification Topic 820 referenced in the definition of ''fair value'' in proposed § 102.021; add ''general solicitation through'' and ''Internet or other means'' to subsection (a)(4) for consistency with the 2004 amendment to section 203(d) of the 1972 Act; delete ''is used'' and ''made or other form of general solicitation is utilized'' for consistency with the 2004 amendment to section 203(d) of the 1972 Act; delete ''of Banking and Securities'' after ''Department'' in subsection (a)(6) to reflect the 2012 merger; replace ''70 P.S. § 1-417'' with ''70 P.S. §§ 1-401—409'' for accuracy; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 203.131 (relating to bona fide pledgee) is proposed to be deleted as the definition of ''bona fide pledgee'' is in proposed § 102.021.

 Section 203.141 (relating to sales to existing equity securityholders) is proposed to be amended to: add ''equity'' before ''securityholder'' throughout for consistency with section 203(n) of the 1972 Act; delete the definition of ''securityholder'' as this term, now referenced as ''equity securityholder,'' is in proposed § 102.021; delete the definitions of ''class,'' ''standby commission'' and ''pro rata'' as these terms are in proposed § 102.021; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Sections 203.151, 203.161, 203.185 and 203.192 are proposed to be amended to make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 203.171 (relating to liquidations, dividends and distributions) is proposed to be deleted as the definition of ''bona fide distribution'' is in proposed § 102.021.

 Section 203.183 (relating to agricultural cooperative associations) is proposed to be amended: to delete the definitions of ''agricultural cooperative association,'' ''members,'' ''securities'' and ''engaged in agriculture'' as these terms are in proposed § 102.021; and to make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 203.184 (relating to offers and sales to principals) is proposed to be amended to: delete the definition of ''principal'' as this term is in proposed § 102.021; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 203.186 (relating to employee takeovers) is proposed to be amended to: delete ''as that term is defined in § 609.010 (relating to use of prospective financial statements)'' as the definition of ''prospective financial statements'' is in proposed § 102.021; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 203.187 (relating to small issuer exemption) is proposed to be amended to: align with the language of the 2004 amendment to section 203(d) of the 1972 Act by adding ''[g]eneral solicitation through'' and ''Internet or other means does not occur'' to subsection (a)(5); delete ''is used or'' and ''is made'' from subsection (a)(5); and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 203.188 (relating to Cooperative Business Associations Exemption) is proposed to be amended to: delete subsection (b) as the definitions of ''cooperative business association'' and ''securities'' are in proposed § 102.021; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 203.189 (relating to isolated transaction exemption) is proposed to be amended to: add ''[g]eneral solicitation through'' and ''Internet or other means does not occur'' to subsection (a)(5) for consistency with the 2004 amendment to section 203(d) of the 1972 Act; delete ''is used or'' and ''is made'' for consistency with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 203.191 (relating to Rule 505 offerings) is proposed to be amended to: add ''1-'' to the citation in subsection (a) for accuracy; delete the definitions of ''compensation'' and ''beneficial ownership'' as these terms are in proposed § 102.021; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 203.201 (relating to accredited investor exemption) is proposed to be amended to: replace the citation ''70 P.S. § 203(t)(i)'' with ''70 P.S. § 1-203(t)(ii)'' in subsection (a) for accuracy; add ''1-'' before ''606(c)'' in subsection (b) for accuracy; delete subsections (c) and (d) as the terms ''compensation'' and ''beneficial ownership'' are in proposed § 102.021; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Sections 203.202 and 203.203 (relating to certain transactions with persons from Canada exempt; and certain Rule 144A exchange transactions exempt) are proposed to be amended to make format and word choice changes for readability.

Chapter 204. Exemption Proceedings

 Section 204.010 (relating to increasing the number of purchasers and offerees) is proposed to be amended to: add ''exemption'' before ''notice filing'' in subsection (b)(2) to clarify the type of notice referred to by the subsection; delete subsection (d) and cross-references to subsection (d) as the definitions of ''experienced private placement investor,'' ''private placement offering of securities'' and ''purchase of securities by an experienced private placement investor'' are in proposed § 102.021; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 204.011 (relating to waivers of the 12-month holding period) is proposed to be amended to: delete subsection (b) as the terms ''restricted securities'' (now referred to as ''203(d) restricted securities'') and ''insolvent'' are in proposed § 102.021; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 204.012 (relating to waivers for pre-effective offers under section 203(h)) is proposed to be amended to make format and word choice changes for readability.

Chapter 205. Registration by Coordination

 Section 205.021 (relating to registration by coordination) is proposed to be amended to: add ''or otherwise equivalent form'' to subsection (c)(2) to eliminate the need to amend this paragraph if the Securities and Exchange Commission chooses to renumber its forms; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 205.040 (relating to series of unit investment trusts as separate issuers) is proposed to be amended to: add ''of the act'' for consistency within the section; and to make format and word choice changes for readability.

Chapter 206. Registration by Qualification

 Section 206.010 (relating to registration by qualification) is proposed to be amended to make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 206.020 (relating to tax opinion in offerings of limited partnership interests) is proposed to be deleted because the requirement that the regulated community incur a substantial cost to obtain a tax opinion when that information, when applicable, will be included in the filing in some other format.

Chapter 207. General Registration Provisions

 Sections 207.050, 207.072, 207.091, 207.101 and 207.130 are proposed to be amended to make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 207.071 (relating to escrow of promotional securities) is proposed to be amended to: delete subsection (b) as the definition of ''promotional securities'' is in proposed § 102.021; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 207.140 (relating to signatures on electronic filings) is proposed to be deleted as this topic is addressed in other sections of the regulations.

Chapter 208. Denial for Abandonment

 Proposed § 208.010 (relating to denial for abandonment) relocates the denial for abandonment language regarding corporate finance in § 602.022 (relating to denial for abandonment) into this section.

Chapter 209. Books, Records and Accounts

 Section 209.010 (relating to required records; report on sales of securities and use of proceeds) is proposed to be amended to: add ''on sales of securities'' and ''Form 209'' to subsection (b)(1) to eliminate the need for subsection (c); delete subsection (c) and cross-references to subsection (c); and make format and word choice changes for readability.

Chapter 210. Retroactive Registration

 Section 210.010 (relating to retroactive registration) is proposed to be amended to: delete ''of certain investment company securities'' from the section heading; delete the existing language of subsection (a) to be consistent with the 2014 amendment to section 210 of the 1972 Act (70 P.S. § 1-210) permitting retroactive registration for issuers with effective registration statements thereby reducing the filing burden on the regulated community; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

Chapter 211. Federally Covered Securities

 Section 211.010 (relating to notice filings for Federally covered securities) is proposed to be amended to: add subsection (d), including ''or any notice filing form that has been adopted by the Department'' to cover the recent Securities and Exchange Commission final rule in Regulation A, which made Tier 2 offerings covered securities; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

Subpart C. Registration of Broker-Dealers, Agents, Investment Advisers and Investment Adviser Representatives and Notice Filings by Federally Covered Advisers

Chapter 301. Registration Requirement

 Section 301.020 (relating to agent transfers) is proposed to be amended to make format and word choice changes for readability.

Chapter 302. Exemptions

 Section 302.060 (relating to dual registration of agents in certain instances) is proposed to be deleted as this section is no longer applicable to the industry because it applies to one individual.

 Section 302.061 (relating to auctioneers exemption from broker-dealer and agent registration) is proposed to be amended to: replace the ''Auctioneers License Act'' with ''Auctioneer Licensing and Trading Assistant Registration Act'' for accuracy; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 302.063 (relating to financial institutions exempt from broker-dealer and agent registration) is proposed to be amended to: delete subsection (b) as the definitions of ''financial institution'' and ''networking arrangement or brokerage affiliate arrangement'' are in proposed § 102.021; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 302.064 (relating to Stock Exchange exemption from agent registration) is proposed to be amended to: add ''[a] currently effective'' to paragraph (3)(ii) for consistency within the section; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 302.065 (relating to Canadian broker-dealer exempt) is proposed to be amended to make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Sections 302.070 and 302.071 (relating to registration exemption for investment advisers to private funds; and registration exemption for solicitors) are proposed to be added for consistency with the NASAA Registration Exemption for Investment Advisers to Private Funds Model Rule adopted in December 2011 and amended in 2013.

Chapter 303. Registration Procedure

 Sections 303.011, 303.013, 303.014, 303.015, 303.031 and 303.032 are proposed to be amended to make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 303.012 (relating to investment adviser registration procedure) is proposed to be amended to: add language to align with the language of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the NASAA Custody Requirements for Investment Advisers Model Rule 102(e)(1)-1 (NASAA IA Custody Model Rule); delete the definition of ''principal place of business'' as the definition is in proposed § 102.021; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Proposed § 303.016 (relating to considered as abandoned) relocates the denial for abandonment language regarding licensing currently in § 602.022 into this section.

 Section 303.021 (relating to registration and notice filing procedures for successors to a broker-dealer, investment adviser or Federally covered adviser) is proposed to be amended to: delete ''SEC'' before ''Rule 15b1-3(a)'' in subsection (a)(1) because the regulated community identifies this Securities and Exchange Commission rule through the citation; replace ''may'' with ''shall'' in subsection (b)(1) to reflect that the successor investment adviser shall adhere to the requirements of that subsection; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 303.041 (relating to broker-dealer capital requirements) is proposed to be amended to: delete subsection (c) as the definition of ''customer'' is in proposed § 102.021; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 303.042 (relating to investment adviser capital requirements) is proposed to be amended to: replace ''of $25,000'' with ''required under Rule 15c3-1 (17 CFR 240.15c3-1)'' in subsection (a)(2); add ''maintained by a qualified custodian'' to subsection (a)(3)(i); add subsection (a)(3)(i)(D) and (ii)(B)(III) and delete subsection (a)(3)(iii) to align with the language of the NASAA IA Custody Model Rule; delete the definitions of ''custody,'' ''independent party,'' ''net capital,'' ''net worth,'' ''pooled investment vehicle,'' ''principal place of business'' and ''qualified custodian'' as those definitions are in proposed § 102.021; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 303.051 (relating to surety bonds) is proposed to be amended to: delete the definition of ''principal place of business'' as this definition is in proposed § 102.021; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

Chapter 304. Postregistration Provisions

 Section 304.011, 304.021 and 304.051 (relating to broker-dealer required records; broker-dealer required financial reports; and broker-dealer compensation) are proposed to be amended to make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 304.012 (relating to investment adviser required records) is proposed to be amended to: delete ''as the term is defined in § 303.042(c) or possession of securities or funds of any client,'' and the definitions of ''investment adviser,'' ''control,'' ''solicitor,'' ''client,'' ''investment supervisory services'' and ''custody'' as those definitions are in proposed § 102.021; add subsections (a)(21)—(24) and (b)(5)—(8) and update the cross-reference in proposed subsection (f)(5)(i) by adding ''(22)—(24)'' to be consistent with the NASAA IA Custody Model Rule; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 304.022 (relating to investment adviser required financial reports) is proposed to be amended to: require sole proprietors to file an affirmative statement at the end of its fiscal year; delete subsections (a)—(d) as the appropriate information is included in proposed subsections (a)—(f) or addressed in the definition of ''custody'' and in § 209.010; add subsection (e) to limit the application of custody to exclude investment advisers in compliance with proposed § 303.012(c)(3) with custody solely because of the authority to deduct fees from client accounts or solely because of service as a general partner to private funds; and add subsection (f) to include an exemption to proposed subsection (d).

 Section 304.041 (relating to examinations of broker-dealers and investments advisers) is proposed to be amended to: replace ''or'' with ''and'' in subsection (b) to require broker-dealers and investment advisers to maintain files in accordance with both the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and any National Securities Exchange or National securities association registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 304.061 (relating to free credit balances) is proposed to be amended to: delete ''[f]or the purpose of this section, the term 'customer' means every person other than the broker-dealer'' as the definition of ''customer'' is in proposed § 102.021; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Proposed § 304.071 (relating to business continuity and succession planning) requires investment advisers to implement succession plans.

Chapter 305. Denial, Suspension, Revocation and Conditioning of Registration

 Sections 305.011 and 305.061 (relating to supervision of agents, investment adviser representatives and employees; and withdrawal of registration or notice filing) are proposed to be amended to make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 305.012 (relating to convicted) is proposed to be deleted as the definition of ''convicted'' is in proposed § 102.021.

 Section 305.019 (relating to dishonest and unethical practices) is proposed to be amended to: delete ''provision of the Rules of Fair Practice of the National Association of Securities Dealers or an applicable'' from subsection (c)(1)(xxi) to reference that the Securities and Exchange Commission is the appropriate regulatory body; add ''or affiliated person'' to subsection (c)(3)(xi)(B) to remove the possibility of duplicative fees; delete ''affairs or'' and add ''or other financial information'' to subsection (c)(3)(xiv) as ''affairs'' is too vague; replace ''§ 404.013'' with ''§ 404.014'' in subsection (c)(3)(xv) for consistency with the proposed deletion of § 404.013 (relating to investment adviser custody or possession of funds or securities of clients) and the proposed addition of § 404.014 (relating to custody requirement for investment advisers); and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 305.020 (relating to use of senior specific certifications and professional designations) is proposed to be added for consistency with the NASAA Model Rule on the Use of Senior-Specific Certifications and Professional Designations adopted March 20, 2008, and with Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Pub.L. No. 111-203, 124 Stat. 1367).

Subpart D. Fraudulent and Prohibited Practices

Chapter 401. Sales and Purchases

 Section 401.020 (relating to professional responsibility) is proposed to be amended to make format and word choice changes for readability.

Chapter 404. Prohibited Activities; Investment Advisers and Investment Adviser Representatives

 Section 404.010 (relating to advertisements by investment advisers and investment adviser representatives) is proposed to be amended to: delete ''by any customer'' from subsection (a)(1) to be consistent with the NASAA Unethical Business Practices of Investment Advisers, Investment Adviser Representatives, and Federal Covered Advisers Model Rule 102(a)(4)-1; delete subsections (b) and (c) as the definitions of ''advertisement'' and ''clients'' are in proposed § 102.021; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 404.011 (relating to investment adviser brochure disclosure) is proposed to be amended to: delete subsection (k) as the definitions of ''client,'' ''portfolio manager,'' ''sponsor'' and ''wrap fee program'' are in proposed § 102.021; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 404.012 (relating to cash payment for client solicitation) is proposed to be amended to: add ''or other economic benefit'' to subsection (b) and (b)(3) to be consistent with the NASAA Regulations Regarding Solicitors Model Rule 404(a)-(2); replace '', unless exempted, is registered under the act'' with ''is registered as an investment adviser representative or is exempt from registration under § 302.071 (relating to registration exemption for solicitors) or qualifies for another exemption under the act'' in subsection (b)(2) to permit the individual exemption included in § 302.071 to apply to firms; add ''prospective'' before ''client'' in subsection (b)(4)(iii), (4)(iii)(B)(VI) and (5) to clarify that it applies to a ''prospective'' client; replace ''(b)(4)'' with ''(b)(5)'' in subsection (c) to cross-reference the proper subsection; add ''investment advisory'' in subsection (c)(1) for language consistency within the section; delete subsection (e) as the definitions of ''client,'' ''impersonal advisory services'' and ''solicitor'' are in proposed § 102.021; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 404.013 is proposed to be deleted and replaced by § 404.014.

 Section 404.014 is proposed to be added for consistency with the NASAA IA Custody Model Rule.

Subpart E. Enforcement

Chapter 501. Civil Liabilities

 Section 501.011 (relating to criminal referrals) is proposed to be amended to include format only changes for readability.

Chapter 504. Time Limitations on Rights of Action

 Section 504.060 (relating to rescission offers) is proposed to be amended to: replace ''required by'' with ''materials prepared to satisfy'' to clarify that although section 401(b) of the 1972 Act (70 P.S. § 1-401(b)) is the antifraud section it does not refer to a specific disclosure requirement; add language to create an actual duty; provide the documents to each rescission offeree; add ''[a]dvise the Department of the results of the rescission offer within 15 calendar days after the expiration of the rescission offer period'' to subsection (f)(1) to incorporate the timing requirement already in the form into this section; delete the definition of ''executive officer'' as it is in proposed § 102.021; delete the definition of ''general partner'' as this is no longer a defined term; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

Chapter 513. Rescission Orders

 Section 513.010 (relating to rescission orders) is proposed to be amended to make format and word choice changes for readability.

Subpart F. Administration

Chapter 601. Administration

 Sections 601.010 and 601.020 (relating to Commission quorum; action; disqualification; and Secretary, Assistant secretaries) are proposed to be deleted as the 2012 merger rendered these sections inapplicable to the administration of the Department.

 Proposed § 601.030 (relating to access to confidential information) addresses the dissemination of confidential information and conforms the meaning of ''necessary or appropriate'' in section 601(c) of the 1972 Act (70 P.S. § 1-601(c)) with Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 240.24c-1.

Chapter 602. Fees

 Section 602.022 is proposed to be deleted as the denial of abandonment regarding corporate finance is more properly addressed in Chapter 208 (relating to denial for abandonment) and denial of abandonment regarding licensing is more properly addressed in Chapter 303 (relating to registration procedure).

 Section 602.060 (relating to charges for Commission publications) is proposed to be deleted as the 2012 merger rendered this section inapplicable to the administration of the Department.

Chapter 603. Administrative files

 Section 603.011 (relating to filing requirements) is proposed to be amended to: update the filing address in subsection (e) due to the 2012 merger and to allow for future address changes without the need for amendment; add ''or any successor address'' to subsection (f)(1)(ii) to allow for future address changes of the NASAA/FINRA Central Registration Depository without the need for amendment; replace ''www.psc.state.pa.us'' with ''www.dobs.pa.gov'' in subsection (h) to update the web site of the Department; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 603.031 (relating to public inspection of records) is proposed to be amended to: replace ''1 of the act of June 21, 1957 (P.L. 390, No. 212) (65 P.S. § 66.1(2)), known as the Right-to-Know Law'' with ''102 of the Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.102), and any successor statute'' in subsection (b) to update the citation to the Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. §§ 67.101—67.3104); add ''or examination'' to subsection (d)(1) as ''investigation'' alone does not address the examination activities of the Department; replace '' 1(2)'' with ''102'' in subsection (f) for accuracy; delete ''[f]or purposes of this section, the term 'principal' has the meaning as set forth in § 303.012(e)'' in subsection (f)(3) as the definition of ''principal'' is in proposed § 102.021; delete ''and home address'' from subsection (f)(1)—(3) to reflect the requirements of the Right-to-Know Law; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 603.040 (relating to charges for Department services) is proposed to be amended to make format and word choice changes for readability.

Chapter 604. Interpretative Opinions of Commission—Statement of Policy

 Sections 604.010, 604.016, 604.020 and 604.023 are proposed to be deleted as the information in these sections will be moved to the Department's web site.

 Section 604.011 (relating to filings of copies—by facsimile or otherwise—of submittals, pleadings and other nonoriginal documents—statement of policy) is proposed to be deleted as the information in this section is either irrelevant after the 2012 merger or covered elsewhere in this proposed rulemaking.

 Section 604.012 (relating to nonresponse or affirmative rejection of offers made under section 504(d) or (e) of the act and § 504.060 (relating to rescission offers—statement of policy) is proposed to be deleted as subsection (b) is in proposed § 504.060(e) and subsection (a) is no longer necessary.

 Section 604.017 (relating to guidelines concerning the continuance of hearings by hearing officers—statement of policy) is proposed to be deleted as the information in this section is no longer relevant because hearing procedures are covered solely by 1 Pa. Code Part II (relating to General Rules of Administrative Practice and Procedure) since the 2012 merger.

 Section 604.018 (relating to imposition of administrative assessments under section 602.1(c)—statement of policy) is proposed to be deleted as the information in this section is no longer relevant because the 2012 merger put new adjudicatory processes in place.

 Section 604.019 (relating to requests for oral argument—statement of policy) is proposed to be deleted as the information in this section is no longer relevant because hearing procedures are covered solely by 1 Pa. Code Part II since the 2012 merger.

 Section 604.021 (relating to denial of allegations—statement of policy) is proposed to be deleted as the information in this section is no longer relevant because as of the 2012 merger the Banking and Securities Commission only serves in an adjudicatory capacity after the appointment of a hearing officer.

 Section 604.022 (relating to offers of settlement and consent injunctions—criminal referrals and investigations—statement of policy) is proposed to be deleted as the information in this section is no longer relevant due to the 2012 merger because the Banking and Securities Commission only serves in an adjudicatory capacity and referrals are now covered under sections 302 and 404 of the Department of Banking and Securities Code (71 P.S. §§ 733-302 and 733-404).

Chapter 605. Department Employees; Relationship with Licensed Persons or Qualified Organizations

 Section 605.020 (relating to conflict of interest) is proposed to be amended to: delete ''or'' from subsection (a)(1); add subsection (a)(3) to permit the holding or purchasing of securities by a Department employee when the employee is not involved in the review of the application for registration, or an investigation, audit or examination, of a broker-dealer, agent, investment adviser or investment adviser representative; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

Chapter 606. Miscellaneous Powers of the Department

 Section 606.011 (relating to financial reports to securityholders) is proposed to be amended to make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 606.031 (relating to advertising literature) is proposed to be amended to: delete subsection (g) as the definitions of ''advertisement'' and ''publish'' are in proposed § 102.021; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 606.041 (relating to delegation and substitution) is proposed to be deleted as the 2012 merger rendered this section inapplicable and corresponding section 606(d) of the 1972 Act (70 P.S. § 1-606(d)) was deleted, effective August 9, 2014.

Chapter 609. Regulations, Forms and Orders

 Section 609.010 (relating to use of prospective financial statements) is proposed to be amended to: delete the definitions of ''feasibility study,'' ''financial forecast,'' ''financial projection,'' ''hypothetical assumption,'' ''independent'' and ''prospective financial statement'' as those terms are in proposed § 102.021 when applicable; delete ''as that term is defined in § 204.010(d)(1) (relating to increasing the number of purchasers and offerees)'' from proposed subsection (b)(3) as the definition of ''experienced private placement investors'' is in proposed § 102.021; replace ''Statement of Accounts' Services on Prospective Financial Information'' with ''Statement of Standards for Attestation Engagements'' in proposed subsection (d) to conform with current terminology; replace ''AICPA'' with ''SSAE'' in proposed subsection (d) to conform with current abbreviations; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 609.011, 609.031 and 609.037 (relating to amendments to filings with Department; application; and foreign financial statements) are proposed to be amended to make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 609.012 (relating to computing the number of offerees, purchasers and clients) is proposed to be amended to: delete subsection (a)(3) as the definition of ''entity'' is in proposed § 102.021; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 609.032 (relating to definitions) is proposed to be deleted as definitions for the terms in this section, except ''fifty-percent, owned person,'' ''material'' and ''principal holder of equity securities,'' are in proposed § 102.021. The phrases ''fifty-percent, owned person'' and ''principal holder of equity securities'' are no longer used in this proposed rulemaking. ''Material'' is no longer a defined term.

 Section 609.033 (relating to accountants) is proposed to be amended to: add ''or the auditing standards promulgated by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board as required under law'' to subsection (b)(1) to permit another option regarding auditing standards for brokerages as the Securities and Exchange Commission permits this option; replace ''Accounting and Review Services'' with ''Attestation Engagements'' in subsection (b)(2) and (3) to conform to current terminology; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 609.034 (relating to financial statements) is proposed to be amended to: delete '', except that issuers offering interests in a direct participation program and any corporation which has or intends to have significant oil and gas operations must file the statements for each of 3 fiscal years'' from proposed subsection (c)(2) to reduce the filing burden for issuers to the standard 2 fiscal years in this paragraph; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

 Section 609.036 (relating to financial statements; annual reports) is proposed to be amended to: replace ''and its parent or'' with ''and'' in subsection (a)(1)(ii) to delete the requirement that the parent also file the documents; and make format and word choice changes for readability.

Chapter 610. Destruction of Documents and Records

 Section 610.010 (relating to destruction of documents and records) is proposed to be deleted as the destruction of documents and records is governed by the Commonwealth record retention rules and section 610 of the 1972 Act has been repealed.

Subpart G. General Provisions

Chapter 701. Administrative Provisions

 Proposed § 701.010 (relating to filing of registration forms) addresses the Department's requirements for the filing of registration forms because format requirements are currently covered in multiple subsections of the regulations and the addition of this section and deletion of those subsections will provide clearer guidance for the regulated community.

 Proposed § 701.011 (relating to filing of exemption forms) addresses the Department's requirements for the filing of exemption forms because format requirements are currently covered in multiple subsections of the regulations and the addition of this section and deletion of those subsections will provide clearer guidance for the regulated community.

 Proposed § 701.020 (relating to electronic filing) addresses the Department's requirements for electronic filing because electronic filing requirements are currently covered in multiple subsections of the regulations and the addition of this section and deletion of those subsections will provide clearer guidance for the regulated community.

 Proposed § 701.030 (relating to fees) addresses the requirements for the payments of fees to the Department.

Subpart H. Practice and Procedure

Chapter 901. Special Rules of Administrative Practice and Procedure

 Section 901.011 (relating to applicability of general rules) is proposed to be deleted as this topic is addressed by section 607(e) of the 1972 Act (70 P.S. § 1-607(e)).

Subpart H. Takeover Offerors

Chapter 1001. Takeover Disclosures

 Section 1001.010 (relating to takeover offeror report regarding participating broker-dealers) is proposed to be amended to make word choice changes for accuracy.

Affected Parties

 This proposed rulemaking will affect the regulated community of broker-dealers, investment advisers and investment adviser representatives. This proposed rulemaking will secondarily impact the customers of the regulated community.

Fiscal Impact

State government

 This proposed rulemaking will have a de minimus impact on the Department. The Department is proposing minor changes to a regulatory structure which already exists. This proposed rulemaking will not have impact on the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions.

Regulated community

 This proposed rulemaking will have a de minimus impact on the regulated community. Some of the proposed amendments will reduce costs to the regulated community through simplification of filing requirements.

Paperwork

 This proposed rulemaking will have a de minimus impact on paperwork for the regulated community and the Department. The proposed rulemaking includes provisions which permit electronic filing and electronic recordkeeping instead of paper filing and paper records to reduce paperwork for the regulated community and the Department.

Effectiveness Date and Sunset Date

 This proposed rulemaking will become effective upon final-form publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The regulations does not have a sunset date because the Department will periodically review the effectiveness of the regulations.

Regulatory Review

 Under section 5(a) of the Regulatory Review Act (71 P.S. § 745.5(a)), on June 9, 2016, the Department submitted a copy of this proposed rulemaking and a copy of a Regulatory Analysis Form to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) and to the Chairpersons of the House Commerce Committee and the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. A copy of this material is available to the public upon request.

 Under section 5(g) of the Regulatory Review Act, IRRC may convey comments, recommendations or objections to the proposed rulemaking within 30 days of the close of the public comment period. The comments, recommendations or objections must specify the regulatory review criteria in section 5.2 of the Regulatory Review Act (71 P.S. § 745.5b) which have not been met. The Regulatory Review Act specifies detailed procedures for review prior to final publication of the rulemaking by the Department, the General Assembly and the Governor.

Public Comments

 Interested persons are invited to submit written comments, suggestions or objections regarding this proposed rulemaking to the Office of Chief Counsel, Department of Banking and Securities, Attention: Public Comment on Regulation 3-54, 17 N. Second Street, Suite 1300, Harrisburg, PA 17101-2290, fax (717) 783-5122, ra-pabankreg@pa.gov within 30 days after publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

ROBIN L. WIESSMANN, 
Secretary

 Fiscal Note: 3-54. No fiscal impact; (8) recommends adoption.

Annex A

TITLE 10. BANKING AND SECURITIES

PART I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

CHAPTER 1. PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS

§ 1.1. Definitions.

 (a) The following words and terms, when used in this title, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

 Banking Code—Act of November 30, 1965 (P.L. 847, No. 356) (7 P.S. §§ 101—2204).

 Commission—The Banking and Securities Commission of the Commonwealth, as established under sections 1121-A and 1122-A of the Department of Banking and Securities Code (71 P.S. §§ 733-1121-A and 733-1122-A).

 Department—The Department of Banking and Securities of the Commonwealth.

*  *  *  *  *

PART VII. SECURITIES

Subpart A. DEFINITIONS

CHAPTER 102. DEFINITIONS

 (Editor's Note: The following section is new and printed in regular type to enhance readability.)

§ 102.021. Definitions.

 (a) The following words and terms, when used in this part, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

 3(c)(1) fund—A qualifying private fund that is eligible for exclusion from the definition of ''investment company'' in section 3(c)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C.A. § 80a-3(c)(1)).

 203(d) restricted securities—Securities purchased under section 203(d) of the act (70 P.S. § 1-203(d)) if the purchaser is subject to the restriction not to resell the security for 12 months after the date of the purchase.

 Accountant's report—A document prepared by an independent certified public accountant indicating the scope of the audit with either:

 (i) An opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole.

 (ii) An assertion that an overall opinion cannot be expressed and the reason why.

 Accredited investor—As defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D (17 CFR 230.501) (relating to definitions and terms used in Regulation D).

 Act—The Pennsylvania Securities Act of 1972 (70 P.S. §§ 1-101—1-703.1).

 Advertisement—

 (i) As defined in section 102(a) of the act (70 P.S. § 1-102(a)):

 (A) Communication includes, without limitation, letters, brochures, pamphlets, displays, sales literature and any form of electronic communication, including e-mail, which is used in connection with a sale or purchase, or an offer to sell or purchase a security.

 (B) Publicly disseminated refers to communication directed to or communicated to more than 50 persons in this Commonwealth.

 (ii) For purposes of § 404.010 (relating to advertisements by investment advisers and investment adviser representatives), any notice, circular, letter or other written communication addressed to more than one person, or any notice or other announcement in any publication, by radio or television, or by electronic means, which offers:

 (A) An analysis, report or publication concerning securities, or which is to be used in making any determination as to when to buy or sell any security, or which security to buy or sell.

 (B) A graph, chart, formula or other device to be used in making any determination as to when to buy or sell any security, or which security to buy or sell.

 (C) Other investment advisory service with regard to securities.

 Agent—As defined in section 102(c) of the act:

 (i) Including a person considered an officer, director, partner or employee of an issuer, or an individual occupying a similar status or performing similar functions, if the designation is applied for the purpose of avoiding registration as an agent under the act.

 (ii) Excluding persons acting as transfer agents and registrars on behalf of issuers or performing only ministerial duties in handling securities and maintaining lists of securityholders.

 Agricultural cooperative association—

 (i) An association which admits to membership only persons engaged in agriculture and is organized and operated to engage in a cooperative activity for persons engaged in agriculture in connection with:

 (A) Producing, assembling, marketing, buying, selling, bargaining or contracting for agricultural products; harvesting, preserving, drying, processing, manufacturing, blending, canning, packing, ginning, grading, storing, warehousing, handling, transporting, shipping or utilizing the products; or manufacturing or marketing the by-products of agriculture.

 (B) Manufacturing, processing, storing, transporting, delivering, handling, or buying for or furnishing supplies to its members and patrons.

 (C) Performing or furnishing business, educational, recreational or other services, including the services of labor, buildings, machinery, equipment, trucks, trailers and tankers, or other services connected with the purposes in this subparagraph and subparagraph (ii) on a cooperative basis.

 (ii) A federation of individual agricultural cooperative associations if the federation does not possess greater powers or purposes and engages in operations no more extensive than an individual agricultural cooperative association.

 Agricultural cooperative association member—A patron, to the extent that the organic law or another law to which the agricultural cooperative association is subject requires the patron to be treated as a member.

 Amount—A quantity, which for the purpose of:

 (i) Evidence of indebtedness is the principal amount.

 (ii) Shares is the number of shares.

 (iii) Any other kind of security is the number of units.

 Any credit union—An institution organized as a credit union under the applicable laws of the Commonwealth, the business of which is:

 (i) Confined substantially to the credit union business (the receipt of deposits from and the making of loans to bona fide members of the credit union).

 (ii) Supervised and examined as a credit union by the appropriate Commonwealth authorities having supervision over that institution.

 Audit—The examination of historical financial statements by an independent certified public accountant in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards for the purpose of expressing an opinion thereon.

 Bank—

 (i) As defined in section 102(d) of the act.

 (ii) The term does not include:

 (A) A holding company for a bank.

 (B) A bank-in-organization as determined by the primary regulatory authority responsible for administration of the banking laws under which the entity is being formed or with which it shall otherwise comply.

 Bank holding company—A person engaged, either directly or indirectly, primarily in the business of owning securities of one or more banks for the purpose, and with the effect, of exercising control.

 Beneficial ownership—

 (i) For purposes of § 203.191 (relating to Rule 505 offerings) and section 203(t)(v) of the act, as defined in 17 CFR 240.13d-3 (relating to determination of beneficial owner).

 (ii) For purposes of §§ 304.012 and 305.019 (relating to investment adviser required records; and dishonest and unethical practices), as defined in 17 CFR 275.204A-1 (relating to investment adviser codes of ethics).

 Bona fide distribution—A distribution not made solely to avoid the registration provisions of section 201 of the act (70 P.S. § 1-201).

 Bona fide pledgee—

 (i) A secured party who takes securities in pledge to secure a bona fide debt.

 (ii) The term does not include a secured party who takes securities in pledge under either of the following circumstances:

 (A) Without any intention or expectation that they will be redeemed but merely as a step in the distribution to the public.

 (B) Without having secured knowledge, in the exercise of reasonable diligence, before the consummation of the pledge that the securities taken in pledge are lawfully owned by the party making the pledge.

 Bond—

 (i) A debt obligation.

 (ii) For purposes of § 202.092 (relating to guaranties of certain debt securities exempt), an exempt security under section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C.A. § 77c(a)(2)) when either of the following applies:

 (A) The issuer of the security is located in this Commonwealth.

 (B) The guaranty issued in connection with the bond, note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness is considered to be a separate security under Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 131 (17 CFR 230.131) (relating to definition of security issued under governmental obligations).

 Branch office—As defined in FINRA Rule 3110(e) or any successor rule.

 Broker-dealer—

 (i) As defined in section 102(e) of the act.

 (ii) The term does not include persons:

 (A) Acting as transfer agents and registrars on behalf of issuers.

 (B) Performing only ministerial duties in handling securities and maintaining lists of securityholders.

 CRD—The Central Registration Depository operated by FINRA.

 Class of a series—Equity securities of an issuer of substantially similar character, the holders of which enjoy substantially similar rights and privileges.

 Client—

 (i) A person to whom an investment adviser or investment adviser representative has provided investment advice for which the investment adviser or investment adviser representative received compensation.

 (ii) For purposes of § 404.012 (relating to cash payment for client solicitation), includes a prospective client.

 Comparative financial statement—A document which includes financial statements for 2 years or more presented in adjacent columnar form.

 Compensation—A form of payment or consideration, whether direct or in the form of cash or other benefits.

 Confidential information—Records and other information in the Department's possession which are not available for public inspection and copying under the Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. §§ 67.101—67.3104) or section 603(c) of the act (70 P.S. § 1-603(c)).

 Control—

 (i) As defined in section 102(g) of the act.

 (ii) For purposes of § 304.012 and § 404.014 (relating to custody requirements for investment advisers), the term also includes the power, directly or indirectly, to direct the management or policies of a person whether through ownership of securities, by contract, or otherwise, including the following presumptions:

 (A) Each of the investment adviser's officers, partners or directors exercising executive responsibility (or persons having similar status or functions) is presumed to control the investment adviser.

 (B) A person is presumed to control a corporation if either of the following apply:

 (I) The person directly or indirectly has the right to vote 25% or more of a class of the corporation's voting securities.

 (II) The person has the power to sell or direct the sale of 25% or more of a class of the corporation's voting securities.

 (C) A person is presumed to control a partnership if the person has the right to receive on dissolution, or has contributed, 25% or more of the capital of the partnership.

 (D) A person is presumed to control a limited liability company if any of the following apply:

 (I) The person directly or indirectly has the right to vote 25% or more of a class of the interests of the limited liability company.

 (II) The person has the right to receive on dissolution, or has contributed, 25% or more of the capital of the limited liability company.

 (III) The person is an elected manager of the limited liability company.

 (E) A person is presumed to control a trust if the person is a trustee or managing agent of the trust.

 Convicted—A verdict, judgment or plea of guilty, or a finding of guilt on a plea of nolo contendere if the verdict, judgment, plea or finding has not been reversed, set aside or withdrawn, whether or not a sentence has been imposed.

 Cooperative business association—A person organized exclusively as a retail or wholesale cooperative which admits to membership only persons that legitimately engage, in whole or in part, in the line of business for which the cooperative was organized.

 Custody—

 (i) For purposes of a person, directly or indirectly holding client funds or securities, with authority to obtain possession of them or the ability to appropriate them.

 (ii) For purposes of an investment adviser, if a related person holds directly or indirectly, client funds or securities, or has authority to obtain possession of them, in connection with advisory services the investment adviser provides to clients.

 (iii) For purposes of subparagraphs (i) and (ii), the term includes:

 (A) Possession of client funds or securities, unless the investment adviser receives them inadvertently and returns them to the sender promptly but in any case within 3 business days of receiving them.

 (B) Any arrangement (including a general power of attorney) under which the investment adviser is authorized or permitted to withdraw client funds or securities maintained with a custodian on the investment adviser's instruction to the custodian.

 (C) Any capacity (such as general partner of a limited partnership, managing member of a limited liability company or a comparable position or another type of pooled investment vehicle, or trustee of a trust) that gives the investment adviser or its supervised person legal ownership of or access to client funds or securities.

 (iv) For purposes of subparagraphs (i) and (ii), the term does not include:

 (A) An investment adviser that has inadvertently held or obtained a client's securities or funds and returned them to the client within 3 business days or has forwarded third-party checks within 24 hours, provided that the adviser keeps a ledger or other listing of all securities or funds held or obtained in this manner as required under § 304.012(a)(22).

 (B) An investment adviser acting as a trustee for a beneficial trust in which the beneficial owners of the trust are a parent, step-parent, grandparent, step-grandparent, spouse, brother, step-brother, sister, step-sister, grandchild or step-grandchild of the investment adviser if the investment adviser maintains the records required under § 304.012(c)(8).

 Customer—

 (i) As defined in 17 CFR 240.15c3-3 (relating to customer protection—reserves and custody of securities).

 (ii) For the purpose of §§ 303.041 and 304.061 (relating to broker-dealer capital requirements; and free credit balances), every person other than the broker-dealer.

 Date of filing—The date on which an application, registration statement, notice filing, financial statements, reports, correspondence or other documents filed or required to be filed directly with the Department, or any material amendment thereto, are received in the Harrisburg office of the Department.

 Development stage company—A company devoting substantially all of its efforts to establishing a new business if planned principal operations have not commenced, or have commenced, but there has not been significant revenue therefrom.

 Discretionary power—Effecting a transaction or placing a trade order without specific authorization from the client, not including discretion as to the price at which or the time when a transaction is or is to be effected, if, before the order is given by the investment adviser, the client has directed or approved the purchase or sale of a definite amount of the particular security.

 Engaged in agriculture—Farming, dairying, livestock raising, poultry raising, floriculture, mushroom growing, beekeeping, horticulture and allied occupations.

 Entity—A corporation, partnership, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust, estate or unincorporated association.

 Equity security—

 (i) A stock or similar security (including interests in a limited liability company).

 (ii) A security convertible, with or without consideration, into a stock or similar security, or carrying a warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase a security described in subparagraph (i); or a warrant or right.

 (iii) For purposes of § 203.091, includes:

 (A) Common stock, preferred stock and nondebt securities convertible into common or preferred stock.

 (B) Nontransferable warrants to purchase any of the foregoing.

 (C) Transferable warrants exercisable within not more than 90 days of issuance to purchase any of the foregoing.

 Equity securityholder—

 (i) Persons who at the time of offers and sales under the exemption in section 203(n) of the act are holders of equity securities.

 (ii) The term does not include persons who are holders of equity securities issued in violation of or without compliance with the act and the regulations adopted under the act.

 Examination—When used in regard to financial information, the review or verification of financial and other information by an independent certified public accountant for the purpose of expressing an opinion thereon.

 Exchange—A National securities exchange registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under section 6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C.A. § 78f) or a National quotation system operated by a National securities association registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under section 15A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C.A. § 78o-3).

 Executive officer—Each person serving as chief executive officer, chief operating officer or chief financial officer of a person.

 Experienced private placement investor—An individual, or spouse purchasing as a joint tenant or tenant by the entireties, who purchased a minimum of $450,000 of securities within the past 3 years in private placement offerings exclusive of the purchase of securities of an issuer of which the individual, or spouse, was an affiliate at the time of purchase.

 FINRA—The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

 Fair value—The price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, as set forth and interpreted in Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820.

 Feasibility study—An analysis of a proposed investment or course of action which may involve the preparation of a financial forecast or a financial projection.

 Financial forecast—A prospective financial statement which:

 (i) Presents, to the best of the responsible party's knowledge and belief, an entity's expected financial position, results of operations and changes in financial position.

 (ii) Is based on the responsible party's assumptions reflecting conditions it expects to exist and the course of action it expects to take.

 Financial institution—A Federal or State chartered bank, savings and loan association, savings bank or credit union, and any service corporation affiliated with these entities.

 Financial projection—A prospective financial statement which:

 (i) Presents, to the best of the responsible party's knowledge and belief, an entity's expected financial position, results of operations and changes in financial position.

 (ii) Is based on the responsible party's assumptions reflecting conditions it expects would exist and the course of action it expects would be taken, given one or more hypothetical assumptions.

 Firm member—All partners and principals in the firm and all professional employees participating in an audit or located in an office of the firm participating in a significant part of an audit.

 Fiscal year—

 (i) The annual accounting period when a closing date is adopted.

 (ii) The calendar year ending on December 31 when a closing date is not adopted.

 Franchise—An agreement involving a continuing commercial relationship by which a person (franchisee) is permitted by another person (franchisor) the right to offer the goods manufactured, processed or distributed by the franchisor, or the right to offer services established, organized, directed or approved by the franchisor, under circumstances when the franchisor continues to exert any control over the method of operation of the franchisee, particularly, but not exclusively, through trademark, trade name or service mark licensing, or structural or physical layout of the business of the franchisee.

 Going concern disclosure—The disclosure of substantial doubt in the auditor's report, based on the criteria in the Statement on Auditing Standard 126 promulgated by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, regarding the ability of the issuer to continue as a going concern during the ensuing fiscal year.

 Guarantor—A person who executes a guaranty.

 Guaranty—A duly executed written agreement, which cannot be bought, sold or traded as a security or otherwise realized on by a bondholder separately from the bondholder's interest in the bonds, wherein a person, not the issuer, in connection with offer and sale of bonds in this Commonwealth, guarantees the prompt payment of the principal of, and interest on, the bonds whether at the stated maturity, at redemption before maturity or otherwise, and premium, if any, when and as the principal and interest shall become due.

 Hypothetical assumption—An assumption used in a financial projection to present a condition or course of action that is not necessarily expected to occur, but is consistent with the purpose of the projection.

 IARD—The Internet-based Investment Adviser Registration Depository operated by FINRA.

 Impersonal investment advisory services—As defined in 17 CFR 275.206(4)-3(d)(3) (relating to cash payments for client solicitations).

 Independent—As defined in Rule 101 of the Code of Professional Ethics of the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts, Inc. or the interpretations adopted thereunder, regardless of whether the person is a certified public accountant or not.

 Independent certified public accountant—As set forth in section 2-01(b) and (c) of Regulation S-X (17 CFR 210.2-01(b) and (c)) (relating to qualifications of accountants).

 Independent party—A person who:

 (i) Is engaged by an investment adviser with respect to payment of fees, expenses or capital withdrawals from a pooled investment vehicle in which the investment adviser has custody solely as a result of serving as a general partner, manager of a limited liability company or a person occupying a similar status or performing a similar function which gives the investment adviser or its supervised person legal ownership or access to client funds or securities.

 (ii) Does not control, is not controlled by and is not under common control with the investment adviser.

 (iii) Did not derive 5% or more of its gross revenues from the investment adviser who hired the person to be an independent party, including the amount to be received from the investment adviser under the terms of the independent party engagement, within the preceding consecutive 12-month period.

 Independent representative—A person who:

 (i) Acts as agent for an advisory client, including in the case of a pooled investment vehicle, for limited partners or a limited partnership, members of a limited liability company, or other beneficial owners of another type of pooled investment vehicle and by law or contract is obliged to act in the best interest of the advisory client or the limited partners, members or other beneficial owners.

 (ii) Does not control, is not controlled by and is not under common control with investment adviser.

 (iii) Does not have, and has not had within the past 2 years, a material business relationship with the investment adviser.

 Individuals controlling—A general partner and, in the case of a corporation, the president and other officers responsible for making investment decisions with respect to the purchase of the securities described in subparagraph (iv) of the definition of ''institutional investor,'' if the person is currently engaged in that capacity.

 Industrial loan association—For purposes of section 202(d) of the act (70 P.S. § 1-202(d)), an institution organized as an industrial loan association under the applicable laws of the Commonwealth, the business of which is:

 (i) Substantially confined to the industrial loan business.

 (ii) Examined and supervised as an industrial loan association by the appropriate Commonwealth authorities having supervision over the institution.

 Industrial loan business—The making and discounting of secured and unsecured loans to bona fide members of the association.

 Insolvent or insolvency—Except in the case of entities required under law or regulation to submit an auditor's report if the auditor's report does not contain a going concern disclosure, the terms mean either of the following:

 (i) The inability to pay debts as they fall due in the person's usual course of business.

 (ii) Liabilities in excess of the fair value of the person's assets.

 Institutional investor—As defined in section 102(k) of the act, including the following:

 (i) A corporation, partnership, trust, estate or other entity (excluding individuals), or a wholly-owned subsidiary of the entity, which has been in existence for at least 18 months and which had a tangible net worth on a consolidated basis of $25 million or more.

 (ii) A college, university or other public or private institution which has received exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C.A. § 501(c)(3)) and which has a total endowment or trust funds, including annuity and life income funds, of $5 million or more according to its most recent audited financial statements; provided that the aggregate dollar amount of securities being sold to the person under the exemption in section 203(c) of the act and this title may not exceed 5% of the endowment or trust funds.

 (iii) A wholly-owned subsidiary of a bank as defined in section 102(d) of the act.

 (iv) A person, except an individual or an entity whose securityholders consist entirely of one individual or group of individuals who are related, which is organized primarily to purchase, in nonpublic offerings, securities of corporations or issuers engaged in research and development activities in conjunction with a corporation and which complies with one of the following:

 (A) Has purchased $5 million or more of the securities excluding both of the following:

 (I) A purchase of securities of a corporation in which the person directly or beneficially owns more than 50% of the corporation's voting securities, unless the purchase occurred under a leveraged buyout financing in which the person does not intend to provide direct management to the issuer.

 (II) A dollar amount of a purchase of securities of a corporation which investment represents more than 20% of the person's net worth.

 (B) Is capitalized at $2.5 million or more and is controlled by a person which meets the criteria in clause (A).

 (C) Is capitalized at $10 million or more and has purchased $500,000 or more of the securities, excluding a purchase of securities of a corporation in which the person directly or beneficially owns more than 50% of the corporation's voting securities.

 (D) Is capitalized at $250,000 or more and is a side-by-side fund.

 (v) A small business investment company as the term is defined in section 103 of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C.A. § 662) which either:

 (A) Has a total capital of $1 million or more.

 (B) Is controlled by institutional investors as defined in section 102(k) of the act or this section.

 (vi) A seed capital fund as defined in section 2 and authorized in section 6 of the Small Business Incubators Act (73 P.S. §§ 395.2 and 395.6).

 (vii) A business development credit corporation as authorized by the Business Development Credit Corporation Law (7 P.S. §§ 6040-1—6040-16).

 (viii) A person whose securityholders consist solely of institutional investors or broker-dealers.

 (ix) A person as to which the issuer reasonably believed qualified as an institutional investor under this section at the time of the offer or sale of the securities on the basis of written representations made to the issuer by the purchaser.

 (x) A qualified institutional buyer as defined in 17 CFR 230.144A (relating to private resales of securities to institutions) or any successor rule.

 (xi) A qualified pension and profit sharing and stock bonus plan under section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C.A. § 401) and all plans under section 408 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C.A. § 408) if the plan has either of the following:

 (A) Plan assets of $5 million or more.

 (B) Investments of $500,000 or more in securities and retained, on an ongoing basis, the services of an investment adviser registered under section 301 of the act (70 P.S. § 1-301) or a Federally covered adviser to give professional investment management advice.

 Insurance holding company—A person engaged, either directly or indirectly, primarily in the business of owning securities of one or more insurance companies for the purpose and with the effect of exercising control.

 Investment adviser representative—

 (i) As defined in section 102(j.1) of the act.

 (ii) For purposes of § 304.012(a)(12), includes:

 (A) A partner, officer or director of the investment adviser.

 (B) An employee who participates in any way in the determination of which recommendations shall be made.

 (C) An employee of the investment adviser who, in connection with assigned duties, obtains information concerning which securities are being recommended before the effective dissemination of the recommendations.

 (D) Any of the following individuals who obtain information concerning securities recommendations being made by the investment adviser before the effective dissemination of the recommendations:

 (I) An individual in a control relationship to the investment adviser.

 (II) An affiliated individual of a controlling person.

 (III) An affiliated individual of an affiliated person.

 (iii) For purposes of § 304.012(a)(13), when used in connection with a company primarily engaged in a business or businesses other than advising investment advisory clients:

 (A) A partner, officer, director or employee of the investment adviser who participates in any way in the determination of which recommendations shall be made.

 (B) An employee who, in connection with assigned duties, obtains information concerning which securities are being recommended before the effective dissemination of the recommendations.

 (C) Any of the following individuals who obtain information concerning securities recommendations being made by the investment adviser before the effective dissemination of the recommendations as follows:

 (I) An individual in a control relationship to the investment adviser.

 (II) An affiliated individual of a controlling person.

 (III) An affiliated individual of an affiliated person.

 Investment supervisory services—The giving of continuous advice as to the investment of funds on the basis of the individual needs of each client.

 Majority-owned subsidiary—A subsidiary more than 50% of whose outstanding voting shares is owned by its parent or the parent's other majority owned subsidiaries, or both.

 Most recent audited financial statements—Audited financial statements dated not more than 16 months before the date of the transaction in which the person proposed to purchase securities in reliance on the exemption in section 203(c) of the act.

 NASAA—The North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc.

 Net capital—As defined in 17 CFR 240.15c3-1 (relating to net capital requirements for brokers or dealers), promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C.A. §§ 78a—78pp).

 Net worth—The excess of assets over liabilities as determined by generally accepted accounting principles reduced by:

 (i) Prepaid expenses except items properly classified as current assets under generally accepted accounting principles.

 (ii) Deferred charges.

 (iii) Goodwill, franchises, organizational expenses, patents, copyrights, marketing rights, unamortized debt discount and expense, and all other intangible assets.

 (iv) Home furnishings, automobiles and any other personal items not readily marketable in the case of an individual.

 (v) Advances or loans to:

 (A) Stockholders and officers in the case of a corporation.

 (B) Members and managers in the case of a limited liability company.

 (C) Partners in the case of a partnership.

 (vi) Receivables from any affiliate, unless enforceable by contract.

 Networking arrangement or brokerage affiliate arrangement—A contractual agreement between a broker-dealer registered under section 301 of the act and a financial institution by which the broker-dealer effects transactions in securities for the account of customers of the financial institution and the general public which transactions are effected on, or emanate from, the premises of a financial institution.

 Nonbranch office—A location at which a broker-dealer is conducting a securities business that does not come within the definition of ''office of supervisory jurisdiction'' or ''branch office.''

 Note or footnote—A clear and concise disclosure of information, including information necessary to make an item or entry in the financial statement not misleading, cross-referenced specifically, if practicable, to an item or entry in a financial statement.

 Office of supervisory jurisdiction—As defined in FINRA Rule 3110(e) or any successor thereto.

 Parent—An affiliate controlling a specified person directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.

 Pooled investment vehicle—

 (i) A limited partnership, limited liability company or an entity with a similar legal status and performing similar functions.

 (ii) The term does not include an investment company that has filed a registration statement under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C.A. §§ 80a-1—80a-64).

 Portfolio management—The process of determining or recommending securities transactions for any part of a client's portfolio.

 Prime quality—A description for commercial paper rated in one of the top three rating categories by a Nationally recognized statistical rating organization.

 Principal—

 (i) The chairperson, president, chief executive officer, general manager, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, vice president or other officer in charge of a principal business function (including sales, administration, finance, marketing, research and credit), secretary, treasurer, controller and any other natural person who performs similar functions of one of the following:

 (A) The issuer.

 (B) A wholly-owned subsidiary of the issuer.

 (C) A corporation, partnership or other entity which owns the voting stock or other voting equity interest of the issuer.

 (D) A corporation, partnership or other entity which serves as a general partner of the issuer.

 (ii) A director, general partner or comparable person charged by law with the management of one of the following:

 (A) The issuer.

 (B) A wholly-owned subsidiary of the issuer.

 (C) A corporation, partnership or other entity which owns the voting stock or other voting equity interest of the issuer.

 (D) A corporation, partnership or other entity which serves as a general partner of the issuer.

 (iii) A beneficial owner of 10% or more of an outstanding class of voting stock or other voting equity interest of one of the following:

 (A) The issuer.

 (B) A corporation, partnership or other entity which serves as a general partner of the issuer.

 (C) A promoter of the issuer as defined in section 102(o) of the act.

 (D) A relative of a person specified in clauses (A)—(C), if ''relative'' means one of the following:

 (I) A spouse.

 (II) A parent.

 (III) A grandparent.

 (IV) An aunt, uncle, child, child of a spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, son-in-law or daughter-in-law.

 Principal place of business—As defined in 17 CFR 275.203A-3(c) (relating to definitions) promulgated under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C.A. §§ 80b-1—80b-21).

 Private fund adviser—An investment adviser who provides advice solely to one or more qualifying private funds.

 Private placement offering of securities—An offering of securities made in reliance on an exemption from the registration provisions of section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C.A. § 77e) under section 3(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 or section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C.A. § 77d(a)(2)).

 Pro rata—

 (i) An offering made in this Commonwealth proportionately on the basis of the number of shares owned by the existing equity securityholder or the equity security-holder's percentage ownership interest in the issuer.

 (ii) The term includes the issuer offering:

 (A) Its existing equity securityholder an opportunity to purchase one new share of stock for each five shares owned as of a record date.

 (B) An existing equity securityholder owning 3% of the issuer's stock as of a record date the opportunity to purchase 3% of the issuer's current offering.

 Professional corporation—

 (i) The term includes either of the following:

 (A) A corporation incorporated under the 15 Pa.C.S. Part II, Subpart B (relating to Business Corporation Law of 1988) or a corporation included within the scope of that act by virtue of 15 Pa.C.S. § 2904 or § 2905 (relating to election of an existing business corporation to become a professional corporation; and election of professional associations to become professional corporations).

 (B) A professional association organized under the 15 Pa.C.S. Chapter 93 (relating to Professional Association Act of 1988), if ''shares'' includes the interest of an associate in a professional association.

 (ii) The term does not include an entity which has as a principal purpose, object or activity, whether expressed in its articles of incorporation or other organic documents, that is other than the rendition of the professional services for which the professional corporation is organized and activities which are in fact incidental thereto.

 Promotional securities—The term includes any of the following:

 (i) Securities issued:

 (A) Within the 5-year period immediately preceding the date of the filing of a registration statement for a consideration substantially different from the proposed public offering price and for which price differential there is no commensurate change in the earnings or financial position of the issuer.

 (B) In consideration for services.

 (C) In consideration for tangible or intangible property, such as patents, copyrights, licenses or goodwill.

 (D) Within the 5-year period immediately preceding the date of the filing of a registration statement to a promoter or proposed to be issued to a promoter at a price substantially lower than or on terms and conditions substantially more favorable than those on which securities of the same or a similar class or series have been or are to be sold to public investors.

 (ii) Securities subject to an order by the Department finding that the securities are promotional securities.

 Prospective financial statement—A financial forecast or financial projection, including the summaries of significant assumptions and accounting policies.

 Publish—As defined in section 102(p) of the act, together with any form of electronic communication, including Internet and e-mail.

 Purchase of securities by an experienced private placement investor—The sale of securities for cash or for an unconditional obligation to pay cash which obligation is to be discharged within 5 years from the date of the sale of the securities to the experienced private placement investor.

 Qualified custodian—The term includes:

 (i) A bank as that term is defined in section 102(d) of the act.

 (ii) A Federally covered adviser as that term is defined in section 102(f.1) of the act.

 (iii) A broker-dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department under section 301 of the act.

 (iv) A futures commission merchant registered under section 4f(a) of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C.A. § 6f(a)), holding the client assets in customer accounts, but only with respect to clients' funds and security futures, or other securities incidental to transactions in contracts for the purchase or sale of a commodity for future delivery and options thereon.

 (v) A foreign financial institution that customarily holds financial assets for its customers, provided that the foreign financial institution keeps the advisory clients' assets in customer accounts segregated from its proprietary assets.

 Qualifying private fund—A private fund as defined in section 202(a)(29) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C.A. § 80b-2(a)(29)) that meets the definition of ''qualifying private fund'' in Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 203(m)-1 (17 CFR 275.203(m)-1) (relating to private fund adviser exemption).

 Registrant—The issuer of the securities for which an application, a registration statement or a report is filed.

 Related—A relative by marriage residing in the same household or a blood relative.

 Related parties—

 (i) The registrant and its affiliates, principal owners (the owners of record or known beneficial owners of more than 10% of the voting interests of the reporting entity), management (a person having responsibility for achieving the objectives of the organization and the concomitant authority to establish the policies and to make the decisions by which the objectives are to be pursued) and members of their immediate families.

 (ii) Entities for which investments are accounted for by the equity method.

 (iii) Any other party with which the reporting entity may deal when one party has the ability to significantly influence the management or operating policies of the other to the extent that one of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests.

 (iv) Another entity with the ability to significantly influence the management or operating policies of the transacting parties.

 (v) Another entity with an ownership interest in one of the transacting parties and the ability to significantly influence the other to the extent that one or more of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests.

 Related person—A person that is an affiliate of an investment adviser.

 Rental pool arrangement—The term includes:

 (i) A device by which a person, whether or not the seller, undertakes to rent the property on behalf of the owner during periods of time when the property is not in use by its owner, the rents received from all properties participating in the pool and the expenses attributable to the rents being combined with each property owner receiving a ratable share of the rental proceeds regardless of whether his particular property actually was rented.

 (ii) Other devices having like attributes.

 Review—An analysis of the financial statements by a certified public accountant in accordance with the Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements promulgated by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

 Review report—An accountant's document in which the certified public accountant indicates that a review has been performed and, on the basis of that review, the accountant is not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the financial statements for the financial statements to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, except for those modifications, if any, described in the review report.

 Securities and Exchange Commission—The United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 Securities issued by a credit union—For the purpose of section 202(d) of the act, securities issued by a credit union means only those securities which are issued by an entity directly engaged in the credit union business and may not include securities issued by a credit union holding company or other similar entity.

 Securities issued by an industrial loan association—

 (i) Securities issued by an entity directly engaged in the industrial loan business.

 (ii) The term does not include securities issued by an industrial loan holding company or other similar entity.

 Security or securities—

 (i) As defined in section 102(t) of the act, including:

 (A) The offer and sale of real property if any of the following exists:

 (I) The purchaser of the property is required under the terms of the purchase or by reason of acquiring title to do either of the following:

 (-a-) Use the seller to perform services in connection with a sale, lease or license of the property purchased.

 (-b-) Hold the property available to persons other than the purchaser for the other person's lease, license or other use for a specified period of time or for a period of time when the property is not in use by the owner.

 (II) The purchaser is required under the terms of the purchase or by reason of acquiring title to participate in a rental pool arrangement.

 (B) A franchise where the arrangement between the franchisor and the franchisee:

 (I) Is such that the right to engage in the business of offering, selling or distributing goods or services is exercised under a marketing plan or system prescribed in substantial part by the franchisor.

 (II) Is such that the franchisee is not required to make significant managerial efforts in the operation of the business that may be expected to affect the success or failure of the franchisee's business.

 (III) Arises as a result of an investment of money, notes or other things of value by or on behalf of the franchisee.

 (ii) For purposes of § 203.183 (relating to agricultural cooperative associations), membership agreements, capital stock, membership certificates and an instrument or form of advice which evidences either of the following:

 (A) A member's equity in a fund, capital investment or other asset of the agricultural cooperative association.

 (B) The apportionment, distribution or payment to a member or patron of the net proceeds or savings of the agricultural cooperative association.

 (iii) For purposes of § 203.188 (relating to Cooperative Business Associations Exemption), an equity or debt security, membership agreement, membership certificate, patronage dividend or form of advice which evidences either of the following:

 (A) A member's interest in a fund, capital investment or other asset of a cooperative business association.

 (B) The apportionment, distribution or payment to a member of the net proceeds or savings of a cooperative business association.

 Share—Stock in a corporation or unit of interest in an unincorporated person.

 Side-by-side fund—A person which is:

 (i) Promoted and controlled by individuals controlling a person meeting the criteria in subparagraph (iv)(A), (B) or (C) of the definition of ''institutional investor.''

 (ii) Formed exclusively to purchase securities of issuers in various amounts and on the same terms and conditions as the person described in subparagraph (i).

 Significant subsidiary—A subsidiary, or a subsidiary and its subsidiaries meeting any of the conditions in subparagraphs (i)—(iii) based on the most recent annual financial statements including consolidated financial statements of the subsidiary which would be required to be filed if the subsidiary were a registrant and the most recent annual consolidated financial statements of the registrant being filed.

 (i) The parent's and its other subsidiaries' investments in and advances to, or their proportionate share based on their equity interests of the total assets of, the subsidiary exceed 10% of the total assets of the parent and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 (ii) The parent's and its other subsidiaries' proportionate share based on their equity interests of the total sales and revenues, after intercompany eliminations, of the subsidiary exceeds 10% of the total sales and revenues of the parent and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 (iii) The parent's and its other subsidiaries' equity in the income before income taxes and extraordinary items of the subsidiary exceeds 10% of the income of the parent and its consolidated subsidiaries. If the income of the parent and its consolidated subsidiaries is at least 10% lower than the average of the income for the last 5 fiscal years, the average income may be substituted in the determination.

 Solicitor—A person or entity who receives direct or indirect compensation for soliciting a client for, or referring a client to, an investment adviser.

 Sponsor—An investment adviser that is compensated under a wrap fee program for either of the following:

 (i) Administering, organizing or sponsoring the program.

 (ii) Selecting or providing advice to clients regarding the selection of other investment advisers in the program.

 Standby commission—The commission payable to a broker-dealer registered under the act for its firm commitment to purchase securities offered to existing securityholders which are not purchased by the securityholders.

 Subsidiary of a specified person—An affiliate controlled by the person directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.

 Supervised person—As defined in section 202(a)(25) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

 Tangible book value of a company's common shares—The excess of total assets over total liabilities as determined by generally accepted accounting principles of the company reduced by the following:

 (i) Liquidating value, including any premium of excess over par or stated value, payable on involuntary liquidation, of any capital obligations, preferred shares or shares having a seniority in rank, or any degree of preference or priority over the issue of common shares for which book value is being computed, including accrued and unpaid dividends to the extent entitled to recognition and preference in the event of liquidation.

 (ii) An amount equal to any appraisal capital from revaluation of properties or any similar account title to the extent that the appraisal increase has not been fully depreciated in the accounts.

 (iii) Deferred charges including debt issue costs.

 (iv) Prepaid expenses except as to items properly classified as current assets under generally accepted accounting principles.

 (v) All other intangible assets including, goodwill, patents, copyrights, franchises, distribution rights, intellectual property rights, leasehold improvements, licensing agreements, noncompete covenants, customer lists, trade names, trademarks and organization costs.

 Tangible net worth—Net worth less the amount of all items of goodwill, preoperating, deferred or development expenses, patents, trademarks, licenses or other similar accounts.

 Totally-held subsidiary—A subsidiary:

 (i) Whose parent or the parent's other totally-held subsidiaries, or both, owns substantially all of the subsidiary's outstanding equity securities.

 (ii) Not indebted to any person other than its parent or the parent's other totally-held subsidiaries, or both, in an amount which is material in relation to the particular subsidiary, excluding indebtedness:

 (A) Incurred in the ordinary course of business which is not overdue and which matures within 1 year from the date of its creation, whether evidenced by securities or not.

 (B) Secured by its parent by guarantee, pledge, assignment or otherwise.

 Trade or professional association—

 (i) For purposes of section 202(e) of the act, an association of persons having some common business or professional interest, the purpose of which is to promote, on behalf of the association's members generally, the common interest and not to engage in a regular business or profession of a kind ordinarily carried on for profit.

 (ii) The term:

 (A) Includes an association where the activities of the association are specifically directed to the improvement, on behalf of the association's members generally, of business or professional conditions of one or more lines of business or professions as distinguished from the performance of particular services for individuals or entities.

 (B) Does not include an association whose purpose is to engage in a regular business of a kind ordinarily carried on for profit, even though the business is conducted on a cooperative basis or produces only sufficient income to be self-sustaining.

 Trustee for the bondholders—The person designated in the trust indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or similar agreement to act as trustee for the bonds.

 Venture capital fund—A private fund meeting the definition of ''venture capital fund'' in Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 203(l)-1 (17 CFR 275.203(l)-1) (relating to venture capital fund defined).

 Voting shares—The sum of either of the following:

 (i) All rights, other than as affected by events of default, to vote for election of directors of an incorporated person.

 (ii) All interests in an unincorporated person.

 Wholly-owned subsidiary—A subsidiary substantially all of whose outstanding voting shares are owned by its parent or the parent's other wholly-owned subsidiaries, or both.

 Wrap fee program—A program under which a client is charged a specified fee or fees not based directly on transactions in a client's account for investment advisory services (which may include portfolio management or advice concerning the selection of other investment advisers) and execution of client transactions.

 (b) Words and terms not otherwise defined in this part have the meanings specified in the act.

 (Editor's Note: As part of this proposed rulemaking, the Department is proposing to rescind the following sections of Chapter 102 which appear in 10 Pa. Code pages 102-1—120-7, serial pages (364653)—(364659).)

§ 102.031. (Reserved).

§ 102.041. (Reserved).

§ 102.050. (Reserved).

§ 102.060. (Reserved).

§ 102.111. (Reserved).

§ 102.112. (Reserved).

§ 102.201. (Reserved).

§ 102.202. (Reserved).

§ 102.241. (Reserved).

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