Securities Act of 1933 (the 1933 Act, the Truth in Securities Act or the Federal Securities Act), 48 Stat. 74, 15 U.S.C. § 77a et seq.

Securities Act of 1933

The Securities Act of 1933 was enacted by Congress in the aftermath of the stock market crash of 1929 and during the ensuing great depression.  The Securities Act of 1933 requires that any offer or sale of securities using the means and instrumentalities of interstate commerce be registered pursuant to the 1933 Act, unless an exemption from registration exists under the law.  The Securities Act of 1933 has two basic objectives:

• require that investors receive financial and other significant information concerning securities being offered for public sale; and
• prohibit deceit, misrepresentations, and other fraud in the sale of securities.

The Registration Process

In general, securities sold in the U.S. must be registered.  The registration forms companies file provide essential facts while minimizing the burden and expense of complying with the law. In general, registration forms call for:

• a description of the company’s properties and business;
• a description of the security to be offered for sale;
• information about the management of the company; and financial statements certified by independent accountants.

Registration statements and prospectuses become public shortly after filing with the SEC. If filed by U.S. domestic companies, the statements are available on the SEC’s EDGAR database accessible at www.sec.gov. Registration statements are subject to examination for compliance with disclosure requirements.

Not all offerings of securities must be registered with the SEC. Some exemptions from the registration requirement include:

• private offerings to a limited number of persons or institutions;
• offerings of limited size;
• intrastate offerings; and
• securities of municipal, state, and federal governments.

A copy of the Securities Act of 1933, as of October 13, 2009, is below. 

 [AS AMENDED THROUGH P.L. 111-72, APPROVED OCT. 13, 2009]TABLE OF CONTENTS

Sec. 1. Short Title.

Sec. 2. Definitions.

Sec. 2A. Swap Agreements.

Sec. 3. Exempted Securities.

Sec. 4. Exempted Transactions.

Sec. 5. Prohibitions Relating to Interstate Commerce and the Mails.

Sec. 6. Registration of Securities and Signing of Registration Statement.

Sec. 7. Information Required in Registration Statement.

Sec. 8. Taking Effect of Registration Statements and Amendments Thereto.

Sec. 8A. Cease-And-Desist Proceedings.

Sec. 9. Court Review of Orders.

Sec. 10. Information Required in Prospectus.

Sec. 11. Civil Liabilities on Account of False Registration Statement.

Sec. 12. Civil Liabilities Arising in Connection With Prospectuses and Communica­

tions.

Sec. 13. Limitation of Actions.

Sec. 14. Contrary Stipulations Void.

Sec. 15. Liability of Controlling Persons.

Sec. 16. Additional Remedies; Limitation on Remedies.

Sec. 17. Fraudulent Interstate Transactions.

Sec. 18. Exemption From State Regulation of Securities Offerings.

Sec. 19. Special Powers of Commission.

Sec. 20. Injunctions and Prosecution of Offenses.

Sec. 21. Hearings by Commission.

Sec. 22. Jurisdiction of Offenses and Suits.

Sec. 23. Unlawful Representations.

Sec. 24. Penalties.

Sec. 25. Jurisdiction of Other Government Agencies Over Securities.

Sec. 26. Separability of Provisions.

Sec. 27. Private Securities Litigation.

Sec. 27A. Application of Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements.

Sec. 28. General Exemptive Authority.

Schedule A.

Schedule B.

SHORT TITLE

SEC. 1. This title may be cited as the ‘‘Securities Act of 1933’’.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 1, 48 Stat. 74.)

DEFINITIONS

SEC. 2. (a) DEFINITIONS.—When used in this title, unless the

context otherwise requires—

(1) The term ‘‘security’’ means any note, stock, treasury

stock, security future, bond, debenture, evidence of indebted­

ness, certificate of interest or participation in any profit-shar­

ing agreement, collateral-trust certificate, preorganization cer­

tificate or subscription, transferable share, investment con­

tract, voting-trust certificate, certificate of deposit for a secu­

rity, fractional undivided interest in oil, gas, or other mineral

rights, any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege on any secu­

rity, certificate of deposit, or group or index of securities (in­

cluding any interest therein or based on the value thereof), or

any put, call, straddle, option, or privilege entered into on a

national securities exchange relating to foreign currency, or, in

general, any interest or instrument commonly known as a ‘‘se­

curity’’, or any certificate of interest or participation in, tem­

porary or interim certificate for, receipt for, guarantee of, or

warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase, any of the fore­

going.

(2) The term ‘‘person’’ means an individual, a corporation,

a partnership, an association, a joint-stock company, a trust,

any unincorporated organization, or a government or political

subdivision thereof. As used in this paragraph the term ‘‘trust’’

shall include only a trust where the interest or interests of the

beneficiary or beneficiaries are evidenced by a security.

(3) The term ‘‘sale’’ or ‘‘sell’’ shall include every contract of

sale or disposition of a security or interest in a security, for

value. The term ‘‘offer to sell’’, ‘‘offer for sale’’, or ‘‘offer’’ shall

include every attempt or offer to dispose of, or solicitation of

an offer to buy, a security or interest in a security, for value.

The terms defined in this paragraph and the term ‘‘offer to

buy’’ as used in subsection (c) of section 5 shall not include pre­

liminary negotiations or agreements between an issuer (or any

person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by an

issuer, or under direct or indirect common control with an

issuer) and any underwriter or among underwriters who are or

are to be in privity of contract with an issuer (or any person

directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by an issuer, or

under direct or indirect common control with an issuer). Any

security given or delivered with, or as a bonus on account of,

any purchase of securities or any other thing, shall be conclu­

sively presumed to constitute a part of the subject of such pur­

chase and to have been offered and sold for value. The issue

or transfer of a right or privilege, when originally issued or

transferred with a security, giving the holder of such security

the right to convert such security into another security of the

same issuer or of another person, or giving a right to subscribe

to another security of the same issuer or of another person,

which right cannot be exercised until some future date, shall

not be deemed to be an offer or sale of such other security; but

the issue or transfer of such other security upon the exercise

of such right of conversion or subscription shall be deemed a

sale of such other security. Any offer or sale of a security fu­

tures product by or on behalf of the issuer of the securities un­

derlying the security futures product, an affiliate of the issuer,

or an underwriter, shall constitute a contract for sale of, sale

of, offer for sale, or offer to sell the underlying securities.

(4) The term ‘‘issuer’’ means every person who issues or

proposes to issue any security; except that with respect to cer­

tificates of deposit, voting-trust certificates, or collateral-trust

certificates, or with respect to certificates of interest or shares

in an unincorporated investment trust not having a board of

directors (or persons performing similar functions) or of the

fixed, restricted management, or unit type, the term ‘‘issuer’’

means the person or persons performing the acts and assuming

the duties of depositor or manager pursuant to the provisions

of the trust or other agreement or instrument under which

such securities are issued; except that in the case of an unin­

corporated association which provides by its articles for limited

liability of any or all of its members, or in the case of a trust,

committee, or other legal entity, the trustees or members

thereof shall not be individually liable as issuers of any secu­

rity issued by the association, trust, committee, or other legal

entity; except that with respect to equipment- trust certificates

or like securities, the term ‘‘issuer’’ means the person by whom

the equipment or property is or is to be used; and except that

with respect to fractional undivided interests in oil, gas, or

other mineral rights, the term ‘‘issuer’’ means the owner of any

such right or of any interest in such right (whether whole or

fractional) who creates fractional interests therein for the pur­

pose of public offering.

(5) The term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Securities and Ex­

change Commission.

(6) The term ‘‘Territory’’ means Puerto Rico, the Virgin Is­

lands, and the insular possessions of the United States. [1]

(7) The term ‘‘interstate commerce’’ means trade or com­

merce in securities or any transportation or communication re­

lating thereto among the several States or between the District

of Columbia or any Territory of the United States and any

State or other Territory, or between any foreign country and

any State, Territory, or the District of Columbia, or within the

District of Columbia.

(8) The term ‘‘registration statement’’ means the statement

provided for in section 6, and includes any amendment thereto

and any report, document, or memorandum filed as part of

such statement or incorporated therein by reference.

(9) The term ‘‘write’’ or ‘‘written’’ shall include printed,

lithographed, or any means of graphic communication.

(10) The term ‘‘prospectus’’ means any prospectus, notice,

circular, advertisement, letter, or communication, written or by

radio or television, which offers any security for sale or con­

firms the sale of any security; except that (a) a communication

sent or given after the effective date of the registration state­

ment (other than a prospectus permitted under subsection (b)

of section 10) shall not be deemed a prospectus if it is proved

that prior to or at the same time with such communication a

written prospectus meeting the requirements of subsection (a)

of section 10 at the time of [2] such communication was sent or

given to the person to whom the communication was made,

and (b) a notice, circular, advertisement, letter, or communica­

1The words ‘‘Philippine Islands’’ were deleted from the definition of the term ‘‘Territory’’ on

the basis of Presidential Proclamation No. 2695, effective July 4, 1946 (11 F.R. 7517; 60 Stat.

1352), which granted independence to the Philippine Islands.

2So in law. Word ‘‘of’’ probably should not appear.

tion in respect of a security shall not be deemed to be a pro­

spectus if it states from whom a written prospectus meeting

the requirements of section 10 may be obtained and, in addi­

tion, does no more than identify the security, state the price

thereof, state by whom orders will be executed, and contain

such other information as the Commission, by rules or regula­

tions deemed necessary or appropriate in the public interest

and for the protection of investors, and subject to such terms

and conditions as may be prescribed therein, may permit.

(11) The term ‘‘underwriter’’ means any person who has

purchased from an issuer with a view to, or offers or sells for

an issuer in connection with, the distribution of any security,

or participates or has a direct or indirect participation in any

such undertaking, or participates or has a participation in the

direct or indirect underwriting of any such undertaking; but

such term shall not include a person whose interest is limited

to a commission from an underwriter or dealer not in excess

of the usual and customary distributors’ or sellers’ commission.

As used in this paragraph the term ‘‘issuer’’ shall include, in

addition to an issuer, any person directly or indirectly control­

ling or controlled by the issuer, or any person under direct or

indirect common control with the issuer.

(12) The term ‘‘dealer’’ means any person who engages ei­

ther for all or part of his time, directly or indirectly, as agent,

broker, or principal, in the business of offering, buying, selling,

or otherwise dealing or trading in securities issued by another

person.

(13) The term ‘‘insurance company’’ means a company

which is organized as an insurance company, whose primary

and predominant business activity is the writing of insurance

or the reinsuring of risks underwritten by insurance compa­

nies, and which is subject to supervision by the insurance com­

missioner, or a similar official or agency, of a State or territory

or the District of Columbia; or any receiver or similar official

or any liquidating agent for such company, in his capacity as

such.

(14) The term ‘‘separate account’’ means an account estab­

lished and maintained by an insurance company pursuant to

the laws of any State or territory of the United States, the Dis­

trict of Columbia, or of Canada or any province thereof, under

which income, gains and losses, whether or not realized, from

assets allocated to such account, are, in accordance with the

applicable contract, credited to or charged against such account

without regard to other income, gains, or losses of the insur­

ance company.

(15) The term ‘‘accredited investor’’ shall mean—

(i) a bank as defined in section 3(a)(2) whether acting

in its individual or fiduciary capacity; an insurance com­

pany as defined in paragraph (13) of this subsection; an in­

vestment company registered under the Investment Com­

pany Act of 1940 or a business development company as

defined in section 2(a)(48) of that Act; a Small Business In­

vestment Company licensed by the Small Business Admin­

istration; or an employee benefit plan, including an indi­

vidual retirement account, which is subject to the provi­

sions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of

1974, if the investment decision is made by a plan fidu­

ciary, as defined in section 3(21) of such Act, which is ei­

ther a bank, insurance company, or registered investment

adviser; or

(ii) any person who, on the basis of such factors as fi­

nancial sophistication, net worth, knowledge, and experi­

ence in financial matters, or amount of assets under man­

agement qualifies as an accredited investor under rules

and regulations which the Commission shall prescribe.

(16) The terms ‘‘security future’’, ‘‘narrow-based security

index’’, and ‘‘security futures product’’ have the same meanings

as provided in section 3(a)(55) of the Securities Exchange Act

of 1934.

(b) CONSIDERATION OF PROMOTION OF EFFICIENCY, COMPETI­

TION, AND CAPITAL FORMATION.—Whenever pursuant to this title

the Commission is engaged in rulemaking and is required to con­

sider or determine whether an action is necessary or appropriate

in the public interest, the Commission shall also consider, in addi­

tion to the protection of investors, whether the action will promote

efficiency, competition, and capital formation.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 2, 48 Stat. 74; June 6, 1934, ch.

404, title II, Sec. 201, 48 Stat. 905; Aug. 10, 1954, ch. 667, title I,

Sec. 1-4, 68 Stat. 683, 684; Pub. L. 86-70, Sec. 12(a), June 25, 1959,

73 Stat. 143; Pub. L. 86-624, Sec. 7(a), July 12, 1960, 74 Stat. 412;

Pub. L. 91-547, Sec. 27(a), Dec. 14, 1970, 84 Stat. 1433; Pub. L. 96­

477, title VI, Sec. 603, Oct. 21, 1980, 94 Stat. 2294; Pub. L. 97-303,

Sec. 1, Oct. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1409; Pub. L. 100-181, title II, Sec.

201, 202, Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1252; Pub. L. 104-290, title I, Sec.

106(a), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3424; Pub. L. 105-353, title III, Sec.

301(a)(1), Nov. 3, 1998, 112 Stat. 3235; Pub. L. 106-554, Sec. 1(a)(5)

[title II, Sec. 208(a)(1)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A-434.)

SEC. 2A. SWAP AGREEMENTS.

(a) NON-SECURITY-BASED SWAP AGREEMENTS.—The definition

of ‘‘security’’ in section 2(a)(1) of this title does not include any non­

security-based swap agreement (as defined in section 206C of the

Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act).

(b) SECURITY-BASED SWAP AGREEMENTS.—

(1) The definition of ‘‘security’’ in section 2(a)(1) of this title

does not include any security-based swap agreement (as de­

fined in section 206B of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act).

(2) The Commission is prohibited from registering, or re­

quiring, recommending, or suggesting, the registration under

this title of any security-based swap agreement (as defined in

section 206B of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act). If the Commis­

sion becomes aware that a registrant has filed a registration

statement with respect to such a swap agreement, the Com­

mission shall promptly so notify the registrant. Any such reg­

istration statement with respect to such a swap agreement

shall be void and of no force or effect.

 (3) The Commission is prohibited from—

(A) promulgating, interpreting, or enforcing rules; or

(B) issuing orders of general applicability;

under this title in a manner that imposes or specifies reporting

or recordkeeping requirements, procedures, or standards as

prophylactic measures against fraud, manipulation, or insider

trading with respect to any security-based swap agreement (as

defined in section 206B of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act).

(4) References in this title to the ‘‘purchase’’ or ‘‘sale’’ of a

security-based swap agreement shall be deemed to mean the

execution, termination (prior to its scheduled maturity date),

assignment, exchange, or similar transfer or conveyance of, or

extinguishing of rights or obligations under, a security-based

swap agreement (as defined in section 206B of the Gramm­

Leach-Bliley Act), as the context may require.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 2A, as added Pub. L. 106-554,

Sec. 1(a)(5) [title III, Sec. 302(a)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763,

2763A-451.)

EXEMPTED SECURITIES

SEC. 3. (a) Except as hereinafter expressly provided, the provi­

sions of this title shall not apply to any of the following classes of

securities:

(1) Reserved.

(2) Any security issued or guaranteed by the United States

or any Territory thereof, or by the District of Columbia, or by

any State of the United States, or by any political subdivision

of a State or Territory, or by any public instrumentality of one

or more States or Territories, or by any person controlled or

supervised by and acting as an instrumentality of the Govern­

ment of the United States pursuant to authority granted by

the Congress of the United States; or any certificate of deposit

for any of the foregoing; or any security issued or guaranteed

by any bank; or any security issued by or representing an in­

terest in or a direct obligation of a Federal Reserve bank; or

any interest or participation in any common trust fund or simi­

lar fund that is excluded from the definition of the term ‘‘in­

vestment company’’ under section 3(c)(3) of the Investment

Company Act of 1940; or any security which is an industrial

development bond (as defined in section 103(c)(2) of the Inter­

nal Revenue Code of 1954) [1] the interest on which is exclud­

able from gross income under section 103(a)(1) of such Code if,

by reason of the application of paragraph (4) or (6) of section

103(c) of such Code (determined as if paragraphs (4)(A), (5),

and (7) were not included in such section 103(c)), paragraph (1)

of such section 103(c) does not apply to such security; or any

1The Internal Revenue Code of 1954 was redesignated as the Internal Revenue Code of 1986

by Pub. L. 99-514, Sec. 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095. Section 103 of such Code, which related

to interest on certain governmental obligations was amended generally by Pub. L. 99-514, title

XIII, Sec. 1301(a), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2602, and as so amended relates to interest on State

and local bonds. Section 103(b)(2) (formerly section 103(c)(2)), which prior to the general amend­

ment defined industrial development bond, relates to the applicability of the interest exclusion

to arbitrage bonds.

interest or participation in a single trust fund, or in a collective

trust fund maintained by a bank, or any security arising out

of a contract issued by an insurance company, which interest,

participation, or security is issued in connection with (A) a

stock bonus, pension, or profit- sharing plan which meets the

requirements for qualification under section 401 of the Internal

Revenue Code of 1954, (B) an annuity plan which meets the re­

quirements for the deduction of the employer’s contributions

under section 404(a)(2) of such Code, (C) a governmental plan

as defined in section 414(d) of such Code which has been estab­

lished by an employer for the exclusive benefit of its employees

or their beneficiaries for the purpose of distributing to such

employees or their beneficiaries the corpus and income of the

funds accumulated under such plan, if under such plan it is

impossible, prior to the satisfaction of all liabilities with re­

spect to such employees and their beneficiaries, for any part of

the corpus or income to be used for, or diverted to, purposes

other than the exclusive benefit of such employees or their

beneficiaries, or (D) a church plan, company, or account that

is excluded from the definition of an investment company

under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940,

other than any plan described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or

(D) of this paragraph (i) the contributions under which are

held in a single trust fund or in a separate account maintained

by an insurance company for a single employer and under

which an amount in excess of the employer’s contribution is al­

located to the purchase of securities (other than interests or

participations in the trust or separate account itself) issued by

the employer or any company directly or indirectly controlling,

controlled by, or under common control with the employer, (ii)

which covers employees some or all of whom are employees

within the meaning of section 401(c)(1) of such Code, or (iii)

which is a plan funded by an annuity contract described in sec­

tion 403(b) of such Code. The Commission, by rules and regula­

tions or order, shall exempt from the provisions of section 5 of

this title any interest or participation issued in connection with

a stock bonus, pension, profit-sharing, or annuity plan which

covers employees some or all of whom are employees within

the meaning of section 401(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code

of 1954, if and to the extent that the Commission determines

this to be necessary or appropriate in the public interest and

consistent with the protection of investors and the purposes

fairly intended by the policy and provisions of this title. For

purposes of this paragraph, a security issued or guaranteed by

a bank shall not include any interest or participation in any

collective trust fund maintained by a bank; and the term

‘‘bank’’ means any national bank, or any banking institution

organized under the laws of any State, territory, or the District

of Columbia, the business of which is substantially confined to

banking and is supervised by the State or territorial banking

commission or similar official; except that in the case of a com­

mon trust fund or similar fund, or a collective trust fund, the

term ‘‘bank’’ has the same meaning as in the Investment Com­

pany Act of 1940;

 (3) Any note, draft, bill of exchange, or banker’s acceptance

which arises out of a current transaction or the proceeds of

which have been or are to be used for current transactions, and

which has a maturity at the time of issuance of not exceeding

nine months, exclusive of days of grace, or any renewal thereof

the maturity of which is likewise limited;

(4) Any security issued by a person organized and operated

exclusively for religious, educational, benevolent, fraternal,

charitable, or reformatory purposes and not for pecuniary prof­

it, and no part of the net earnings of which inures to the ben­

efit of any person, private stockholder, or individual; or any se­

curity of a fund that is excluded from the definition of an in­

vestment company under section 3(c)(10)(B) of the Investment

Company Act of 1940;

(5) Any security issued (A) by a savings and loan associa­

tion, building and loan association, cooperative bank, home­

stead association, or similar institution, which is supervised

and examined by State or Federal authority having supervision

over any such institution; or (B) by (i) a farmer’s cooperative

organization exempt from tax under section 521 of the Internal

Revenue Code of 1954, (ii) a corporation described in section

501(c)(16) of such Code and exempt from tax under section

501(a) of such Code, or (iii) a corporation described in section

501(c)(2) of such Code which is exempt from tax under section

501(a) of such Code and is organized for the exclusive purpose

of holding title to property, collecting income therefrom, and

turning over the entire amount thereof, less expenses, to an or­

ganization or corporation described in clause (i) or (ii);

(6) Any interest in a railroad equipment trust. For pur­

poses of this paragraph ‘‘interest in a railroad equipment trust’’

means any interest in an equipment trust, lease, conditional

sales contract, or other similar arrangement entered into,

issued, assumed, guaranteed by, or for the benefit of, a com­

mon carrier to finance the acquisition of rolling stock, includ­

ing motive power;

(7) Certificates issued by a receiver or by a trustee in

bankruptcy, with the approval of the court;

(8) Any insurance or endowment policy or annuity contract

or optional annuity contract, issued by a corporation subject to

the supervision of the insurance commissioner, bank commis­

sioner, or any agency or officer performing like functions, of

any State or Territory of the United States or the District of

Columbia;

(9) Except with respect to a security exchanged in a case

under title 11, any security exchanged by the issuer with its

existing security holders exclusively where no commission or

other remuneration is paid or given directly or indirectly for

soliciting such exchange;

(10) Except with respect to a security exchanged in a case

under title 11, any security which is issued in exchange for one

or more bona fide outstanding securities, claims or property in­

terests, or partly in such exchange and partly for cash, where

the terms and conditions of such issuance and exchange are

approved, after a hearing upon the fairness of such terms and

conditions at which all persons to whom it is proposed to issue

securities in such exchange shall have the right to appear, by

any court, or by any official or agency of the United States, or

by any State or Territorial banking or insurance commission or

other governmental authority expressly authorized by law to

grant such approval;

(11) Any security which is a part of an issue offered and

sold only to persons resident within a single State or Territory,

where the issuer of such security is a person resident and

doing business within or, if a corporation, incorporated by and

doing business within, such State or Territory.

(12) Any equity security issued in connection with the ac­

quisition by a holding company of a bank under section 3(a) of

the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 or a savings associa­

tion under section 10(e) of the Home Owners’ Loan Act, if—

(A) the acquisition occurs solely as part of a reorga­

nization in which security holders exchange their shares of

a bank or savings association for shares of a newly formed

holding company with no significant assets other than se­

curities of the bank or savings association and the existing

subsidiaries of the bank or savings association;

(B) the security holders receive, after that reorganiza­

tion, substantially the same proportional share interests in

the holding company as they held in the bank or savings

association, except for nominal changes in shareholders’

interests resulting from lawful elimination of fractional in­

terests and the exercise of dissenting shareholders’ rights

under State or Federal law;

(C) the rights and interests of security holders in the

holding company are substantially the same as those in

the bank or savings association prior to the transaction,

other than as may be required by law; and

(D) the holding company has substantially the same

assets and liabilities, on a consolidated basis, as the bank

or savings association had prior to the transaction.

For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘‘savings association’’

means a savings association (as defined in section 3(b) of the

Federal Deposit Insurance Act) the deposits of which are in­

sured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

(13) Any security issued by or any interest or participation

in any church plan, company or account that is excluded from

the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14)

of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(14) Any security futures product that is—

(A) cleared by a clearing agency registered under sec­

tion 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or exempt

from registration under subsection (b)(7) of such section

17A; and

(B) traded on a national securities exchange or a na­

tional securities association registered pursuant to section

15A(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

(b) The Commission may from time to time by its rules and

regulations, and subject to such terms and conditions as may be

prescribed therein, add any class of securities to the securities ex­

empted as provided in this section, if it finds that the enforcement

of this title with respect to such securities is not necessary in the

public interest and for the protection of investors by reason of the

small amount involved or the limited character of the public offer­

ing; but no issue of securities shall be exempted under this sub­

section where the aggregate amount at which such issue is offered

to the public exceeds $5,000,000.

(c) The Commission may from time to time by its rules and

regulations and subject to such terms and conditions as may be

prescribed therein, add to the securities exempted as provided in

this section any class of securities issued by a small business in­

vestment company under the Small Business Investment Act of

1958 1 if it finds, having regard to the purposes of that Act, that

the enforcement of this Act with respect to such securities is not

necessary in the public interest and for the protection of investors.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 3, 48 Stat. 75; June 6, 1934, ch.

404, title II, Sec. 202, 48 Stat. 906; Feb. 4, 1887, ch. 104, title II,

Sec. 214, as added Aug. 9, 1935, ch. 498, 49 Stat. 557; amended

June 29, 1938, ch. 811, Sec. 15, 52 Stat. 1240; May 15, 1945, ch.

122, 59 Stat. 167; Aug. 10, 1954, ch. 667, title I, Sec. 5, 68 Stat.

684; Pub. L. 85-699, title III, Sec. 307(a), Aug. 21, 1958, 72 Stat.

694; Pub. L. 91-373, title IV, Sec. 401(a), Aug. 10, 1970, 84 Stat.

718; Pub. L. 91-547, Sec. 27(b), (c), Dec. 14, 1970, 84 Stat. 1434;

Pub. L. 91-565, Dec. 19, 1970, 84 Stat. 1480; Pub. L. 91-567, Sec.

6(a), Dec. 22, 1970, 84 Stat. 1498; Pub. L. 94-210, title III, Sec.

308(a)(1), (3), Feb. 5, 1976, 90 Stat. 56, 57; Pub. L. 95-283, Sec. 18,

May 21, 1978, 92 Stat. 275; Pub. L. 95-425, Sec. 2, Oct. 6, 1978,

92 Stat. 962; Pub. L. 95-598, title III, Sec. 306, Nov. 6, 1978, 92

Stat. 2674; Pub. L. 96-477, title III, Sec. 301, title VII, Sec. 701,

Oct. 21, 1980, 94 Stat. 2291, 2294; Pub. L. 97-261, Sec. 19(d), Sept.

20, 1982, 96 Stat. 1121; Pub. L. 99-514, Sec. 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100

Stat. 2095; Pub. L. 100-181, title II, Sec. 203, 204, Dec. 4, 1987, 101

Stat. 1252; Pub. L. 103-325, title III, Sec. 320, Sept. 23, 1994, 108

Stat. 2225; Pub. L. 104-62, Sec. 3, Dec. 8, 1995, 109 Stat. 684; Pub.

L. 104-290, title V, Sec. 508(b), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3447; Pub.

L. 106-102, title II, Sec. 221(a), Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat. 1401; Pub.

L. 106-554, Sec. 1(a)(5) [title II, Sec. 208(a)(2)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114

Stat. 2763, 2763A-435; Pub. L. 108-359, Sec. 1(b), Oct. 25, 2004 118

Stat. 1666.)

EXEMPTED TRANSACTIONS

SEC. 4. The provisions of section 5 shall not apply to—

(1) transactions by any person other than an issuer, under­

writer, or dealer.

(2) transactions by an issuer not involving any public offer­

ing.

(3) transactions by a dealer (including an underwriter no

longer acting as an underwriter in respect of the security in­

volved in such transaction), except—

(A) transactions taking place prior to the expiration of

forty days after the first date upon which the security was

bona fide offered to the public by the issuer or by or

through an underwriter,

(B) transactions in a security as to which a registra­

tion statement has been filed taking place prior to the ex­

piration of forty days after the effective date of such reg­

istration statement or prior to the expiration of forty days

after the first date upon which the security was bona fide

offered to the public by the issuer or by or through an un­

derwriter after such effective date, whichever is later (ex­

cluding in the computation of such forty days any time

during which a stop order issued under section 8 is in ef­

fect as to the security), or such shorter period as the Com­

mission may specify by rules and regulations or order, and

(C) transactions as to securities constituting the whole

or a part of an unsold allotment to or subscription by such

dealer as a participant in the distribution of such securi­

ties by the issuer or by or through an underwriter.

With respect to transactions referred to in clause (B), if securi­

ties of the issuer have not previously been sold pursuant to an

earlier effective registration statement the applicable period,

instead of forty days, shall be ninety days, or such shorter pe­

riod as the Commission may specify by rules and regulations

or order.

(4) brokers’ transactions executed upon customers’ orders

on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market but not the

solicitation of such orders.

(5)(A) Transactions [1] involving offers or sales of one or

more promissory notes directly secured by a first lien on a sin­

gle parcel of real estate upon which is located a dwelling or

other residential or commercial structure, and participation in­

terests in such notes—

(i) where such securities are originated by a savings

and loan association, savings bank, commercial bank, or

similar banking institution which is supervised and exam­

ined by a Federal or State authority, and are offered and

sold subject to the following conditions:

(a) the minimum aggregate sales price per pur­

chaser shall not be less than $250,000;

(b) the purchaser shall pay cash either at the time

of the sale or within sixty days thereof; and

(c) each purchaser shall buy for his own account

only; or

(ii) where such securities are originated by a mort­

gagee approved by the Secretary of Housing and Urban

Development pursuant to sections 203 and 211 of the Na­

tional Housing Act and are offered or sold subject to the

three conditions specified in subparagraph (A)(i) to any in­

stitution described in such subparagraph or to any insur­

ance company subject to the supervision of the insurance

commissioner, or any agency or officer performing like

function, of any State or territory of the United States or

the District of Columbia, or the Federal Home Loan Mort­

1So in original. Probably should not be capitalized.

gage Corporation, the Federal National Mortgage Associa­

tion, or the Government National Mortgage Association.

(B) Transactions [1] between any of the entities described

in subparagraph (A)(i) or (A)(ii) hereof involving non- assign­

able contracts to buy or sell the foregoing securities which are

to be completed within two years, where the seller of the fore­

going securities pursuant to any such contract is one of the

parties described in subparagraph (A)(i) or (A)(ii) who may

originate such securities and the purchaser of such securities

pursuant to any such contract is any institution described in

subpara-graph (A)(i) or any insurance company described in

subpara-graph (A)(ii), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Cor­

poration, Federal National Mortgage Association, or the Gov­

ernment National Mortgage Association and where the fore­

going securities are subject to the three conditions for sale set

forth in subparagraphs (A)(i) (a) through (c).

(C) The [1] exemption provided by subparagraphs (A) and

(B) hereof shall not apply to resales of the securities acquired

pursuant thereto, unless each of the conditions for sale con­

tained in subparagraphs (A)(1) (a) through (c) are satisfied.

(6) transactions involving offers or sales by an issuer solely

to one or more accredited investors, if the aggregate offering

price of an issue of securities offered in reliance on this para­

graph does not exceed the amount allowed under section 3(b)

of this title, if there is no advertising or public solicitation in

connection with the transaction by the issuer or anyone acting

on the issuer’s behalf, and if the issuer files such notice with

the Commission as the Commission shall prescribe.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 4, 48 Stat. 77; June 6, 1934, ch.

404, title II, Sec. 203, 48 Stat. 906; Aug. 10, 1954, ch. 667, title I,

Sec. 6, 68 Stat. 684; Pub. L. 88-467, Sec. 12, Aug. 20, 1964, 78 Stat.

580; Pub. L. 94-29, Sec. 30, June 4, 1975, 89 Stat. 169; Pub. L. 96­

477, title VI, Sec. 602, Oct. 21, 1980, 94 Stat. 2294.)

PROHIBITIONS RELATING TO INTERSTATE COMMERCE AND THE MAILS

SEC. 5. (a) Unless a registration statement is in effect as to a

security, it shall be unlawful for any person, directly or indirectly—

(1) to make use of any means or instruments of transpor­

tation or communication in interstate commerce or of the mails

to sell such security through the use or medium of any pro­

spectus or otherwise; or

(2) to carry or cause to be carried through the mails or in

interstate commerce, by any means or instruments of transpor­

tation, any such security for the purpose of sale or for delivery

after sale.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person, directly or indirectly—

(1) to make use of any means or instruments of transpor­

tation or communication in interstate commerce or of the mails

to carry or transmit any prospectus relating to any security

with respect to which a registration statement has been filed

under this title, unless such prospectus meets the require­

ments of section 10; or

 (2) to carry or cause to be carried through the mails or in

interstate commerce any such security for the purpose of sale

or for delivery after sale, unless accompanied or preceded by a

prospectus that meets the requirements of subsection (a) of

section 10.

(c) It shall be unlawful for any person, directly or indirectly,

to make use of any means or instruments of transportation or com­

munication in interstate commerce or of the mails to offer to sell

or offer to buy through the use or medium of any prospectus or oth­

erwise any security, unless a registration statement has been filed

as to such security, or while the registration statement is the sub­

ject of a refusal order or stop order or (prior to the effective date

of the registration statement) any public proceeding or examination

under section 8.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 5, 48 Stat. 77; June 6, 1934, ch.

404, title II, Sec. 204, 48 Stat. 906; Aug. 10, 1954, ch. 667, title I,

Sec. 7, 68 Stat. 684.)

REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES AND SIGNING OF REGISTRATION

STATEMENT

SEC. 6. (a) Any security may be registered with the Commis­

sion under the terms and conditions hereinafter provided, by filing

a registration statement in triplicate, at least one of which shall be

signed by each issuer, its principal executive officer or officers, its

principal financial officer, its comptroller or principal accounting of­

ficer, and the majority of its board of directors or persons per­

forming similar functions (or, if there is no board of directors or

persons performing similar functions, by the majority of the per­

sons or board having the power of management of the issuer), and

in case the issuer is a foreign or Territorial person by its duly au­

thorized representative in the United States; except that when

such registration statement relates to a security issued by a foreign

government, or political subdivision thereof, it need be signed only

by the underwriter of such security. Signatures of all such persons

when written on the said registration statements shall be pre­

sumed to have been so written by authority of the person whose

signature is so affixed and the burden of proof, in the event such

authority shall be denied, shall be upon the party denying the

same. The affixing of any signature without the authority of the

purported signer shall constitute a violation of this title. A registra­

tion statement shall be deemed effective only as to the securities

specified therein as proposed to be offered.

(b) REGISTRATION FEE.—

(1) RECOVERY OF COST OF SERVICES.—The Commission

shall, in accordance with this subsection, collect registration

fees that are designed to recover the costs to the government

of the securities registration process, and costs related to such

process, including enforcement activities, policy and rule-

making activities, administration, legal services, and inter­

national regulatory activities.

(2) FEE PAYMENT REQUIRED.—At the time of filing a reg­

istration statement, the applicant shall pay to the Commission

a fee at a rate that shall be equal to $92 per $1,000,000 of the

maximum aggregate price at which such securities are pro­

posed to be offered, except that during fiscal year 2003 and any

succeeding fiscal year such fee shall be adjusted pursuant to

paragraph (5) or (6).

(3) OFFSETTING COLLECTIONS.—Fees collected pursuant to

this subsection for any fiscal year—

(A) shall be deposited and credited as offsetting collec­

tions to the account providing appropriations to the Com­

mission; and

(B) except as provided in paragraph (9), shall not be

collected for any fiscal year except to the extent provided

in advance in appropriation Acts.

(4) GENERAL REVENUES PROHIBITED.—No fees collected

pursuant to this subsection for fiscal year 2002 or any suc­

ceeding fiscal year shall be deposited and credited as general

revenue of the Treasury.

(5) ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT.—For each of the fiscal years

2003 through 2011, the Commission shall by order adjust the

rate required by paragraph (2) for such fiscal year to a rate

that, when applied to the baseline estimate of the aggregate

maximum offering prices for such fiscal year, is reasonably

likely to produce aggregate fee collections under this sub­

section that are equal to the target offsetting collection amount

for such fiscal year.

(6) FINAL RATE ADJUSTMENT.—For fiscal year 2012 and all

of the succeeding fiscal years, the Commission shall by order

adjust the rate required by paragraph (2) for all of such fiscal

years to a rate that, when applied to the baseline estimate of

the aggregate maximum offering prices for fiscal year 2012, is

reasonably likely to produce aggregate fee collections under

this subsection in fiscal year 2012 equal to the target offsetting

collection amount for fiscal year 2011.

(7) PRO RATA APPLICATION.—The rates per $1,000,000 re­

quired by this subsection shall be applied pro rata to amounts

and balances of less than $1,000,000.

(8) REVIEW AND EFFECTIVE DATE.—In exercising its author­

ity under this subsection, the Commission shall not be required

to comply with the provisions of section 553 of title 5, United

States Code. An adjusted rate prescribed under paragraph (5)

or (6) and published under paragraph (10) shall not be subject

to judicial review. Subject to paragraphs (3)(B) and (9)—

(A) an adjusted rate prescribed under paragraph (5)

shall take effect on the later of—

(i) the first day of the fiscal year to which such

rate applies; or

(ii) five days after the date on which a regular ap­

propriation to the Commission for such fiscal year is

enacted; and

(B) an adjusted rate prescribed under paragraph (6)

shall take effect on the later of—

(i) the first day of fiscal year 2012; or

 (ii) five days after the date on which a regular ap­

propriation to the Commission for fiscal year 2012 is

enacted.

(9) LAPSE OF APPROPRIATION.—If on the first day of a fiscal

year a regular appropriation to the Commission has not been

enacted, the Commission shall continue to collect fees (as off­

setting collections) under this subsection at the rate in effect

during the preceding fiscal year, until 5 days after the date

such a regular appropriation is enacted.

(10) PUBLICATION.—The Commission shall publish in the

Federal Register notices of the rate applicable under this sub­

section and under sections 13(e) and 14(g) for each fiscal year

not later than April 30 of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal

year to which such rate applies, together with any estimates

or projections on which such rate is based.

(11) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this subsection:

(A) TARGET OFFSETTING COLLECTION AMOUNT.—The

target offsetting collection amount for each of the fiscal

years 2002 through 2011 is determined according to the

following table:

Target offsetting

Fiscal year:

collection amount

2002 ……………………………………………………………………………….. $377,000,000

2003 ……………………………………………………………………………….. $435,000,000

2004 ……………………………………………………………………………….. $467,000,000

2005 ……………………………………………………………………………….. $570,000,000

2006 ……………………………………………………………………………….. $689,000,000

2007 ……………………………………………………………………………….. $214,000,000

2008 ……………………………………………………………………………….. $234,000,000

2009 ……………………………………………………………………………….. $284,000,000

2010 ……………………………………………………………………………….. $334,000,000

2011 ……………………………………………………………………………….. $394,000,000

(B) BASELINE ESTIMATE OF THE AGGREGATE MAXIMUM

OFFERING PRICES.—The baseline estimate of the aggregate

maximum offering prices for any fiscal year is the baseline

estimate of the aggregate maximum offering price at which

securities are proposed to be offered pursuant to registra­

tion statements filed with the Commission during such fis­

cal year as determined by the Commission, after consulta­

tion with the Congressional Budget Office and the Office

of Management and Budget, using the methodology re­

quired for projections pursuant to section 257 of the Bal­

anced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

(c) The filing with the Commission of a registration statement,

or of an amendment to a registration statement, shall be deemed

to have taken place upon the receipt thereof, but the filing of a reg­

istration statement shall not be deemed to have taken place unless

it is accompanied by a United States postal money order or a cer­

tified bank check or cash for the amount of the fee required under

subsection (b).

(d) The information contained in or filed with any registration

statement shall be made available to the public under such regula­

tions as the Commission may prescribe, and copies thereof, photo­

static or otherwise, shall be furnished to every applicant at such

reasonable charge as the Commission may prescribe.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 6, 48 Stat. 78; Oct. 22, 1965,

Pub. L. 89-289, Sec. 1, 79 Stat. 1051; Dec. 4, 1987, Pub. L. 100­

181, title II, Sec. 205, 101 Stat. 1252; Oct. 11, 1996, Pub. L. 104­

290, title IV, Sec. 404, 110 Stat. 3441; Pub. L. 107-123, Sec. 4, Jan.

16, 2002, 115 Stat. 2393.)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

SEC. 7. (a) The registration statement, when relating to a secu­

rity other than a security issued by a foreign government, or polit­

ical subdivision thereof, shall contain the information, and be ac­

companied by the documents, specified in Schedule A, and when re­

lating to a security issued by a foreign government, or political sub­

division thereof, shall contain the information, and be accompanied

by the documents, specified in Schedule B; except that the Commis­

sion may by rules or regulations provide that any such information

or document need not be included in respect of any class of issuers

or securities if it finds that the requirement of such information or

document is inapplicable to such class and that disclosure fully

adequate for the protection of investors is otherwise required to be

included within the registration statement. If any accountant, engi­

neer, or appraiser, or any person whose profession gives authority

to a statement made by him, is named as having prepared or cer­

tified any part of the registration statement, or is named as having

prepared or certified a report or valuation for use in connection

with the registration statement, the written consent of such person

shall be filed with the registration statement. If any such person

is named as having prepared or certified a report or valuation

(other than a public official document or statement) which is used

in connection with the registration statement, but is not named as

having prepared or certified such report or valuation for use in con­

nection with the registration statement, the written consent of such

person shall be filed with the registration statement unless the

Commission dispenses with such filing as impracticable or as in­

volving undue hardship on the person filing the registration state­

ment. Any such registration statement shall contain such other in­

formation, and be accompanied by such other documents, as the

Commission may by rules or regulations require as being necessary

or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of inves­

tors.

(b)(1) The Commission shall prescribe special rules with re­

spect to registration statements filed by any issuer that is a blank

check company. Such rules may, as the Commission determines

necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection

of investors—

(A) require such issuers to provide timely disclosure, prior

to or after such statement becomes effective under section 8,

of (i) information regarding the company to be acquired and

the specific application of the proceeds of the offering, or (ii)

additional information necessary to prevent such statement

from being misleading;

 (B) place limitations on the use of such proceeds and the

distribution of securities by such issuer until the disclosures

required under subparagraph (A) have been made; and

(C) provide a right of rescission to shareholders of such se­

curities.

(2) The Commission may, as it determines consistent with the

public interest and the protection of investors, by rule or order ex­

empt any issuer or class of issuers from the rules prescribed under

paragraph (1).

(3) For purposes of paragraph (1) of this subsection, the term

‘‘blank check company’’ means any development stage company

that is issuing a penny stock (within the meaning of section

3(a)(51) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) and that—

(A) has no specific business plan or purpose; or

(B) has indicated that its business plan is to merge with

an unidentified company or companies.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 7, 48 Stat. 78; Pub. L. 101-429,

title V, Sec. 508, Oct. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 956.)

TAKING EFFECT OF REGISTRATION STATEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS

THERETO

SEC. 8. (a) Except as hereinafter provided, the effective date of

a registration statement shall be the twentieth day after the filing

thereof or such earlier date as the Commission may determine,

having due regard to the adequacy of the information respecting

the issuer theretofore available to the public, to the facility with

which the nature of the securities to be registered, their relation­

ship to the capital structure of the issuer and the rights of holders

thereof can be understood, and to the public interest and the pro­

tection of investors. If any amendment to any such statement is

filed prior to the effective date of such statement, the registration

statement shall be deemed to have been filed when such amend­

ment was filed; except that an amendment filed with the consent

of the Commission, prior to the effective date of the registration

statement, or filed pursuant to an order of the Commission, shall

be treated as a part of the registration statement.

(b) If it appears to the Commission that a registration state­

ment is on its face incomplete or inaccurate in any material re­

spect, the Commission may, after notice by personal service or the

sending of confirmed telegraphic notice not later than ten days

after the filing of the registration statement, and opportunity for

hearing (at a time fixed by the Commission) within ten days after

such notice by personal service or the sending of such telegraphic

notice, issue an order prior to the effective date of registration re­

fusing to permit such statement to become effective until it has

been amended in accordance with such order. When such state­

ment has been amended in accordance with such order the Com­

mission shall so declare and the registration shall become effective

at the time provided in subsection (a) or upon the date of such dec­

laration, whichever date is the later.

(c) An amendment filed after the effective date of the registra­

tion statement, if such amendment, upon its face, appears to the

Commission not to be incomplete or inaccurate in any material re­

spect, shall become effective on such date as the Commission may

determine, having due regard to the public interest and the protec­

tion of investors.

(d) If it appears to the Commission at any time that the reg­

istration statement includes any untrue statement of a material

fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated there­

in or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, the

Commission may, after notice by personal service or the sending of

confirmed telegraphic notice, and after opportunity for hearing (at

a time fixed by the Commission) within fifteen days after such no­

tice by personal service or the sending of such telegraphic notice,

issue a stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration

statement. When such statement has been amended in accordance

with such stop order the Commission shall so declare and there­

upon the stop order shall cease to be effective.

(e) The Commission is hereby empowered to make an examina­

tion in any case in order to determine whether a stop order should

issue under subsection (d). In making such examination the Com­

mission or any officer or officers designated by it shall have access

to and may demand the production of any books and papers of, and

may administer oaths and affirmations to and examine, the issuer,

underwriter, or any other person, in respect of any matter relevant

to the examination, and may, in its discretion, require the produc­

tion of a balance sheet exhibiting the assets and liabilities of the

issuer, or its income statement, or both, to be certified to by a pub­

lic or certified accountant approved by the Commission. If the

issuer or underwriter shall fail to cooperate, or shall obstruct or

refuse to permit the making of an examination, such conduct shall

be proper ground for the issuance of a stop order.

(f) Any notice required under this section shall be sent to or

served on the issuer, or, in case of a foreign government or political

subdivision thereof, to or on the underwriter, or, in the case of a

foreign or Territorial person, to or on its duly authorized represent­

ative in the United States named in the registration statement,

properly directed in each case of telegraphic notice to the address

given in such statement.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 8, 48 Stat. 79; Aug. 22, 1940,

ch. 686, title III, Sec. 301, 54 Stat. 857.)

CEASE-AND-DESIST PROCEEDINGS

SEC. 8A. (a) AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION.—If the Commis­

sion finds, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that any person

is violating, has violated, or is about to violate any provision of this

title, or any rule or regulation thereunder, the Commission may

publish its findings and enter an order requiring such person, and

any other person that is, was, or would be a cause of the violation,

due to an act or omission the person knew or should have known

would contribute to such violation, to cease and desist from com­

mitting or causing such violation and any future violation of the

same provision, rule, or regulation. Such order may, in addition to

requiring a person to cease and desist from committing or causing

a violation, require such person to comply, or to take steps to effect

compliance, with such provision, rule, or regulation, upon such

terms and conditions and within such time as the Commission may

specify in such order. Any such order may, as the Commission

deems appropriate, require future compliance or steps to effect fu­

ture compliance, either permanently or for such period of time as

the Commission may specify, with such provision, rule, or regula­

tion with respect to any security, any issuer, or any other person.

(b) HEARING.—The notice instituting proceedings pursuant to

subsection (a) shall fix a hearing date not earlier than 30 days nor

later than 60 days after service of the notice unless an earlier or

a later date is set by the Commission with the consent of any re­

spondent so served.

(c) TEMPORARY ORDER.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Whenever the Commission determines

that the alleged violation or threatened violation specified in

the notice instituting proceedings pursuant to subsection (a), or

the continuation thereof, is likely to result in significant dis­

sipation or conversion of assets, significant harm to investors,

or substantial harm to the public interest, including, but not

limited to, losses to the Securities Investor Protection Corpora­

tion, prior to the completion of the proceedings, the Commis­

sion may enter a temporary order requiring the respondent to

cease and desist from the violation or threatened violation and

to take such action to prevent the violation or threatened viola­

tion and to prevent dissipation or conversion of assets, signifi­

cant harm to investors, or substantial harm to the public inter­

est as the Commission deems appropriate pending completion

of such proceeding. Such an order shall be entered only after

notice and opportunity for a hearing, unless the Commission

determines that notice and hearing prior to entry would be im­

practicable or contrary to the public interest. A temporary

order shall become effective upon service upon the respondent

and, unless set aside, limited, or suspended by the Commission

or a court of competent jurisdiction, shall remain effective and

enforceable pending the completion of the proceedings.

(2) APPLICABILITY.—This subsection shall apply only to a

respondent that acts, or, at the time of the alleged misconduct

acted, as a broker, dealer, investment adviser, investment com­

pany, municipal securities dealer, government securities

broker, government securities dealer, or transfer agent, or is,

or was at the time of the alleged misconduct, an associated

person of, or a person seeking to become associated with, any

of the foregoing.

(d) REVIEW OF TEMPORARY ORDERS.—

(1) COMMISSION REVIEW.—At any time after the respond­

ent has been served with a temporary cease-and-desist order

pursuant to subsection (c), the respondent may apply to the

Commission to have the order set aside, limited, or suspended.

If the respondent has been served with a temporary cease-and­

desist order entered without a prior Commission hearing, the

respondent may, within 10 days after the date on which the

order was served, request a hearing on such application and

the Commission shall hold a hearing and render a decision on

such application at the earliest possible time.

(2) JUDICIAL REVIEW.—Within—

(A) 10 days after the date the respondent was served

with a temporary cease-and-desist order entered with a

prior Commission hearing, or

(B) 10 days after the Commission renders a decision

on an application and hearing under paragraph (1), with

respect to any temporary cease- and-desist order entered

without a prior Commission hearing,

the respondent may apply to the United States district court

for the district in which the respondent resides or has its prin­

cipal place of business, or for the District of Columbia, for an

order setting aside, limiting, or suspending the effectiveness or

enforcement of the order, and the court shall have jurisdiction

to enter such an order. A respondent served with a temporary

cease-and- desist order entered without a prior Commission

hearing may not apply to the court except after hearing and

decision by the Commission on the respondent’s application

under paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(3) NO AUTOMATIC STAY OF TEMPORARY ORDER.—The com­

mencement of proceedings under paragraph (2) of this sub­

section shall not, unless specifically ordered by the court, oper­

ate as a stay of the Commission’s order.

(4) EXCLUSIVE REVIEW.—Section 9(a) of this title shall not

apply to a temporary order entered pursuant to this section.

(e) AUTHORITY TO ENTER AN ORDER REQUIRING AN ACCOUNT­

ING AND DISGORGEMENT.—In any cease-and-desist proceeding

under subsection (a), the Commission may enter an order requiring

accounting and disgorgement, including reasonable interest. The

Commission is authorized to adopt rules, regulations, and orders

concerning payments to investors, rates of interest, periods of ac­

crual, and such other matters as it deems appropriate to imple­

ment this subsection.

(f) AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION TO PROHIBIT PERSONS FROM

SERVING AS OFFICERS OR DIRECTORS.—In any cease-and-desist pro­

ceeding under subsection (a), the Commission may issue an order

to prohibit, conditionally or unconditionally, and permanently or

for such period of time as it shall determine, any person who has

violated section 17(a)(1) or the rules or regulations thereunder,

from acting as an officer or director of any issuer that has a class

of securities registered pursuant to section 12 of the Securities Ex­

change Act of 1934, or that is required to file reports pursuant to

section 15(d) of that Act, if the conduct of that person demonstrates

unfitness to serve as an officer or director of any such issuer.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 8A, as added Oct. 15, 1990, Pub.

L. 101-429, title I, Sec. 102, 104 Stat. 933; amended Pub. L. 107­

204, title XI, Sec. 1105(b), July 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 809.)

COURT REVIEW OF ORDERS

SEC. 9. (a) Any person aggrieved by an order of the Commis­

sion may obtain a review of such order in the court of appeals of

the United States, within any circuit wherein such person resides

or has his principal place of business, or in the United States Court

of Appeals for the District of Columbia, by filing in such Court;

within sixty days after the entry of such order, a written petition

praying that the order of the Commission be modified or be set

aside in whole or in part. A copy of such petition shall be forthwith

transmitted by the clerk of the court to the Commission, and there­

upon the Commission shall file in the court the record upon which

the order complained of was entered, as provided in section 2112

of title 28, United States Code. No objection to the order of the

Commission shall be considered by the court unless such objection

shall have been urged before the Commission. The finding of the

Commission as to the facts, if supported by evidence, shall be con­

clusive. If either party shall apply to the court for leave to adduce

additional evidence, and shall show to the satisfaction of the court

that such additional evidence is material and that there were rea­

sonable grounds for failure to adduce such evidence in the hearing

before the Commission, the court may order such additional evi­

dence to be taken before the Commission and to be adduced upon

the hearing in such manner and upon such terms and conditions

as to the court may seem proper. The Commission may modify its

findings as to the facts, by reason of the additional evidence so

taken, and it shall file such modified or new findings, which, if sup­

ported by evidence, shall be conclusive, and its recommendation, if

any, for the modification or setting aside of the original order. The

jurisdiction of the court shall be exclusive and its judgment and de­

cree, affirming, modifying, or setting aside, in whole or in part, any

order of the Commission, shall be final, subject to review by the

Supreme Court of the United States upon certiorari or certification

as provided in section 1254 of title 28, United States Code.

(b) The commencement of proceedings under subsection (a)

shall not, unless specifically ordered by the court, operate as a stay

of the Commission’s order.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 9, 48 Stat. 80; Pub. L. 85-791,

Sec. 9, Aug. 28, 1958, 72 Stat. 945; Pub. L. 100-181, title II, Sec.

206, Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1252.)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

SEC. 10. (a) Except to the extent otherwise permitted or re­

quired pursuant to this subsection or subsections (c), (d), or (e)—

(1) a prospectus relating to a security other than a security

issued by a foreign government or political subdivision thereof,

shall contain the information contained in the registration

statement, but it need not include the documents referred to

in paragraphs (28) to (32), inclusive, of schedule A;

(2) a prospectus relating to a security issued by a foreign

government or political subdivision thereof shall contain the

information contained in the registration statement, but it

need not include the documents referred to in paragraphs (13)

and (14) of schedule B;

(3) notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (1) and

(2) of this subsection (a) when a prospectus is used more than

nine months after the effective date of the registration state­

ment, the information contained therein shall be as of a date

not more than sixteen months prior to such use, so far as such

information is known to the user of such prospectus or can be

furnished by such user without unreasonable effort or expense;

(4) there may be omitted from any prospectus any of the

information required under this subsection (a) which the Com­

mission may by rules or regulations designate as not being

necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the pro­

tection of investors.

(b) In addition to the prospectus permitted or required in sub­

section (a), the Commission shall by rules or regulations deemed

necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection

of investors permit the use of a prospectus for the purposes of sub­

section (b)(1) of section 5 which omits in part or summarizes infor­

mation in the prospectus specified in subsection (a). A prospectus

permitted under this subsection shall, except to the extent the

Commission by rules or regulations deemed necessary or appro­

priate in the public interest or for the protection of investors other­

wise provides, be filed as part of the registration statement but

shall not be deemed a part of such registration statement for the

purposes of section 11. The Commission may at any time issue an

order preventing or suspending the use of a prospectus permitted

under this subsection (b), if it has reason to believe that such pro­

spectus has not been filed (if required to be filed as part of the reg­

istration statement) or includes any untrue statement of a material

fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated there­

in or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the

circumstances under which such prospectus is or is to be used, not

misleading. Upon issuance of an order under this subsection, the

Commission shall give notice of the issuance of such order and op­

portunity for hearing by personal service or the sending of con­

firmed telegraphic notice. The Commission shall vacate or modify

the order at any time for good cause or if such prospectus has been

filed or amended in accordance with such order.

(c) Any prospectus shall contain such other information as the

Commission may by rules or regulations require as being necessary

or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of inves­

tors.

(d) In the exercise of its powers under subsections (a), (b), or

(c), the Commission shall have authority to classify prospectuses

according to the nature and circumstances of their use or the na­

ture of the security, issue, issuer, or otherwise, and, by rules and

regulations and subject to such terms and conditions as it shall

specify therein, to prescribe as to each class the form and contents

which it may find appropriate and consistent with the public inter­

est and the protection of investors.

(e) The statements or information required to be included in a

prospectus by or under authority of subsections (a), (b), (c), or (d),

when written, shall be placed in a conspicuous part of the pro­

spectus and, except as otherwise permitted by rules or regulations,

in type as large as that used generally in the body of the pro­

spectus.

 (f) In any case where a prospectus consists of a radio or tele­

vision broadcast, copies thereof shall be filed with the Commission

under such rules and regulations as it shall prescribe. The Com­

mission may by rules and regulations require the filing with it of

forms and prospectuses used in connection with the offer or sale of

securities registered under this title.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 10, 48 Stat. 81; June 6, 1934,

ch. 404, title II, Sec. 205, 48 Stat. 906; Aug. 10, 1954, ch. 667, title

I, Sec. 8, 68 Stat. 685.)

CIVIL LIABILITIES ON ACCOUNT OF FALSE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

SEC. 11. (a) In case any part of the registration statement,

when such part became effective, contained an untrue statement of

a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be

stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not

misleading, any person acquiring such security (unless it is proved

that at the time of such acquisition he knew of such untruth or

omission) may, either at law or in equity, in any court of competent

jurisdiction, sue—

(1) every person who signed the registration statement;

(2) every person who was a director of (or person per­

forming similar functions) or partner in, the issuer at the time

of the filing of the part of the registration statement with re­

spect to which his liability is asserted;

(3) every person who, with his consent, is named in the

registration statement as being or about to become a director,

person performing similar functions or partner;

(4) every accountant, engineer, or appraiser, or any person

whose profession gives authority to a statement made by him,

who has with his consent been named as having prepared or

certified any part of the registration statement, or as having

prepared or certified any report or valuation which is used in

connection with the registration statement, with respect to the

statement in such registration statement, report, or valuation,

which purports to have been prepared or certified by him;

(5) every underwriter with respect to such security.

If such person acquired the security after the issuer has made gen­

erally available to its security holders an earning statement cov­

ering a period of at least twelve months beginning after the effec­

tive date of the registration statement, then the right of recovery

under this subsection shall be conditioned on proof that such per­

son acquired the security relying upon such untrue statement in

the registration statement or relying upon the registration state­

ment and not knowing of such omission, but such reliance may be

established without proof of the reading of the registration state­

ment by such person.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) no person,

other than the issuer, shall be liable as provided therein who shall

sustain the burden of proof—

(1) that before the effective date of the part of the registra­

tion statement with respect to which his liability is asserted

(A) he had resigned from or had taken such steps as are per­

mitted by law to resign from, or ceased or refused to act in,

every office, capacity, or relationship in which he was described

in the registration statement as acting or agreeing to act, and

(B) he had advised the Commission and the issuer in writing

that he had taken such action and that he would not be re­

sponsible for such part of the registration statement; or

(2) that if such part of the registration statement became

effective without his knowledge, upon becoming aware of such

fact he forthwith acted and advised the Commission, in accord­

ance with paragraph (1), and, in addition, gave reasonable pub­

lic notice that such part of the registration statement had be­

come effective without his knowledge; or

(3) that (A) as regards any part of the registration state­

ment not purporting to be made on the authority of an expert,

and not purporting to be a copy of or extract from a report or

valuation of an expert, and not purporting to be made on the

authority of a public official document or statement, he had,

after reasonable investigation, reasonable ground to believe

and did believe, at the time such part of the registration state­

ment became effective, that the statements therein were true

and that there was no omission to state a material fact re­

quired to be stated therein or necessary to make the state­

ments therein not misleading; and (B) as regards any part of

the registration statement purporting to be made upon his au­

thority as an expert or purporting to be a copy of or extract

from a report or valuation of himself as an expert, (i) he had,

after reasonable investigation, reasonable ground to believe

and did believe, at the time such part of the registration state­

ment became effective, that the statements therein were true

and that there was no omission to state a material fact re­

quired to be stated therein or necessary to make the state­

ments therein not misleading, or (ii) such part of the registra­

tion statement did not fairly represent his statement as an ex­

pert or was not a fair copy of or extract from his report or valu­

ation as an expert; and (C) as regards any part of the registra­

tion statement purporting to be made on the authority of an

expert (other than himself) or purporting to be a copy of or ex­

tract from a report or valuation of an expert (other than him­

self), he had no reasonable ground to believe and did not be­

lieve, at the time such part of the registration statement be­

came effective, that the statements therein were untrue or that

there was an omission to state a material fact required to be

stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not

misleading, or that such part of the registration statement did

not fairly represent the statement of the expert or was not a

fair copy of or extract from the report or valuation of the ex­

pert; and (D) as regards any part of the registration statement

purporting to be a statement made by an official person or pur­

porting to be a copy of or extract from a public official docu­

ment, he had no reasonable ground to believe and did not be­

lieve, at the time such part of the registration statement be­

came effective, that the statements therein were untrue, or

that there was an ommission to state a material fact required

to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements there­

in not misleading, or that such part of the registration state­

ment did not fairly represent the statement made by the offi­

cial person or was not a fair copy of or extract from the public

official document.

(c) In determining, for the purpose of paragraph (3) of sub­

section (b) of this section, what constitutes reasonable investigation

and reasonable ground for belief, the standard of reasonableness

shall be that required of a prudent man in the management of his

own property.

(d) If any person becomes an underwriter with respect to the

security after the part of the registration statement with respect to

which his liability is asserted has become effective, then for the

purposes of paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of this section such part

of the registration statement shall be considered as having become

effective with respect to such person as of the time when he be­

came an underwriter.

(e) The suit authorized under subsection (a) may be to recover

such damages as shall represent the difference between the

amount paid for the security (not exceeding the price at which the

security was offered to the public) and (1) the value thereof as of

the time such suit was brought, or (2) the price at which such secu­

rity shall have been disposed of in the market before suit, or (3)

the price at which such security shall have been disposed of after

suit but before judgment if such damages shall be less than the

damages representing the difference between the amount paid for

the security (not exceeding the price at which the security was of­

fered to the public) and the value thereof as of the time such suit

was brought: Provided, That if the defendant proves that any por­

tion or all of such damages represents other than the depreciation

in value of such security resulting from such part of the registra­

tion statement, with respect to which his liability is asserted, not

being true or omitting to state a material fact required to be stated

therein or necessary to make the statements therein not mis­

leading, such portion of or all such damages shall not be recover­

able. In no event shall any underwriter (unless such underwriter

shall have knowingly received from the issuer for acting as an un­

derwriter some benefit, directly or indirectly, in which all other un­

derwriters similarly situated did not share in proportion to their

respective interests in the underwriting) be liable in any suit or as

a consequence of suits authorized under subsection (a) for damages

in excess of the total price at which the securities underwritten by

him and distributed to the public were offered to the public. In any

suit under this or any other section of this title the court may, in

its discretion, require an undertaking for the payment of the costs

of such suit, including reasonable attorney’s fees, and if judgment

shall be rendered against a party litigant, upon the motion of the

other party litigant, such costs may be assessed in favor of such

party litigant (whether or not such undertaking has been required)

if the court believes the suit or the defense to have been without

merit, in an amount sufficient to reimburse him for the reasonable

expenses incurred by him, in connection with such suit, such costs

to be taxed in the manner usually provided for taxing of costs in

the court in which the suit was heard.

 (f)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), all or any one or

more of the persons specified in subsection (a) shall be jointly and

severally liable, and every person who becomes liable to make any

payment under this section may recover contribution as in cases of

contract from any person who, if sued separately, would have been

liable to make the same payment, unless the person who has be­

come liable was, and the other was not, guilty of fraudulent mis­

representation.

(2)(A) The liability of an outside director under subsection (e)

shall be determined in accordance with section 21D(f) of the Securi­

ties Exchange Act of 1934.

(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘‘outside director’’

shall have the meaning given such term by rule or regulation of

the Commission.

(g) In no case shall the amount recoverable under this section

exceed the price at which the security was offered to the public.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 11, 48 Stat. 82; June 6, 1934,

ch. 404, title II, Sec. 206, 48 Stat. 907; Pub. L. 104-67, title II, Sec.

201(b), Dec. 22, 1995, 109 Stat. 762; Pub. L. 105-353, title III, Sec.

301(a)(2), Nov. 3, 1998, 112 Stat. 3235.)

CIVIL LIABILITIES ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH PROSPECTUSES AND

COMMUNICATIONS

SEC. 12. (a) IN GENERAL.—Any person who—

(1) offers or sells a security in violation of section 5, or

(2) offers or sells a security (whether or not exempted by

the provisions of section 3, other than paragraphs (2) and (14)

of subsection (a) thereof), by the use of any means or instru­

ments of transportation or communication in interstate com­

merce or of the mails, by means of a prospectus or oral commu­

nication, which includes an untrue statement of a material fact

or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the

statements, in the light of the circumstances under which they

were made, not misleading (the purchaser not knowing of such

untruth or omission), and who shall not sustain the burden of

proof that he did not know, and in the exercise of reasonable

care could not have known, of such untruth or omission,

shall be liable, subject to subsection (b), to the person purchasing

such security from him, who may sue either at law or in equity in

any court of competent jurisdiction, to recover the consideration

paid for such security with interest thereon, less the amount of any

income received thereon, upon the tender of such security, or for

damages if he no longer owns the security.

(b) LOSS CAUSATION.—In an action described in subsection

(a)(2), if the person who offered or sold such security proves that

any portion or all of the amount recoverable under subsection (a)(2)

represents other than the depreciation in value of the subject secu­

rity resulting from such part of the prospectus or oral communica­

tion, with respect to which the liability of that person is asserted,

not being true or omitting to state a material fact required to be

stated therein or necessary to make the statement not misleading,

then such portion or amount, as the case may be, shall not be re­

coverable.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 12, 48 Stat. 84; Aug. 10, 1954,

ch. 667, title I, Sec. 9, 68 Stat. 686; Pub. L. 104-67, title I, Sec. 105,

Dec. 22, 1995, 109 Stat. 757; Pub. L. 106-554, Sec. 1(a)(5) [title II,

Sec. 208(a)(3)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A-435.)

LIMITATION OF ACTIONS

SEC. 13. No action shall be maintained to enforce any liability

created under section 11 or section 12(a)(2) unless brought within

one year after the discovery of the untrue statement or the omis­

sion, or after such discovery should have been made by the exercise

of reasonable diligence, or, if the action is to enforce a liability cre­

ated under section 12(a)(1), unless brought within one year after

the violation upon which it is based. In no event shall any such ac­

tion be brought to enforce a liability created under section 11 or

section 12(a)(1) more than three years after the security was bona

fide offered to the public, or under section 12(a)(2) more than three

years after the sale.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 13, 48 Stat. 84; June 6, 1934,

ch. 404, title II, Sec. 207, 48 Stat. 908; Pub. L. 105-353, title III,

Sec. 301(a)(3), Nov. 3, 1998, 112 Stat. 3235.)

CONTRARY STIPULATIONS VOID

SEC. 14. Any condition, stipulation, or provision binding any

person acquiring any security to waive compliance with any provi­

sion of this title or of the rules and regulations of the Commission

shall be void.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 14, 48 Stat. 84.)

LIABILITY OF CONTROLLING PERSONS

SEC. 15. Every person who, by or through stock ownership,

agency, or otherwise, or who, pursuant to or in connection with an

agreement or understanding with one or more other persons by or

through stock ownership, agency, or otherwise, controls any person

liable under section 11 or 12, shall also be liable jointly and sever­

ally with and to the same extent as such controlled person to any

person to whom such controlled person is liable, unless the control­

ling person had no knowledge of or reasonable ground to believe in

the existence of the facts by reason of which the liability of the con­

trolled person is alleged to exist.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 15, 48 Stat. 84; June 6, 1934,

ch. 404, title II, Sec. 208, 48 Stat. 908.)

SEC. 16. ADDITIONAL REMEDIES; LIMITATION ON REMEDIES.

(a) REMEDIES ADDITIONAL.—Except as provided in subsection

(b), the rights and remedies provided by this title shall be in addi­

tion to any and all other rights and remedies that may exist at law

or in equity.

(b) CLASS ACTION LIMITATIONS.—No covered class action based

upon the statutory or common law of any State or subdivision

thereof may be maintained in any State or Federal court by any

private party alleging—

(1) an untrue statement or omission of a material fact in

connection with the purchase or sale of a covered security; or

(2) that the defendant used or employed any manipulative

or deceptive device or contrivance in connection with the pur­

chase or sale of a covered security.

(c) REMOVAL OF COVERED CLASS ACTIONS.—Any covered class

action brought in any State court involving a covered security, as

set forth in subsection (b), shall be removable to the Federal dis­

trict court for the district in which the action is pending, and shall

be subject to subsection (b).

(d) PRESERVATION OF CERTAIN ACTIONS.—

(1) ACTIONS UNDER STATE LAW OF STATE OF INCORPORA­

TION.—

(A) ACTIONS PRESERVED.—Notwithstanding subsection

(b) or (c), a covered class action described in subparagraph

(B) of this paragraph that is based upon the statutory or

common law of the State in which the issuer is incor­

porated (in the case of a corporation) or organized (in the

case of any other entity) may be maintained in a State or

Federal court by a private party.

(B) PERMISSIBLE ACTIONS.—A covered class action is

described in this subparagraph if it involves—

(i) the purchase or sale of securities by the issuer

or an affiliate of the issuer exclusively from or to hold­

ers of equity securities of the issuer; or

(ii) any recommendation, position, or other com­

munication with respect to the sale of securities of the

issuer that—

(I) is made by or on behalf of the issuer or an

affiliate of the issuer to holders of equity securi­

ties of the issuer; and

(II) concerns decisions of those equity holders

with respect to voting their securities, acting in

response to a tender or exchange offer, or exer­

cising dissenters’ or appraisal rights.

(2) STATE ACTIONS.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision

of this section, nothing in this section may be construed to

preclude a State or political subdivision thereof or a State

pension plan from bringing an action involving a covered

security on its own behalf, or as a member of a class com­

prised solely of other States, political subdivisions, or State

pension plans that are named plaintiffs, and that have au­

thorized participation, in such action.

 (B) STATE PENSION PLAN DEFINED.—For purposes of

this paragraph, the term ‘‘State pension plan’’ means a

pension plan established and maintained for its employees

by the government of the State or political subdivision

thereof, or by any agency or instrumentality thereof.

(3) ACTIONS UNDER CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN

ISSUERS AND INDENTURE TRUSTEES.—Notwithstanding sub­

section (b) or (c), a covered class action that seeks to enforce

a contractual agreement between an issuer and an indenture

trustee may be maintained in a State or Federal court by a

party to the agreement or a successor to such party.

(4) REMAND OF REMOVED ACTIONS.—In an action that has

been removed from a State court pursuant to subsection (c), if

the Federal court determines that the action may be main­

tained in State court pursuant to this subsection, the Federal

court shall remand such action to such State court.

(e) PRESERVATION OF STATE JURISDICTION.—The securities

commission (or any agency or office performing like functions) of

any State shall retain jurisdiction under the laws of such State to

investigate and bring enforcement actions.

(f) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section, the following

definitions shall apply:

(1) AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUER.—The term ‘‘affiliate of the

issuer’’ means a person that directly or indirectly, through one

or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under

common control with, the issuer.

(2) COVERED CLASS ACTION.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘covered class action’’

means—

(i) any single lawsuit in which—

(I) damages are sought on behalf of more than

50 persons or prospective class members, and

questions of law or fact common to those persons

or members of the prospective class, without ref­

erence to issues of individualized reliance on an

alleged misstatement or omission, predominate

over any questions affecting only individual per­

sons or members; or

(II) one or more named parties seek to recover

damages on a representative basis on behalf of

themselves and other unnamed parties similarly

situated, and questions of law or fact common to

those persons or members of the prospective class

predominate over any questions affecting only in­

dividual persons or members; or

(ii) any group of lawsuits filed in or pending in the

same court and involving common questions of law or

fact, in which—

(I) damages are sought on behalf of more than

50 persons; and

(II) the lawsuits are joined, consolidated, or

otherwise proceed as a single action for any pur­

pose.

 (B) EXCEPTION FOR DERIVATIVE ACTIONS.— Notwith­

standing subparagraph (A), the term ‘‘covered class action’’

does not include an exclusively derivative action brought

by one or more shareholders on behalf of a corporation.

(C) COUNTING OF CERTAIN CLASS MEMBERS.—For pur­

poses of this paragraph, a corporation, investment com­

pany, pension plan, partnership, or other entity, shall be

treated as one person or prospective class member, but

only if the entity is not established for the purpose of par­

ticipating in the action.

(D) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this para­

graph shall be construed to affect the discretion of a State

court in determining whether actions filed in such court

should be joined, consolidated, or otherwise allowed to pro­

ceed as a single action.

(3) COVERED SECURITY.—The term ‘‘covered security’’

means a security that satisfies the standards for a covered se­

curity specified in paragraph (1) or (2) of section 18(b) at the

time during which it is alleged that the misrepresentation,

omission, or manipulative or deceptive conduct occurred, except

that such term shall not include any debt security that is ex­

empt from registration under this title pursuant to rules issued

by the Commission under section 4(2).

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 16, 48 Stat. 84; Pub. L. 105-353,

title I, Sec. 101(a)(1), Nov. 3, 1998, 112 Stat. 3227.)

FRAUDULENT INTERSTATE TRANSACTIONS

SEC. 17. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person in the offer or

sale of any securities or any security-based swap agreement (as de­

fined in section 206B of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act) by the use

of any means or instruments of transportation or communication in

interstate commerce or by use of the mails, directly or indirectly—

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

(2) to obtain money or property by means of any untrue

statement of a material fact or any omission to state a material

fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light

of the circumstances under which they were made, not mis­

leading; or

(3) to engage in any transaction, practice, or course of busi­

ness which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon

the purchaser.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person, by the use of any

means or instruments of transportation or communication in inter­

state commerce or by the use of the mails, to publish, give publicity

to, or circulate any notice, circular, advertisement, newspaper, arti­

cle, letter, investment service, or communication which, though not

purporting to offer a security for sale, describes such security for

a consideration received or to be received, directly or indirectly,

from an issuer, underwriter, or dealer, without fully disclosing the

receipt, whether past or prospective, of such consideration and the

amount thereof.

 (c) The exemptions provided in section 3 shall not apply to the

provisions of this section.

(d) The authority of the Commission under this section with re­

spect to security-based swap agreements (as defined in section

206B of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act) shall be subject to the re­

strictions and limitations of section 2A(b) of this title.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 17, 48 Stat. 84; Aug. 10, 1954,

ch. 667, title I, Sec. 10, 68 Stat. 686; Pub. L. 106-554, Sec. 1(a)(5)

[title III, Sec. 302(b), (c)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A­

452.)

SEC. 18. EXEMPTION FROM STATE REGULATION OF SECURITIES OF­

FERINGS.

(a) SCOPE OF EXEMPTION.—Except as otherwise provided in

this section, no law, rule, regulation, or order, or other administra­

tive action of any State or any political subdivision thereof—

(1) requiring, or with respect to, registration or qualifica­

tion of securities, or registration or qualification of securities

transactions, shall directly or indirectly apply to a security

that—

(A) is a covered security; or

(B) will be a covered security upon completion of the

transaction;

(2) shall directly or indirectly prohibit, limit, or impose any

conditions upon the use of—

(A) with respect to a covered security described in sub­

section (b), any offering document that is prepared by or

on behalf of the issuer; or

(B) any proxy statement, report to shareholders, or

other disclosure document relating to a covered security or

the issuer thereof that is required to be and is filed with

the Commission or any national securities organization

registered under section 15A of the Securities Exchange

Act of 1934, except that this subparagraph does not apply

to the laws, rules, regulations, or orders, or other adminis­

trative actions of the State of incorporation of the issuer;

or

(3) shall directly or indirectly prohibit, limit, or impose

conditions, based on the merits of such offering or issuer, upon

the offer or sale of any security described in paragraph (1).

(b) COVERED SECURITIES.—For purposes of this section, the fol­

lowing are covered securities:

(1) EXCLUSIVE FEDERAL REGISTRATION OF NATIONALLY

TRADED SECURITIES.—A security is a covered security if such

security is—

(A) listed, or authorized for listing, on the New York

Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange, or listed,

or authorized for listing, on the National Market System

of the Nasdaq Stock Market (or any successor to such enti­

ties);

(B) listed, or authorized for listing, on a national secu­

rities exchange (or tier or segment thereof) that has listing

standards that the Commission determines by rule (on its

own initiative or on the basis of a petition) are substan­

tially similar to the listing standards applicable to securi­

ties described in subparagraph (A); or

(C) is a security of the same issuer that is equal in se­

niority or that is a senior security to a security described

in subparagraph (A) or (B).

(2) EXCLUSIVE FEDERAL REGISTRATION OF INVESTMENT

COMPANIES.—A security is a covered security if such security is

a security issued by an investment company that is registered,

or that has filed a registration statement, under the Invest­

ment Company Act of 1940.

(3) SALES TO QUALIFIED PURCHASERS.—A security is a cov­

ered security with respect to the offer or sale of the security

to qualified purchasers, as defined by the Commission by rule.

In prescribing such rule, the Commission may define the term

‘‘qualified purchaser’’ differently with respect to different cat­

egories of securities, consistent with the public interest and the

protection of investors.

(4) EXEMPTION IN CONNECTION WITH CERTAIN EXEMPT OF­

FERINGS.—A security is a covered security with respect to a

transaction that is exempt from registration under this title

pursuant to—

(A) paragraph (1) or (3) of section 4, and the issuer of

such security files reports with the Commission pursuant

to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of

1934;

(B) section 4(4);

(C) section 3(a), other than the offer or sale of a secu­

rity that is exempt from such registration pursuant to

paragraph (4), (10), or (11) of such section, except that a

municipal security that is exempt from such registration

pursuant to paragraph (2) of such section is not a covered

security with respect to the offer or sale of such security

in the State in which the issuer of such security is located;

or

(D) Commission rules or regulations issued under sec­

tion 4(2), except that this subparagraph does not prohibit

a State from imposing notice filing requirements that are

substantially similar to those required by rule or regula­

tion under section 4(2) that are in effect on September 1,

1996.

(c) PRESERVATION OF AUTHORITY.—

(1) FRAUD AUTHORITY.—Consistent with this section, the

securities commission (or any agency or office performing like

functions) of any State shall retain jurisdiction under the laws

of such State to investigate and bring enforcement actions with

respect to fraud or deceit, or unlawful conduct by a broker or

dealer, in connection with securities or securities transactions.

(2) PRESERVATION OF FILING REQUIREMENTS.—

(A) NOTICE FILINGS PERMITTED.—Nothing in this sec­

tion prohibits the securities commission (or any agency or

office performing like functions) of any State from requir­

ing the filing of any document filed with the Commission

pursuant to this title, together with annual or periodic re­

ports of the value of securities sold or offered to be sold to

persons located in the State (if such sales data is not in­

cluded in documents filed with the Commission), solely for

notice purposes and the assessment of any fee, together

with a consent to service of process and any required fee.

(B) PRESERVATION OF FEES.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—Until otherwise provided by law,

rule, regulation, or order, or other administrative ac­

tion of any State, or any political subdivision thereof,

adopted after the date of enactment of the National

Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, filing or

registration fees with respect to securities or securities

transactions shall continue to be collected in amounts

determined pursuant to State law as in effect on the

day before such date.

(ii) SCHEDULE.—The fees required by this sub­

paragraph shall be paid, and all necessary supporting

data on sales or offers for sales required under sub­

paragraph (A), shall be reported on the same schedule

as would have been applicable had the issuer not re­

lied on the exemption provided in subsection (a).

(C) AVAILABILITY OF PREEMPTION CONTINGENT ON PAY­

MENT OF FEES.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—During the period beginning on

the date of enactment of the National Securities Mar­

kets Improvement Act of 1996 and ending 3 years

after that date of enactment, the securities commis­

sion (or any agency or office performing like functions)

of any State may require the registration of securities

issued by any issuer who refuses to pay the fees re­

quired by subparagraph (B).

(ii) DELAYS.—For purposes of this subparagraph,

delays in payment of fees or underpayments of fees

that are promptly remedied shall not constitute a re­

fusal to pay fees.

(D) FEES NOT PERMITTED ON LISTED SECURITIES.— Not­

withstanding subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), no filing or

fee may be required with respect to any security that is a

covered security pursuant to subsection (b)(1), or will be

such a covered security upon completion of the transaction,

or is a security of the same issuer that is equal in seniority

or that is a senior security to a security that is a covered

security pursuant to subsection (b)(1).

(3) ENFORCEMENT OF REQUIREMENTS.—Nothing in this sec­

tion shall prohibit the securities commission (or any agency or

office performing like functions) of any State from suspending

the offer or sale of securities within such State as a result of

the failure to submit any filing or fee required under law and

permitted under this section.

(d) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section, the following

definitions shall apply:

(1) OFFERING DOCUMENT.—The term ‘‘offering document’’—

 (A) has the meaning given the term ‘‘prospectus’’ in

section 2(a)(10), but without regard to the provisions of

subparagraphs (a) and (b) of that section; and

(B) includes a communication that is not deemed to

offer a security pursuant to a rule of the Commission.

(2) PREPARED BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE ISSUER.—Not later

than 6 months after the date of enactment of the National Se­

curities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, the Commission

shall, by rule, define the term ‘‘prepared by or on behalf of the

issuer’’ for purposes of this section.

(3) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ has the same meaning as in

section 3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

(4) SENIOR SECURITY.—The term ‘‘senior security’’ means

any bond, debenture, note, or similar obligation or instrument

constituting a security and evidencing indebtedness, and any

stock of a class having priority over any other class as to dis­

tribution of assets or payment of dividends.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 18, 48 Stat. 85; Pub. L. 104-290,

title I, Sec. 102(a), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3417; Pub. L. 105-353,

title III, Sec. 301(a)(4), 302, Nov. 3, 1998, 112 Stat. 3235, 3237.)

SPECIAL POWERS OF COMMISSION

SEC. 19. (a) The Commission shall have authority from time to

time to make, amend, and rescind such rules and regulations as

may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this title, including

rules and regulations governing registration statements and

prospectuses for various classes of securities and issuers, and defin­

ing accounting, technical and trade terms used in this title. Among

other things, the Commission shall have authority, for the purposes

of this title, to prescribe the form or forms in which required infor­

mation shall be set forth, the items or details to be shown in the

balance sheet and earning statement, and the methods to be fol­

lowed in the preparation of accounts, in the appraisal or valuation

of assets and liabilities, in the determination of depreciation and

depletion, in the differentiation of recurring and non-recurring in­

come, in the differentiation of investment and operating income,

and in the preparation, where the Commission deems it necessary

or desirable, of consolidated balance sheets or income accounts of

any person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by the

issuer, or any person under direct or indirect common control with

the issuer. The rules and regulations of the Commission shall be

effective upon publication in the manner which the Commission

shall prescribe. No provision of this title imposing any liability

shall apply to any act done or omitted in good faith in conformity

with any rule or regulation of the Commission, notwithstanding

that such rule or regulation may, after such act or omission, be

amended or rescinded or be determined by judicial or other author­

ity to be invalid for any reason.

(b) RECOGNITION OF ACCOUNTING STANDARDS.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out its authority under sub­

section (a) and under section 13(b) of the Securities Exchange

Act of 1934, the Commission may recognize, as ‘‘generally ac­

cepted’’ for purposes of the securities laws, any accounting

principles established by a standard setting body—

(A) that—

(i) is organized as a private entity;

(ii) has, for administrative and operational pur­

poses, a board of trustees (or equivalent body) serving

in the public interest, the majority of whom are not,

concurrent with their service on such board, and have

not been during the 2-year period preceding such serv­

ice, associated persons of any registered public ac­

counting firm;

(iii) is funded as provided in section 109 of the

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002;

(iv) has adopted procedures to ensure prompt con­

sideration, by majority vote of its members, of changes

to accounting principles necessary to reflect emerging

accounting issues and changing business practices;

and

(v) considers, in adopting accounting principles,

the need to keep standards current in order to reflect

changes in the business environment, the extent to

which international convergence on high quality ac­

counting standards is necessary or appropriate in the

public interest and for the protection of investors; and

(B) that the Commission determines has the capacity

to assist the Commission in fulfilling the requirements of

subsection (a) and section 13(b) of the Securities Exchange

Act of 1934, because, at a minimum, the standard setting

body is capable of improving the accuracy and effective­

ness of financial reporting and the protection of investors

under the securities laws.

(2) ANNUAL REPORT.—A standard setting body described in

paragraph (1) shall submit an annual report to the Commis­

sion and the public, containing audited financial statements of

that standard setting body.

(c) For the purpose of all investigations which, in the opinion

of the Commission, are necessary and proper for the enforcement

of this title, any member of the Commission or any officer or offi­

cers designated by it are empowered to administer oaths and affir­

mations, subpena witnesses, take evidence, and require the produc­

tion of any books, papers, or other documents which the Commis­

sion deems relevant or material to the inquiry. Such attendance of

witnesses and the production of such documentary evidence may be

required from any place in the United States or any Territory at

any designated place of hearing.

(d)(1) The Commission is authorized to cooperate with any as­

sociation composed of duly constituted representatives of State gov­

ernments whose primary assignment is the regulation of the secu­

rities business within those States, and which, in the judgment of

the Commission, could assist in effectuating greater uniformity in

Federal-State securities matters. The Commission shall, at its dis­

cretion, cooperate, coordinate, and share information with such an

association for the purposes of carrying out the policies and

projects set forth in paragraphs (2) and (3).

 (2) It is the declared policy of this subsection that there should

be greater Federal and State cooperation in securities matters, in­

cluding—

(A) maximum effectiveness of regulation,

(B) maximum uniformity in Federal and State regulatory

standards,

(C) minimum interference with the business of capital for­

mation, and

(D) a substantial reduction in costs and paperwork to di­

minish the burdens of raising investment capital (particularly

by small business) and to diminish the costs of the administra­

tion of the Government programs involved.

(3) The purpose of this subsection is to engender cooperation

between the Commission, any such association of State securities

officials, and other duly constituted securities associations in the

following areas:

(A) the sharing of information regarding the registration or

exemption of securities issues applied for in the various States;

(B) the development and maintenance of uniform securities

forms and procedures; and

(C) the development of a uniform exemption from registra­

tion for small issuers which can be agreed upon among several

States or between the States and the Federal Government. The

Commission shall have the authority to adopt such an exemp­

tion as agreed upon for Federal purposes. Nothing in this Act

shall be construed as authorizing preemption of State law.

(4) In order to carry out these policies and purposes, the Com­

mission shall conduct an annual conference as well as such other

meetings as are deemed necessary, to which representatives from

such securities associations, securities self-regulatory organiza­

tions, agencies, and private organizations involved in capital forma­

tion shall be invited to participate.

(5) For fiscal year 1982, and for each of the three succeeding

fiscal years, there are authorized to be appropriated such amounts

as may be necessary and appropriate to carry out the policies, pro­

visions, and purposes of this subsection. Any sums so appropriated

shall remain available until expended.

(6) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, neither the

Commission nor any other person shall be required to establish any

procedures not specifically required by the securities laws, as that

term is defined in section 3(a)(47) of the Securities Exchange Act

of 1934, or by chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code, in connec­

tion with cooperation, coordination, or consultation with—

(A) any association referred to in paragraph (1) or (3) or

any conference or meeting referred to in paragraph (4), while

such association, conference, or meeting is carrying out activi­

ties in furtherance of the provisions of this subsection; or

(B) any forum, agency or organization, or group referred to

in section 503 of the Small Business Investment Incentive Act

of 1980, while such forum, agency, organization, or group is

carrying out activities in furtherance of the provisions of such

section 503.

As used in this paragraph, the terms ‘‘association’’, ‘‘conference’’,

‘‘meeting’’, ‘‘forum’’, ‘‘agency’’, ‘‘organization’’, and ‘‘group’’ include

any committee, subgroup, or representative of such entities.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 19, 48 Stat. 85; June 6, 1934,

ch. 404, title II, Sec. 209, 48 Stat. 908; Feb. 5, 1976, Pub. L. 94­

210, title III, Sec. 308(a)(2), 90 Stat. 57; Oct. 21, 1980, Pub. L. 96­

477, title V, Sec. 505, 94 Stat. 2292; Dec. 4, 1987, Pub. L. 100-181,

title II, Sec. 207, 101 Stat. 1252; Pub. L. 107-204, title I, Sec.

108(a), July 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 768.)

INJUNCTIONS AND PROSECUTION OF OFFENSES

SEC. 20. (a) Whenever it shall appear to the Commission, ei­

ther upon complaint or otherwise, that the provisions of this title,

or of any rule or regulation prescribed under authority thereof,

have been or are about to be violated, it may, in its discretion, ei­

ther require or permit such person to file with it a statement in

writing, under oath, or otherwise, as to all the facts and cir­

cumstances concerning the subject matter which it believes to be

in the public interest to investigate, and may investigate such

facts.

(b) Whenever it shall appear to the Commission that any per­

son is engaged or about to engage in any acts or practices which

constitute or will constitute a violation of the provisions of this

title, or of any rule or regulation prescribed under authority there­

of, the Commission may, in its discretion, bring an action in any

district court of the United States, or United States court of any

Territory, to enjoin such acts or practices, and upon a proper show­

ing, a permanent or temporary injunction or restraining order shall

be granted without bond. The Commission may transmit such evi­

dence as may be available concerning such acts or practices to the

Attorney General who may, in his discretion, institute the nec­

essary criminal proceedings under this title. Any such criminal pro­

ceeding may be brought either in the district wherein the trans­

mittal of the prospectus or security complained of begins, or in the

district wherein such prospectus or security is received.

(c) Upon application of the Commission, the district courts of

the United States and the United States courts of any Territory

shall have jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus commanding

any person to comply with the provisions of this title or any order

of the Commission made in pursuance thereof.

(d) MONEY PENALTIES IN CIVIL ACTIONS.—

(1) AUTHORITY OF COMMISSION.—Whenever it shall appear to

the Commission that any person has violated any provision of this

title, the rules or regulations thereunder, or a cease-and-desist

order entered by the Commission pursuant to section 8A of this

title, other than by committing a violation subject to a penalty pur­

suant to section 21A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the

Commission may bring an action in a United States district court

to seek, and the court shall have jurisdiction to impose, upon a

proper showing, a civil penalty to be paid by the person who com­

mitted such violation.

(2) AMOUNT OF PENALTY.—

 (A) FIRST TIER.—The amount of the penalty shall be deter­

mined by the court in light of the facts and circumstances. For

each violation, the amount of the penalty shall not exceed the

greater of (i) $5,000 for a natural person or $50,000 for any

other person, or (ii) the gross amount of pecuniary gain to such

defendant as a result of the violation.

(B) SECOND TIER.—Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the

amount of penalty for each such violation shall not exceed the

greater of (i) $50,000 for a natural person or $250,000 for any

other person, or (ii) the gross amount of pecuniary gain to such

defendant as a result of the violation, if the violation described

in paragraph (1) involved fraud, deceit, manipulation, or delib­

erate or reckless disregard of a regulatory requirement.

(C) THIRD TIER.—Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) and

(B), the amount of penalty for each such violation shall not ex­

ceed the greater of (i) $100,000 for a natural person or

$500,000 for any other person, or (ii) the gross amount of pecu­

niary gain to such defendant as a result of the violation, if—

(I) the violation described in paragraph (1) involved

fraud, deceit, manipulation, or deliberate or reckless dis­

regard of a regulatory requirement; and

(II) such violation directly or indirectly resulted in

substantial losses or created a significant risk of substan­

tial losses to other persons.

(3) PROCEDURES FOR COLLECTION.—

(A) PAYMENT OF PENALTY TO TREASURY.—A penalty im­

posed under this section shall be payable into the Treasury of

the United States, except as otherwise provided in section 308

of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

(B) COLLECTION OF PENALTIES.—If a person upon whom

such a penalty is imposed shall fail to pay such penalty within

the time prescribed in the court’s order, the Commission may

refer the matter to the Attorney General who shall recover

such penalty by action in the appropriate United States district

court.

(C) REMEDY NOT EXCLUSIVE.—The actions authorized by

this subsection may be brought in addition to any other action

that the Commission or the Attorney General is entitled to

bring.

(D) JURISDICTION AND VENUE.—For purposes of section 22

of this title, actions under this section shall be actions to en­

force a liability or a duty created by this title.

(4) SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO A VIOLATION OF A

CEASE-AND- DESIST ORDER.—In an action to enforce a cease-and­

desist order entered by the Commission pursuant to section 8A,

each separate violation of such order shall be a separate offense,

except that in the case of a violation through a continuing failure

to comply with such an order, each day of the failure to comply

with the order shall be deemed a separate offense.

(e) AUTHORITY OF A COURT TO PROHIBIT PERSONS FROM SERV­

ING AS OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS.—In any proceeding under sub­

section (b), the court may prohibit, conditionally or unconditionally,

and permanently or for such period of time as it shall determine,

any person who violated section 17(a)(1) of this title from acting as

an officer or director of any issuer that has a class of securities reg­

istered pursuant to section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of

1934 or that is required to file reports pursuant to section 15(d) of

such Act if the person’s conduct demonstrates unfitness to serve as

an officer or director of any such issuer.

(f) PROHIBITION OF ATTORNEYS’ FEES PAID FROM COMMISSION

DISGORGEMENT FUNDS.—Except as otherwise ordered by the court

upon motion by the Commission, or, in the case of an administra­

tive action, as otherwise ordered by the Commission, funds dis­

gorged as the result of an action brought by the Commission in

Federal court, or as a result of any Commission administrative ac­

tion, shall not be distributed as payment for attorneys’ fees or ex­

penses incurred by private parties seeking distribution of the dis­

gorged funds.

(g) AUTHORITY OF A COURT TO PROHIBIT PERSONS FROM PAR­

TICIPATING IN AN OFFERING OF PENNY STOCK.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—In any proceeding under subsection (a)

against any person participating in, or, at the time of the al­

leged misconduct, who was participating in, an offering of

penny stock, the court may prohibit that person from partici­

pating in an offering of penny stock, conditionally or uncondi­

tionally, and permanently or for such period of time as the

court shall determine.

(2) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this subsection, the term

‘‘person participating in an offering of penny stock’’ includes

any person engaging in activities with a broker, dealer, or

issuer for purposes of issuing, trading, or inducing or attempt­

ing to induce the purchase or sale of, any penny stock. The

Commission may, by rule or regulation, define such term to in­

clude other activities, and may, by rule, regulation, or order,

exempt any person or class of persons, in whole or in part, con­

ditionally or unconditionally, from inclusion in such term.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 20, 48 Stat. 86; Dec. 4, 1987,

Pub. L. 100-181, title II, Sec. 208, 101 Stat. 1253; Oct. 15, 1990,

Pub. L. 101-429, title I, Sec. 101, 104 Stat. 932; Dec. 22, 1995, Pub.

L. 104-67, title I, Sec. 103(b)(1), 109 Stat. 756; Pub. L. 107-204,

title III, Secs. 305(a)(2), 308(d)(3), title VI, Sec. 603(b), July 30,

2002, 116 Stat. 779, 785, 795.)

HEARINGS BY COMMISSION

SEC. 21. All hearings shall be public and may be held before

the Commission or an officer or officers of the Commission des­

ignated by it, and appropriate records thereof shall be kept.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 21, 48 Stat. 86.)

JURISDICTION OF OFFENSES AND SUITS

SEC. 22. (a) The district courts of the United States and United

States courts of any Territory shall have jurisdiction of offenses

and violations under this title and under the rules and regulations

promulgated by the Commission in respect thereto, and, concurrent

with State and Territorial courts, except as provided in section 16

with respect to covered class actions, of all suits in equity and ac­

tions at law brought to enforce any liability or duty created by this

title. Any such suit or action may be brought in the district where­

in the defendant is found or is an inhabitant or transacts business,

or in the district where the offer or sale took place, if the defendant

participated therein, and process in such cases may be served in

any other district of which the defendant is an inhabitant or wher­

ever the defendant may be found. Judgments and decrees so ren­

dered shall be subject to review as provided in sections 1254, 1291,

1292, and 1294 of title 28, United States Code. Except as provided

in section 16(c), no case arising under this title and brought in any

State court of competent jurisdiction shall be removed to any court

of the United States. No costs shall be assessed for or against the

Commission in any proceeding under this title brought by or

against it in the Supreme Court or such other courts.

(b) In case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpena issued

to any person, any of the said United States courts, within the ju­

risdiction of which said person guilty of contumacy or refusal to

obey is found or resides, upon application by the Commission may

issue to such person an order requiring such person to appear be­

fore the Commission, or one of its examiners designated by it, there

to produce documentary evidence if so ordered, or there to give evi­

dence touching the matter in question; and any failure to obey such

order of the court may be punished by said court as a contempt

thereof.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 22, 48 Stat. 86; June 25, 1936,

ch. 804, 49 Stat. 1921; June 25, 1948, ch. 646, Sec. 32(b), 62 Stat.

991; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, Sec. 127, 63 Stat. 107; Aug. 10, 1954,

ch. 667, title I, Sec. 11, 68 Stat. 686; Pub. L. 91-452, title II, Sec.

213, Oct. 15, 1970, 84 Stat. 929; Pub. L. 100-181, title II, Sec. 209,

Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1253; Pub. L. 105-353, title I, Sec. 101(a)(3),

Nov. 3, 1998, 112 Stat. 3230.)

UNLAWFUL REPRESENTATIONS

SEC. 23. Neither the fact that the registration statement for a

security has been filed or is in effect nor the fact that a stop order

is not in effect with respect thereto shall be deemed a finding by

the Commission that registration statement is true and accurate on

its face or that it does not contain an untrue statement of fact or

omit to state a material fact, or be held to mean that the Commis­

sion has in any way passed upon the merits of, or given approval

to, such security. It shall be unlawful to make, or cause to be made,

to any prospective purchaser any representation contrary to the

foregoing provisions of this section.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 23, 48 Stat. 87.)

PENALTIES

SEC. 24. Any person who willfully violates any of the provisions

of this title, or the rules and regulations promulgated by the Com­

mission under authority thereof, or any person who willfully, in a

registration statement filed under this title, makes any untrue

statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact re­

quired to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements

therein not misleading, shall upon conviction be fined not more

than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 24, 48 Stat. 87; Pub. L. 94-29,

Sec. 27(a), June 4, 1975, 89 Stat. 163.)

JURISDICTION OF OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES OVER SECURITIES

SEC. 25. Nothing in this title shall relieve any person from sub­

mitting to the respective supervisory units of the Government of

the United States information, reports, or other documents that are

now or may hereafter be required by any provision of law.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 25, 48 Stat. 87.)

SEPARABILITY OF PROVISIONS

SEC. 26. If any provision of this Act, or the application of such

provision to any person or circumstance, shall be held invalid, the

remainder of this Act, or the application of such provision to per­

sons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held in­

valid, shall not be affected thereby.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 26, 48 Stat. 88.)

SEC. 27. PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION.

(a) PRIVATE CLASS ACTIONS.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The provisions of this subsection shall

apply to each private action arising under this title that is

brought as a plaintiff class action pursuant to the Federal

Rules of Civil Procedure.

(2) CERTIFICATION FILED WITH COMPLAINT.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Each plaintiff seeking to serve as a

representative party on behalf of a class shall provide a

sworn certification, which shall be personally signed by

such plaintiff and filed with the complaint, that—

(i) states that the plaintiff has reviewed the com­

plaint and authorized its filing;

(ii) states that the plaintiff did not purchase the

security that is the subject of the complaint at the di­

rection of plaintiff’s counsel or in order to participate

in any private action arising under this title;

(iii) states that the plaintiff is willing to serve as

a representative party on behalf of a class, including

providing testimony at deposition and trial, if nec­

essary;

(iv) sets forth all of the transactions of the plain­

tiff in the security that is the subject of the complaint

during the class period specified in the complaint;

(v) identifies any other action under this title,

filed during the 3-year period preceding the date on

which the certification is signed by the plaintiff, in

which the plaintiff has sought to serve, or served, as

a representative party on behalf of a class; and

(vi) states that the plaintiff will not accept any

payment for serving as a representative party on be­

half of a class beyond the plaintiff’s pro rata share of

any recovery, except as ordered or approved by the

court in accordance with paragraph (4).

(B) NONWAIVER OF ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE.—The

certification filed pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not

be construed to be a waiver of the attorney-client privilege.

(3) APPOINTMENT OF LEAD PLAINTIFF.—

(A) EARLY NOTICE TO CLASS MEMBERS.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 20 days after the

date on which the complaint is filed, the plaintiff or

plaintiffs shall cause to be published, in a widely cir­

culated national business-oriented publication or wire

service, a notice advising members of the purported

plaintiff class—

(I) of the pendency of the action, the claims

asserted therein, and the purported class period;

and

(II) that, not later than 60 days after the date

on which the notice is published, any member of

the purported class may move the court to serve

as lead plaintiff of the purported class.

(ii) MULTIPLE ACTIONS.—If more than one action

on behalf of a class asserting substantially the same

claim or claims arising under this title is filed, only

the plaintiff or plaintiffs in the first filed action shall

be required to cause notice to be published in accord­

ance with clause (i).

(iii) ADDITIONAL NOTICES MAY BE REQUIRED UNDER

FEDERAL RULES.—Notice required under clause (i)

shall be in addition to any notice required pursuant to

the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

(B) APPOINTMENT OF LEAD PLAINTIFF.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the

date on which a notice is published under subpara­

graph (A)(i), the court shall consider any motion made

by a purported class member in response to the notice,

including any motion by a class member who is not in­

dividually named as a plaintiff in the complaint or

complaints, and shall appoint as lead plaintiff the

member or members of the purported plaintiff class

that the court determines to be most capable of ade­

quately representing the interests of class members

 (hereafter in this paragraph referred to as the ‘‘most

adequate plaintiff’’) in accordance with this subpara­

graph.

(ii) CONSOLIDATED ACTIONS.—If more than one ac­

tion on behalf of a class asserting substantially the

same claim or claims arising under this title has been

filed, and any party has sought to consolidate those

actions for pretrial purposes or for trial, the court

shall not make the determination required by clause

(i) until after the decision on the motion to consolidate

is rendered. As soon as practicable after such decision

is rendered, the court shall appoint the most adequate

plaintiff as lead plaintiff for the consolidated actions

in accordance with this subparagraph.

(iii) REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION.—

(I) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subclause (II), for

purposes of clause (i), the court shall adopt a pre­

sumption that the most adequate plaintiff in any

private action arising under this title is the per­

son or group of persons that—

(aa) has either filed the complaint or

made a motion in response to a notice under

subparagraph (A)(i);

(bb) in the determination of the court, has

the largest financial interest in the relief

sought by the class; and

(cc) otherwise satisfies the requirements

of Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Proce­

dure.

(II) REBUTTAL EVIDENCE.—The presumption

described in subclause (I) may be rebutted only

upon proof by a member of the purported plaintiff

class that the presumptively most adequate plain­

tiff—

(aa) will not fairly and adequately protect

the interests of the class; or

(bb) is subject to unique defenses that

render such plaintiff incapable of adequately

representing the class.

(iv) DISCOVERY.—For purposes of this subpara­

graph, discovery relating to whether a member or

members of the purported plaintiff class is the most

adequate plaintiff may be conducted by a plaintiff only

if the plaintiff first demonstrates a reasonable basis

for a finding that the presumptively most adequate

plaintiff is incapable of adequately representing the

class.

(v) SELECTION OF LEAD COUNSEL.—The most ade­

quate plaintiff shall, subject to the approval of the

court, select and retain counsel to represent the class.

(vi) RESTRICTIONS ON PROFESSIONAL PLAINTIFFS.—

Except as the court may otherwise permit, consistent

with the purposes of this section, a person may be a

lead plaintiff, or an officer, director, or fiduciary of a

lead plaintiff, in no more than 5 securities class ac­

tions brought as plaintiff class actions pursuant to the

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure during any 3-year pe­

riod.

(4) RECOVERY BY PLAINTIFFS.—The share of any final judg­

ment or of any settlement that is awarded to a representative

party serving on behalf of a class shall be equal, on a per share

basis, to the portion of the final judgment or settlement award­

ed to all other members of the class. Nothing in this paragraph

shall be construed to limit the award of reasonable costs and

expenses (including lost wages) directly relating to the rep­

resentation of the class to any representative party serving on

behalf of the class.

(5) RESTRICTIONS ON SETTLEMENTS UNDER SEAL.—The

terms and provisions of any settlement agreement of a class

action shall not be filed under seal, except that on motion of

any party to the settlement, the court may order filing under

seal for those portions of a settlement agreement as to which

good cause is shown for such filing under seal. For purposes of

this paragraph, good cause shall exist only if publication of a

term or provision of a settlement agreement would cause direct

and substantial harm to any party.

(6) RESTRICTIONS ON PAYMENT OF ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND

EXPENSES.—Total attorneys’ fees and expenses awarded by the

court to counsel for the plaintiff class shall not exceed a rea­

sonable percentage of the amount of any damages and prejudg­

ment interest actually paid to the class.

(7) DISCLOSURE OF SETTLEMENT TERMS TO CLASS MEM-

BERS.—Any proposed or final settlement agreement that is

published or otherwise disseminated to the class shall include

each of the following statements, along with a cover page sum­

marizing the information contained in such statements:

(A) STATEMENT OF PLAINTIFF RECOVERY.—The amount

of the settlement proposed to be distributed to the parties

to the action, determined in the aggregate and on an aver­

age per share basis.

(B) STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL OUTCOME OF CASE.—

(i) AGREEMENT ON AMOUNT OF DAMAGES.—If the

settling parties agree on the average amount of dam­

ages per share that would be recoverable if the plain­

tiff prevailed on each claim alleged under this title, a

statement concerning the average amount of such po­

tential damages per share.

(ii) DISAGREEMENT ON AMOUNT OF DAMAGES.—If

the parties do not agree on the average amount of

damages per share that would be recoverable if the

plaintiff prevailed on each claim alleged under this

title, a statement from each settling party concerning

the issue or issues on which the parties disagree.

(iii) INADMISSIBILITY FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES.—A

statement made in accordance with clause (i) or (ii)

concerning the amount of damages shall not be admis­

sible in any Federal or State judicial action or admin­

---

istrative proceeding, other than an action or pro­ceeding arising out of such statement.(C) STATEMENT OF ATTORNEYS’ FEES OR COSTS

SOUGHT.—If any of the settling parties or their counsel in­

tend to apply to the court for an award of attorneys’ fees

or costs from any fund established as part of the settle­

ment, a statement indicating which parties or counsel in­

tend to make such an application, the amount of fees and

costs that will be sought (including the amount of such

fees and costs determined on an average per share basis),

and a brief explanation supporting the fees and costs

sought.

(D) IDENTIFICATION OF LAWYERS’ REPRESENTATIVES.—

The name, telephone number, and address of one or more

representatives of counsel for the plaintiff class who will

be reasonably available to answer questions from class

members concerning any matter contained in any notice of

settlement published or otherwise disseminated to the

class.

(E) REASONS FOR SETTLEMENT.—A brief statement ex­

plaining the reasons why the parties are proposing the set­

tlement.

(F) OTHER INFORMATION.—Such other information as

may be required by the court.

(8) ATTORNEY CONFLICT OF INTEREST.—If a plaintiff class

is represented by an attorney who directly owns or otherwise

has a beneficial interest in the securities that are the subject

of the litigation, the court shall make a determination of

whether such ownership or other interest constitutes a conflict

of interest sufficient to disqualify the attorney from rep­

resenting the plaintiff class.

(b) STAY OF DISCOVERY; PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—In any private action arising under this

title, all discovery and other proceedings shall be stayed during

the pendency of any motion to dismiss, unless the court finds,

upon the motion of any party, that particularized discovery is

necessary to preserve evidence or to prevent undue prejudice

to that party.

(2) PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE.—During the pendency of

any stay of discovery pursuant to this subsection, unless other­

wise ordered by the court, any party to the action with actual

notice of the allegations contained in the complaint shall treat

all documents, data compilations (including electronically re­

corded or stored data), and tangible objects that are in the cus­

tody or control of such person and that are relevant to the alle­

gations, as if they were the subject of a continuing request for

production of documents from an opposing party under the

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

(3) SANCTION FOR WILLFUL VIOLATION.—A party aggrieved

by the willful failure of an opposing party to comply with para­

graph (2) may apply to the court for an order awarding appro­

priate sanctions.

(4) CIRCUMVENTION OF STAY OF DISCOVERY.—Upon a prop­

er showing, a court may stay discovery proceedings in any pri­

vate action in a State court as necessary in aid of its jurisdic­

tion, or to protect or effectuate its judgments, in an action sub­

ject to a stay of discovery pursuant to this subsection.

(c) SANCTIONS FOR ABUSIVE LITIGATION.—

(1) MANDATORY REVIEW BY COURT.—In any private action

arising under this title, upon final adjudication of the action,

the court shall include in the record specific findings regarding

compliance by each party and each attorney representing any

party with each requirement of Rule 11(b) of the Federal Rules

of Civil Procedure as to any complaint, responsive pleading, or

dispositive motion.

(2) MANDATORY SANCTIONS.—If the court makes a finding

under paragraph (1) that a party or attorney violated any re­

quirement of Rule 11(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

as to any complaint, responsive pleading, or dispositive motion,

the court shall impose sanctions on such party or attorney in

accordance with Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Proce­

dure. Prior to making a finding that any party or attorney has

violated Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the

court shall give such party or attorney notice and an oppor­

tunity to respond.

(3) PRESUMPTION IN FAVOR OF ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND

COSTS.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subparagraphs (B) and

(C), for purposes of paragraph (2), the court shall adopt a

presumption that the appropriate sanction—

(i) for failure of any responsive pleading or dis­

positive motion to comply with any requirement of

Rule 11(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure is

an award to the opposing party of the reasonable at­

torneys’ fees and other expenses incurred as a direct

result of the violation; and

(ii) for substantial failure of any complaint to com­

ply with any requirement of Rule 11(b) of the Federal

Rules of Civil Procedure is an award to the opposing

party of the reasonable attorneys’ fees and other ex­

penses incurred in the action.

(B) REBUTTAL EVIDENCE.—The presumption described

in subparagraph (A) may be rebutted only upon proof by

the party or attorney against whom sanctions are to be im­

posed that—

(i) the award of attorneys’ fees and other expenses

will impose an unreasonable burden on that party or

attorney and would be unjust, and the failure to make

such an award would not impose a greater burden on

the party in whose favor sanctions are to be imposed;

or

(ii) the violation of Rule 11(b) of the Federal Rules

of Civil Procedure was de minimis.

(C) SANCTIONS.—If the party or attorney against

whom sanctions are to be imposed meets its burden under

subparagraph (B), the court shall award the sanctions that

the court deems appropriate pursuant to Rule 11 of the

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

 (d) DEFENDANT’S RIGHT TO WRITTEN INTERROGATORIES.—In

any private action arising under this title in which the plaintiff

may recover money damages only on proof that a defendant acted

with a particular state of mind, the court shall, when requested by

a defendant, submit to the jury a written interrogatory on the issue

of each such defendant’s state of mind at the time the alleged viola­

tion occurred.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 27, as added Pub. L. 104-67, title

I, Sec. 101(a), Dec. 22, 1995, 109 Stat. 737; amended Pub. L. 105­

353, title I, Sec. 101(a)(2), title III, Sec. 301(a)(5), Nov. 3, 1998, 112

Stat. 3230, 3235.)

SEC. 27A. APPLICATION OF SAFE HARBOR FOR FORWARD-LOOKING

STATEMENTS.

(a) APPLICABILITY.—This section shall apply only to a forward-

looking statement made by—

(1) an issuer that, at the time that the statement is made,

is subject to the reporting requirements of section 13(a) or sec­

tion 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934;

(2) a person acting on behalf of such issuer;

(3) an outside reviewer retained by such issuer making a

statement on behalf of such issuer; or

(4) an underwriter, with respect to information provided by

such issuer or information derived from information provided

by the issuer.

(b) EXCLUSIONS.—Except to the extent otherwise specifically

provided by rule, regulation, or order of the Commission, this sec­

tion shall not apply to a forward-looking statement—

(1) that is made with respect to the business or operations

of the issuer, if the issuer—

(A) during the 3-year period preceding the date on

which the statement was first made—

(i) was convicted of any felony or misdemeanor de­

scribed in clauses (i) through (iv) of section 15(b)(4)(B)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; or

(ii) has been made the subject of a judicial or ad­

ministrative decree or order arising out of a govern­

mental action that—

(I) prohibits future violations of the antifraud

provisions of the securities laws;

(II) requires that the issuer cease and desist

from violating the antifraud provisions of the se­

curities laws; or

(III) determines that the issuer violated the

antifraud provisions of the securities laws;

(B) makes the forward-looking statement in connection

with an offering of securities by a blank check company;

(C) issues penny stock;

(D) makes the forward-looking statement in connection

with a rollup transaction; or

(E) makes the forward-looking statement in connection

with a going private transaction; or

(2) that is—

 (A) included in a financial statement prepared in ac­

cordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(B) contained in a registration statement of, or other­

wise issued by, an investment company;

(C) made in connection with a tender offer;

(D) made in connection with an initial public offering;

(E) made in connection with an offering by, or relating

to the operations of, a partnership, limited liability com­

pany, or a direct participation investment program; or

(F) made in a disclosure of beneficial ownership in a

report required to be filed with the Commission pursuant

to section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

(c) SAFE HARBOR.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection (b), in any

private action arising under this title that is based on an untrue

statement of a material fact or omission of a material fact nec­

essary to make the statement not misleading, a person referred to

in subsection (a) shall not be liable with respect to any forward-

looking statement, whether written or oral, if and to the extent

that—

(A) the forward-looking statement is—

(i) identified as a forward-looking statement, and is ac­

companied by meaningful cautionary statements identi­

fying important factors that could cause actual results to

differ materially from those in the forward-looking state­

ment; or

(ii) immaterial; or

(B) the plaintiff fails to prove that the forward-looking

statement—

(i) if made by a natural person, was made with actual

knowledge by that person that the statement was false or

misleading; or

(ii) if made by a business entity; [1] was—

(I) made by or with the approval of an executive

officer of that entity, and

(II) made or approved by such officer with actual

knowledge by that officer that the statement was false

or misleading.

(2) ORAL FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.—In the case of an

oral forward-looking statement made by an issuer that is subject

to the reporting requirements of section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or by a person acting on behalf

of such issuer, the requirement set forth in paragraph (1)(A) shall

be deemed to be satisfied—

(A) if the oral forward-looking statement is accompanied

by a cautionary statement—

(i) that the particular oral statement is a forward-look­

ing statement; and

(ii) that the actual results could differ materially from

those projected in the forward- looking statement; and

(B) if—

1So in law. Should be a comma rather than semicolon.

 (i) the oral forward-looking statement is accompanied

by an oral statement that additional information con­

cerning factors that could cause actual results to differ ma­

terially from those in the forward-looking statement is con­

tained in a readily available written document, or portion

thereof;

(ii) the accompanying oral statement referred to in

clause (i) identifies the document, or portion thereof, that

contains the additional information about those factors re­

lating to the forward-looking statement; and

(iii) the information contained in that written docu­

ment is a cautionary statement that satisfies the standard

established in paragraph (1)(A).

(3) AVAILABILITY.—Any document filed with the Commission or

generally disseminated shall be deemed to be readily available for

purposes of paragraph (2).

(4) EFFECT ON OTHER SAFE HARBORS.—The exemption pro­

vided for in paragraph (1) shall be in addition to any exemption

that the Commission may establish by rule or regulation under

subsection (g).

(d) DUTY TO UPDATE.—Nothing in this section shall impose

upon any person a duty to update a forward-looking statement.

(e) DISPOSITIVE MOTION.—On any motion to dismiss based

upon subsection (c)(1), the court shall consider any statement cited

in the complaint and cautionary statement accompanying the

forward- looking statement, which are not subject to material dis­

pute, cited by the defendant.

(f) STAY PENDING DECISION ON MOTION.—In any private action

arising under this title, the court shall stay discovery (other than

discovery that is specifically directed to the applicability of the ex­

emption provided for in this section) during the pendency of any

motion by a defendant for summary judgment that is based on the

grounds that—

(1) the statement or omission upon which the complaint is

based is a forward-looking statement within the meaning of

this section; and

(2) the exemption provided for in this section precludes a

claim for relief.

(g) EXEMPTION AUTHORITY.—In addition to the exemptions pro­

vided for in this section, the Commission may, by rule or regula­

tion, provide exemptions from or under any provision of this title,

including with respect to liability that is based on a statement or

that is based on projections or other forward-looking information,

if and to the extent that any such exemption is consistent with the

public interest and the protection of investors, as determined by

the Commission.

(h) EFFECT ON OTHER AUTHORITY OF COMMISSION.—Nothing in

this section limits, either expressly or by implication, the authority

of the Commission to exercise similar authority or to adopt similar

rules and regulations with respect to forward-looking statements

under any other statute under which the Commission exercises

rulemaking authority.

(i) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section, the following

definitions shall apply:

 (1) FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT.—The term ‘‘forward­

looking statement’’ means—

(A) a statement containing a projection of revenues,

income (including income loss), earnings (including earn­

ings loss) per share, capital expenditures, dividends, cap­

ital structure, or other financial items;

(B) a statement of the plans and objectives of manage­

ment for future operations, including plans or objectives

relating to the products or services of the issuer;

(C) a statement of future economic performance, in­

cluding any such statement contained in a discussion and

analysis of financial condition by the management or in

the results of operations included pursuant to the rules

and regulations of the Commission;

(D) any statement of the assumptions underlying or

relating to any statement described in subparagraph (A),

(B), or (C);

(E) any report issued by an outside reviewer retained

by an issuer, to the extent that the report assesses a for­

ward-looking statement made by the issuer; or

(F) a statement containing a projection or estimate of

such other items as may be specified by rule or regulation

of the Commission.

(2) INVESTMENT COMPANY.—The term ‘‘investment com­

pany’’ has the same meaning as in section 3(a) of the Invest­

ment Company Act of 1940.

(3) PENNY STOCK.—The term ‘‘penny stock’’ has the same

meaning as in section 3(a)(51) of the Securities Exchange Act

of 1934, and the rules and regulations, or orders issued pursu­

ant to that section.

(4) GOING PRIVATE TRANSACTION.—The term ‘‘going private

transaction’’ has the meaning given that term under the rules

or regulations of the Commission issued pursuant to section

13(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

(5) SECURITIES LAWS.—The term ‘‘securities laws’’ has the

same meaning as in section 3 of the Securities Exchange Act

of 1934.

(6) PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN ISSUER.—The term

‘‘person acting on behalf of an issuer’’ means an officer, direc­

tor, or employee of the issuer.

(7) OTHER TERMS.—The terms ‘‘blank check company’’,

‘‘rollup transaction’’, ‘‘partnership’’, ‘‘limited liability company’’,

‘‘executive officer of an entity’’ and ‘‘direct participation invest­

ment program’’, have the meanings given those terms by rule

or regulation of the Commission.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 27A, as added Pub. L. 104-67,

title I, Sec. 102(a), Dec. 22, 1995, 109 Stat. 749; amended Pub. L.

105-353, title III, Sec. 301(a)(5), Nov. 3, 1998, 112 Stat. 3235.)

SEC. 28. GENERAL EXEMPTIVE AUTHORITY.

The Commission, by rule or regulation, may conditionally or

unconditionally exempt any person, security, or transaction, or any

class or classes of persons, securities, or transactions, from any pro­

vision or provisions of this title or of any rule or regulation issued

under this title, to the extent that such exemption is necessary or

appropriate in the public interest, and is consistent with the pro­

tection of investors.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, Sec. 28, as added Pub. L. 104-290,

title I, Sec. 105(a), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3424; amended Pub. L.

105-353, title III, Sec. 301(a)(5), Nov. 3, 1998, 112 Stat. 3235.)

SCHEDULE A

(1) The name under which the issuer is doing or intends to do

business;

(2) the name of the State or other sovereign power under which

the issuer is organized;

(3) the location of the issuer’s principal business office, and if

the issuer is a foreign or territorial person, the name and address

of its agent in the United States authorized to receive notice;

(4) the names and addresses of the directors or persons per­

forming similar functions, and the chief executive, financial and ac­

counting officers, chosen or to be chosen if the issuer be a corpora­

tion, association, trust, or other entity; of all partners, if the issuer

be a partnership; and of the issuer, if the issuer be an individual;

and of the promoters in the case of a business to be formed, or

formed within two years prior to the filing of the registration state­

ment;

(5) the names and addresses of the underwriters;

(6) the names and addresses of all persons, if any, owning of

record or beneficially, if known, more than 10 per centum of any

class of stock of the issuer, or more than 10 per centum in the ag­

gregate of the outstanding stock of the issuer as of a date within

twenty days prior to the filing of the registration statement;

(7) the amount of securities of the issuer held by any person

specified in paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) of this schedule, as of a

date within twenty days prior to the filing of the registration state­

ment, and, if possible, as of one year prior thereto, and the amount

of the securities, for which the registration statement is filed, to

which such persons have indicated their intention to subscribe;

(8) the general character of the business actually transacted or

to be transacted by the issuer;

(9) a statement of the capitalization of the issuer, including the

authorized and outstanding amounts of its capital stock and the

proportion thereof paid up, the number and classes of shares in

which such capital stock is divided, par value thereof, or if it has

no par value, the stated or assigned value thereof, a description of

the respective voting rights, preferences, conversion and exchange

rights, rights to dividends, profits, or capital of each class, with re­

spect to each other class, including the retirement and liquidation

rights or values thereof;

(10) a statement of the securities, if any, covered by options

outstanding or to be created in connection with the security to be

offered, together with the names and addresses of all persons, if

any, to be allotted more than 10 per centum in the aggregate of

such options;

(11) the amount of capital stock of each class issued or in­

cluded in the shares of stock to be offered;

(12) the amount of the funded debt outstanding and to be cre­

ated by the security to be offered, with a brief description of the

date, maturity, and character of such debt, rate of interest, char­

acter of amortization provisions, and the security, if any, therefor.

If substitution of any security is permissible, a summarized state­

ment of the conditions under which such substitution is permitted.

If substitution is permissible without notice, a specific statement to

that effect;

(13) the specific purposes in detail and the approximate

amounts to be devoted to such purposes, so far as determinable, for

which the security to be offered is to supply funds, and if the funds

are to be raised in part from other sources, the amounts thereof

and the sources thereof, shall be stated;

(14) the remuneration, paid or estimated to be paid, by the

issuer or its predecessor, directly or indirectly, during the past year

and ensuing year to (a) the directors or persons performing similar

functions, and (b) its officers and other persons, naming them

wherever such remuneration exceeded $25,000 during any such

year;

(15) the estimated net proceeds to be derived from the security

to be offered;

(16) the price at which it is proposed that the security shall be

offered to the public or the method by which such price is computed

and any variation therefrom at which any portion of such security

is proposed to be offered to any persons or classes of persons, other

than the underwriters, naming them or specifying the class. A vari­

ation in price may be proposed prior to the date of the public offer­

ing of the security, but the Commission shall immediately be noti­

fied of such variation;

(17) all commissions or discounts paid or to be paid, directly or

indirectly, by the issuer to the underwriters in respect of the sale

of the security to be offered. Commissions shall include all cash, se­

curities, contracts, or anything else of value, paid, to be set aside,

disposed of, or understandings with or for the benefit of any other

persons in which any underwriter is interested, made, in connec­

tion with the sale of such security. A commission paid or to be paid

in connection with the sale of such security by a person in which

the issuer has an interest or which is controlled or directed by, or

under common control with, the issuer shall be deemed to have

been paid by the issuer. Where any such commission is paid the

amount of such commission paid to each underwriter shall be stat­

ed;

(18) the amount or estimated amounts, itemized in reasonable

detail, of expenses, other than commissions specified in paragraph

(17) of this schedule, incurred or borne by or for the account of the

issuer in connection with the sale of the security to be offered or

properly chargeable thereto, including legal, engineering, certifi­

cation, authentication, and other charges;

(19) the net proceeds derived from any security sold by the

issuer during the two years preceding the filing of the registration

statement, the price at which such security was offered to the pub­

lic, and the names of the principal underwriters of such security;

(20) any amount paid within two years preceding the filing of

the registration statement or intended to be paid to any promoter

and the consideration for any such payment;

(21) the names and addresses of the vendors and the purchase

price of any property, or good will, acquired or to be acquired, not

in the ordinary course of business, which is to be defrayed in whole

or in part from the proceeds of the security to be offered, the

amount of any commission payable to any person in connection

with such acquisition, and the name or names of such person or

persons, together with any expense incurred or to be incurred in

connection with such acquisition, including the cost of borrowing

money to finance such acquisition;

(22) full particulars of the nature and extent of the interest, if

any, of every director, principal executive officer, and of every

stockholder holding more than 10 per centum of any class of stock

or more than 10 per centum in the aggregate of the stock of the

issuer, in any property acquired, not in the ordinary course of busi­

ness of the issuer, within two years preceding the filing of the reg­

istration statement or proposed to be acquired at such date;

(23) the names and addresses of counsel who have passed on

the legality of the issue;

(24) dates of and parties to, and the general effect concisely

stated of every material contract made, not in the ordinary course

of business, which contract is to be executed in whole or in part at

or after the filing of the registration statement or which contract

has been made not more than two years before such filing. Any

management contract or contract providing for special bonuses or

profit-sharing arrangements, and every material patent or contract

for a material patent right, and every contract by or with a public

utility company or an affiliate thereof, providing for the giving or

receiving of technical or financial advice or service (if such contract

may involve a charge to any party thereto at a rate in excess of

$2,500 per year in cash or securities or anything else of value),

shall be deemed a material contract;

(25) a balance sheet as of a date not more than ninety days

prior to the date of the filing of the registration statement showing

all of the assets of the issuer, the nature and cost thereof, when­

ever determinable, in such detail and in such form as the Commis­

sion shall prescribe (with intangible items segregated), including

any loan in excess of $20,000 to any officer, director, stockholder

or person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by the

issuer, or person under direct or indirect common control with the

issuer. All the liabilities of the issuer in such detail and such form

as the Commission shall prescribe, including surplus of the issuer

showing how and from what sources such surplus was created, all

as of a date not more than ninety days prior to the filing of the

registration statement. If such statement be not certified by an

independent public or certified accountant, in addition to the bal­

ance sheet required to be submitted under this schedule, a similar

detailed balance sheet of the assets and liabilities of the issuer, cer­

tified by an independent public or certified accountant, of a date

not more than one year prior to the filing of the registration state­

ment, shall be submitted;

(26) a profit and loss statement of the issuer showing earnings

and income, the nature and source thereof, and the expenses and

fixed charges in such detail and such form as the Commission shall

prescribe for the latest fiscal year for which such statement is

available and for the two preceding fiscal years, year by year, or,

if such issuer has been in actual business for less than three years,

then for such time as the issuer has been in actual business, year

by year. If the date of the filing of the registration statement is

more than six months after the close of the last fiscal year, a state­

ment from such closing date to the latest practicable date. Such

statement shall show what the practice of the issuer has been dur­

ing the three years or lesser period as to the character of the

charges, dividends or other distributions made against its various

surplus accounts, and as to depreciation, depletion, and mainte­

nance charges, in such detail and form as the Commission shall

prescribe, and if stock dividends or avails from the sale of rights

have been credited to income, they shall be shown separately with

a statement of the basis upon which the credit is computed. Such

statement shall also differentiate between any recurring and non-

recurring income and between any investment and operating in­

come. Such statement shall be certified by an independent public

or certified accountant;

(27) if the proceeds, or any part of the proceeds, of the security

to be issued is to be applied directly or indirectly to the purchase

of any business, a profit and loss statement of such business cer­

tified by an independent public or certified accountant, meeting the

requirements of paragraph (26) of this schedule, for the three pre­

ceding fiscal years, together with a balance sheet, similarly cer­

tified, of such business, meeting the requirements of paragraph

(25) of this schedule of a date not more than ninety days prior to

the filing of the registration statement or at the date such business

was acquired by the issuer if the business was acquired by the

issuer more than ninety days prior to the fiing of the registration

statement;

(28) a copy of any agreement or agreements (or, if identical

agreements are used, the forms thereof) made with any under­

writer, including all contracts and agreements referred to in para­

graph (17) of this schedule;

(29) a copy of the opinion or opinions of counsel in respect to

the legality of the issue, with a translation of such opinion, when

necessary, into the English language;

(30) a copy of all material contracts referred to in paragraph

(24) of this schedule, but no disclosure shall be required of any por­

tion of any such contract if the Commission determines that disclo­

sure of such portion would impair the value of the contract and

would not be necessary for the protection of the investors;

(31) unless previously filed and registered under the provisions

of this title, and brought up to date, (a) a copy of its articles of in­

corporation, with all amendments thereof and of its existing bylaws

or instruments corresponding thereto, whatever the name, if the

issuer be a corporation; (b) copy of all instruments by which the

trust is created or declared, if the issuer is a trust; (c) a copy of

its articles of partnership or association and all other papers per­

taining to its organization, if the issuer is a partnership, unincor­

porated association, joint-stock company, or any other form of orga­

nization; and

(32) a copy of the underlying agreements or indentures affect­

ing any stock, bonds, or debentures offered or to be offered.

In case of certificates of deposit, voting trust certificates, collat­

eral trust certificates, certificates of interest or shares in unincor­

porated investment trusts, equipment trust certificates, interim or

other receipts for certificates, and like securities, the Commission

shall establish rules and regulations requiring the submission of

information of a like character applicable to such cases, together

with such other information as it may deem appropriate and nec­

essary regarding the character, financial or otherwise, of the actual

issuer of the securities and/or the person performing the acts and

assuming the duties of depositor or manager.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, schedule A, 48 Stat. 88; Pub. L. 105­

353, title III, Sec. 301(a)(6), Nov. 3, 1998, 112 Stat. 3235.)

SCHEDULE B

(1) Name of borrowing government or subdivision thereof;

(2) specific purposes in detail and the approximate amounts to

be devoted to such purposes, so far as determinable, for which the

security to be offered is to supply funds, and if the funds are to be

raised in part from other sources, the amounts thereof and the

sources thereof, shall be stated;

(3) the amount of the funded debt and the estimated amount

of the floating debt outstanding and to be created by the security

to be offered, excluding intergovernmental debt, and a brief de­

scription of the date, maturity, character of such debt, rate of inter­

est, character of amortization provisions, and the security, if any,

therefor. If substitution of any security is permissible, a statement

of the conditions under which such substitution is permitted. If

substitution is permissible without notice, a specific statement to

that effect;

(4) whether or not the issuer or its predecessor has, within a

period of twenty years prior to the filing of the registration state­

ment, defaulted on the principal or interest of any external secu­

rity, excluding intergovernmental debt, and, if so, the date,

amount, and circumstances of such default, and the terms of the

succeeding arrangement, if any;

(5) the receipts, classified by source, and the expenditures,

classified by purpose, in such detail and form as the Commission

shall prescribe for the latest fiscal year for which such information

is available and the two preceding fiscal years, year by year;

(6) the names and addresses of the underwriters;

(7) the name and address of its authorized agent, if any, in the

United States;

(8) the estimated net proceeds to be derived from the sale in

the United States of the security to be offered;

(9) the price at which it is proposed that the security shall be

offered in the United States to the public or the method by which

such price is computed. A variation in price may be proposed prior

to the date of the public offering of the security, but the Commis­

sion shall immediately be notified of such variation;

(10) all commissions paid or to be paid, directly or indirectly,

by the issuer to the underwriters in respect of the sale of the secu­

rity to be offered. Commissions shall include all cash, securities,

contracts, or anything else of value, paid, to be set aside, disposed

of, or understandings with or for the benefit of any other persons

in which the underwriter is interested, made, in connection with

the sale of such security. Where any such commission is paid, the

amount of such commission paid to each underwriter shall be stat­

ed;

(11) the amount or estimated amounts, itemized in reasonable

detail, of expenses, other than the commission specified in para­

graph (10) of this schedule, incurred or borne by or for the account

of the issuer in connection with the sale of the security to be of­

fered or properly chargeable thereto, including legal, engineering,

certification, and other charges;

(12) the names and addresses of counsel who have passed upon

the legality of the issue;

(13) a copy of any agreement or agreements made with any un­

derwriter governing the sale of the security within the United

States; and

(14) an agreement of the issuer to furnish a copy of the opinion

or opinions of counsel in respect to the legality of the issue, with

a translation, where necessary, into the English language. Such

opinion shall set out in full all laws, decrees, ordinances, or other

acts of Government under which the issue of such security has

been authorized.

(May 27, 1933, ch. 38, title I, schedule B, 48 Stat. 91.)