R164-14-27v. Compensatory Benefit Plan Exemption

(A) Authority and purpose

(1) The Division enacts this rule under authority granted by Subsection 61-1-14(2)(v) and Section 61-1-24.

(2) This rule provides an exemption from the registration requirements of Section 61-1-7 for securities issued in compensatory circumstances. The exemption is not available for plans or schemes to circumvent this purpose, such as to raise capital. This exemption also is not available for any transaction that is in technical compliance with this rule but is part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration provisions of Section 61-1-7. In any of these cases, registration under the Act is required unless another exemption is available.

(3) Nothing in this rule is intended to be or should be construed as in any way relieving issuers or persons acting on behalf of issuers from providing disclosure to employees or other persons within the scope of the rule adequate to satisfy the antifraud provisions of Section 61-1-1.

(4) Attempted compliance with the rule does not act as an exclusive election. The issuer can also claim the availability of any other applicable exemption.

(5) This exemption is self-executing and requires no filing with the Division.

(B) Definitions

(1) "Division" means the Division of Securities, Utah Department of Commerce.

(C) Compensatory Benefit Plan Exemption

(1) Offers and sales made in compliance with SEC Rule 701, Exemption for Offers and Sales of Securities Pursuant to Certain Compensatory Benefit Plans and Contracts Relating to Compensation, 17 CFR 230.701 (1999), which is adopted and incorporated by reference and available from the Division, are determined to be exempt from the registration requirements of Section 61-1-7.

(D) Resale limitations

The resale of securities issued pursuant to this rule must be in compliance with the registration requirements of Section 61-1-7 or an exemption therefrom.

(E) Disqualification

(1) The exemption is not available to an issuer if the issuer, any of the issuer's predecessors, any affiliated issuer, any of the issuer's directors, officers, general partners, beneficial owners of 10% or more of any class of its equity securities, any of the issuer's promoters presently connected with the issuer in any capacity, any underwriter of the securities to be offered, or any partner, director or officer of such underwriter:

(1)(a) within the last five years, has filed a registration statement which is the subject of a currently effective registration stop order entered by any state securities administrator or the United States Securities and Exchange Commission;

(1)(b) within the last five years, has been convicted of any criminal offense in connection with the offer, purchase or sale of any security, or involving fraud or deceit;

(1)(c) is currently subject to any state or federal administrative enforcement order or judgment, entered within the last five years, finding fraud or deceit in connection with the purchase or sale of any security; or

(1)(d) is currently subject to any order, judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, entered within the last five years, temporarily, preliminarily or permanently restraining or enjoining such party from engaging in or continuing to engage in any conduct or practice involving fraud or deceit in connection with the purchase or sale of any security.

(2) Subparagraph (E)(1) shall not apply if:

(2)(a) the party subject to the disqualification is licensed or registered to conduct securities related business in the state in which the order, judgment or decree creating the disqualification was entered against such party;

(2)(b) before the first offer under this exemption, the state securities administrator, or the court or regulatory authority that entered the order, judgment, or decree, waives the disqualification; or

(2)(c) the issuer establishes that it did not know and in the exercise of reasonable care could not have known that a disqualification existed under Paragraph (E).