(1) The securities commissioner may issue a stop order denying effectiveness to, or suspending or revoking the effectiveness of, any registration statement, if the securities commissioner finds violations of the escrow provisions in section 11-51-302 (5) or (6), or, in the case of any registration statement under section 11-51-304, if the securities commissioner finds that the order is in the public interest and that any one of the following grounds exists:
The registration statement as of its effective date or as of any earlier date in the caseof an order denying effectiveness, any amendment under section 11-51-302 (9) as of its effective date, or any report under section 11-51-302 (8) contains any false or misleading statement in violation of section 11-51-502;
Any provision of this article or any rule, order, or condition imposed under this article has been violated, in connection with the offering, by the issuer, any partner, officer, or director of the issuer, any person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions, or any person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by the issuer. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, the securities commissioner shall not issue any stop order denying effectiveness to, or suspending or revoking the effectiveness of, any registration statement on the grounds that the offering, when viewed on its merits as an investment, is unfair, unjust, or inequitable.
The security registered or sought to be registered is the subject of an administrativestop order or similar order or a permanent or temporary injunction of any court of competent jurisdiction entered under any other federal or state law applicable to the offering; but the securities commissioner may not institute a proceeding against an effective registration statement under this paragraph (c) more than one year from the date of the order or injunction relied on, and the securities commissioner may not enter an order under this paragraph (c) on the basis of an order or injunction entered under any other state law unless that order or injunction was based on facts which would currently constitute a ground for a stop order under this section; or
The issuer's enterprise or method of business includes or would include activitieswhich are illegal where performed.
(1.5) With respect to a security sought to be registered pursuant to section 11-51-303, the securities commissioner may issue a stop order denying effectiveness to, or suspending or revoking the effectiveness of, any registration statement if the securities commissioner finds that there has been a failure to comply with section 11-51-303 (2).
The securities commissioner may, by summary order under section 11-51-606 (3)(a),summarily postpone or suspend the effectiveness of a registration statement pending final determination of any proceeding under this section.
No stop order may be entered under this section, except under subsection (2) of thissection, without the provision to the issuer of an appropriate prior notice, an opportunity for a hearing, and written findings of fact and conclusions of law.
The securities commissioner may vacate or modify a stop order if the securities commissioner finds that the conditions which prompted its entry have changed or that it is otherwise in the public interest to do so.
Source: L. 90: Entire article R&RE, p. 714, § 1, effective July 1. L. 94: (2) amended, p. 1839, § 2, effective July 1. L. 2004: (1.5) added, p. 514, § 2, effective July 1.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 11-51-112 as it existed prior to 1990.