(a) No person forming or proposing to form an insurer, or insurance holding corporation or corporation to be attorney-in-fact for a reciprocal insurer or proposing to secure funds for the formation or financing of an insurer, or production of insurance business therefor, or an insurance holding corporation or attorney-in-fact corporation of a reciprocal insurer or for the formation of a syndicate, association, firm, partnership or organization for any such purposes, whether domestic or foreign, shall in this State advertise or offer for sale any securities or solicit or receive any funds, subscriptions, applications or membership except as authorized by a currently effective permit (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a “solicitation permit”) issued by the Commissioner.
(b) Any person violating this section shall upon conviction thereof be subject to a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or both.