TITLE 7. BANKING AND SECURITIES
PART 7. STATE SECURITIES BOARD
CHAPTER 109. TRANSACTIONS EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION
7 TAC §109.7
The Texas State Securities Board proposes an amendment to §109.7, concerning Secondary Trading Exemption under the Texas Securities Act, §5.O. The proposal would update the "manual exemption" contained in §5.O of the Act. Included in §5.O is the requirement that certain information about the issuer appear in either a recognized securities manual or on a form (133.5 or 133.6) filed with the Securities Commissioner. The definition of "recognized securities manual" in subsection (e) would be amended to remove S&P Capital IQ Standard Corporations Descriptions. S&P ceased publication of its manual as of May 2, 2016. At this time, all the time-sensitive information appearing in this publication has become outdated and would no longer serve to meet the requirements of §5.O.
Clint Edgar, Deputy Securities Commissioner, and Emily Diaz and Shaun Yarroll, Assistant Directors, Registration Division, have determined that for the first five-year period the proposed amendment is in effect there will be no foreseeable fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the proposed amendment.
Mr. Edgar, Ms. Diaz, and Mr. Yarroll have also determined that for each year of the first five years the proposed amendment is in effect the public benefit expected as a result of adoption of the proposed amendment will be that registered dealers relying upon the securities exemption contained in §5.O for secondary market sales will have been apprised of the manuals recognized by the Board for purposes of the exemption. There will be no adverse economic effect on micro- or small businesses or rural communities. Since the proposed amendment will have no adverse economic effect on micro- or small businesses or rural communities, preparation of an economic impact statement and a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required. There is no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the amendment as proposed. There is no anticipated impact on local employment.
Mr. Edgar, Ms. Diaz, and Mr. Yarroll have also determined that for the first five-year period the proposed amendment is in effect: it does not create or eliminate a government program; it does not require the creation or elimination of existing employee positions; it does not require an increase or decrease in future legislative appropriations to this agency; it does not require an increase or decrease in fees paid to this agency; it does not increase or decrease the number of individuals subject to the rule's applicability; and it does not positively or negatively affect the state's economy. Additionally, the proposed amendment does not create a new regulation, or expand, limit, or repeal an existing regulation.
Comments on the proposal must be in writing and will be accepted for 30 days following publication of the proposed section in the Texas Register. Written comments should be submitted to Marlene K. Sparkman, General Counsel, State Securities Board, P.O. Box 13167, Austin, Texas 78711‑3167 or faxed to (512) 305‑8336. Comments may also be submitted electronically to proposal@ssb.texas.gov. In order to be considered by the Board at adoption, comments must be received no later than 30 days following publication.
The amendment is proposed under Texas Civil Statutes, Article 581-28-1. Section 28-1 provides the Board with the authority to adopt rules and regulations necessary to carry out and implement the provisions of the Texas Securities Act, including rules and regulations governing registration statements and applications; defining terms; classifying securities, persons, and matters within its jurisdiction; and prescribing different requirements for different classes.
The proposal affects Texas Civil Statutes, Article 581‑5.O.
§109.7.Secondary Trading Exemption under the Texas Securities Act, §5.O.
(a) - (d) (No change.)
(e) The term "recognized securities manual" as used in the Texas Securities Act, §5.O(9)(c), is limited to [the S&P Capital IQ Standard Corporation Descriptions,] Best Insurance Reports Life-Health, any Mergent's Manual, and the OTC Markets Group Inc. website (www.otcmarkets.com) for a company that is currently or has recently been quoted on the OTCQX or OTCQB markets. This designation encompasses both print and electronic data and includes periodic supplements to these publications. The information provided in the recognized securities manual must contain the information specified in subsection (d) of this section. All information provided must be current. The time for determining whether the entries are current is at the date of the particular sale, not the date the manual listings are published. If a listing is not continually updated, the exemption would not be available once the published balance sheet becomes more than 18 months old.
(f) (No change.)
The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the proposal and found it to be within the state agency's legal authority to adopt.
Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 14, 2020.
TRD-202000608
Travis J. Iles
Securities Commissioner
State Securities Board
Earliest possible date of adoption: March 29, 2020
For further information, please call: (512) 305-8303