§ 451. Short Title

Sections 1 through 12 of this act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma Take-over Disclosure Act of 1985".

§ 452. Definitions

As used in this act:

1. "Administrator" means the Administrator of the Department of Securities;

2. "Affiliate" of a person means any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such person;

3. "Associate" of a person means any person acting jointly or in concert with such person for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of, or exercising any voting rights attached to the equity securities of an issuer;

4. "Equity security" means:

a. any stock or similar security,

b. any security convertible, with or without consideration, into such a security,

c. carrying any warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase such a security,

d. any such warrant or right, or

e. any other security which the Administrator shall deem to be of similar nature and consider necessary or appropriate, by such rules as he may prescribe in the public interest and for the protection of investors, to treat as an equity security;

6. "Offeree" means the beneficial owner, residing in Oklahoma of equity securities which an offeror offers to acquire in connection with a take-over offer;

7. "Take-over offer" means the offer to acquire any equity securities of a target company from a resident of this state pursuant to a tender offer or request or invitation for tender, if the offeror discloses its intention that after the acquisition of all securities acquired pursuant to the offer either (1) the offeror would be directly or indirectly a beneficial owner of more than ten percent (10%) of any class of the outstanding equity securities of the target company or (2) the beneficial ownership by the offeror of any class of the outstanding equity securities of the target company would be increased by more than five percent (5%). Clause (2) does not apply if the offeror discloses its intentions that after the acquisition of all securities acquired pursuant to the offer the offeror would not be directly or indirectly a beneficial owner of more than ten percent (10%) of any class of the outstanding equity securities of the target company. Take-over offer does not include:

a. an offer to exchange the securities of one issuer for the securities of another issuer, if the offer is registered or exempted from registration under the Oklahoma Securities Act, Section 1 et seq. of Title 71 of the Oklahoma Statutes,

b. an offer in connection with the acquisition of a security which, together with all other acquisitions by the offeror of securities of the same class of equity securities of the issuer, would not result in the offeror having acquired more than two percent (2%) of this class during the preceding twelve-month period,

c. an offer by the issuer to acquire its own equity securities, or

d. an offer in which the target company is an insurance company subject to regulation by the Insurance Commission of this state, financial institution regulated by the Oklahoma Commissioner of Banking or a public service utility subject to regulation by the Corporation Commission of this state;

9. "Beneficial owner" includes, but is not limited to, any person who directly or indirectly through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise has or shares the power to vote or direct the voting of a security and/or the power to dispose of, or direct the disposition of, the security. "Beneficial ownership" includes, but is not limited to, the right, exercisable within sixty (60) days, to acquire securities through the exercise of options, warrants or rights or the conversion of convertible securities, or otherwise. The securities subject to these options, warrants, rights or conversion privileges held by a person shall be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of outstanding securities of the class owned by this person, but shall not be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of the class owned by any other person. A person shall be deemed the beneficial owner of securities beneficially owned by:

a. any relative or spouse or relative of the spouse residing in the home of this person,

b. any trust or estate in which this person owns ten percent (10%) or more of the total beneficial interest or serves as trustee or executor,

c. any corporation or entity in which this person owns ten percent (10%) or more of the equity, or

d. any affiliate or associate of this person.

A. It is unlawful for any person to make a take-over offer or to acquire any equity securities pursuant to the offer, unless the offer is effective under the provisions of this act. A take-over offer is effective when the offeror files with the Administrator a registration statement containing the information prescribed in subsection F of this section. The offeror shall deliver a copy of the registration statement by certified mail to the target company at its principal office and publicly disclose the material terms of the proposed offer, not later than the date of filing of the registration statement. Public disclosure shall require, at a minimum, that a copy of the registration statement be supplied to all broker-dealers maintaining an office in this state currently quoting the security.

B. The registration statement shall be filed on forms prescribed by the Administrator of the Department of Securities, shall be accompanied by a consent by the offeror to service of process and the filing fees specified in Section 8 [458] of this act and shall contain the following information:

1. All of the information specified in subsection F of this section;

2. Two (2) copies of all solicitation materials intended to be used in the take-over offer in the form proposed to be published or sent or delivered to offerees;

3. If the offeror is other than a natural person, the following information shall be included:

a. information concerning its organization and operations, including the year, form and jurisdiction of its organization,

b. a description of each class of equity security and long-term debt,

c. a description of business conducted by the offeror and its subsidiaries and any material changes therein during the past three (3) years,

d. a description of the location and character of the principal properties of the offeror and its subsidiaries,

e. a description of any material pending legal or administrative proceedings in which the offeror or any of its subsidiaries is a party,

f. the names of all directors and executive officers of the offeror and their material business activities and affiliations during the past three (3) years, and

g. financial statements of the offeror in such form and for such period of time as the Administrator may by rule prescribe; and

a. information concerning his identity and background, including his business activities and affiliations during the past three (3) years, and

b. a description of any material pending legal or administrative proceedings in which the offeror is a party.

C. Registration is not deemed approval by the Administrator and any representation to the contrary is unlawful.

D. Within three (3) calendar days of the date of filing of the registration statement, the Administrator may by order summarily suspend the effectiveness of the take-over offer if the Administrator determines that the registration statement does not contain all of the information specified in subsection F of this section or that the take-over offer materials provided to offerees do not provide full disclosure to offerees of all material information concerning the take-over offer. The suspension shall remain in effect only until the determination following a hearing held pursuant to subsection E of this section.

E. A hearing shall be scheduled by the Administrator with respect to each suspension under this section and shall be held within ten (10) calendar days of the date of the suspension. The Oklahoma Administrative Procedures Act, Section 301 et seq. of Title 75 of the Oklahoma Statutes, and the administrative procedures of the Oklahoma Securities Commission and Department of Securities shall not apply to the hearing. The Administrator's determination made following the hearing shall be made within three (3) calendar days after such hearing has been completed, but not more than sixteen (16) calendar days after the date of the suspension. The Administrator may prescribe different time limits than those specified in this subsection by rule or order. If, based upon the hearing, the Administrator finds that the take-over offer fails to provide for full and fair disclosure to offerees of all material information concerning the offer, or that the take-over offer is in material violation of any provision of this act, the Administrator shall permanently suspend the effectiveness of the take-over offer, subject to the right of the offeror to correct disclosure and other deficiencies identified by the Administrator and to reinstitute the take-over offer by filing a new or amended registration statement pursuant to Section 3 [453] of this act.

F. The form required to be filed by paragraph 1 of subsection B of this section shall contain the following information:

1. The identity and background of all persons on whose behalf the acquisition of any equity security of the issuer has been or is to be affected;

2. The source and amount of funds or other consideration used or to be used in acquiring any equity security, including if applicable:

a. a statement describing any securities which are being offered in exchange for the equity securities of the issuer, and if any part of the acquisition price is or will be represented by borrowed funds or other consideration,

b. a description of the material terms of any financing arrangements, and

c. the names of the parties from whom the funds were borrowed;

a. a statement of any plans or proposals which the person has, upon gaining control:
(1) to liquidate the issuer, sell its assets, effect its merger or consolidation,

(2) to change the location of its principal executive office or of a material portion of its business activities,

(3) to change its management or policies of employment, and

(4) to materially alter its relationship with suppliers or customers or the communities in which it operates, or make any other major change in its business, corporate structure, management or personnel, and

b. other information which would affect the shareholders' evaluation of the acquisition;

5. The material terms of any contract, arrangement or understanding with any other person with respect to the securities of the issuer whereby the person filing the statement has or will acquire any interest in additional equity securities of the issuer, or is or will be obligated to transfer any interest in the equity securities to another.

§ 454. Solicitation materials - Filing - Prohibited use

Copies of all advertisements, circulars, letters or other materials published by the offeror or the target company, soliciting or requesting the acceptance or rejection of the take-over offer, shall be filed with the Administrator of the Department of Securities and sent to the target company or offeror, respectively, not later than the time copies of such solicitation materials are first published or used or sent to offerees. The Administrator may prohibit the use of any solicitation materials deemed false or misleading.

§ 455. Fraudulent, deceptive and manipulative acts prohibited

It is unlawful for any offeror or target company or any controlling person of an offeror or target company or any broker-dealer acting on behalf of an offeror or target company to engage in any fraudulent, deceptive or manipulative acts or practices in connection with a take-over offer. Fraudulent, deceptive and manipulative acts or practices include without limitation:

1. The publication or use in connection with the offer of any false statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made not misleading;

2. The sale by any controlling shareholders of a target company of any or all of their equity securities to the offeror for a consideration greater than that to be paid other shareholders pursuant to the take-over offer or the purchase of any of the securities of a controlling shareholder of the target company by the offeror for a consideration greater than that to be paid other shareholders, the terms of which are not disclosed to the other shareholders;

3. The refusal by a target company to permit an offeror who is a shareholder of record to examine its list of shareholders, and to make extracts therefrom, pursuant to the applicable corporation statutes, for the purpose of making a take-over offer in compliance with this act, or in lieu thereof, to mail any solicitation materials published by the offeror to its security holders with reasonable promptness after receipt from the offeror of such materials together with the reasonable expenses of postage and handling; and

4. The solicitation of any offeree for acceptance or rejection of a take-over offer or acquisition of any equity security pursuant to a take-over offer before the take-over offer is effective under this act or while the offer is suspended under this act.

§ 456. Actions of offeror - Limitations

A. No offeror may make a take-over offer which is not made to shareholders in this state on substantially the same terms as the offer is made to shareholders outside of this state.

B. An offeror shall provide that any equity securities of a target company deposited or tendered pursuant to a take-over offer may be withdrawn by or on behalf of any offeree at any time within seven (7) days from the date the offer has become effective under this act and after sixty (60) days from the date the offer has become effective under this act, except as the Administrator of the Department of Securities may otherwise prescribe by rule or order for the protection of investors.

C. If an offeror makes a take-over offer for less than all the outstanding equity securities of any class, and if the number of securities deposited or tendered pursuant thereto within ten (10) days after the offer has become effective under this act and copies of the offer, or notice of any increase in the consideration offered, are first published or sent or given to security holders is greater than the number the offeror has offered to accept and pay for, the securities shall be accepted pro rata, disregarding fractions, according to the number of securities deposited or tendered by each offeree.

D. If an offeror varies the terms of a take-over offer before its expiration date by increasing the consideration offered to security holders, the offeror shall pay the increased consideration for all equity securities accepted, whether such securities have been accepted by the offeror before or after the variation in the terms of the offer.

E. No offeror may make a take-over offer or acquire any equity securities in this state pursuant to the take-over offer, at any time when any injunction or cease and desist order is in effect against the offeror based upon a violation of any provision of this act or the Oklahoma Securities Act.

F. No offeror may acquire, remove or exercise control, directly or indirectly, over any target company assets located in this state pursuant to a take-over offer at any time when any injunction or cease and desist order is in effect against the offeror based upon a violation of any provision of this act or the Oklahoma Securities Act.

§ 457. Powers of Administrator - Rules and forms - Exemptions from act

A. In administering the provisions of this act, the Administrator of the Department of Securities may exercise all powers granted to him under the Oklahoma Securities Act, which are not inconsistent with this act.

B. The Administrator may make and adopt such rules and forms as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this act, including, without limitation, rules defining terms used in this act.

C. The Administrator may by rule or order exempt from any provisions of this act any proposed take-over offer or any category or type of take-over offer which the Administrator determines does not have the purpose or effect of changing or influencing the control of a target company or where he determines that compliance with this act is not necessary for the protection of the offerees, and the Administrator may similarly exempt any persons from the requirement of filing statements under this act.

§ 458. Registration fee

The Administrator of the Department of Securities shall charge a filing fee of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for a registration statement filed by an offeror.

§ 459. Violations - Cease and desist orders - Injunctions

A. Whenever it appears to the Administrator of the Department of Securities that any person, including a controlling person of an offeror or target company, has engaged or is about to engage in any act or practice constituting a violation of this act or any rule or order hereunder:

1. He may issue and cause to be served upon any person violating any of the provisions of this act an order requiring the person guilty thereof to cease and desist therefrom; and

2. He may bring an action in the district court of Oklahoma County or the district court in any county where service can be obtained on one or more of the offendors to enjoin the acts or practices and to enforce compliance with this act or any rule or order hereunder.

B. Upon a proper showing, the court may grant a permanent or temporary injunction or restraining order and may order rescission of any sales or purchases of securities determined to be unlawful under this act or any rule or order hereunder. The court shall not require the Administrator to post a bond.

§ 460. Violations - Penalties - Evidence

A. Any person who violates, and a controlling person of an offeror or target company who knowingly violates, any provision of this act or any rule thereunder, or any order of the Administrator of which this person has notice, may be fined not more than Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) or imprisoned not more than five (5) years or both. Each of the acts specified shall constitute a separate offense and a prosecution or conviction for any one of such offenses shall not bar prosecution or conviction for any other offense. No indictment or information may be returned under this act more than two (2) years after the alleged violation.

B. The Administrator may refer such evidence as is available concerning violations of this act or of any rule or order hereunder to the Attorney General or the district attorney for the appropriate county who may, with or without any reference, institute the appropriate criminal proceedings under this act. If referred to a district attorney, he shall, within ninety (90) days, file with the Administrator a statement concerning any action taken or, if no action is taken, the reasons therefor.

C. Nothing in this act limits the power of the state to punish any person for any conduct which constitutes a crime under any other statute.

D. All shares acquired from an Oklahoma resident in violation of any provision of this act or any rule thereunder, or any order of the Administrator of which the person has notice, shall be denied voting rights for one (1) year after acquisition, the shares shall be nontransferable on the books of the target company for one (1) year after acquisition and the target company shall, during this one-year period, have the option to call the shares for redemption either at the price at which the shares were acquired or at book value per share as of the last day of the fiscal quarter ended prior to the date of the call for redemption. Such a redemption shall occur on the date set in the call notice, but not later than sixty (60) days after the call notice is given.

§ 461. Liability of offeror - Rights and remedies of seller

A. Any offeror who purchases a security in connection with a take-over offer in violation of this act shall be liable to the person selling the security to him who may sue either at law or in equity. In an action for rescission the seller shall be entitled to recover the security, plus any income received by the purchaser thereon, upon tender of the consideration received. Tender requires only notice of willingness to pay the amount specified in exchange for the security. Any notice may be given by service as in civil actions or by certified mail to the last-known address of the person liable. Damages are the excess of either the value of the security on the date of purchase or its present value, whichever is greater, over the present value of the consideration received for the security.

B. Every person who directly or indirectly controls a person liable under subsection A of this section, every partner, principal executive officer or director of such person, every person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions, every employee of such person who materially aids in the act or transaction constituting the violation, and every broker-dealer or agent who materially aids in the act or transaction constituting the violation, is also liable jointly and severally with and to the same extent as such person, unless the person who would otherwise be so liable proves that he did not know, and in the exercise of reasonable care could not have known, of the existence of the facts by reason of which the liability is alleged to exist. There is contribution as in cases of contract among the several persons so liable.

C. No action may be maintained under this section unless commenced before the expiration of three (3) years after the act or transaction constituting the violation or the expiration of one (1) year after the discovery of the facts constituting the violation, whichever first expires.

D. The rights and remedies under this act are in addition to any other rights or remedies that may exist at law or in equity.

§ 462. Application of provisions of Oklahoma Securities Act

All of the provisions of the Oklahoma Securities Act which are not in conflict with the provisions of this act shall apply to any take-over offer involving a target company in this state.