Wyo. Stat. § 17-4-203

Current through the 2024 Budget Session

Section 17-4-203 - Intrastate crowdfunding exemption

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this act, an offer or sale of a security by an issuer is exempt from the requirements of W.S. 17-4-301 through 17-4-306 and 17-4-504 if the offer or sale meets all of the following requirements:

(i) The issuer of the security is:

(A) An entity that is incorporated or organized under the laws of this state;

(B) A resident of this state under securities and exchange commission rule 147, (17 C.F.R. 230.147), or rule 147A, (17 C.F.R. 230.147A) ; and

(C) Authorized to do business in this state.

(ii) The transaction meets the requirements for the federal exemption for intrastate offerings under section 3(a)(11) of the Securities Act of 1933, (15 U.S.C. 77c(a)(11)), and securities and exchange commission rule 147, (17 C.F.R. 230.147), including, but not limited to, the requirements for determining whether an offeree or purchaser is a resident of this state, or under 15 U.S.C. 77e and securities and exchange commission rule 147A, (17 C.F.R. 230.147A). All of the following apply concerning these requirements:

(A) Each of the following is prima facie evidence that an individual is a resident of this state:

(I) A valid operator's license, chauffeur's license, or official personal identification card issued by this state;

(II) A current Wyoming voter registration;

(III) A signed affidavit showing that the purchaser is a resident of this state as defined by W.S. 22-1-102(a)(xxx); or

(IV) Any other record or documents issued by this state that establishes that the purchaser's principal residence is in this state.

(B) The provisions of securities and exchange commission rule 147, (17 C.F.R. 230.147), or rule 147A, (17 C.F.R. 230.147A), apply in determining the residency of an offeree or purchaser that is a corporation, partnership, trust, or other form of business organization;

(C) If a purchaser of a security that is exempt under this section resells that security within six (6) months after the closing of the particular offering in which the purchaser obtained that security to a person that is not a resident of this state, the original investment agreement between the issuer and the purchaser is void. If an agreement to purchase, or the purchase of, a security is void under this subparagraph, the issuer may recover damages from the misrepresenting offeree or purchaser. These damages include, but are not limited to, the issuer's expenses in resolving the misrepresentation. However, damages described in this subparagraph shall not exceed the amount of the person's investment in the security.

(iii) The sum of all cash and other consideration to be received for all sales of the security in reliance on this exemption does not exceed the following amounts:

(A) Three million dollars ($3,000,000.00), less the aggregate amount received for all sales of securities by the issuer within the twelve (12) months before the first offer or sale made in reliance on this exemption, if the issuer has not made available to each prospective purchaser and the secretary of state audited financial statements or reviewed financial statements for the issuer's most recently completed fiscal year, prepared by a certified public accountant, holding a certificate pursuant to W.S. 33-3-109, in accordance with the statements on auditing standards of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or the statements on standards for accounting and review services of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, as applicable;

(B) Ten million dollars ($10,000,000.00), less the aggregate amount received for all sales of securities by the issuer within the twelve (12) months before the first offer or sale made in reliance on this exemption, if the issuer has made available to each prospective purchaser and the secretary of state audited financial statements or reviewed financial statements for the issuer's most recently completed fiscal year, prepared by a certified public accountant, holding a certificate pursuant to W.S. 33-3-109, in accordance with the statements on auditing standards of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or the statements on standards for accounting and review services of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, as applicable.

(iv) The issuer has not accepted more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) from any single purchaser unless the purchaser is an accredited investor as defined by rule 501 of securities and exchange commission regulation D, (17 C.F.R. 230.501) who comes within any category listed in the definition of that rule or who the issuer reasonably believes comes within any category listed in the definition of that rule, at the time of the sale. The issuer may rely on confirmation that the purchaser is an accredited investor from information provided by the purchaser, a licensed broker-dealer or another third party in making a determination that the purchaser is an accredited investor;

(v) At least ten (10) days before an offer of securities is made in reliance on this exemption or the use of any publicly available website in connection with an offering of securities in reliance on this exemption, the issuer files a notice with the secretary of state, in writing or in electronic form as specified by the secretary of state, that contains all of the following:

(A) A notice of claim of exemption from registration, specifying that the issuer intends to conduct an offering in reliance on this exemption, accompanied by the filing fee specified in this section;

(B) A copy of the disclosure statement to be provided to prospective investors in connection with the offering. The disclosure statement shall be provided at the time the offer of securities is made to the prospective purchaser and shall contain all of the following:

(I) A description of the issuer, including its type of entity, the address and telephone number of its principal office, its formation history, its business plan, and the intended use of the offering proceeds, including any amounts to be paid, as compensation or otherwise, to any owner, executive officer, director, managing member, or other person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions on behalf of the issuer;

(II) The identity of each person that owns more than ten percent (10%) of the ownership interests of any class of securities of the issuer;

(III) The identity of the executive officers, directors, and managing members of the issuer, and any other individuals who occupy similar status or perform similar functions in the name of and on behalf of the issuer, including their titles and their prior experience;

(IV) The terms and conditions of the securities being offered and of any outstanding securities of the issuer, the minimum and maximum amount of securities being offered, if any, and either the percentage ownership of the issuer represented by the offered securities or the valuation of the issuer implied by the price of the offered securities;

(V) The identity of any person that the issuer has or intends to retain to assist the issuer in conducting the offering and sale of the securities, including the owner of any websites, if known, but excluding any person acting solely as an accountant or attorney and any employees whose primary job responsibilities involve the operating business of the issuer rather than assisting the issuer in raising capital, and for each person identified in response to this subdivision, a description of the consideration being paid to that person for that assistance;

(VI) A description of any litigation or legal proceedings involving the issuer or its management;

(VII) The name and address of any website that the issuer intends to use in connection with the offering, including its uniform resource locator (URL). If the issuer has not engaged a website described in this subdivision at the time the issuer files the disclosure statement described in this subparagraph with the secretary of state under this paragraph but subsequently does engage a website for use in connection with the offering, the issuer shall provide the information described in this subdivision to the secretary of state by filing a supplemental notice;

(VIII) Additional information material to the offering, including, where appropriate, a discussion of significant factors that make the offering speculative or risky. This discussion shall be concise and organized logically and need not present risks that could apply to any issuer or any offering.

(C) An escrow agreement with a bank or other depository institution located in this state, in which the purchaser funds will be deposited, that provides that all offering proceeds will be released to the issuer only when the aggregate capital raised from all purchasers is equal to or greater than the minimum target offering amount specified in the disclosure statement as necessary to implement the business plan and that all purchasers will receive a return of their subscription funds if that target offering amount is not raised by the time stated in the disclosure statement. The bank or other depository institution may contract with the issuer to collect reasonable fees for its escrow services regardless of whether the target offering amount is reached.

(vi) The issuer is not, either before or as a result of the offering, an investment company, as defined in section 3 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, (15 U.S.C. § 80a-3), or an entity that would be an investment company but for the exclusions provided in subsection (c) of that section, or subject to the reporting requirements of section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, (15 U.S.C. §§ 78m and 78o(d)) ;

(vii) The issuer informs each prospective purchaser that the securities are not registered under federal or state securities laws and that the securities are subject to limitations on transfer or resale and displays the following legend conspicuously on the cover page of the disclosure statement:

"IN MAKING AN INVESTMENT DECISION, PURCHASERS MUST RELY ON THEIR OWN EXAMINATION OF THE ISSUER AND THE TERMS OF THE OFFERING, INCLUDING THE MERITS AND RISKS INVOLVED. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN RECOMMENDED BY ANY FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR REGULATORY AUTHORITY. FURTHERMORE, THE FOREGOING AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT CONFIRMED THE ACCURACY OR DETERMINED THE ADEQUACY OF THIS DOCUMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. THESE SECURITIES ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY AND RESALE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OR RESOLD EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BY SUBSECTION (E) OF SEC RULE 147, (17 C.F.R. 230.147(E)), OR RULE 147A, (17 C.F.R. 230.147A(E)), AS PROMULGATED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND THE APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION OR EXEMPTION THEREFROM. PURCHASERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE FINANCIAL RISKS OF THIS INVESTMENT FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME.".

(viii) The issuer requires each purchaser to certify in writing, and to include as part of that certification his signature, and his initials next to each paragraph of the certification, as follows:

"I understand and acknowledge that:

I am investing in a high-risk, speculative business venture. I may lose all of my investment, and I can afford the loss of my investment. This offering has not been reviewed or approved by any state or federal securities commission or other regulatory authority and that no regulatory authority has confirmed the accuracy or determined the adequacy of any disclosure made to me relating to this offering.

The securities I am acquiring in this offering are illiquid, that the securities are subject to possible dilution, that there is no ready market for the sale of those securities, that it may be difficult or impossible for me to sell or otherwise dispose of this investment, and that, accordingly, I may be required to hold this investment indefinitely.

I may be subject to tax on my share of the taxable income and losses of the issuer, whether or not I have sold or otherwise disposed of my investment or received any dividends or other distributions from the issuer.

By entering into this transaction with the issuer, I am affirmatively representing myself as being a Wyoming resident at the time that this contract is formed, and if this representation is subsequently shown to be false, the contract is void.

If I resell any of the securities I am acquiring in this offering to a person that is not a Wyoming resident, within six (6) months after the closing of the offering, my contract with the issuer for the purchase of these securities is void.".

(ix) If the offer and sale of securities under this section is made through an internet website, all of the following requirements are met:

(A) Before any offer of an investment opportunity to residents of this state through the use of a website, the issuer provides to the website and to the secretary of state evidence that the issuer is organized under the laws of this state and that it is authorized to do business in this state;

(B) The issuer obtains from each purchaser of a security under this section evidence that the purchaser is a resident of this state and, if applicable, an accredited investor;

(C) The website operator files a written notice with the secretary of state that includes the website operator's name, business address, and contact information and states that it is authorized to do business in this state and is being utilized to offer and sell securities under this exemption. Beginning twelve (12) months after the date of the written notice, a website operator that has filed a written notice under this subparagraph shall annually notify the secretary of state in writing of any changes in the information provided to the secretary of state under this subparagraph;

(D) The issuer and the website keep and maintain records of the offers and sales of securities made through the website and provide ready access to the records to the secretary of state on request. The secretary of state may access, inspect, and review any website described in this paragraph and its records.

(x) All payments for the purchase of securities are directed to and held by the bank or depository institution subject to the provisions of subparagraph (v)(C) of this subsection;

(xi) Offers or sales of a security are not made through an internet website unless the website has filed the written notice required under subparagraph (ix)(C) of this subsection with the secretary of state;

(xii) The issuer does not pay, directly or indirectly, any commission or remuneration to an executive officer, director, managing member, or other individual who has a similar status or performs similar functions in the name of and on behalf of the issuer for offering or selling the securities unless he or she is registered as a broker-dealer, investment adviser, or investment adviser representative under article 4 of this act. An executive officer, director, managing member, or other individual who has a similar status or performs similar functions in the name of and on behalf of the issuer is exempt from the registration requirements under article 4 of this act if he or she does not receive, directly or indirectly, any commission or remuneration for offering or selling securities of the issuer that are exempt from registration under this section;

(xiii) Repealed by Laws 2018, ch. 71, § 2.

(xiv) The term of the offering does not exceed twelve (12) months after the date of the first offer.

(b) If the offer and sale of a security of an issuer is exempt under this section, the issuer shall provide the information described in paragraph (iv) of this subsection upon request of the issuer's purchasers until none of the securities issued under this section are outstanding. All of the following apply:

(i) The issuer shall provide the information free of charge to the purchasers;

(ii) An issuer may satisfy the information requirement under this subsection by making the information available on an internet website;

(iii) The issuer must provide a written copy of the information to any purchaser or the secretary of state on request;

(iv) The information provided must include all of the following:

(A) The compensation received by each director and executive officer of the issuer, including cash compensation earned on an annual basis and any bonuses, stock options, other rights to receive securities of the issuer or any affiliate of the issuer, or other compensation received;

(B) An analysis by management of the issuer of the business operations and financial condition of the issuer.

(c) The exemption provided in this section shall not be used in conjunction with any other exemption under this article, except offers and sales to controlling persons shall not count toward the limitation in paragraph (a)(iii) of this section.

(d) The exemption described in this section does not apply if an issuer or person that is affiliated with the issuer or offering is subject to any disqualification established by the secretary of state by rule or contained in rule 262 as promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, (17 C.F.R. 230.262). However, this subsection does not apply if both of the following are met:

(i) On a showing of good cause and without prejudice to any other action by the secretary of state, the secretary of state determines that it is not necessary under the circumstances that an exemption be denied; and

(ii) The issuer establishes that it made factual inquiry into whether any disqualification existed under this subsection but did not know, and in the exercise of reasonable care could not have known, that a disqualification existed under this subsection. The nature and scope of the requisite inquiry will vary based on the circumstances of the issuer and the other offering participants.

(e) The secretary of state may adopt rules to implement the provisions of this section and to protect purchasers that purchase securities that are exempt from registration under this section.

(f) The secretary of state shall charge a nonrefundable filing fee for filing an exemption notice required under subsection (a) of this section according to the following conditions:

(i) If the offering is being made by the issuer the filing fee is two hundred dollars ($200.00);

(ii) Internet websites filing written notice shall pay a filing fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00), for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months following the date of written notice. Internet websites may file renewal notices every twelve (12) months accompanied by a one hundred dollar ($100.00) renewal fee.

(g) A website through which an offer or sale of securities under this section is made is not subject to the broker-dealer, investment adviser, or investment adviser representative registration requirements under article 4 of this act if the website meets all of the following conditions:

(i) It does not offer investment advice or recommendations;

(ii) It does not solicit purchases, sales, or offers to buy the securities offered or displayed on the website;

(iii) It does not compensate employees, agents, or other persons for the solicitation or based on the sale of securities displayed or referenced on the website;

(iv) It does not hold, manage, possess, or otherwise handle purchaser funds or securities;

(v) It does not engage in any other activities that the secretary of state by rule determines are inappropriate for an exemption from the registration requirements under article 4 of this act.

(h) Except for W.S. 17-4-504, article 5 of this act applies to a violation of this section, including a violation concerning website operation.

(j) As used in this section, "controlling person" means an officer, director, partner, or trustee, or another individual who has similar status or performs similar functions, of or for the issuer or to a person that owns ten percent (10%) or more of the outstanding shares of any class or classes of securities of the issuer.

(k) The exemption described in this section may be referred to as the "Wyoming Invests Now (WIN) exemption".

W.S. 17-4-203

Amended by Laws 2021 , ch. 89, § 1, eff. 7/1/2021.

Amended by Laws 2018 , ch. 71, § 1 and 2, eff. 3/12/2018.

Added by Laws 2016 , ch. 22, § 1, eff. 7/1/2017.