Title 15, Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73not60
§80a–7 Transactions by Unregistered Investment Companies
Title 15 › Chapter 2D— INVESTMENT COMPANIES AND ADVISERS › Subchapter I— INVESTMENT COMPANIES › § 80a–7
Summary
Stops unregistered U.S. or state investment companies that have a board of directors from using the mail or anything that crosses state lines (like phone or internet) to sell or offer securities, to buy or redeem securities, to control other companies that do those things, or to do business across state lines. If an investment company has no board, its depositor, trustee, or underwriter is also barred from those same sales and purchases by mail or interstate means, unless the company is registered or specifically exempt. Promoters or underwriters of a proposed investment company cannot use mail or interstate means to sell preorganization certificates or subscriptions in a public offering. Foreign investment companies not formed under U.S. law also may not make public offerings this way unless the SEC allows registration because it can enforce the rules and it is in the public interest. Funds excluded under 80a–3(c)(10)(B) must give each donor written information when they donate or within 90 days after December 8, 1995, whichever is later.
Full Legal Text
Title 15, §80a–7
Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)No investment company organized or otherwise created under the laws of the United States or of a State and having a board of directors, unless registered under section 80a–8 of this title, shall directly or indirectly—
(1)offer for sale, sell, or deliver after sale, by the use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce, any security or any interest in a security, whether the issuer of such security is such investment company or another person; or offer for sale, sell, or deliver after sale any such security or interest, having reason to believe that such security or interest will be made the subject of a public offering by use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce;
(2)purchase, redeem, retire, or otherwise acquire or attempt to acquire, by use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce, any security or any interest in a security, whether the issuer of such security is such investment company or another person;
(3)control any investment company which does any of the acts enumerated in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection;
(4)engage in any business in interstate commerce; or
(5)control any company which is engaged in any business in interstate commerce.
(b)No depositor or trustee of or underwriter for any investment company, organized or otherwise created under the laws of the United States or of a State and not having a board of directors, unless such company is registered under section 80a–8 of this title or exempt under section 80a–6 of this title, shall directly or indirectly—
(1)offer for sale, sell, or deliver after sale, by use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce, any security or any interest in a security of which such company is the issuer; or offer for sale, sell, or deliver after sale any such security or interest, having reason to believe that such security or interest will be made the subject of a public offering by use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce;
(2)purchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire or attempt to acquire, by use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce, any security or any interest in a security of which such company is the issuer; or
(3)sell or purchase for the account of such company, by use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce, any security or interest in a security, by whomever issued.
(c)No promoter of a proposed investment company, and no underwriter for such a promoter, shall make use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce, directly or indirectly, to offer for sale, sell, or deliver after sale, in connection with a public offering, any preorganization certificate or subscription for such a company.
(d)No investment company, unless organized or otherwise created under the laws of the United States or of a State, and no depositor or trustee of or underwriter for such a company not so organized or created, shall make use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce, directly or indirectly, to offer for sale, sell, or deliver after sale, in connection with a public offering, any security of which such company is the issuer. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection and of section 80a–8(a) of this title, the Commission is authorized, upon application by an investment company organized or otherwise created under the laws of a foreign country, to issue a conditional or unconditional order permitting such company to register under this subchapter, and to make a public offering of its securities by use of the mails and means or instrumentalities of interstate commerce, if the Commission finds that, by reason of special circumstances or arrangements, it is both legally and practically feasible effectively to enforce the provisions of this subchapter against such company and that the issuance of such order is otherwise consistent with the public interest and the protection of investors.
(e)Each fund that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 80a–3(c)(10)(B) of this title shall provide, to each donor to such fund, at the time of the donation or within 90 days after December 8, 1995, whichever is later, written information describing the material terms of the operation of such fund.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1995—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104–62 added subsec. (e).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1995 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–62 applicable as defense to any claim in administrative and judicial actions pending on or commenced after Dec. 8, 1995, that any person, security, interest, or participation of type described in Pub. L. 104–62 is subject to the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, or any State statute or regulation preempted as provided in section 80a–3a of this title, except as specifically provided in such statutes, see section 7 of Pub. L. 104–62, set out as a note under section 77c of this title.
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
For
Transfer of Functions
of Securities and Exchange Commission, with certain exceptions, to Chairman of such Commission, see Reorg. Plan No. 10 of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3175, 64 Stat. 1265, set out under section 78d of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
15 U.S.C. § 80a–7
Title 15, Commerce and Trade
Last Updated
Apr 3, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60