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HomeCorporations Code§ 25017 Security Sale Definitions

§ 25017 Security Sale Definitions

Corporations Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 25017 Security Sale Definitions

This law says that when you buy, sell, or even give away a security (like a stock), many things count as a sale or an offer – including bonuses, gifts, and rights to buy more – unless the transaction is a real loan, a normal stock dividend, or a court‑approved reorganization.

Key Takeaways

  • •A "sale" covers any contract, exchange, or change in rights of a security.
  • •An "offer" covers any attempt to sell or ask someone to buy a security.
  • •Bonuses, gifts, and rights to buy more securities are treated as sales or offers.
  • •Using a warrant or converting a security is NOT a sale; only the original offer counts.
  • •The rule does NOT apply to real secured loans, regular stock dividends, or court‑approved reorganizations.

Example

Jane buys 100 shares of a company and the company gives her 5 extra shares as a bonus.

Even though the extra shares are a bonus, the law treats them as part of the purchase, so they are considered sold to Jane for value.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 25017 Security Sale Definitions

(a) “Sale” or “sell” includes every contract of sale of, contract to sell, or disposition of, a security or interest in a security for value. “Sale” or “sell” includes any exchange of securities and any change in the rights, preferences, privileges, or restrictions of or on outstanding securities. (b) “Offer” or “offer to sell” includes every attempt or offer to dispose of, or solicitation of an offer to buy, a security or interest in a security for value. (c) Any security given or delivered with, or as a bonus on account of, any purchase of securities or any other thing constitutes a part of the subject of the purchase and is considered to have been offered and sold for value. (d) A purported gift of assessable stock involves an offer and sale. (e) Every sale or offer of a warrant or right to purchase or subscribe to another security of the same or another issuer, as well as every sale or offer of a security which gives the holder a present or future right or privilege to convert the security into another security of the same or another issuer, includes an offer and sale of the other security only at the time of the offer or sale of the warrant or right or convertible security; but neither the exercise of the right to purchase or subscribe or to convert nor the issuance of securities pursuant thereto is an offer or sale. (f) The terms defined in this section do not include: (1) any bona fide secured transaction in or loan of outstanding securities; (2) any stock dividend payable with respect to common stock of a corporation solely (except for any cash or scrip paid for fractional shares) in shares of such common stock, if the corporation has no other class of voting stock outstanding; provided, that shares issued in any such dividend shall be subject to any conditions previously imposed by the commissioner applicable to the shares with respect to which they are issued; or (3) any act incident to a transaction or reorganization approved by a state or federal court in which securities are issued and exchanged for one or more outstanding securities, claims, or property interests, or partly in that exchange and partly for cash, and nothing in this division shall be construed to prohibit a court from applying the protections described in Section 25014.7 or 25140 and the regulations adopted thereunder when approving any transaction involving a rollup participant. (Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 48, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1999.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

salesellofferoffer to sellsecuritybona fide secured transactionstock dividend

Related Statutes

  • § 31018 Franchise Sale Definitions
  • § 29516 Sale Definition Scope
  • § 12623 Receiver Appointment In Dissolution
  • § 1305 Appraiser Report And Valuation
  • § 14312 Mutual Water Company Requirements

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Corporations Code. Section 25017.
View Official Source