10. (a) A broker-dealer, agent, investment adviser or investment adviser representative, or Internet site operator may obtain an initial or renewal registration by filing with the bureau an application together with a consent to service of process pursuant to subsection (a) of section 26 of P.L.1967, c.93 (C. 49:3-73). Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) member broker-dealers and their agents shall file their applications for initial or renewal registration with the Central Registration Depository, or its successor organization, as appropriate and available. The application shall contain whatever information the bureau chief by rule requires concerning such matters as (1) the applicant’s form and place of organization; (2) the applicant’s proposed method of doing business; (3) the qualifications and business history of the applicant; in the case of a broker-dealer or investment adviser, the qualifications and business history of any partner, officer, or director, any person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions, or any person directly or indirectly controlling the broker-dealer or investment adviser; and, in the case of an investment adviser or registered broker-dealer acting as an investment adviser, the qualifications and business history of any employee who is to give investment advice or who is an investment adviser representative; (4) any injunction or administrative order or conviction of a crime of the fourth degree or its equivalent in any other jurisdiction involving a security or any aspect of the securities or investment advisory business and any conviction of a crime of the first, second or third degree or its equivalent in any other jurisdiction; (5) the applicant’s financial condition; and (6) in the case of an investment adviser, a copy of any information or brochure used by the adviser to comply with any rule of the bureau promulgated pursuant to subsection (b) of section 12 of P.L.1967, c.93 (C. 49:3-59). If no denial, postponement or suspension order is in effect and no proceeding is pending under section 11 of P.L.1967, c.93 (C. 49:3-58), registration becomes effective at noon of the thirtieth day after an application is filed. The bureau chief may by rule or order specify an earlier effective date, or he may by order defer the effective date until the first day of the next calendar month after the thirtieth day after the filing of the application. The bureau chief may by order defer the effective date for additional periods, as the applicant shall agree to in writing. The time limits herein provided shall run anew from the filing of any amendment;

(b) Every applicant for initial or renewal registration for broker-dealer, agent, investment adviser and investment adviser representative, and Internet site operator shall pay filing fees in the amounts as set by rule of the bureau chief. If an application is denied or withdrawn, the bureau shall retain the fee. Whenever any supplemental filing is made, for the purpose of keeping current the information furnished to the bureau chief, there may be a supplemental filing fee in an amount set by rule of the bureau chief;

(c) A registered broker-dealer, investment adviser, or Internet site operator may file an application for registration of a successor, whether or not the successor is then in existence, for the unexpired portion of the registration period. There shall be no filing fee, except as may be provided by rule of the bureau chief;

(d) (1) The bureau chief may by rule require a minimum capital for registered broker-dealers not to exceed the limitations provided in section 15 of the “Securities Exchange Act of 1934,” 15 U.S.C. § 78o. The minimum capital required for a registered broker-dealer shall be determined by rule of the bureau chief;

(2) The bureau chief may by rule establish minimum financial requirements for investment advisers, not to exceed the limitations provided in section 222 of the “Investment Advisers Act of 1940,” 15 U.S.C. § 80b-18a, which may include different requirements for those investment advisers who maintain custody of or have discretionary authority over clients’ funds or securities and investment advisers who do not maintain such custody or discretionary authority;

(e) The bureau chief may by rule require registered investment advisers who have custody of clients’ funds or securities to post bonds in amounts not to exceed the limitations provided in section 222 of the “Investment Advisers Act of 1940,” 15 U.S.C. § 80b-18a and registered broker-dealers to post bonds in amounts not to exceed the limitations provided in section 15 of the “Securities Exchange Act of 1934,” 15 U.S.C. § 78o, and may determine their conditions. Any appropriate deposit of cash or securities shall be accepted in lieu of any bond so required. Every bond shall provide for suit thereon by any person who has a cause of action under section 24 of P.L.1967, c.93 (C. 49:3-71). Every bond shall provide that no suit may be maintained to enforce any liability on the bond unless brought within two years after the sale or other act upon which it is based, or within two years of the time when the person aggrieved knew or should have known of the existence of his cause of action, whichever is later. The dollar amount of the bonds shall be set by rule of the bureau chief;

(f) (1) The bureau chief may by rule provide for an examination which may be written or oral or both, to be taken by any class of or all applicants, as well as persons who represent or will represent an investment adviser in doing any of the acts which make him an investment adviser;

(2) Each applicant for broker-dealer, agent, investment adviser or investment adviser representative who takes an examination provided pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection shall pay examination fees in the amounts as set forth by rule of the bureau chief;

(g) (1) Registration as a broker-dealer or agent under this act for the limited purpose of engaging in the business of effecting or attempting to effect transactions in direct participation securities for the accounts of others or for his own account shall be permitted. All the requirements of this act shall apply to these limited registrations; except that any examination or other evaluation of proficiency or knowledge required by the bureau for this registration shall be limited to matters relating to direct participation securities and to the requirements of laws and regulations applicable to this registrant.

(2) Any applicant for a limited registration shall acknowledge in writing to the bureau prior to registration that he understands (i) the limitations on the scope of his authority to do business pursuant to this limited registration; and (ii) that any activity which exceeds the limitations of the registration shall violate the provisions of this act and may result in disciplinary action by the bureau, prosecution under this act or other laws, or civil liability, to the same extent as if he was not registered under this act.

L.1967, c.93, s.10; amended 1971, c.340; 1983, c.292, s.3; 1985, c.405, s.5; 1997, c.276, s.10; 2015, c.128, s.11.