A. Except as otherwise provided in this section, within three years after receiving abandoned property the department shall sell the property to the highest bidder at a public sale at a location in this state that in the judgment of the department affords the most favorable market for the property. The department may decline the highest bid and reoffer the property for sale if the department considers the bid to be insufficient. The department is not required to offer the property for sale if the department determines that the probable cost of the sale will exceed the proceeds from the sale. Before conducting a sale pursuant to this section, the department shall cause a notice to be published at least three weeks before the sale in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the sale will occur.

Terms Used In Arizona Laws 44-312

  • Department: means the department of revenue. See Arizona Laws 44-301
  • Holder: means a person who is obligated to hold for the account of or deliver or pay to the owner property that is subject to this chapter. See Arizona Laws 44-301
  • Owner: means a person who has a legal or equitable interest in property that is subject to this chapter or the person's legal representative. See Arizona Laws 44-301
  • Person: means an individual, business association, financial organization, estate, trust, government, governmental subdivision, agency or instrumentality or any other legal or commercial entity. See Arizona Laws 44-301
  • Property: means tangible property pursuant to section 44-303 or a fixed and certain interest in intangible property that is held, issued or owed in the course of a holder's business or by a government, governmental subdivision, agency or instrumentality and all income or increments from that property. See Arizona Laws 44-301
  • sell: means a sale or any other disposition of a security or interest in a security for value and includes a contract to make such sale or disposition. See Arizona Laws 44-1801
  • State: means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or any territory or insular possession that is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. See Arizona Laws 44-301

B. The department shall sell securities that are listed on an established stock exchange at prices prevailing on the exchange at the time of the sale. The department may sell other securities over the counter at prices prevailing at the time of the sale or by any reasonable method selected by the department.

C. A person who makes a claim pursuant to this chapter for securities is entitled to receive from the department the securities that the holder delivered to the department if the securities remain in the department’s custody or the person is entitled to receive the net proceeds of the sale. Except in a case of intentional misconduct or malfeasance by the department, the person is not entitled to receive any appreciation in the value of the property that occurred after the delivery to the department.

D. A purchaser of property at a sale conducted by the department pursuant to this chapter takes the property free of all claims of the owner or previous holder and of all persons claiming through or under the owner or previous holder. The department shall execute all documents necessary to complete the transfer of ownership.