(a) A share or similar equity interest issued by a corporation, business trust, joint stock company, or similar entity is a security.

(b) An “investment company security” is a security. “Investment company security” means a share or similar equity interest issued by an entity that is registered as an investment company under the federal investment company laws, an interest in a unit investment trust that is so registered, or a face-amount certificate issued by a face-amount certificate company that is so registered. Investment company security does not include an insurance policy or endowment policy or annuity contract issued by an insurance company.

Terms Used In California Commercial Code 8103

  • Annuity: A periodic (usually annual) payment of a fixed sum of money for either the life of the recipient or for a fixed number of years. A series of payments under a contract from an insurance company, a trust company, or an individual. Annuity payments are made at regular intervals over a period of more than one full year.
  • contract: means the bargain of the parties in fact, as found in their language or inferred from other circumstances, including course of performance, course of dealing, or usage of trade as provided in Section 1303. See California Commercial Code 1201
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Document of title: includes a bill of lading, dock warrant, dock receipt, warehouse receipt, or order for the delivery of goods, and also any other document which in the regular course of business or financing is treated as adequately evidencing that the person in possession of it is entitled to receive, hold, and dispose of the document and the goods it covers. See California Commercial Code 1201
  • Electronic: means relating to technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities. See California Commercial Code 1201
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Record: means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form. See California Commercial Code 1201
  • Writing: includes printing, typewriting, or any other intentional reduction to tangible form. See California Commercial Code 1201

(c) An interest in a partnership or limited liability company is not a security unless it is dealt in or traded on securities exchanges or in securities markets, its terms expressly provide that it is a security governed by this division, or it is an investment company security. However, an interest in a partnership or limited liability company is a financial asset if it is held in a securities account.

(d) A writing that is a security certificate is governed by this division and not by Division 3 (commencing with Section 3101), even though it also meets the requirements of that division. However, a negotiable instrument governed by Division 3 (commencing with Section 3101) is a financial asset if it is held in a securities account.

(e) An option or similar obligation issued by a clearing corporation to its participants is not a security, but is a financial asset.

(f) A commodity contract, as defined in paragraph (15) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102, is not a security or a financial asset.

(g) A document of title is not a financial asset unless subparagraph (C) of paragraph (9) of subdivision (a) of Section 8102 applies.

(h) A controllable account, controllable electronic record, or controllable payment intangible is not a financial asset unless subparagraph (C) of paragraph (9) of subdivision (a) of Section 8102 applies.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 210, Sec. 20. (SB 95) Effective January 1, 2024.)

  Previous section
Next section  
 Chapter 1 Contents