The Mississippi Securities Act, which became effective January 1, 2010, is the state law regarding the regulation of the securities industry in Mississippi. The Act provides for the registration of securities offered or sold in Mississippi and for firms and individuals who sell securities or render investment advice in the state.
The Act empowers the Office of the Secretary of State, through the Securities Division, to investigate, prosecute, and sanction individuals and securities firms that violate the securities laws.
The Act also authorizes the Secretary of State to order restitution and disgorgement of profits and provides for additional penalties for violations of the laws against Mississippi's most vulnerable citizens.
In certain circumstances a particular security, transaction, or person may be exempt from the registration requirements of the Act. Even when an exemption from the registration provisions is available, the Act prohibits fraud in the offer or sale of securities in Mississippi and in the rendering of investment advice.