Laws: Cases and Codes : U.S. Code : Title 15 : Section 79l


   
U.S. Code as of: 01/19/04
Section 79l. Intercompany and other transactions relating to registered companies

    (a) Borrowing from other companies in same system
      It shall be unlawful for any registered holding company, by use
    of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate
    commerce, or otherwise, directly or indirectly, to borrow, or to
    receive any extension of credit or indemnity, from any
    public-utility company in the same holding-company system or from
    any subsidiary company of such holding company, but it shall not be
    unlawful under this subsection to renew, or extend the time of, any
    loan, credit, or indemnity outstanding on August 26, 1935.
    (b) Loans to other companies in same system
      It shall be unlawful for any registered holding company or
    subsidiary company thereof, by use of the mails or any means or
    instrumentality of interstate commerce, or otherwise, directly or
    indirectly, to lend or in any manner extend its credit to or
    indemnify any company in the same holding-company system in
    contravention of such rules and regulations or orders as the
    Commission deems necessary or appropriate in the public interest or
    for the protection of investors or consumers or to prevent the
    circumvention of the provisions of this chapter or the rules,
    regulations, or orders thereunder.
    (c) Payment of dividends or retirement of securities
      It shall be unlawful for any registered holding company or any
    subsidiary company thereof, by use of the mails or any means or
    instrumentality of interstate commerce, or otherwise, to declare or
    pay any dividend on any security of such company or to acquire,
    retire, or redeem any security of such company, in contravention of
    such rules and regulations or orders as the Commission deems
    necessary or appropriate to protect the financial integrity of
    companies in holding-company systems, to safeguard the working
    capital of public-utility companies, to prevent the payment of
    dividends out of capital or unearned surplus, or to prevent the
    circumvention of the provisions of this chapter or the rules,
    regulations, or orders thereunder.
    (d) Sale of securities of other companies
      It shall be unlawful for any registered holding company, by use
    of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate
    commerce, or otherwise, to sell any security which it owns of any
    public-utility company, or any utility assets, in contravention of
    such rules and regulations or orders regarding the consideration to
    be received for such sale, maintenance of competitive conditions,
    fees and commissions, accounts, disclosure of interest, and similar
    matters as the Commission deems necessary or appropriate in the
    public interest or for the protection of investors or consumers or
    to prevent the circumvention of the provisions of this chapter or
    the rules, regulations, or orders thereunder.
    (e) Solicitation of proxies, powers of attorney, etc., regarding
      securities
      It shall be unlawful for any person to solicit or to permit the
    use of his or its name to solicit, by use of the mails or any means
    or instrumentality of interstate commerce, or otherwise, any proxy,
    power of attorney, consent, or authorization regarding any security
    of a registered holding company or a subsidiary company thereof in
    contravention of such rules and regulations or orders as the
    Commission deems necessary or appropriate in the public interest or
    for the protection of investors or consumers or to prevent the
    circumvention of the provisions of this chapter or the rules,
    regulations, or orders thereunder.
    (f) Negotiations or transactions with other companies in
      contravention of rules and regulations of Commission
      It shall be unlawful for any registered holding company or
    subsidiary company thereof, by use of the mails or any means or
    instrumentality of interstate commerce, or otherwise, to negotiate,
    enter into, or take any step in the performance of any transaction
    not otherwise unlawful under this chapter, with any company in the
    same holding-company system or with any affiliate of a company in
    such holding-company system in contravention of such rules and
    regulations or orders regarding reports, accounts, costs,
    maintenance of competitive conditions, disclosure of interest,
    duration of contracts, and similar matters as the Commission deems
    necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the
    protection of investors or consumers or to prevent the
    circumvention of the provisions of this chapter or the rules and
    regulations thereunder.
    (g) Negotiations or transactions by affiliate in contravention of
      rules and regulations of Commission
      It shall be unlawful for any affiliate of any public-utility
    company, by use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of
    interstate commerce, or for any affiliate of any public-utility
    company engaged in interstate commerce, or of any registered
    holding company or any subsidiary company thereof, by use of the
    mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce, or
    otherwise, to negotiate, enter into, or take any step in the
    performance of any transaction not otherwise unlawful under this
    chapter, with any such company of which it is an affiliate, in
    contravention of such rules and regulations or orders regarding
    reports, accounts, costs, maintenance of competitive conditions,
    disclosure of interest, duration of contracts, and similar matters
    as the Commission deems necessary or appropriate to prevent the
    circumvention of the provisions of this chapter.
    (h) Political contributions forbidden
      It shall be unlawful for any registered holding company, or any
    subsidiary company thereof, by use of the mails or any means or
    instrumentality of interstate commerce, or otherwise, directly or
    indirectly - 
        (1) to make any contribution whatsoever in connection with the
      candidacy, nomination, election or appointment of any person for
      or to any office or position in the Government of the United
      States, a State, or any political subdivision of a State, or any
      agency, authority, or instrumentality of any one or more of the
      foregoing; or
        (2) to make any contribution to or in support of any political
      party or any committee or agency thereof.

    The term "contribution" as used in this subsection includes any
    gift, subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of money or anything
    of value, and includes any contract, agreement, or promise, whether
    or not legally enforceable, to make a contribution.
    (i) Representation before Congress or Commissions; filing statement
      of employment, compensation, etc.
      It shall be unlawful for any person employed or retained by any
    registered holding company, or any subsidiary company thereof, to
    present, advocate, or oppose any matter affecting any registered
    holding company or any subsidiary company thereof, before the
    Congress or any Member or committee thereof, or before the
    Commission or Federal Power Commission, or any member, officer, or
    employee of either such Commission, unless such person shall file
    with the Commission in such form and detail and at such time as the
    Commission shall by rules and regulations or order prescribe as
    necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the
    protection of investors or consumers, a statement of the subject
    matter in respect of which such person is retained or employed, the
    nature and character of such retainer or employment, and the amount
    of compensation received or to be received by such person, directly
    or indirectly, in connection therewith. It shall be the duty of
    every such person so employed or retained to file with the
    Commission within ten days after the close of each calendar month
    during such retainer or employment, in such form and detail as the
    Commission shall by rules and regulations or order prescribe as
    necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the
    protection of investors or consumers, a statement of the expenses
    incurred and the compensation received by such person during such
    month in connection with such retainer or employment.



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