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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".12" citation="COMAR 31.04.07.12" title_num="31" subtitle_num="04" chapter_num="07" heading="Special Provisions Applicable to Election Contests.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Solicitations to Which this Regulation Applies. This regulation applies to any solicitation by any person or group for the purpose of opposing a solicitation subject to this chapter by any other person or group with respect to the election or removal of directors at any annual or special meeting of security holders.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Participant or Participant in a Solicitation.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>In this regulation, “participant” and “participant in a solicitation” include:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The issuer;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Any director of the issuer, and any nominee for whose election as a director proxies are solicited; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Any other person, acting alone or with one or more other persons, committees, or groups, in organizing, directing, or financing the solicitation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>In this regulation, “participant” and “participant in a solicitation” do not include:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A bank, broker, or dealer who, in the ordinary course of business, lends money or executes orders for the purchase or sale of securities, and who is not otherwise a participant;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Any person or organization retained or employed by a participant to solicit security holders, or any person who merely transmits proxy soliciting material or performs ministerial or clerical duties;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Any person employed in the capacity of attorney, accountant, advertising, public relations, or financial adviser, whose activities are limited to the performance of duties in the course of that employment;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Any person regularly employed as an officer or employee of the issuer or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates who is not otherwise a participant; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Any officer or director of, or any person regularly employed by, any other participant, if the officer, director, or employee is not otherwise a participant.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Filing of Information Required by Schedule B.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A solicitation subject to this section may not be made by any person other than the issuer unless at least 5 business days prior, or a shorter period as the Commissioner may authorize upon a showing of good cause, there has been filed with the Commissioner, by or on behalf of each participant in the solicitation, a statement in duplicate containing the information specified by Schedule B and a copy of any material proposed to be distributed to security holders in furtherance of the solicitation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Within 5 business days after a solicitation subject to this regulation is made by the issuer, or a longer period the Commissioner may authorize upon showing of good cause, there shall be filed with the Commissioner, by or on behalf of each participant in the solicitation other than the issuer, a statement in duplicate containing the information specified by Schedule B.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>If any solicitation on behalf of the issuer or any other person has been made, or if proxy material is ready for distribution, before a solicitation subject to this regulation in opposition, a statement in duplicate containing the information specified in Schedule B shall be filed with the Commissioner, by or on behalf of each participant in the prior solicitation, other than the issuer, as soon as reasonably practicable after the commencement of the solicitation in opposition.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>If, after the filing of the statements required by §§A, B, and C of this regulation, additional persons become participants in a solicitation subject to this regulation, there shall be filed with the Commissioner, by or on behalf of these persons, a statement in duplicate containing the information specified by Schedule B, within 3 business days after the person becomes a participant, or a longer period the Commissioner may authorize upon a showing of good cause.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>If any material change occurs in the facts reported in any statement filed by or on behalf of any participant, an appropriate amendment to the statement shall be filed promptly with the Commissioner.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Each statement and amendment filed pursuant to this section shall be part of the public files of the Commissioner.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Solicitations Before Furnishing Required Written Proxy Statement. Notwithstanding the provisions of Regulation .04A of this chapter, a solicitation subject to this regulation may be made before furnishing security holders a written proxy statement containing the information specified in Schedule A with respect to the solicitation, if:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The statements required by §C of this regulation are filed by or on behalf of each participant in the solicitation;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>No form of proxy is furnished to security holders before the time the written proxy statement required by Regulation .04A of this chapter is furnished to these persons; however, §D(2) of this regulation does not apply if a proxy statement meeting the requirements of Schedule A has been furnished to security holders;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>At least the information specified in §C(2) and (3) of this regulation of the statements required by §C of this regulation to be filed by each participant, or an appropriate summary, are included in each communication sent or given to security holders in connection with the solicitation; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>A written proxy statement containing the information specified in Schedule A with respect to a solicitation is sent or given to security holders at the earliest practicable date.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Solicitations Before Furnishing Required Written Proxy Statement-Filing Requirements. Two copies of any soliciting materials proposed to be sent or given to security holders before the furnishing of the written proxy statement required by Regulation .04A of this chapter shall be filed with the Commissioner in preliminary form at least 5 business days before the date definitive copies of the material are first sent or given to the persons, or a shorter period the Commissioner may authorize upon a showing of good cause.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Notwithstanding the provisions of Regulation .04B of this chapter, two copies of any portion of the annual report referred to in Regulation .04B of this chapter which comments upon or refers to any solicitation subject to this regulation, or to any participant in any solicitation, other than the solicitation by the management, shall be filed with the Commissioner as proxy material subject to this chapter. This portion of the report shall be filed with the Commissioner, in preliminary form, at least 5 business days before the date copies of the report are first sent or given to security holders.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>