§ 327 — Change in ownership or control of licensed operators

(a) Notification and approval.--

(1) A licensed operator shall notify the board upon becoming aware of any proposed change of ownership of the licensed operator by a person or group of persons acting in concert which involves any of the following:

(i) More than 15% of a licensed operator's securities or other ownership interests.

(ii) The sale, other than in the ordinary course of business, of a licensed operator's assets.

(iii) Any other transaction or occurrence deemed by the board to be relevant to fantasy contest license qualifications.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), a licensed operator shall not be required to notify the board of any acquisition by an institutional investor under paragraph (1)(i) or (ii) if the institutional investor holds less than 10% of the securities or other ownership interests referred to in paragraph (1)(i) or (ii), the securities or interests are publicly traded securities and its holdings of such securities were purchased for investment purposes only and the institutional investor files with the board a certified statement to the effect that the institutional investor has no intention of influencing or affecting, directly or indirectly, the affairs of the licensed operator. However, the institutional investor may vote on matters put to the vote of the outstanding security holders. Notice to the board shall be required prior to completion of any proposed or contemplated change of ownership of a licensed operator that meets the criteria of this section.

(b) Qualification of purchaser and change of control.--

(1) A purchaser of the assets, other than in the ordinary course of business, of a licensed operator shall independently qualify for a fantasy contest license in accordance with this chapter and shall pay the application fee and license fee as required by sections 322 (relating to application) and 323 (relating to issuance and denial of license), except that if the purchaser of assets is another licensed operator, the purchaser of assets shall not be required to requalify for a fantasy contest license or pay another application fee and license fee.

(2) A change in control of any licensed operator shall require that the licensed operator independently qualify for a fantasy contest license in accordance with this chapter, and the licensed operator shall pay a new application and license fee as required by sections 322 and 323, except that if the new controller is another licensed operator, the new controller shall not be required to requalify for a fantasy contest license or pay another application fee and license fee.

(c) License revocation.--Failure to comply with this section may cause the fantasy contest license issued under this chapter to be revoked or suspended by the board unless the purchase of the assets or the change in control that meets the criteria of this section has been independently qualified in advance by the board and any required application or license fee has been paid.

(d) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Change in control of a licensed operator."The acquisition by a person or group of persons acting in concert of more than 20% of a licensed operator's securities or other ownership interests, with the exception of any ownership interest of the person that existed at the time of initial licensing and payment of the initial fantasy contest license fee, or more than 20% of the securities or other ownership interests of a corporation or other form of business entity that owns directly or indirectly at least 20% of the voting or other securities or other ownership interests of the licensed operator.