2019 US Virgin Islands Code
Title 32 - Sports and Parks
Chapter 21 - Virgin Islands Casino and Resort Control Act of 1995
Article VI - Licensing
§ 437. Additional requirements
(a) In addition to other information required by this chapter, a corporation applying for a casino license shall provide the following information:
(1) The organization, financial structure and nature of all businesses operated by the corporation; the names and personal employment and criminal histories of all officers, directors and principal employees of the corporation; the names of all holding, intermediary and subsidiary companies of the corporation; and the organization, financial structure and nature of all businesses operated by such of its holding, intermediary and subsidiary companies as the Commission may require, including names and personal employment and criminal histories of such officers, directors and principal employees of such corporations and companies as the Commission may require;
(2) The rights and privileges acquired by the holders of different classes of authorized securities of such corporations and companies as the Commission may require, including the names, addresses and amounts held by all holders of such securities;
(3) The terms upon which securities have been or are to be offered;
(4) The terms and conditions of all outstanding loans, mortgages, trust deeds, pledges or any other indebtedness or security devices utilized by the corporation;
(5) The extent of the equity security holding in the corporation of all officers, directors and underwriters, and their remuneration in the form of salary, wages, fees or otherwise;
(6) Names of persons other than directors and officers who occupy positions specified by the Commission or whose compensation exceeds an amount determined by the Commission, and the amount of their compensation;
(7) A description of all bonus and profit-sharing arrangements;
(8) Copies of all management and service contracts; and
(9) A listing of stock options existing or to be created.
(b) If a corporation applying for a casino license is, or if a corporation holding a casino license is to become, a subsidiary, each holding company and each intermediary company with respect thereto must, as a condition of the said subsidiary acquiring or retaining such license, as the case may be:
(1) Qualify to do business in the United States Virgin Islands; and
(2) If it is a corporation, register with the Commission and furnish the Commission with all the information required of a corporate licensee as specified in subsection (a)(1), (2) and (3) of this section and such other information as the Commission may require; or
(3) If it is not a corporation, register with the Commission and furnish the Commission with such information as the Commission may prescribe. The Commission may, in its discretion, make such investigations concerning the officers, directors, underwriters, security holders, partners, principals, trustees or persons owning or beneficially holding any interest in any holding company or intermediary company as it deems necessary, either at the time of initial registration or at any time thereafter.
(c) No corporation shall be eligible to hold a casino license unless each officer; each director; each person who directly or indirectly holds any beneficial interest or ownership of the securities issued by the corporation; any person who in the opinion of the Commission has the ability to control the corporation or elect a majority of the board of directors of that corporation, other than a banking or other licensed lending institution which makes a loan, holds a mortgage or other lien acquired in the ordinary course of business; each principal employee; and any lender, underwriter, agent, employee of the corporation, or other person whom the Commission may consider appropriate for approval or qualification would, but for residence, individually be qualified for approval as a casino key employee pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
(d) No corporation which is a subsidiary shall be eligible to receive or hold a casino license unless each holding and intermediary company with respect thereto:
(1) If it is a corporation, shall comply with the provisions of subsection (c) of this section as if said holding or intermediary company were itself applying for a casino license; provided, however, that the Commission with the concurrence of the director may waive compliance with the provisions of subsection (c) of this section on the part of a publicly-traded corporation which is a holding company as to any officer, director, lender, underwriter, agent or employee thereof, or person directly or indirectly holding a beneficial interest or ownership of the securities of such corporation, where the Commission and the director are satisfied that such officer, director, lender, underwriter, agent or employee is not significantly involved in the activities of the corporate licensee, and in the case of security in the activities of the corporate licensee, and in the case of security holders, does not have the ability to control the publicly-traded corporation or elect one or more directors thereof; or
(2) If it is not a corporation, shall comply with the provisions of subsection (e) of this section as if said company were itself applying for a casino license.
(e) Any non-corporate applicant for a casino license shall provide the information required in subsection (a) of this section in such form as may be required by the Commission. No such applicant shall be eligible to hold a casino license unless each person who directly or indirectly holds any beneficial interest or ownership in the applicant, or who in the opinion of the Commission has the ability to control the applicant, or whom the Commission may consider appropriate for approval or qualification, would, but for residence, individually be qualified for approval as a casino key employee pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
(f) Notwithstanding the provision of subsections (c) and (d) of this section, and in the absence of a prima facie showing by the Director that there is any cause to believe that the institutional investor may be found unqualified, an institutional investor holding either (1) under 10% of the equity securities of a casino licensee's holding or intermediary companies, or (2) debt securities of a casino licensee's holding or intermediary companies, or another subsidiary company of a casino licensee's holding or intermediary companies which is related in any way to the financing of the casino licensee, where the securities represent a percentage of the outstanding debt of the company not exceeding 20%, or a percentage of any issue of the outstanding debt of the company not exceeding 50%, shall be granted a waiver of qualification if such securities are those of a publicly traded corporation and its holdings of such securities were purchased for investment purposes only and upon request by the Commission it files with the Commission a certified statement to the effect that it has no intention of influencing or affecting the affairs of the issuer, the casino licensee or its holding or intermediary companies; provided, however, that it shall be permitted to vote on matters put to the vote of the outstanding security holders. The Commission may grant a waiver of qualification to an institutional investor holding a higher percentage of such securities upon a showing of good cause and if the conditions specified above are met. Any institutional investor granted a waiver under this subsection which subsequently determines to influence or affect the affairs of the issuer shall provide not less than thirty (30) days notice of such intent and shall file with the Commission an application for qualification before taking any action that may influence or affect the affairs of the issuer; provided, however, that it shall be permitted to vote on matters put to the vote of the outstanding security holders. If an institutional investor changes its investment intent, or if the Commission finds reasonable cause to believe that the institutional investor may be found unqualified, no action other than divestiture shall be taken by such investor with respect to its security holdings until there has been compliance with the provisions of section 447 of this title, including the execution of a trust agreement. The casino licensee and its relevant holding, intermediary or subsidiary company shall immediately notify the Commission and the Division of any information about, or actions of, an institutional investor holding its equity or debt securities where such information or action may impact upon the eligibility of such institutional investor for a waiver pursuant to this subsection.
(g) If at any time the Commission finds that an institutional investor holding any security of a holding or intermediary company of a casino licensee, or, where relevant, of another subsidiary company of a holding or relevant, of another subsidiary company of a holding or intermediary company of a casino licensee which is related in any way to the financing of the casino licensee, fails to comply with the terms of subsection (f) of this section, or if at any time the Commission finds that, by reason of the extent or nature of its holdings, an institutional investor is in a position to exercise such a substantial impact upon the controlling interests of a licensee that qualification of the institutional investor is necessary to protect the public interest, the Commission may, in accordance with the provisions of subsections (a) through (e) of this section or subsections (d) and (e) of section 464 of this title, take any necessary action to protect the public interest, including requiring such an institutional investor to be qualified pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
(h) To obtain a casino license, each publicly-held corporate casino license applicant, shall agree to earmark 10% of its stock offering for an employee stock ownership plan.
(i) The University of the Virgin Islands, the St. Croix Vocational School, or any other accredited educational facility shall provide training to resident workers in every facet of casino operations in order to prepare the people of the Virgin Islands to participate in the best financial opportunities to be derived from this chapter. Legalized casino gaming shall not be permitted in the territory until resident workers have been trained and qualified to assume jobs at all levels within casino and casino hotel operations in the Virgin Islands. Successful casino operations in the Virgin Islands is dependent upon a marriage between complete training and guaranteed hiring of the resident work force. Eighty (80) percent of the employees at all levels of each casino or casino hotel licensee shall be residents of the Virgin Islands.
