Section 81-18-19 - Acquisition of interest in licensee(1) Except as provided in this section, no person shall acquire directly or indirectly ten percent (10%) or more of the voting shares of a corporation or ten percent (10%) or more of the ownership of any other entity licensed to conduct business under this chapter unless it first files an application in accordance with the requirements prescribed in Section 81-18-9.(2) Upon the filing and investigation of an application, the department shall permit the applicant to acquire the interest in the licensee if it is satisfied and finds that the applicant and its members, if applicable, its directors and officers, if a corporation, and any proposed new directors and officers have provided its surety bond and have the character, reputation and experience to warrant belief that the business will be operated fairly and in accordance with the law. If the application is denied, the department shall notify the applicant of the denial and the reasons for the denial.(3) A decision of the department denying a license, original or renewal, shall be conclusive, except that the applicant may seek judicial review in the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi.(4) The provisions of this section do not apply to the following, subject to notification as required in this section: (a) The acquisition of an interest in a licensee directly or indirectly including an acquisition by merger or consolidation by or with a person licensed under this chapter or exempt from this chapter under Section 81-18-5.(b) The acquisition of an interest in a licensee directly or indirectly including an acquisition by merger or consolidation by or with a person affiliated through common ownership with the licensee.(c) The acquisition of an interest in a licensee by a person by bequest, devise, gift or survivorship or by operation of law.(5) A person acquiring an interest in a licensee in a transaction that is requesting exemption from filing an application for approval of the application shall send a written request to the department for an exemption within thirty (30) days before the closing of the transaction. Laws, 2000, ch. 579, § 10; reenacted and amended, Laws, 2002, ch. 500, § 11; reenacted and amended, Laws, 2004, ch. 364, § 11; reenacted without change, Laws, 2007, ch. 581, § 11; Laws, 2008, ch. 434, § 6; Laws, 2009, ch. 544, § 11; reenacted without change, Laws, 2010, ch. 462, § 12; reenacted and amended, Laws, 2012, ch. 571, § 11, eff. 7/1/2012.Reenacted without change by Laws, 2020, ch. 310, SB 2427,§ 12, eff. 7/1/2020.Reenacted by Laws, 2016, ch. 360, SB 2504, 12, eff. 7/1/2016.