351.665. Secretary of state may examine books and records — penalty for disclosing information.

389 words·~2 min read·/mo/chapter-351/351-665

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

351.665. Secretary of state may examine books and records — penalty for disclosing information. — The secretary of state and supervisor of corporation registration shall have power to examine the books and records of any corporation to which this chapter applies, and it shall be the duty of any officer or agent of such corporation to produce such books and records for examination, on demand of the secretary of state or supervisor of corporation registration; provided, that no person shall be subject to any criminal prosecution on account of any matter or thing which may be disclosed by the examination of any corporation books, or records, which he may produce or exhibit for examination as herein required; or on account of any matter or thing concerning which he may make any voluntary and truthful statement in writing to the secretary of state, or supervisor of corporation registration.

All facts obtained in the examination of the books and records of any corporation, or through voluntary sworn statement of any officer, agent, or employee of any corporation, shall be treated as confidential, except insofar as official duty may require the disclosure of same; or when such facts are material to any issue in any legal proceeding in which the secretary of state or supervisor of corporation registration may be called as a witness, and, if the secretary of state or supervisor of corporation registration shall, except as herein provided, disclose any information relative to the private accounts, affairs, and transactions of any such corporation, he shall be deemed guilty of, and punished as for, a misdemeanor.

The statements as to assets and liabilities in this chapter required shall, when filed with the secretary of state, be treated as confidential and he shall not disclose any information in such statement contained, except to a stockholder furnishing satisfactory proof of his ownership of stock in the corporation concerning whose statement he seeks information or upon the order of court when the contents of such statement as to assets and liabilities are material to any issue in any action, civil or criminal, pending in the court making the order, or to the attorney general when required by him in the discharge of his official duties.

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(RSMo 1939 § 5095, A.L. 1943 p. 410 § 121)

Prior revisions: 1929 § 4623; 1919 § 9817