32-11-302. Acquiring control of licensee -- application -- determination. (1) A person may not acquire control of a licensee without the prior approval of the department.

(2) The department shall approve an application to acquire control of a licensee if the department determines that:

(a) the applicant and the directors and officers of the applicant are of good character and sound financial standing;

(b) it is reasonable to believe that the applicant will comply with this chapter; and

(c) the plans, if any, of the applicant to make a major change in the business, corporate structure, or management of the licensee are not detrimental to the safety and soundness of the licensee.

(3) If, after notice and a hearing, the department determines that the criteria for approval in subsection (2) have not been satisfied, the department shall deny the application.

(4) When the department is reviewing an application under this section, the department may determine that:

(a) an applicant or a director or officer of an applicant is not of good character if the person has been convicted of a crime involving fraud or dishonesty, including a conviction based on a guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere;

(b) an applicant's plan to make a major change in the management of a licensee is detrimental to the safety and soundness of the licensee if the plan provides for a person to become a director or officer of the licensee and the person has been convicted of a crime involving fraud or dishonesty, including a conviction based on a guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere.

(5) The conditions described in subsection (4) are not the only conditions upon which the department may determine that an applicant or a director or an officer of an applicant is not of good character or that an applicant's plan to make a major change in the management of a licensee is detrimental to the safety and soundness of the licensee.