State-chartered investment companies; formation; permissible activities; restrictions.

(1) With the approval of the office, a Florida corporation may be formed for the purpose of engaging in international banking, lending, and other financial activities. A state-chartered investment company established pursuant to this section shall engage directly in only those activities permissible for an Edge Act corporation organized under s. 25(a) of the Federal Reserve Act, as amended.

(2) Subject to the prior approval of the office and to such limitations as the commission prescribes by rule, a state-chartered investment company may invest in the shares of and may own or control an Edge Act corporation or an international banking corporation and may establish and operate branches, representative offices, and similar banking facilities in foreign countries.

(3) An application for approval to organize a state-chartered investment company shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 658 relating to the organization of de novo financial institutions and to rules adopted by the commission as necessary to ensure that the proposed state-chartered investment company will be operated in a safe and lawful manner, except that the applicant is not required to become a member of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. State-chartered investment companies shall be subject to the examination and supervision of the office and are subject to the financial institutions codes to the same extent as international banking corporations pursuant to s. 663.02.