434                                       LAWS OF MARYLAND                            [Ch. 3

OFFICE PRESENT NO CONFLICT WITH THE PUBLIC TRUST. IT
IS, THEREFORE, THE PURPOSE OF THIS ACT TO PROMOTE THE
CONTINUED TRUST AND CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE
STATE OF MARYLAND IN THE INTEGRITY OF THEIR PUBLIC
OFFICERS.

[[28-2]] 29-2. DEFINITIONS.
WHEN USED IN THIS SUBTITLE:

(A) "INTEREST" MEANS ANY LEGAL OR EQUITABLE
INTEREST, WHETHER OR NOT SUBJECT TO AN ENCUMBRANCE OR
A CONDITION, WHICH WAS OWNED OR HELD, IN WHOLE OR IN
PART, JOINTLY OR SEVERALLY, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, AT
ANY TIME DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR FOR WHICH A REQUIRED
STATEMENT IS TO BE FILED. "INTEREST" INCLUDES AN
INTEREST IN: ANY STOCK OR SIMILAR SECURITY,
PRE-ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE OR SUBSCRIPTION,
INVESTMENT CONTRACT, VOTING TRUST CERTIFICATE, LIMITED
OR GENERAL PARTNERSHIP OR JOINT VENTURE, BUSINESS
TBUST, OR CERTIFICATE OF INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION IN
A PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT OR IN AN OIL, GAS OR OTHER
MINERAL ROYALTY OR LEASE; A CERTIFICATE OR INSTRUMENT
OF DEPOSIT FOR ANY OF THE FOREGOING; A CERTIFICATE OR
INSTRUMENT OF INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION IN, OR A
CERTIFICATE OR INSTRUMENT CONVERTIBLE, WITH OR WITHOUT
CONSIDERATION, INTO, OR A GUARANTEE OF, OR WARRANT OR
RIGHT TO SUBSCRIBE TO OR PURCHASE, ANY OF THE
FOREGOING; A PUT, CALL, STRADDLE, OR OTHER OPTION OR
PRIVILEGE OF SUBSCRIBING TO OR PURCHASING ANY OF THE
FOREGOING; OR ANY OTHER EQUITY INTEREST, HOWEVER
EVIDENCED, WHICH ENTITLES THE OWNER OR HOLDER THEREOF,
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ALONE OR IN CONCERT WITH
OTHERS, TO RECEIVE OR DIRECT ANY PART OF THE PROFITS
FROM, OR TO EXERCISE ANY PART OF THE CONTROL OVER, A
BUSINESS ENTITY, AS WELL AS ANY INTEREST WHICH,
CONDITIONALLY OR UNCONDITIONALLY, WITH OR WITHOUT
CONSIDERATION, IS CONVERTIBLE THERETO. "INTEREST"
ALSO INCLUDES AN INTEREST IN A NOTE, BOND, DEBENTURE,
OR ANY OTHER EVIDENCE OF A CREDITOR INTEREST.
HOWEVER, "INTEREST" SHALL NOT INCLUDE, EXCEPT AS
PROVIDED IN SECTION [[28-6]] 29-6 BELOW, AN INTEREST
HELD SOLELY IN THE CAPACITY OF A PERSONAL

REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT, CUSTODIAN, FIDUCIARY OR

TRUSTEE, NOR AN INTEREST IN A TIME OR DEMAND DEPOSIT
IN A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, NOR AN INTEREST IN AN
INSURANCE OR ENDOWMENT POLICY OR ANNUITY CONTRACT
UNDER WHICH AN INSURANCE COMPANY PROMISES TO PAY A
FIXED NUMBER OF DOLLARS EITHER IN A LUMP SUM OR
PERIODICALLY FOR LIFE OR SOME OTHER SPECIFIED PERIOD.