In addition to any other liability imposed by law, a foreign corporation transacting business in this state without a certificate of authority shall forfeit to the state a penalty of not less than $100.00, nor more than $1,000.00, for each calendar month, not more than 5 years prior thereto, in which it has transacted business in this state without a certificate of authority. This penalty shall not exceed $10,000.00. The penalty shall be recovered with costs in an action prosecuted by the attorney general.