Chapter 2 Flashcards
Regulation D
Adopted by the SEC aimed at facilitating the capital formation needs of small business.
If an issuer of securities meets the requirements of Reg D, the issue can be sold without meeting full reg requirements that non exempt issues must meet. (Rules 504-506)
SEC Rule 504
- provides exemption for offering of 5M or less in any 12 month period
- no disclosure requirements, no requirement concerning investors qualification
- exemption under rule 504 not for public- its a private offering
- no limit to number of investors if agg. offering not over 5m
- If offering is not conducted exclusively in states where it’s registered and disclosure doc not delivered, they are restricted and limited in ways it can be resold.
8 categories of accredited investors
- institutional investors (banks, insurance companies)
- private business development companies
- tax exempt organizations
- directors, executives, partners of issue
- individuals w 1M of networth or 1M of networth for investor + investors spouse excluding personal residence
- Excess income of 200k in last 2 years, reasonably expects 200k in current year
- trust in excess of 5m in assets not formed for purpose of purchasing securities offered
- any entities made up of accredited investors
SEC Rule 506(b) Offering - Traditional Private Placement
- issuers can conduct quiet private placements without general advertising. Non accredited investors can participate if they get a disclosure doc, usually in a Private Placement Memorandum
- Provides exemption for offering if sold to no more than 35 sophisticated investors + unlimited accredited investors (no dollar limit)
- company cant use general solicitation / advertising
- Non accredited investors must either be a sophisticated investor or with a purchaser rep (accountant or attorney)
- securities are restricted for 6 months
- direct sale of entire new issue to institutional investor = private placement
SEC Rule 506 (c) offering
Issuers can use general solicitation/advertising, but all purchasers must be accredited investors (NOT SOPHISTICATED)
- issuers must believe they are accredited by taking the reasonable steps to verify.
Control securities
Owned by a control person or affiliated person of a company. control shares can be registered or unregistered (satisfied 6 month holding period)
SEC Rule 144
Covers the sale of restricted securities and control stock by individuals and members of their immediate families
- issuers cannot sell shares under rule 144
- satisfying this rule allows holders to sell their stock in public market (control or restricted holders)
Holding periods of control/restricted stock
- restricted shares have to have been owned for 6 months prior to sale and fully paid for 6 months prior to sale
- no holding period for control stock
- no holding period is required if securities are owned by the estate of a deceased non-affiliated person
How long is form 144 notice of sale effective for?
90 calendar days
When does no notice have to be filed with the SEC under rule 144?
- if amount of stock sold by affiliated person does not exceed 5000 shares, or dollar amount does not exceed 50,000 in any 90 day period.
Rule 144 legend
- restricted stock must be identified w legend that states securities may not be resold in marketplace unless registered w SEC or exempt
- non affiliate required to remove restricted legend. a transfer agent approved by issuer would do this.
- control securities do NOT have a legend if shares were purchased in open market
Amount of stock that can be sold by affiliates (restricted and /or registered) of the issuer under rule 144 is limited to:
- greater of 1% OF OUTSTANDING shares or
- average weekly trading volume for previous 4 weeks immediately prior to sale in any 90 calendar day period
- non affiliates may sell after 6 months without meeting volume limit
Under rule 144, Adequate public information concerning the issuer must be available, meaning periodic filings must be made
SEC wants facts, not forecasts
Statutory underwriter
if someone/org purchases unregistered shares and reoffers shares without getting them registered or complying with rule 144, they are a statutory underwriter
Solicitation of 144 orders by a broker dealer:
- there is no solicitation of buy orders allowed. if a customer indicated unsolicited bonafide interest in security within preceding 10 biz days, or abroker indicated interest in preceding 60 days, either may be contacted in attempt to sell shares. broker must keep written evidence of unsolicited request
Purchasers of unregistered securities have available the following recourses with regard to the security
- purchaser has the right to rescind
- action can be taken against seller
- no time limit on recourses
SEC Rule 144-A
- Allows sale of restricted securities to Qualified Institutional buyers during 6 month period
- equity and bond transactions are allowed under 144a. mutual funds not sold under 144a.
- NO VOLUME LIMITS under rule 144A
QIB’s
- insurance companies, banks, trust funds with assets of 100m+. individual investors are NOT qibs
Regulation A Offering Limits and Offering Circular
- permits securities offerings using abbreviated statement called offering circular. Rather than full registration statement when value of corp does not exceed 50M in any 12 month period.
Reg A Offering Circular filing guidelines
must be filed electronically with the SEC’s regional office, and will be qualified 20 business days after filing. The SEC can shorten the 20 business day period upon written request
A preliminary offering circular can be distributed before the effective date if it does not contain the:
- final offering price
- underwriters discount
- selling concession
When should REG A documents be filed with FINRA?
- no later than one business day after they are filed with the SEC and are subject to FINRA’s communication with the public rules