Yesterday, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved FINRA’s proposed amendments to its Corporate Financing Rule, which are intended to modernize, simplify, and streamline the rule. FINRA’s amendments address, among other things, (1) filing requirements; (2) filing requirements for shelf offerings; (3) exemptions from filing and substantive requirements; (4) underwriting compensation; (5) venture capital exceptions; (6) treatment of non-convertible or non-exchangeable debt securities and derivatives; (7) lock-up restrictions; (8) prohibited terms and arrangements; and (9) defined terms. FINRA states that these changes should lessen the regulatory costs and burdens associated with compliance.
See the SEC order, with the amendment. A Legal Update will follow.