Crowdfunding

Subscribe to Crowdfunding

On September 25, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) Division of Trading and Markets released Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations (“C&DIs”) to frequently-asked questions regarding Regulation Crowdfunding. Specifically, the SEC provided C&DIs related to the Rule 300 series of Regulation Crowdfunding which applies to requirements for intermediaries, including broker-dealers and funding portals. Additionally, the SEC Staff provided C&DIs related to the Rule 400 series of Regulation Crowdfunding, which contains rules specifically applicable to funding portals.

These address, among other things, the financial interests of an intermediary in the issuer, due diligence requirements for intermediaries, requirements for the delivery of educational materials by intermediaries, intermediary requirements with respect to transactions, changes and cancellation of an offering, and intermediary payments to third parties for directing investors to their platform. The SEC Staff notes that an intermediary is permitted to have a financial interest in the issuer.

Additionally, the C&DIs provide instructions on how to register as a funding portal and notes amendments to Form Funding Portal must be made within 30 days after information previously submitted becomes inaccurate. Moreover, interpretation was given regarding the Rule 402 conditional safe harbor for funding portals and recordkeeping requirements for funding portals.

The C&DIs can be found in full on the SEC’s website.

July 19 – 20, 2018

PLI New York Center
1177 Avenue of the Americas
(2nd Floor)
New York, NY 10036

This program will provide an overview and discussion of the basic aspects of the U.S. federal securities laws by leading in-house and law firm practitioners as well as SEC staff. Emphasis will be placed on the interplay among the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, the JOBS Act, the securities related provisions of the FAST Act, related SEC regulations and significant legislative and regulatory changes and proposals.

Partner Anna Pinedo will lead a session titled “Securities Act Exemptions” on Day One of the program. Topics will include:

  • Exempt securities versus exempt transactions;
  • Private placements, including offerings under Rules 504 and 506 of Regulation D;
  • Regulation A+ offerings;
  • “Intrastate” offerings, including new Rule 147A;
  • Crowdfunding;
  • Employee equity awards;
  • Rule 144A offerings;
  • Regulation S offerings to “non-U.S. persons”; and
  • Resales of restricted and controlled securities: Rule 144, Section 4(a)(7) and 4(a)(1½).

PLI will provide CLE credit.

For more information, or to register, please visit the event website.

Regulation Crowdfunding (Regulation CF) took effect on May 16, 2016. In line with the second anniversary of the implementation of the Regulation CF, the Heritage Foundation organized a discussion regarding the market. The host noted that approximately $112 million has been raised through crowdfunding since the effective date of Regulation CF. The panel considered possible amendments to, and improvements to, the crowdfunding framework. For example, the panelists recommended, among other things, (i) increasing to $3 million for the maximum amount that eligible companies may raise through crowdfunding, (ii) allowing financial review (instead of a full-blown audit) until a company raises $5 million, and (iii) streamlining the number of mandatory disclosures. The full discussion may be viewed here.

May 21 – 22, 2018

PLI New York Center
1177 Avenue of the Americas
(2nd Floor)
New York, NY 10036

Join PLI’s expert faculty of leading practitioners and regulators as they discuss and analyze the changing regulatory framework and market for private offerings. The faculty will begin by addressing the basics of private placements, sales of restricted securities, Rule 144 and Section 4(a)(1-1/2) transactions and block trades. Speakers will also address the changes to private and exempt offerings brought about by the JOBS Act, including matchmaking platforms, “accredited investor” crowdfunding, offerings using general solicitation, Rule 144A offerings, and the practical implications of these changes for issuers, broker-dealers and investment advisers. Panelists will discuss the considerations that have led many companies to remain private longer and defer IPOs, while creating liquidity opportunities for holders through private secondary trading markets. Panelists will also address the basics of traditional private placements, PIPE transactions, and Rule 144A transactions, as well as recent developments affecting each of these capital-raising alternatives.

Partner Anna Pinedo will serve as chairperson for this event and will speak on the “Welcome and Introduction to Private Placements and Hybrid Financings” panel on day one of the conference and on the “Welcome and Introduction to Conducting Hybrid Offerings” panel on day two. Partner Michael Hermsen will speak on the “Regulation A Offerings” panel on day one.

To register for this conference, or for more information, please click here.

The final report from the Forum session held last fall in Austin, Texas was recently published.  The recommendations were consistent with those of prior such gatherings. We summarize the principal recommendations.  First, the Forum recommends amendment of the accredited investor definition in order to expand the categories of qualification to include, regardless of net worth or net income, certain persons holding FINRA licenses or CPA or CFA designations, knowledgeable employees, and persons that have passed a sophistication test.  Second, the Forum recommends amendments to Regulation A to mandate blue sky preemption for secondary trading of Regulation A Tier 2 securities, allow at-the-market offerings, allow reporting companies to use Regulation A, increase the offering threshold to $75 million, and require portals conducting Regulation A offerings to be registered.  Third, the Forum notes that the SEC ought to lead a joint effort with FINRA to provide clear guidance to participants in Regulation Crowdfunding offerings.  Fourth, the Forum recommends various changes to Regulation Crowdfunding, including, among other things, raising the investor’s investment limitations and to increase the offering limit.  Fifth, the Forum recommends exempting small or intermittent finders from broker-dealer registration requirements.