Smooth Sailing For General Solicitation Under Rule 506(c) – Going Public Lawyers
Rule 506(c) fundamentally changes how private placements will be conducted, by allowing issuers to engage in general solicitation and advertising if they comply with the Rule’s specific requirements. The advantages offered by Rule 506(c) are significant for issuers who comply with its inflexible but adaptable requirements. In order to ensure smooth sailing and compliance with the new rule, issuers should understand certain basic requirements of the exemption.
The Checklist below sets forth the most significant items the issuer should know about Rule 506(c).
Rule 506(c) Is Not Forgiving
Rule 506(c) has stringent requirements. The Rule is not forgiving for issuers who engage in general solicitation but fail to comply with its requirements. An issuer’s sale to even one non-accredited investor will prevent the issuer from relying upon the exemption.
Sales May Only Be Made to Accredited Investors
If the issuer will use general solicitation or advertising in connection with the Rule 506 offering, sales of the securities may be made only to accredited investors. Offers can be made to any investor, but the issuer may only makes sales to investors who are accredited.
Simultaneous Offerings
Issuers cannot conduct simultaneous offerings under both Rule 506(b) and Rule 506(c).
Ongoing Offerings
Issuers conducting ongoing Rule 506 Offerings to non-accredited investors prior to September 23, can rely upon Rule 506(c) on September 23, and may use general solicitation and advertising to conduct their offerings so long as sales are only made to accredited investors after the effective date of the rule.
Bad Actors Not Allowed
Issuers will not be able to rely upon Rule 506(c) if either the issuer or its officers, directors, managing members, owners holding more than 20% of its equity securities, placement agents, finders have been subject to certain disqualifying events, unless the it can establish that it did not know and, “in the exercise of reasonable care, could not have known” about the bad actor disqualification. This bad-actor disqualification applies to offerings made under Rule 506(c) regardless of whether the issuer engages in general solicitation and advertising.
For Bad Actors Only Applies to Bad Actors After Effective Date
If the issuer or its affiliates were subject to a disqualifying bad actor event prior to September 23, the issuer can still rely on Rule 506, but must make disclosure to investors prior to the sale of securities about the disqualifying event.
Covered Securities
Securities that are offered, sold and issued in Rule 506 offerings are considered “covered securities” under state blue sky laws regardless of whether the issuer engages in general solicitation and advertising is used.
Verification Of Accredited Investor Status Is Required
Rule 506(c) requires that issuers take reasonable steps to verify that Rule 506(c) investors are accredited. The SEC has indicated that accredited investor status will be an objective determination by the issuer based upon the particular facts and circumstances. The SEC provided the non-exclusive methods of satisfying this requirements set forth below:
Income Requirement – The issuer should review tax forms, including W-2s, 1099s, K-1s, and 1040s, that report the purchaser’s income for the two most recent years. The issuer should also obtain written representations from the investor that he or she has a reasonable expectation of reaching the income level necessary to qualify as an accredited investor during the current year.
Net Worth Requirement Assets – The issuer should review bank, brokerage and other statements of securities holdings, certificates of deposit, tax assessments and appraisal reports that are no more than 3 months old.
Liabilities – The issuer should obtain reports from credit agencies. The reports would need to be dated within the prior three months. The issuer should obtain written representations from the investor that all liabilities necessary to make a determination of net worth have been disclosed.
Third Party Confirmations – The issuer should request written confirmations from third parties such as broker-dealers, investment advisers, attorneys and certified public accountants, that such third party has taken reasonable steps within the prior three months to verify that the purchaser is an accredited investor.
Existing Investors – The issuer should ensure that accredited Investors who purchased prior to September 23 should certify that he or she remains an accredited investor.
Rescission
If an Issuer fails to comply with Rule 506(c)’s requirements, investors have an automatic right of rescission.
For further information about this securities law blog post, please contact Brenda Hamilton, Securities Attorney at 101 Plaza Real S, Suite 202 N, Boca Raton, Florida, (561) 416-8956, by email at [email protected] or visit www.securitieslawyer101.com. This securities law blog post is provided as a general informational service to clients and friends of Hamilton & Associates Law Group and should not be construed as, and does not constitute, legal and compliance advice on any specific matter, nor does this message create an attorney-client relationship. For more information about going public and the rules and regulations affecting the use of Rule 144, Form 8K, crowdfunding, FINRA Rule 6490, Rule 506 private placement offerings and memorandums, Regulation A, Rule 504 offerings, SEC reporting requirements, SEC registration statements on Form S-1 , IPO’s, OTC Pink Sheet listings, Form 10 OTCBB and OTC Markets disclosure requirements, DTC Chills, Global Locks, reverse mergers, public shells, and direct public offerings please contact Hamilton and Associates at (561) 416-8956 or [email protected]. Please note that the prior results discussed herein do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Hamilton & Associates | Securities Lawyers
Brenda Hamilton, Securities Attorney
101 Plaza Real South, Suite 202 North
Boca Raton, Florida 33432
Telephone: (561) 416-8956
Facsimile: (561) 416-2855
www.SecuritiesLawyer101.com
