On September 8, 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) initiated public cease-and-desist proceedings pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”) against Ditto Holdings, Inc. (“Ditto Holdings”). In anticipation of the institution of… Read More
Category: Blog Posts Tags: Ditto Holdings, dodd-frank, FBI sting, FINRA Halt, fraud, Investor Loss, Investor Victims, nasdaq, nyse, Officer Director Bar, Operation Bermuda Short, OTC Markets, Penny Stock, Penny Stock Bar, ponzi scheme, Scalping, scam, SEC, SEC Action, SEC Actions, SEC Administrative Proceeding, SEC anti-fraud, SEC Attorney, sec bar, SEC Bounty, SEC Charges, SEC Claim, SEC Complaint, SEC Defendant, SEC Defense, SEC Defense Attorney, SEC Defense Lawyer, SEC Division of Enforcement, SEC enforcement, SEC Fraud, SEC Injunction, SEC Law Firm, SEC Lawsuit, SEC Lawyer, SEC Litigation, SEC Penny Stock Bar, SEC Section 17(b), SEC Subpoena, SEC Suit, SEC Trading Suspension, Section 17(b), Section 5 violation, Securities Act, Securities and Exchange Commission, Securities Attorney, Securities Fraud, Securities Indictment, Securities Law Defense, SPAC, Steven Newman, stock manipulation, stock scheme, Wells Notice
On September 17, 2015 the SEC imposed sanctions against a Florida based CPA for producing deficient and fraudulent audits and quarterly reviews for eight publicly traded companies, issuing false and misleading audit opinions on the companies’ annual… Read More
We recently wrote about a bungled dividend distribution made by Calissio Resources Group, Inc. (CRGP) that resulted in the imposition of a U3 “extraordinary event” trading halt by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). The halt was lifted… Read More
FINRA Rule 2040 became effective late last month and has the potential to provide increased transparency in EB-5 Offerings. Rule 2040 requires broker-dealers who sell securities in EB-5 offerings to disclose finder’s fees paid to non-registered foreign persons and receive… Read More
On September 2, 2015, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) issued an investor alert warning about investor relations activity and stock promotions sent through popular messaging applications (Apps) such as WhatsApp. These messaging Apps allow users to almost… Read More
For penny stock enthusiasts looking for a little late-summer entertainment, the issues surrounding an extremely large special dividend distributed by Calissio Resources Group, Inc. (CRGP) have proved to be of unusual interest. On June 16, 2015, the company… Read More
Category: Blog Posts Tags: Calissio Resources, dodd-frank, FBI sting, FBI Undercover, FINRA Halt, fraud, Investor Loss, Investor Victims, JH Darbie, nasdaq, nyse, Officer Director Bar, OTC Markets, Penny Stock, Penny Stock Bar, penny stock scam, penny stock scheme, penny stock sting, ponzi scheme, pump and dump, Sarbanes-Oxley, Scalping, scam, SEC, SEC Action, SEC Actions, SEC Administrative Proceeding, SEC anti-fraud, SEC Attorney, sec bar, SEC Bounty, SEC Charge, SEC Charges, SEC Claim, SEC Complaint, SEC Defendant, SEC Defense, SEC Defense Attorney, SEC Defense Lawyer, SEC Division of Enforcement, SEC enforcement, SEC Fraud, SEC Halt, SEC Injunction, SEC Investigation, SEC Law Firm, SEC Lawsuit, SEC Lawyer, SEC Litigation, SEC Penny Stock Bar, SEC Reporting Requirements, SEC Section 17(b), SEC Subpoena, SEC Suit, SEC Trading Suspension, Section 17(b), Section 5 violation, Securities Act, Securities and Exchange Commission, Securities Attorney, Securities Fraud, Securities Indictment, Securities Law Defense, Securities Lawyer, SPAC, stock manipulation, stock scheme, trading suspension, Wells Notice
On September 8, 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged a sports supplements and nutrition company with committing a series of accounting and disclosure violations, including the failure to properly report perks provided to its executives as… Read More
On September 8, 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced that Bankrate Inc. has agreed to pay $15 million to settle accounting and securities fraud charges. Three former executives also are charged in the case that involves… Read More
On September 10, 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced fraud charges against a Wall Street CEO and his company, family members, and business associates accused of secretly obtaining control and manipulating the stock of Chinese companies… Read More
Category: Blog Posts Tags: Form S-1 Selling Stockholder, Form S-1 Selling Stockholder Requirements, Form S-1. Registration Statement, Go Public, Go Public Attorney, Go Public Lawyer, Going Public, Going Public Attorneys, Going Public Lawyer, Going Public Lawyers, going public transactions, initial public offering, IPO, Prospectus, Prospectus Requirements, public vehicle, pump and dump, Regulation S-K, Reverse Merger, Rule 144, Rule 6490, S-1, S-1 Going Public, SEC, SEC Action, SEC Administrative Proceeding, SEC Attorney, SEC Award, SEC Bounty, SEC Claim, SEC Defendant, SEC Defense, SEC Division of Enforcement, SEC enforcement, SEC Fraud, SEC Injunction, SEC Law Firm, SEC Lawsuit, SEC Lawyer, SEC Litigation, SEC Penny Stock Bar, SEC Quiet Period, SEC Registration Statement, SEC Reporting Requirements, SEC Trading Suspension, SEC Whistleblower, SEC whistleblower Award, SEC whistleblower bounty, Securities and Exchange Commission, Securities Attorney, Securities Fraud, Securities Law Defense, Securities Lawyer, securities offerings, Shell Company, shell hijacking, shell peddler, stock manipulation, stock promotions, stock registration, Toxic Convertible Note, toxic debt, toxic financing, Toxic Financings, toxic funding, trading suspension, unregistered stock
On September 9, 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced fraud charges against three traders accused of repeatedly lying to customers relying on them for honest and accurate pricing information about residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS). The SEC… Read More
Most private companies are unable to locate an underwriter prior to going public. Regulation A+ provides a new option for issuers seeking to raise capital without an underwriter. A direct public offering (“Direct Public Offering”) provides a viable… Read More
Category: Blog Posts Tags: Direct Listing, Form 1-A. Form 1-A offering circular, Form 1-K, Form 1-K Annual Reports, Form 1-K Report, Form 1-SA; Form 1-SA Reports, Form 1-U, Form 1-U Report, Form 1-U Reporting, Form 1-Z Report, Go Public, Go Public Attorney, Go Public Direct, Go Public Lawyer, Going Public, Going Public Attorneys, Going Public Lawyer, Going Public Lawyers, OTC Markets, Prospectus, Prospectus Requirements, Regulation 1-SA, Regulation A, Regulation A Disclosures, Regulation A Filings, Regulation A Form 1-k, Regulation A Reporting, Regulation A Reports, Regulation A Rule, Regulation S-K, SEC Registration, SEC Reporting, SEC Reporting Requirement, SEC Reporting Requirements, SEC Reports, SEC Rule, SEC Temporary Rule, Securities Act, Securities Act of 1933, Securities Offering, Selling Stockholder Requirements, Semi-annual reports on Form 1-SA, tier 1, Tier 2
On September 3, 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) charged Manny J. Shulman and David Hirschman for their involvement in the fraudulent, unregistered sale of securities of Caribbean Pacific Marketing, Inc. (“Caribbean Pacific”), a now-defunct Florida corporation… Read More
On August 27th, 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced fraud charges and an emergency asset freeze to halt a California-based scheme involving purported investments in oil and gas projects. According to the SEC’s complaint filed under… Read More
Category: Blog Posts Tags: 12(j) revocation, 12(j) Suspension, 15c2-11, Blue Sky, Broker, broker-dealer, broker-dealers, Covid-19 Pandemic, Dealer, Exchange Act Section 12(k), FINRA, FINRA Rule 15c2-11, Form 10, Form 211, Form 211 and Amended 15c-211, Form 211 Attorney, Form 211 Attorneys, Form 211 Lawyer, Form 211 Lawyers, Form S-1, Going Public, Grey Sheets, Market Maker, nasdaq, nyse, otc, OTC Markets, OTC Markets Pink, Periodic Reports, Reporting Company, rule 15c-211, Rule 15c2-11, SEC, SEC Action, SEC Administrative Proceeding, SEC Attorney, SEC Halt, SEC Injunction, SEC Law Firm, SEC Lawsuit, SEC Lawyer, SEC Litigation, SEC Penny Stock Bar, SEC Reporting, SEC Reporting Requirements, SEC Section 12(j), SEC Trading Suspension, SEC Trading Suspensions, Section 12, Section 12(j), Section12(k) of the Securities Exchange Act, Securities Attorney, Securities Exchange Act, Securities Fraud, Securities Law Defense, Securities Lawyer, Smart Ventures, suspend trading, trading halting, trading suspension, Trading Suspensions, Unregistered Dealer, Unsolicited quotes
On August 25th, 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged a former investment bank analyst with illegally tipping his close friend with confidential information about clients involved in impending mergers and acquisitions of technology companies. The SEC… Read More
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that on August 24th, 2015, the Honorable Sarah Evans Barker of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana granted the SEC’s motion for summary judgment against… Read More
On August 25, 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced an asset freeze obtained against a man in Bellevue, Wash., accused of defrauding Chinese investors seeking U.S. residency through the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Pilot Program by investing… Read More
In our digital age, sensible people know they should be wary of unsolicited financial advice, but there are still many who can’t resist the allure of the “guaranteed profits” that will be generated by a “once in a… Read More
Category: Blog Posts Tags: 17-b, 17b, broker-dealer, Investor Relations, Penny Stock, Penny Stock Bars, Penny Stock Investor, Penny Stock Issuer, Penny Stock Scalping, SEC, SEC Action, SEC Administrative Proceeding, SEC Attorney, SEC Charges, SEC Claim, SEC Defendant, SEC Defense, SEC enforcement, SEC Fraud, SEC Injunction, SEC Law Firm, SEC Lawsuit, SEC Lawyer, SEC Litigation, SEC Penny Stock Bar, Section 17(b), Stock Promoter, Stock Promoters, Stock Promotion, Stock Scalping, Unregistered broker-dealer
On August 12, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that a former executive at a worldwide software manufacturer has agreed to settle charges that he violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by bribing Panamanian government officials… Read More
Last month, the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) charged a trio of alleged microcap stock promoters with defrauding investors by disseminating promotional investor relations e-mails and newsletters exhorting readers to immediately buy purportedly hot stocks so they could… Read More
Category: Blog Posts Tags: dodd-frank, FBI sting, FBI Undercover, FINRA Halt, fraud, Investor Loss, Investor Victims, nasdaq, nyse, Officer Director Bar, OTC Markets, Penny Stock, Penny Stock Bar, penny stock scam, penny stock scheme, penny stock sting, ponzi scheme, Sarbanes-Oxley, Scalping, scam, SEC, SEC Action, SEC Actions, SEC Administrative Proceeding, SEC anti-fraud, SEC Attorney, sec bar, SEC Bounty, SEC Charge, SEC Charges, SEC Claim, SEC Complaint, SEC Defendant, SEC Defense, SEC Defense Attorney, SEC Defense Lawyer, SEC Division of Enforcement, SEC enforcement, SEC enforcement action, SEC Fraud, SEC Halt, SEC Injunction, SEC Investigation, SEC Law Firm, SEC Lawsuit, SEC Lawyer, SEC Litigation, SEC Penny Stock Bar, SEC Reporting Requirements, SEC Section 17(b), SEC Subpoena, SEC Suit, SEC Trading Suspension, Section 17(b), Section 5 violation, Securities Act, Securities Act Section 17(b), Securities and Exchange Commission, Securities Attorney, Securities Fraud, Securities Indictment, Securities Law Defense, Securities Lawyer, Songetech, SPAC, stock manipulation, Stock Scalping, stock scheme, Toxic Lender, trading suspension, Unregistered Dealer, Wells Notice
A private placement memorandum (“PPM”) is also referred to as a confidential offering circular or memorandum. PPM’s are used by private companies in going public transactions and by existing public companies to raise capital by selling either debt… Read More
On August 13, 2015, the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that three Maryland men have agreed to settle charges that they defrauded investors in a company that owns and operates residential and commercial real estate. Boston-based Signator… Read More
A fiduciary duty exists where trust and confidence is placed in another. Fiduciary duties arise in many different contexts in securities matters and the going public process. Fiduciary duties also arise from a written agreement that authorizes another… Read More
Aegis Capital Corporation has been fined $950,000 by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority over allegations of improper sales of unregistered penny stocks of five issuers and anti-money laundering supervisory failures. As a result, Aegis is also required to… Read More
The going public process involves a number of steps that vary depending on the characteristics of the private company wishing to go public, and whether it will become a Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) reporting company. All companies seeking… Read More
Category: Blog Posts Tags: Direct Listing, Direct Listing Requirements, Direct Public Offering, Foreign Company, Foreign Issuer, Foreign Private Issuer, Form 10, Form F-1, Form F-1 Attorney, Form F-1 Attorneys, Form F-1 Capital, Form F-1 Capital Raise, Form F-1 Law Firm, Form F-1 Law Firms, Form F-1 Lawyer, Form F-1 lawyers, Form F-1 Offering, Form F-1 Prospectus, Form F-1 Quiet Period, Form F-1 Registered Offering, Form F-1 Registered Offerings, Form F-1 Registration Statement, Form F-1 Registration Statements, Form F-1 Resale, Form F-1 Resales, Form F-1 Selling Shareholder, Form F-1 Selling Shareholder Requirements, Form F-1 Selling Stockholder, Form F-1 Selling Stockholder Requirements, Form S--1 filing, Form S-1, Form S-1 Attorney, Form S-1 Attorneys, Form S-1 Capital Raise, Form S-1 filing requirements, Form S-1 Law Firm, Form S-1 Law Firms, Form S-1 Lawyer, Form S-1 lawyers, Form S-1 Listing, Form S-1 Offering, Form S-1 Prospectus, Form S-1 Quiet Period, Form S-1 Registered Offering, Form S-1 Registered Offerings, Form S-1 Registration Statements, Form S-1 Resale, Form S-1 Resales, Form S-1 Selling Shareholder, Form S-1 Selling Shareholder Requirements, Form S-1 Selling Stockholder, Form S-1 Selling Stockholder Requirements, Form S-1. Registration Statement, Go Public, Go Public Attorney, Go Public Lawyer, Going Public, Going Public Attorney, Going Public Attorneys, Going Public Law Firm, Going Public Lawyer, Going Public Lawyers, Listing, Prospectus, Prospectus Requirements, S-1 Going Public, SEC, SEC Quiet Period, SEC Reporting Obligations
The Anti-Fraud Provisions And Regulation A+ On March 25, 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted final rules amending Regulation A. The new rules are often referred to as Regulation A+. These rules are designed to facilitate smaller companies’ access to… Read More
Category: Blog Posts Tags: Form 1-A. Form 1-A offering circular, Form 1-K, Form 1-K Annual Reports, Form 1-K Report, Form 1-SA; Form 1-SA Reports, Form 1-U, Form 1-U Report, Form 1-U Reporting, Form 1-Z Report, Form S-1. Registration Statement, Go Public, Go Public Attorney, Go Public Direct, Go Public Lawyer, Going Public, Going Public Attorney, Going Public Attorneys, Going Public Lawyer, Going Public Lawyers, going public transactions, initial public offering, investors, IPO, jobs act, OTC Markets Attorney, OTC Markets Lawyer, Penny Stock Attorney, Penny Stock Lawyer, Pot Stocks, Prospectus, Prospectus Requirements, Public Company Disclosure Requirements, Raise Capital, Raise Money, Reg A, Register Securities, Registration Statement, Regulation 1-SA, Regulation A, Regulation A Filings, Regulation A Form 1-k, Regulation A Offering, Regulation A Reporting, Regulation A Reports, Regulation A Rule, Regulation A Tier 2, Regulation A to Go Public, SEC Disclosure Requirements
A company going public must understand which capital raising methods involve a “security”. A company is only subject to federal and state securities laws if it is selling what is defined as a “security.” If you are selling stock… Read More
On July 31, 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) announced it had charged Phillip Kueber, Canadian citizen with conducting a scheme to conceal his control and ownership of penny stock, Cynk Technology Corp. On July 11,… Read More
Going public is a big step for any company. The process of “going public” is complex and at times precarious. While going public offers many benefits it also comes with risks and quantities of regulations with which… Read More
Category: Blog Posts Tags: Direct Listing, Direct Listing Requirements, Direct Public Offering, Foreign Company, Foreign Issuer, Foreign Private Issuer, Form 10, Form F-1, Form F-1 Attorney, Form F-1 Attorneys, Form F-1 Capital, Form F-1 Capital Raise, Form F-1 Law Firm, Form F-1 Law Firms, Form F-1 Lawyer, Form F-1 lawyers, Form F-1 Offering, Form F-1 Prospectus, Form F-1 Quiet Period, Form F-1 Registered Offering, Form F-1 Registered Offerings, Form F-1 Registration Statement, Form F-1 Registration Statements, Form F-1 Resale, Form F-1 Resales, Form F-1 Selling Shareholder, Form F-1 Selling Shareholder Requirements, Form F-1 Selling Stockholder, Form F-1 Selling Stockholder Requirements, Form S--1 filing, Form S-1, Form S-1 Attorney, Form S-1 Attorneys, Form S-1 Capital Raise, Form S-1 filing requirements, Form S-1 Law Firm, Form S-1 Law Firms, Form S-1 Lawyer, Form S-1 lawyers, Form S-1 Listing, Form S-1 Offering, Form S-1 Prospectus, Form S-1 Quiet Period, Form S-1 Registered Offering, Form S-1 Registered Offerings, Form S-1 Registration Statements, Form S-1 Resale, Form S-1 Resales, Form S-1 Selling Shareholder, Form S-1 Selling Shareholder Requirements, Form S-1 Selling Stockholder, Form S-1 Selling Stockholder Requirements, Form S-1. Registration Statement, Go Public, Go Public Attorney, Go Public Lawyer, Going Public, Going Public Attorney, Going Public Attorneys, Going Public Law Firm, Going Public Lawyer, Going Public Lawyers, Listing, Prospectus, Prospectus Requirements, S-1 Going Public, SEC, SEC Quiet Period, SEC Reporting Obligations
Regulation A offers investors more investment choices and issuers with more capital raising options during their going public transaction. Some confusion has arisen about whether SEC qualification of a Regulation A+ offering will result in the assignment of a stock ticker or trading symbol. Companies conducting Regulation A+ offerings must submit Form 1-A to to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Form 1-A is subject to SEC review and the SEC may issue comments to the filing. Once the SEC is satisfied that the required disclosures comply with the securities laws, it will qualify the offering and the company can offer and sell the securities covered by the Form 1-A. The Regulation A+ qualification process is similar to the SEC comment process that applies to registration of securities offerings on Form S-1.
Category: Blog Posts Tags: Form 1-A, Form 1-A Offering Circular, Form 1-K, Form 1-K Annual Reports, Form 1-K Report, Form 1-SA; Form 1-SA Reports, Form 1-U, Form 1-U Report, Form 1-U Reporting, Form 1-Z Report, Go Public, Going Public, Reg A, Regulation 1-SA, Regulation A, Regulation A Attorney, Regulation A Attorneys, Regulation A Filings, Regulation A Form 1-k, Regulation A Lawyer, Regulation A Lawyers, Regulation A Offering, Regulation A Reporting, Regulation A Reports, Regulation A Rule, SEC Registration, SEC Reporting, SEC Reporting Requirement, SEC Reporting Requirements, SEC Reports, SEC Rule, SEC Temporary Rule, Securities Act, Securities Offering, Semi-annual reports on Form 1-SA, tier 1, Tier 2
On July 23, 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that three former employees of Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. have agreed to settle charges stemming from the unregistered sales of billions of shares of penny stocks on behalf… Read More