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PUBLIC AND PRIVATE OFFERINGS UNDER THE JOBS ACT
GEORGE LEELEE & STONE LLP
June 25, 2012 copyright 2012 Lee & Stone
LLP
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Presenter Info
George Lee is a founding partner of Lee & Stone LLP, a boutique law firm representing the investment management community in transactional, securities and regulatory matters. Previously, he served as General Counsel of Greenway Capital, a Texas registered investment adviser and worked in private practice at major international law firms in New York, Dallas, and Houston. Mr. Lee graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1987, and received his BA in 1983 from Carleton College. He is a member of the Texas and New York bars. Mr. Lee is also a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas and is active in the Texas and Dallas Bar Association Securities Sections, The Securities Law Committee of the Texas Business Law Section and the Dallas Fort Worth Compliance Roundtable.
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Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act
Primarily designed to increase American job creation and economic growth by improving access to the public capital markets for emerging growth companies
Seven Titles, including “IPO On Ramp” for emerging growth companies Allowing public solicitation in certain private
offerings Crowdfunding Increasing dollar limits for Regulation A Increasing thresholds for ‘34 Act registration
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JOBS Act & Timing
Signed into law April 5, 2012 Many provisions are self-executing –
Facilitating IPOs for emerging growth companies (“EGCs”)
Relaxing reporting requirements for EGCs; and Public Company Registration Thresholds
Many require SEC rulemaking: Private Offerings due by July 4, 2012 Study on Blue Sky Laws impact on Regulation A
offerings due byJuly 5, 2012 Crowdfunding due by December 31, 2012 Regulation A, mandatory but no deadline
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What is an Emerging Growth Company?
An EGC is a company with gross annual revenues of less than $1 billion
A company remains an EGC until the earliest of: Gross revenues of $1 billion or more Fifth anniversary of its IPO Issuance of $1 billion in non-convertible debt
during the previous three years Public float is $700 million or more
A company does not qualify as an EGC if it conducted its IPO on or before December 8, 2011
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Reporting and Other Requirements Reduced for EGCs
Two years (not three years) of audited financial statements in IPO registration statement
Exempt from certain proxy rules "say-on-pay" shareholder vote shareholder vote on golden parachute
compensation Certain executive comp. disclosures
Exempt from the auditor attestation requirements with respect to internal controls
Permitted to delay application of new public company financial accounting standards until they become mandatory for private companies
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Communications Prior to and During a Securities Offering
EGCs can “test the waters” Can communicate with qualified
institutional buyers (QIBs) and institutional accredited investors (“IAIs”) before and after the filing of registration statement
Includes communications by underwriters Oral and written communications to QIBs
and IAIs remain subject to potential liability under Section 12 of the Securities Act for any material misstatement or omission
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Confidential Submission of IPO Registration Statements
Permitted to submit any IPO registration statement and subsequent amendments confidentially
IPO registration statement and amendments required to be publicly filed with the SEC no later than 21 days before a road show If an EGC submits its IPO registration statement
to the SEC confidentially, management of the EGC may be limited in its ability to communicate with QIBs and IAIs to gauge their interest in the potential offering for 21day quiet period
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Analyst Research Reports Publication of research on EGCs by Investment
Banks is not considered an offer or a prospectus, even if the bank is participating or will participate in the offering Applies to equity offerings including IPOs Reports no longer subject to liability under Section
12 of the Securities Act for material misstatements or omissions
Still subject to other securities law liability Neither the SEC nor FINRA may adopt or
maintain quiet periods for equity research reports for EGCs
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Research Analysts’ Communications and Meetings
Prohibits the SEC and FINRA from adopting or maintaining rules or regulations in connection with an IPO of an EGC that restrict: who at a broker-dealer may arrange for
communication between a securities analyst and a potential investor
participation of a securities analyst in meetings with management, even if investment bankers are present
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Private Offering Exemptions
Elimination of Prohibition against general solicitation and general advertising in Rule 506 Offerings Requires SEC to amend Rule 506 by July 5 Requires that all purchasers be accredited investors Issuer using public solicitation must take reasonable
steps to verify that the purchasers are accredited using methods determined by the SEC
SEC to revise Rule 144A to allow general solicitation and general advertising Seller and any person acting on behalf of the seller
must reasonably believe the buyer is a QIB
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Private Offering Exemptions
Only available to U.S. organized issuers May be available to private funds
New Section 4(b) of “33 Act now provides that general advertising or general solicitation Not deemed public offering under Federal Securities Laws 3(c)(1) and 3(c)(7) of Investment Company Act May not be available to Commodity Pools
Not available to: Registered investment companies; Issuers already subject to reporting requirements;
and Issuers with “bad boys”
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Rule 506 Intermediaries
Rule 506 intermediary is not subject to broker-dealer registration solely because that person: Maintains a platform or mechanism that permits
the offer, sale, purchase, negotiation, general solicitation, advertisements, or similar activities in connection with the offering;
Co-invests in the securities being offered; or Provides ancillary services in connection with the
offering State law is not pre-empted for 506 Intermediaries
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Rule 506 Intermediaries
Rule 506 Intermediary not registered as a broker dealer must: Receive no compensation in connection with
the purchase or sale of securities in the offering (transaction based compensation);
Not be in possession of customer funds or securities in connection with the offering; and
Not be subject to a statutory disqualification under section 3(a)(39) of the Securities Act (No “Bad Boys”)
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Crowdfunding
Capital Raising Online While Deterring Fraud and Unethical Non-Disclosure Act Small offerings seeking small investments
from many investors New Section 4(6) of the Securities Act $1 million annual limit (debt or equity) Not effective until SEC rulemaking
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Crowdfunding
SEC rules due by the end of the year Investor with net worth or annual income of
$100,000 or greater may invest up to 10% of net worth or income, with a ceiling of $100,000
Investor with net worth or annual income of less than $100,000 are limited to greater of $2,000 or 5% of net worth or income
In all crowdfunding offerings, Issuer must verify whether Investor has money in other crowdfunding investments
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Crowdfunding
“Covered Securities” under Section of the Securities Act Not subject to state blue sky registration
requirements Still subject to state anti-fraud enforcement
Securities remain restricted Mandatory one year holding period with
certain exceptions
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Crowdfunding
Certain disclosures required depending on offering Less than $100K - financials certified by CEO $100K-$500K - financials reviewed by CPA Over $500K - audited financials
Issuer Not required to register under ‘34 Act Still must make annual SEC filings and
disclosures to investors as the SEC determines to be appropriate
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Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding offerings must be conducted through a broker-dealer or through a “funding portal” that does not: Offer investment advice or recommendations; Solicit purchases, sales, or offers to buy the securities
offered or displayed on its website or portal; Compensate employees, agents, or other persons for
such solicitation or based on the sale of securities displayed on its website or portal;
Hold manage or possess, or otherwise handle investor funds or securities; or
Engage in such other activities as the SEC, by rule determines appropriate
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Crowdfunding
Funding Portal is required to: Register as a Funding Portal with the SEC Obtain membership in a national securities
association (FINRA) Obtain a background and securities
regulatory enforcement check for the directors, officers, and holders of more than 20% of the outstanding equity of the issuer
Meet any other requirements that the SEC, or FINRA as the regulator of Funding Portals, prescribes as appropriate
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Crowdfunding
To prevent fraud by the issuer, the Broker-Dealer/Funding Portal must “ensure” that no offering proceeds are distributed to the Issuer until the target offering amount is established
The offering may not be advertised except by directing the investors to the Broker-Dealer or Funding Portal
Broker-Dealer/Funding Portal must also make available to investors and the SEC, at least 21 days before any sale, any disclosures provided by the Issuer
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Regulation A
‘33Act registration exemption to be increased from $5 million to $50 million raised in 12 months Requires SEC rulemaking, but no deadline Only equity, debt and convertible debt
Securities may be publicly offered and will not be restricted
State law generally pre-empted SEC Rules will require certain annual
filings and investor disclosures
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Increased Registration Threshold for Public Company Reporting
No requirement to register until company reaches 2000 shareholders (or 500 shareholders who are not accredited investors) “of record” Excludes record holders who receive the
securities pursuant to an employee compensation plan exempt from registration under Section 5 of the Securities Act
SEC must exempt securities held by crowdfunding investors