On October 7, 2020, the SEC proposed a limited, conditional exemption from broker registration requirements for “finders” who assist smaller businesses to raise capital. As noted by SEC Chair Jay Clayton in the SEC’s press release announcing the proposal, “[t]here has been significant uncertainty…about finders’ regulatory status…. If adopted, the proposed relief will bring clarity to finders’ regulatory status [that will address] the capital formation needs of … smaller issuers while preserving investor protections.”
The proposed rules would create two classes of exempt finders:
- “Tier I” finders would be limited to providing contact information of potential investors in connection with a single capital raise by a single issuer in a 12-month period and could not have any contact with potential investors.
- “Tier II” finders could solicit investors on behalf of an issuer, but the permitted solicitation activities would be limited. Tier II finders would also have to satisfy disclosure requirements and other conditions.
Both Tier I and Tier II finders would be subject to a variety of conditions, including conditions relating to the types of issuers, offerings, solicitation activities, and investors. In addition, neither Tier I nor Tier II finders could be involved in structuring the offering or negotiating its terms or engaging in certain other activities.
The proposed rules are subject to a comment period of 30 days following publication in the Federal Register.
More details about the proposed rules will be provided in an upcoming post on The Securities Edge, Gunster’s securities law and corporate governance blog. Until then, please direct any questions or observations to Gunster securities law and corporate governance practice leader Bob Lamm.
Yes! Please sign me up to receive email alerts from other Gunster practice areas.
This publication is for general information only. It is not legal advice, and legal counsel should be contacted before any action is taken that might be influenced by this publication.
About Gunster
Gunster, Florida’s law firm for business, provides full-service legal counsel to leading organizations and individuals from its 13 offices statewide. Established in 1925, the firm has expanded, diversified and evolved, but always with a singular focus: Florida and its clients’ stake in it. A magnet for business-savvy attorneys who embrace collaboration for the greatest advantage of clients, Gunster’s growth has not been at the expense of personalized service but because of it. The firm serves clients from its offices in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Naples, Orlando, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Tampa Bayshore, Tampa Downtown, Vero Beach, and its headquarters in West Palm Beach. With more than 280 attorneys and consultants, and over 290 committed professional staff, Gunster is ranked among the National Law Journal’s list of the 500 largest law firms and has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Diverse Law Firms by Law360. More information about its practice areas, offices and insider’s view newsletters is available at www.gunster.com.
