On August 12, 2013, the crowdfunding platform AngelList submitted some really great and thoughtful comments to the SEC with respect to the SEC’s proposed Reg. D amendments related to new Form D filing requirements and enhanced penalties for failure to file (which you can read more about here). AngelList expressed its concern that the newly proposed Form D rules would result in “disastrous unintended consequences” for startups, observing that proposed rules reflect how sophisticated Wall Street issuers, investment banks, and law firms, rather than early stage businesses, engage in capital raising. [Read more…]
Form D Archives
SEC’s Proposed Regulation D Rules Generates Wide Ranging Concern
In my last post, I discussed new proposed Regulation D rules which impose new obligations upon issuers of securities in private placements. In that post, I expressed some concern that these new rules could be quite burdensome, especially the rule disqualifying issuers from using Rule 506 on future securities offerings for failing to file Form D in a timely fashion. Others involved with startup capital formation have also expressed similar concerns. In this post, I’ll compile the comments I’ve seen thus far. [Read more…]
SEC Proposes New Form D Filing Requirements
On July 10, 2013, the same day it announced the adoption of rules permitting general solicitation under certain conditions and disqualifying “bad actors,” the Securities and Exchange Commission issued proposed new rules entitled “Amendments to Regulation D, Form D and Rule 156 under the Securities Act.” The proposal dramatically increases the Form D filing requirements for Rule 506 offerings and increases the consequences for failing to file Form D or filing Form D late.
Private Placements: What happens if you fail to file Form D (or file it late)?
Form D is a document that the SEC requires a company to file when it issues securities in a private placement under Regulation D. It must be filed with the SEC within 15 days of the first sale of a security in a private placement. In addition, for offerings made under Rule 506 (the most frequently used part of Regulation D), an issuer must also file a copy of Form D (along with a filing fee) with the securities administrator of each state in which purchasers of the securities reside within 15 days of the first sale within each state. Overall, Form D is a relatively simple document to complete and file; however, it’s very easy for a small company to overlook filing one, especially if it doesn’t use qualified legal counsel for its securities offering. I frequently get asked about what happens when an issuer fails to file Form D or if the issuer files it late. This post describes what consequences can and cannot occur. [Read more…]