In my last post, I blogged about online funding platforms. In that post, I described the typical model of indirect investing through a special purpose vehicle (“SPV”) with the platform sponsor taking a carried interest in the SPV’s profits from the portfolio company and no 
transaction fee, as a means of avoiding broker-dealer regulation.
Lately I’ve been approached by current and prospective clients about online funding platforms, either by folks interested in forming and operating them or those interested in raising capital through them. There seems to be a lot of confusion surrounding how they work and what the legal issues are, so here’s my attempt to bring some
The SEC yesterday issued its highly anticipated final rules amending Regulation A to allow issuers 
to raise up to $50 million in any 12 month period through public offering techniques but without registration with the SEC or state blue sky authorities. The 453 page rules release features a scaled disclosure regime to provide issuers with
On December 15, 2014, the North American Securities Administrators Association launched the Electronic Filing Depository (“EFD”), an internet accessible database that allows issuers to submit Form D for Rule 506 offerings under Regulation D and pay related fees to state securities regulators. It also allows anyone to search EFD’s Form D database.
This is
Last month, the SEC released its Final Report on the 2012 SEC Government-Business Forum on Small Business Capital Formation, the SEC’s annual forum to address perceived unnecessary impediments to small business capital formation. Participants typically include small business executives, VCs, government officials, trade association representatives, lawyers, accountants, academics and small business advocates. The Report contains