Business Law 3 Flashcards
(105 cards)
Definition of security
An investment of money to be managed by others with an expectation of profit, is probably a security.
Passive investors need legal protection more than investors who are actively involved in the enterprise and their investments are more likely to be deemed securities.
A transaction involving an investment purpose is more likely to create a security than a transaction involving a purpose of consumption. (ex. loan to start a business vs. loan to buy a boat)
Investment contract elements:
Investment of money
In a common enterprise
With an expectation of profit
To be earned primarily by the actions of others
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which of the following types of instruments is excluded from the definition of “securities”?
Certificates of deposit
Which of the following transactions is subject to registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933?
The 1933 Act applies to sales of securities, including stocks, bonds and notes that are issued for periods over nine months.
Which of the following is least likely to be considered a security under the Securities Act of 1933?
General partnership interests.
Which of the following statements concerning the prospectus required by the Securities Act of 1933 is correct?
The prospectus is a part of the registration statement.
When a common stock offering requires registration under the Securities Act of 1933,
The issuer would be acting unlawfully if it were to sell the common stock without providing the investor with a prospectus.
Under the Securities Act of 1933, which of the following statements is (are) correct regarding the purpose of registration?
The purpose of registration is to adequately and accurately disclose financial and other information upon which investors may determine the merits of securities.
The registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 are intended to provide information to the SEC to enable it to
Ensure that investors are provided with adequate information on which to base investment decisions.
Securities Act of 1933 process
- Files registration statement with SEC
- Distributes red herring prospectus and takes oral offers and limited written offers and places tomestone ad
- Registration statement deemed effective and sales can begin
Distribution players:
Issuer-Underwriter-Broker-Investor
Content of registration statements:
- Financial Statements audited by independent CPA
- Names of issuer, directors, officers, underwriters, etc.
- Risks
- Description of issuer’s business
- Description of security and intended use for proceeds
Shelf Registration
Allowing the largest 2,000 or so companies to file a single registration statement that would cover the securities they expected to sell during the next three years
Securities Offering Reform Program (SORP), the SEC expanded the “shelf registration” concept to what might be considered “company registration.”
WKSIs—pronounced “wicksees”
Well-known seasoned issuers, largest users, make up 30% of firms but 95% of firm’s assets listed on exchange
Free writing prospectus (FWP)
WKSIs are now allowed to use additional material (FWPs) at any time with few restrictions other than the material usually has to be filed with the SEC
Which of the following securities is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933?
Any security issued by a charity, railroad company, farmers’ co-operative, government, savings and loans, or bank or short term notes (maturing in less than 9 months) is exempt from registering under the 1933 Act.
Winslow, Inc. intends to make a $450,000 common-stock offering under Rule 504 of Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933. Winslow
May sell the stock to an unlimited number of investors.
Rule 504 does not set a limit on the overall number of investors. So long as a company’s total offerings for a year are under $1mn
Rationale for exemptions from registration under 1933:
- Small offerings-small threat to the public
- Private placement exemptions-Accredited investors (AIs) who can look out for themselves
- Intrastate offering- regulated by state
Rule 504 Section D
- Amount- Less than 1 million in 12 months
- Advertising- general solicitation not allowed
- Purchaser- can be sold to anyone
- Information requirements- none
- Filing requirements- Form D within 15 days of first sale
- Resale- securities held for 6 mo to 1 year
Rule 505 Section D
- Amount- Less than 5 million in 12 months
- Advertising- general solicitation not allowed unless selling to AIs
- Purchaser- any amount of AIs, 35 unaccredited investors
- Information requirements- none for AIs
- Filing requirements- Form D within 15 days of first sale
- Resale- securities held for 6 mo to 1 year
Cannot be used by investment companies or those in bad standing with SEC.
Rule 506 Section D
- Amount- no limit
- Advertising- general solicitation not allowed unless selling to AIs
- Purchaser- any amount of AIs, 35 unaccredited investors
- Information requirements- none for AIs
- Filing requirements- Form D within 15 days of first sale
- Resale- securities held for 6 mo to 1 year
Cannot be used by those in bad standing with SEC.
Regulation A
- Amount- 20 or 50 million in 12 months, depending on tier
- Advertising- allows “testing the waters” to see if there is sufficient interest
- Purchaser- unaccredited investor limited to 10% of income or net worth
- Information requirements- 2 years audited or unaudited F/S, depending on Tier
- Filing requirements- Form 1-A plus offering circular (2 years audited F/S for Tier 2)
- Resale- none
Rule 147 Intrastate Offering
- Amount- none
- Advertising- must remain in state
- Purchaser- must be in-state residents
- Information requirements- none
- Filing requirements- none
- Resale- only to other residents of state for 9 months
Must be organized and doing business in state with 80% of assets, revenue and proceeds in the state
Blue Sky Laws
State securities regulations to protect investors from securities fraud, superseded by many federal regulations