But only “accredited investors” will be permitted to invest in these private securities offerings as a result of rules adopted by the SEC. Accredited investors have:
- An individual net worth or a joint net worth with their spouse of $1 million or more, excluding the value and any related indebtedness of their primary residence; or
- Individual annual income of more than $200,000 or a joint income with their spouse of more than $300,000 in each of the last two years, with expectation of the same income level in the current year.
Certain “bad actors”—including convicted felons and those who have received certain disciplinary sanctions from federal securities and banking regulators—will be disqualified from participating in these securities offerings under a rule the SEC adopted that was required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010.
The previous ban on advertising by hedge funds, private-equity firms, and certain other private investments was lifted as a result of rules implemented under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act of 2012. The provision was intended to make it easier for companies to raise capital, but there was concern that lifting the ban would pave the way for more fraud, SEC Chairman Mary Jo White said in a statement and at an open meeting.
White said the commission needed to act promptly on the JOBS Act requirement, but will pursue additional investor safeguards, if necessary. A proposal the SEC made would require issuers to provide more information about these securities offerings to help the SEC monitor the market in an effort to provide new safeguards as new market practices develop. To submit comments or read the full text of the proposal or the rules that were approved, visit tinyurl.com/jvvclge.
The rule amendments take effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. The rule proposal will be available for public comment for 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register.
*香港企業促進會是幫助中港企業轉型升級與國際接軌（境外上市）的平臺；除了邀请名家大师参加每年一度的專業管理研討會(PMDP: Professional Management Development Program)外，香港企業促進會特开设《企管名師专栏》定期和不定期地发表企管名师在管理学的前沿研究和经验总结，并摘录部分国际权威机构（如AICPA等）有关企业管治，内控，会计准则，上市，与资本市场接轨，转型升级等最新动态和企業管理的经验和研究报告供会员参考和借鉴。以便提高业界的专业管理水平，更好地落实香港企業促進會“提升企业竞争力 • 促进升级齐增值”的宗旨。
