TO ENTREPRENEURS APPLYING FOR FUNDING
RE: SEC RULE 506(C) – EFFECTIVE 9/23/13
The Keiretsu Forum Mid-Atlantic, South-East, & Texas Regions are dedicated to the support of early stage entrepreneurs through education, mentoring and investment. Early stage innovation is the engine of job creation in our economy. We welcome entrepreneurs’ applications for funding, and want to explain our policy in regard to companies using general solicitation for accredited investors, and our requirement that entrepreneurs (issuers) use the prescribed “principles‐based methodology” (PBM) to verify our accredited investor members.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Rule 506(c), effective September 23, 2013, allows companies to generally advertise or solicit investors. This is a major change in the 80‐year history of securities law, and will impact most early‐stage companies and their investors. The term “general solicitation” is not precisely defined in SEC regulations, but has been deemed to include:
- any advertisement, article, notice, or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine, or similar media or broadcast over television and radio (includes internet); and
- any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation/advertising.
If an entrepreneur participates in any such activities – including publicly advertised events such as demo days, pitch competitions, etc. – general solicitation may be deemed to have occurred. In addition, we recognize some companies will want to proactively advertise for investors through social media or other general outlets, to broaden their access to capital.
We also recognize that some applicants will assert they are seeking funding under Rule 506(b), which prohibits the use of general solicitation, and allows accredited investors to self‐certify as has always been done. We welcome all applicants, but are concerned that even the most “quiet” of offerings may inadvertently slip into the general advertising category. The penalties for failing to meet all requirements of 506(c) are extremely onerous and in the worst case could require a deal to be unwound. In addition, potential rules under consideration by the SEC may impose a one‐year exclusion from raising funds for any company that fails to file in regard to a generally solicited offering – an almost certain death sentence for early‐stage companies. The proposed rules would also impose extensive additional requirements on startups – many that we believe they will be unable to satisfy. As a result, we will carefully consider the potential for and consequences of inadvertent general solicitation in any due diligence process we may undertake with such issuers.
General solicitation comes with significant new requirements for entrepreneurs (issuers). Issuers must take “reasonable steps to verify” that all purchasers are accredited investors (for definition see: www.sec.gov/answers/accred.htm). The SEC has provided a flexible, “principles‐based methodology” to make this determination. After taking “reasonable steps,” an issuer must reasonably believe the purchaser is accredited (and not otherwise have knowledge that he/she is not). “Absolute proof” is not the standard, but issuers must document steps taken to verify.
The SEC also provided four alternative, non‐mandatory, non‐exclusive verification methods. These would require the issuer (or a third party) to verify income or net worth of investors, by reviewing detailed financial documentation such as IRS tax forms, banks statements, appraisals and credit reports. We believe these methods place unreasonable, costly, and dangerous burdens on both entrepreneurs and investors – and raise untenable privacy, cost, and complexity concerns.
Fortunately, their use should be unnecessary when dealing with an Established Angel Group. The Angel Capital Association (ACA), of which we are a member, has provided guidance on applying the principles‐based methodology when seeking funding from an Established Angel Group (EAG) such as Keiretsu Forum Mid-Atlantic. This guidance is available at:
Angel Capital Association Established Angel Group Member Accreditation Guidelines.
The Keiretsu Forum Mid-Atlantic and South-East Regions support this methodology, and we require entrepreneurs seeking funding from our organization to consult with legal counsel to gain assurance that reliance on EAG membership will meet the verification test. We recognize these rules are complex, but all applicants are also expected to understand and be in compliance with all applicable SEC requirements.
Since our members, sponsors, and partners are encouraged to bring potential new accredited angel investor members to K4 Forum Meetings entrepreneurs will meet potential investors who are not yet members of our organization and who do not qualify under the EAG classification. These potential investors are not exempt from the disclosure rules under 506(c) and issuers are advised to confirm an investor’s membership status before accepting funding from any accredited investor and to act accordingly.
Keiretsu Forum Regions and Chapters only accept accredited investors for investment membership. Our members will not provide personal financial data to companies seeking investment. We will provide written confirmation on request that any investing member is in good standing at the time of investment. We hope this clarifies our continued interest in early stage investments, while maintaining safety and security of sensitive financial information so our members may continue to actively invest.
If you have additional questions, please contact:
Howard Lubert, Regional President, HLubert@KeiretsuForum.net
Barry Etra, Director of Entrepreneurial Services, BEtra@KeiretsuForum.net
A formal legal opinion may be obtained from any of our legal firm sponsors with active emerging growth practices.
