SEC Provides Temporary, Relief Allowing Small Businesses to Expedite Crowdfunding

Securities and Exchange Commission announced it is providing temporary, relief for small companies affected by COVID-19 looking to meet urgent funding needs via Regulation Crowdfunding offering.

To take advantage of the temporary rules, a company must meet enhanced eligibility requirements and provide clear, prominent disclosure to investors about its reliance on the relief. The relief will apply to offerings launched between the effective date of the temporary rules and Aug. 31, 2020.

“In the current environment, many established small businesses are facing challenges accessing urgently needed capital in a timely and cost-effective manner.”

“Today’s action responds to feedback we have received from our Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee and others about the difficulties these companies may face in conducting an offering within a time frame that meets pressing capital needs, while continuing to provide appropriate protections for investors.”

SEC Chairman Jay Clayton.

SEC changes Crowdfunding Rules to assist COVID-19 Small Business

The temporary rules are the latest in a series of steps the Commission has taken to assist financial market participants in addressing the impacts of the coronavirus. The Commission’s website provides additional information regarding its response. The Commission and its staff continue to assess impacts relating to the coronavirus on investors and market participants and will consider additional relief from other regulatory requirements where necessary or appropriate.  Firms and financial professionals affected by the coronavirus are encouraged to contact the staff with questions and concerns.

Highlights

The temporary rules are intended to expedite the offering process for smaller, previously established companies directly or indirectly affected by COVID-19 that are seeking to meet their funding needs through the offer and sale of securities pursuant to Regulation Crowdfunding.

The temporary rules provide flexibility for issuers that meet certain eligibility criteria to assess interest in a Regulation Crowdfunding offering prior to preparation of full offering materials, and then once launched, to close such an offering and have access to funds sooner than would be possible in the absence of the temporary relief.

The temporary rules also provide an exemption from certain financial statement review requirements for issuers offering more than $107,000 but not more than $250,000 in securities in reliance on Regulation Crowdfunding within a 12-month period.