The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) has adopted new Rule 147A, an exemption from registration for intrastate offerings, and amended other exemptions for securities issued in intrastate offerings and other small offerings.  All changes are designed to assist smaller companies in raising capital. In addition to promulgating Rule 147A, the SEC amended Rule 147 to comport with new Rule 147A, increased Rule 504’s maximum offering to $5 million, and repealed Rule 505.  Rule 147A and amended Rule 147 go into effect on April 20, 2017.

Under a Rule 147A exempt offering, issuers may (i) make offers accessible across state lines (provided sales are limited to residents of the same state where the issuer is located), and (ii) be incorporated or organized outside of the state where the intrastate sale is held.

Rule 147 was amended to use the same definition of issuer’s “principal place of business” as found in Rule 147A, revising the prior use of “principal office.” Rule 147 issuers will still be required to limit all offers and sales to residents of the same state as the issuer.

The maximum offering in Rule 504 was increased from $1 million to $5 million.  Rule 504 also now precludes “bad actors” from participating in a Rule 504 offering.  Amended Rule 504 went effective January 20, 2017, and as it rendered Rule 505 functionally superfluous, the SEC repealed Rule 505, to go effective May 22, 2017.