Corporate & Securities Blog

As mandated by 2012’s Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (“JOBS Act”), the Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed amendments to the thresholds at which a company will be required to register its equity securities under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and thus be subject to the Exchange Act’s periodic reporting obligations. Exchange Act registration would now be required only when a company has more than $10 million in assets and a class of equity securities “held of record” by either: (a) 2,000 persons (up from 500 persons), or (b) 500 persons or more who are not “accredited investors” under SEC rules (with the determination being made as of the last day of the fiscal year). The proposal would also amend the threshold requirements for banks or bank holding companies to terminate or suspend the registration of a class of securities under the Exchange Act from 300 to 1,200 persons.