WSR 14-06-020
PROPOSED RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
(Securities Division)
[Filed February 24, 2014, 10:55 a.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 14-02-126.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Amending chapter 460-44A WAC to make ministerial updates to account for amendments to federal Regulation D.
The securities division is proposing to make ministerial updates to chapter 460-44A WAC to reflect recent amendments to Regulation D that are not yet reflected in our rules. We also propose to update several cross-references to federal law and remove an outdated note.
Hearing Location(s): State of Washington Department of Financial Institutions, 150 Israel Road S.W., Room 319, Tumwater, WA, 98501, on April 8, 2014, at 2:00 p.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: April 9, 2014.
Submit Written Comments to: Dan Matthews, Department of Financial Institutions, Securities Division, P.O. Box 9033, Olympia, WA 98507-9033, e-mail dan.matthews@dfi.wa.gov, fax (360) 704-6496, by April 7, 2014.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Carolyn Hawkey, P.O. Box 9033, Olympia, WA 98507-9033, TTY (360) 664-8126 or (360) 902-8824.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: On July 10, 2013, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted two final rules through SEC Release Nos. 33-9414 and 33-9415, with an effective date of September 23, 2013. These rules impact the existing exemption under federal Rule 506(b) and create a new exemption in federal Rule 506(c). Further, the text of the rules in WAC 460-44A-500 through 460-44A-508 is largely based upon the text of federal Regulation D. Regulation D has been the subject of a number of minor revisions that are not yet reflected in our rules. The division is proposing to make updates to chapter 460-44A WAC in order to reflect the recent amendments to federal Rule 506 and to more closely align our rules with federal Regulation D. We are also proposing to update several cross-references to federal law and remove an outdated note.
The division is proposing to amend WAC 460-44A-050, 460-44A-500, 460-44A-501, 460-44A-502, 460-44A-503, and 460-44A-506.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: The proposed rule making is beneficial to regulated entities, local governments, and small businesses that rely on the WAC. By engaging in this rule making, the government and the public would be benefited through more uniform and accurate regulations.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 21.20.450, 21.20.320 (1) and (17).
Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 21.20 RCW.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Department of financial institutions, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Dan Matthews, 150 Israel Road S.W., Tumwater, WA 98501, (360) 902-8760; Implementation: Scott Jarvis, Director, 150 Israel Road S.W., Tumwater, WA 98501, (360) 902-8760; and Enforcement: William M. Beatty, Director [of] Securities, 150 Israel Road S.W., Tumwater, WA 98501, (360) 902-8760.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. If any costs are borne by businesses in connection with the proposed rules, these costs will be no more than minor. As such, the agency is not required to prepare a small business economic impact statement under RCW 19.85.030.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. The department of financial institutions is not one of the agencies listed in RCW 34.05.328.
February 24, 2014
Scott Jarvis
Director
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 98-18-032, filed 8/26/98, effective 9/26/98)
WAC 460-44A-050 Isolated transactions—Sales not involving a public offering.
(1) An "isolated transaction" within the meaning of RCW 21.20.320(1) includes:
(a) Subject to the limitation of (b) of this subsection, any sale of an outstanding security by or on behalf of a person not in control of the issuer or controlled by the issuer or under common control with the issuer and not involving a distribution;
(b) Any sale satisfying the requirements of (a) of this subsection that is effected through a broker-dealer, provided that it is one of not more than three such transactions effected by or through the broker-dealer in this state during the prior twelve months;
(c) Any sale of an outstanding security by or on behalf of a person in control of the issuer or controlled by the issuer or under common control with the issuer if the sale is effected pursuant to:
(i) Brokers' transactions in accordance with section 4 (a)(4) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 144 thereunder; or
(ii) Any other transaction not effected through a broker-dealer and not involving a distribution, if the sale, including any other sales of securities of the same class during the prior twelve months inside or outside this state by the person, does not exceed 1% of the outstanding shares or units of that class; or
(d) Any sale of a security by or on behalf of an issuer that is one of not more than three such transactions inside or outside this state during the prior twenty-four months.
An exemption provided by (a), (b), (c), or (d) of this subsection shall not be available for any offering made in a manner inconsistent with the limitations set forth in (a), (b), (c), or (d) of this subsection, respectively.
(2) "Sales not involving a public offering," within the meaning of RCW 21.20.320(1), is interpreted by the director in a manner consistent with section 4 (a)(2) of the federal Securities Act of 1933 and Securities and Exchange Commission Securities Act Release No. 4552.
((Note:
Pursuant to RCW 21.20.320(1), the director has promulgated a rule "establishing a nonpublic offering exemption" at WAC 460-44A-506.))
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 08-16-072, filed 7/31/08, effective 9/15/08)
WAC 460-44A-500 Preliminary notes.
(1) The rules of WAC 460-44A-501 through 460-44A-508 relate to transactions exempted from the registration requirements of the Federal Securities Act of 1933 that are also exempted or preempted from RCW 21.20.140. WAC 460-44A-504 is an exemption from registration for offerings exempted under Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 504 or Rule 147. WAC 460-44A-505 is an exemption from registration for offerings exempted under Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 505. WAC 460-44A-506 establishes certain conditions for offerings exempted under Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 506. Unless expressly provided otherwise, such transactions are not exempt from anti-fraud, civil liability, or other provisions of the federal and state securities laws. Issuers are reminded of their obligation to provide such further material information, if any, as may be necessary to make the information required under these rules, in light of the circumstances under which it is furnished, not misleading.
(2) Attempted compliance with the exemption of WAC 460-44A-504, 460-44A-505, or 460-44A-506 does not act as an exclusive election; the issuer can also claim the availability of any other applicable exemption.
(3) These rules are available only to the issuer of the securities and not to any affiliate of that issuer or to any other person for resale of the issuer's securities. The rules provide an exemption only for the transactions in which the securities are offered or sold by the issuer, not for the securities themselves.
(4) In any proceeding involving the rules in WAC 460-44A-501 through 460-44A-508, the burden of proving the exemption, an exception from a definition or condition, or preemption, is upon the person claiming it.
(5) For offerings commenced but not completed prior to the amendment of WAC 460-44A-501 through 460-44A-508, issuers may opt to follow the rules in effect at the date of filing notice of the offering.
(6) Securities offered and sold outside the United States in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S need not be registered under chapter 21.20 RCW. Regulation S may be relied upon for such offers and sales even if coincident offers and sales are made in accordance with Regulation D and WAC 460-44A-501 through 460-44A-508 inside the United States. Thus, for example, persons who are offered and sold securities in accordance with Regulation S would not be counted in the calculation of the number of purchasers under Regulation D and WAC 460-44A-501 through 460-44A-508. Similarly proceeds from such sales would not be included in the aggregate offering price. The provisions of this subsection, however, do not apply if the issuer elects to rely solely on Regulation D for offers or sales to persons made outside the United States.
(7) These rules have been amended in recognition of the amendment of Regulation D by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to authorize the filing of Form D in electronic format with the SEC through the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval System (EDGAR) in accordance with EDGAR rules set forth in Regulation S-T (17 C.F.R. Part 232) as described in Securities and Exchange Commission Securities Act Release No. 8891. WAC 460-44A-503 (1)(b) authorizes an issuer to file ((Temporary Form D (17 C.F.R. 239.500T) together with an executed uniform consent to service of process on Form U-2 while Temporary Form D remains in effect or)) a copy of the notice of sales on Form D filed electronically or in paper format with the SEC (17 C.F.R. 239.500) until an electronic filing system acceptable to the administrator of securities of the department of financial institutions is implemented that permits the electronic filing of Form D with the administrator or his or her designee.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 12-13-043, filed 6/13/12, effective 7/14/12)
WAC 460-44A-501 Definitions and terms.
As used in rules WAC 460-44A-501 through 460-44A-508, the following terms shall have the meaning indicated:
(1) "Accredited investor" shall mean any person who comes within any of the following categories, or who the issuer reasonably believes comes within any of the following categories, at the time of the sale of the securities to that person:
(a) Any bank as defined in section 3 (a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, or any savings and loan association or other institution as defined in section 3 (a)(5)(A) of the Securities Act of 1933 whether acting in its individual or fiduciary capacity; any broker or dealer registered pursuant to section 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; any insurance company as defined in section 2 (a)(13) of the Securities Act of 1933; any investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or a business development company as defined in section 2 (a)(48) of that act; any small business investment company licensed by the U.S. Small Business Administration under section 301 (c) or (d) of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958; any plan established and maintained by a state, its political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of a state or its political subdivisions, for the benefit of its employees, if such plan has total assets in excess of $5,000,000; any employee benefit plan within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 if the investment decision is made by a plan fiduciary, as defined in section 3(21) of such act, which is either a bank, savings and loan association, insurance company, or registered investment adviser, or if the employee benefit plan has total assets in excess of $5,000,000 or, if a self-directed plan, with investment decisions made solely by persons that are accredited investors;
(b) Any private business development company as defined in section 202 (a)(22) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940;
(c) Any organization described in section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, corporation, Massachusetts or similar business trust, or partnership, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered, with total assets in excess of $5,000,000;
(d) Any director, executive officer, or general partner of the issuer of the securities being offered or sold, or any director, executive officer, or general partner of a general partner of that issuer;
(e) Any natural person whose individual net worth, or joint net worth with that person's spouse, exceeds $1,000,000.
(i) Except as provided in (e)(ii) of this subsection, for purposes of calculating net worth under (e) of this subsection:
(A) The person's primary residence shall not be included as an asset;
(B) Indebtedness that is secured by the person's primary residence, up to the estimated fair market value of the primary residence at the time of the sale of securities, shall not be included as a liability (except that if the amount of such indebtedness outstanding at the time of the sale of securities exceeds the amount outstanding sixty days before such time, other than as a result of the acquisition of the primary residence, the amount of such excess shall be included as a liability); and
(C) Indebtedness that is secured by the person's primary residence in excess of the estimated fair market value of the primary residence at the time of the sale of securities shall be included as a liability.
(ii) Paragraph (e)(i) of this subsection will not apply to any calculation of a person's net worth made in connection with a purchase of securities in accordance with a right to purchase such securities, provided that:
(A) Such right was held by the person on July 20, 2010;
(B) The person qualified as an accredited investor on the basis of net worth at the time the person acquired such right; and
(C) The person held securities of the same issuer, other than such right, on July 20, 2010;
(f) Any natural person who had an individual income in excess of $200,000 in each of the two most recent years or joint income with that person's spouse in excess of $300,000 in each of those years and has a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year;
(g) Any trust, with total assets in excess of $5,000,000, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered, whose purchase is directed by a sophisticated person as described in 17 C.F.R. Sec. 230.506 (b)(2)(ii); and
(h) Any entity in which all of the equity owners are accredited investors.
(2) "Affiliate" an "affiliate" of, or person "affiliated" with, a specified person shall mean a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the person specified;
(3) "Aggregate offering price" shall mean the sum of all cash, services, property, notes, cancellation of debt, or other consideration to be received by an issuer for issuance of its securities. Where securities are being offered for both cash and noncash consideration, the aggregate offering price shall be based on the price at which the securities are offered for cash. Any portion of the aggregate offering price attributable to cash received in a foreign currency shall be translated into United States currency at the currency exchange rate in effect at a reasonable time prior to or on the date of the sale of the securities. If securities are not offered for cash, the aggregate offering price shall be based on the value of the consideration as established by bona fide sales of that consideration made within a reasonable time, or, in the absence of sales, on the fair value as determined by an accepted standard. Such valuations of noncash consideration must be reasonable at the time made;
(4) "Business combination" shall mean any transaction of the type specified in paragraph (a) of Rule 145 under the Securities Act of 1933 and any transaction involving the acquisition by one issuer, in exchange for all or a part of its own or its parent's stock, of stock of another issuer if, immediately after the acquisition, the acquiring issuer has control of the other issuer (whether or not it had control before the acquisition);
(5) "Calculation of number of purchasers." For purposes of calculating the number of purchasers under WAC 460-44A-504 and 460-44A-505 the following shall apply:
(a) The following purchasers shall be excluded:
(i) Any relative, spouse or relative of the spouse of a purchaser who has the same ((principal)) primary residence as the purchaser;
(ii) Any trust or estate in which a purchaser and any of the persons related to him as specified in WAC 460-44A-501 (5)(a)(i) or (iii) collectively have more than fifty percent of the beneficial interest (excluding contingent interests);
(iii) Any corporation or other organization of which a purchaser and any of the persons related to him as specified in WAC 460-44A-501 (5)(a)(i) or (ii) collectively are beneficial owners of more than fifty percent of the equity securities (excluding directors' qualifying shares) or equity interests; and
(iv) Any accredited investor.
(b) A corporation, partnership or other entity shall be counted as one purchaser. If, however, that entity is organized for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered and is not an accredited investor under WAC 460-44A-501 (1)(h), then each beneficial owner of equity securities or equity interests in the entity shall count as a separate purchaser for all provisions of WAC 460-44A-501 through 460-44A-508, except to the extent provided in (a) of this subsection.
(c) A noncontributory employee benefit plan within the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 shall be counted as one purchaser where the trustee makes all investment decisions for the plan.
Note:
The issuer must satisfy all the other provisions of WAC 460-44A-501 through 460-44A-505 for all purchasers whether or not they are included in calculating the number of purchasers. Clients of an investment adviser or customers of a broker-dealer shall be considered the "purchasers" under WAC 460-44A-501 through 460-44A-505 regardless of the amount of discretion given to the investment adviser or broker-dealer to act on behalf of the client or customer.
(6) "Executive officer" shall mean the president, any vice-president in charge of a principal business unit, division or function (such as sales, administration or finance), or any other officer who performs a policy making function, or any other person who performs similar policy making functions for the issuer. Executive officers of subsidiaries may be deemed executive officers of the issuer if they perform such policy making functions for the issuer;
(7) "Issuer" as defined in Section 2 (a)(4) of the Securities Act of 1933 or RCW 21.20.005 shall apply, except that in the case of a proceeding under the Federal Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. 101 et seq.), the trustee or debtor in possession shall be considered the issuer in an offering under a plan or reorganization, if the securities are to be issued under the plan;
(8) "Purchaser representative" shall mean any person who satisfies all of the following conditions or who the issuer reasonably believes satisfies all of the following conditions:
(a) Is not an affiliate, director, officer or other employee of the issuer, or beneficial owner of ten percent or more of any class of the equity securities or ten percent or more of the equity interest in the issuer, except where the purchaser is:
(i) A relative of the purchaser representative by blood, marriage or adoption and not more remote than a first cousin;
(ii) A trust or estate in which the purchaser representative and any person related to him as specified in WAC 460-44A-501 (8)(a)(i) or (iii) collectively have more than fifty percent of the beneficial interest (excluding contingent interest) or of which the purchaser representative serves as trustee, executor, or in any similar capacity; or
(iii) A corporation or other organization of which the purchaser representative and any persons related to him as specified in WAC 460-44A-501 (8)(a)(i) or (ii) collectively are the beneficial owners of more than 50 percent of the equity securities (excluding directors' qualifying shares) or equity interests;
(b) Has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that he is capable of evaluating, alone, or together with other purchaser representatives of the purchaser, or together with the purchaser, the merits and risks of the prospective investment;
(c) Is acknowledged by the purchaser in writing, during the course of the transaction, to be his purchaser representative in connection with evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment; and
(d) Discloses to the purchaser in writing a reasonable time prior to the sale of securities to that purchaser any material relationship between himself or his affiliates and the issuer or its affiliates that then exists, that is mutually understood to be contemplated, or that has existed at any time during the previous two years, and any compensation received or to be received as a result of such relationship.
Note 1:
A person acting as a purchaser representative should consider the applicability of the registration and anti-fraud provisions relating to broker-dealers under chapter 21.20 RCW and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq., as amended) and relating to investment advisers under chapter 21.20 RCW and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
Note 2:
The acknowledgment required by paragraph (8)(c) and the disclosure required by paragraph (8)(d) of this WAC 460-44A-501 must be made with specific reference to each prospective investment. Advance blanket acknowledgment, such as for "all securities transactions" or "all private placements," is not sufficient.
Note 3:
Disclosure of any material relationships between the purchaser representative or his affiliates and the issuer or its affiliates does not relieve the purchaser representative of his obligation to act in the best interest of the purchaser.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 08-16-072, filed 7/31/08, effective 9/15/08)
WAC 460-44A-502 General conditions to be met.
The following conditions shall be applicable to offers and sales made under WAC 460-44A-504 or 460-44A-505:
(1) "Integration." All sales that are part of the same offering under these rules must meet all of the terms and conditions of these rules. Offers and sales that are made more than six months before the start of an offering or are made more than six months after completion of an offering, will not be considered part of that offering, so long as during those six month periods there are no offers or sales of securities by or for the issuer that are of the same or a similar class as those offered or sold under these rules, other than those offers or sales of securities under an employee benefit plan.
Note:
The term "offering" is not defined in the securities acts. If the issuer offers or sells securities for which the safe harbor rule in WAC 460-44A-502(1) is unavailable, the determination as to whether separate sales of securities are part of the same offering (i.e. are considered "integrated") depends on the particular facts and circumstances. Generally, transactions otherwise meeting the requirements of an exemption will not be integrated with simultaneous offerings being made outside the United States in compliance with Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S.
The following factors should be considered in determining whether offers and sales should be integrated for purposes of the exemptions under these rules:
(a) Whether the sales are part of a single plan of financing;
(b) Whether the sales involve issuance of the same class of securities;
(c) Whether the sales have been made at or about the same time;
(d) Whether the same type of consideration is received; and
(e) Whether the sales are made for the same general purpose.
See Securities and Exchange Commission Release No. 33-4552 (November 6, 1962).
(2) Information requirements.
(a) When information must be furnished.
If the issuer sells securities under WAC 460-44A-505 to any purchaser that is not an accredited investor, the issuer shall furnish the information specified in WAC 460-44A-502 (2)(b) to such purchaser a reasonable time prior to sale. The issuer is not required to furnish the specified information to purchasers when it sells securities under WAC 460-44A-504, or to any accredited investor.
Note:
When an issuer provides information to investors pursuant to WAC 460-44A-502 (2)(a), it should consider providing such information to accredited investors as well, in view of the anti-fraud provisions of the federal and state securities laws.
(b) Type of information to be furnished.
(i) If the issuer is not subject to the reporting requirements of section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, at a reasonable time prior to the sale of securities the issuer shall furnish to the purchaser the following information, to the extent material to an understanding of the issuer, its business, and the securities being offered:
(A) Nonfinancial statement information. If the issuer is eligible to use Regulation A, the same kind of information as would be required in Part II of Form 1-A, 17 C.F.R. Sec. 239.90. If the issuer is not eligible to use Regulation A, the same kind of information as required in Part I of a registration statement filed under the Securities Act on the form that the issuer would be entitled to use.
(B) Financial statement information.
(I) Offerings up to $2,000,000. The information required in ((Item 310 of Regulation S-B)) Article 8 of Regulation S-X, 17 C.F.R. Sec. ((228.310)) 210.8, except that only the issuer's balance sheet, which shall be dated within 120 days of the start of the offering, must be audited.
(II) Offerings up to $((5,000,000)) 7,500,000. The financial statement information required in Form ((SB-2)) S-1, 17 C.F.R. Sec. 239.10. If an issuer, other than a limited partnership, cannot obtain audited financial statements without unreasonable effort or expense, then only the issuer's balance sheet, which shall be dated within 120 days of the start of the offering, must be audited. If the issuer is a limited partnership and cannot obtain the required financial statements without unreasonable effort or expense, it may furnish financial statements that have been prepared on the basis of federal income tax requirements and examined and reported on in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by an independent public or certified accountant.
(C) If the issuer is a foreign private issuer eligible to use Form 20-F, the issuer shall disclose the same kind of information required to be included in a registration statement filed under the Securities Act of 1933 on the form that the issuer would be entitled to use. The financial statements need be certified only to the extent required by (2)(b)(i)(B)(I) or (II) of this subsection, as appropriate.
(ii) If the issuer is subject to the reporting requirements of section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, at a reasonable time prior to the sale of securities the issuer shall furnish to the purchaser the information required by Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation D, Rule 502 (b)(2)(ii) as appropriate.
(iii) Exhibits required to be filed with the administrator of securities or the securities and exchange commission as part of a registration statement or report, other than an annual report to shareholders or parts of that report incorporated by reference in a Form 10-K and Form 10-KSB report, need not be furnished to each purchaser that is not an accredited investor if the contents of material exhibits are identified and such exhibits are made available to a purchaser, upon his written request, a reasonable time prior to his purchase.
(iv) At a reasonable time prior to the sale of securities to any purchaser that is not an accredited investor in a transaction under WAC 460-44A-505, the issuer shall furnish to the purchaser a brief description in writing of any material written information concerning the offering that has been provided by the issuer to any accredited investor but not previously delivered to such unaccredited purchaser. The issuer shall furnish any portion or all of this information to the purchaser, upon his written request a reasonable time prior to his purchase.
(v) The issuer shall also make available to each purchaser at a reasonable time prior to his purchase of securities in a transaction under WAC 460-44A-505 the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers concerning the terms and conditions of the offering and to obtain any additional information which the issuer possesses or can acquire without unreasonable effort or expense that is necessary to verify the accuracy of information furnished under WAC 460-44A-502 (2)(b)(i) or (ii).
(vi) For business combinations or exchange offers, in addition to information required by Form S-4, 17 C.F.R. Sec. 239.25, the issuer shall provide to each purchaser at the time the plan is submitted to security holders, or, with an exchange, during the course of the transaction and prior to sale, written information about any terms or arrangements of the proposed transactions that are materially different from those for all other security holders. For purposes of this subsection, an issuer which is not subject to the reporting requirements of section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 may satisfy the requirements of Part I.B. or C. of Form S-4 by compliance with (b)(i) of this subsection.
(vii) At a reasonable time prior to the sale of securities to any purchaser that is not an accredited investor in a transaction under WAC 460-44A-505, the issuer shall advise the purchaser of the limitations on resale in the manner contained in subsection (4)(b) of this section. Such disclosure may be contained in other materials required to be provided by this paragraph.
(3) Limitation on manner of offering. Neither the issuer nor any person acting on its behalf shall offer or sell the securities by any form of general solicitation or general advertising, including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) Any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine, or similar media or broadcast over television or radio; and
(b) Any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising:
Provided, however, that publication by an issuer of a notice in accordance with 17 C.F.R. Sec. 230.135c or filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission by an issuer of a notice of sales on Form D (17 C.F.R. 239.500) in which the issuer has made a good faith and reasonable attempt to comply with the requirements of such form, shall not be deemed to constitute general solicitation or general advertising for purposes of this section: Provided further, that, if the requirements of 17 C.F.R. Sec. 230.135e are satisfied, providing any journalist with access to press conferences held outside of the United States, to meetings with issuer or selling security holder representatives conducted outside of the United States, or to written press-related materials released outside the United States, at or in which a present or proposed offering of securities is discussed, will not be deemed to constitute general solicitation or general advertising for purposes of this section.
(4) Limitations on resale. Securities acquired in a transaction under WAC 460-44A-501 through 460-44A-505 shall have the status of restricted securities acquired in a nonpublic offering transaction under section 4 (a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 and RCW 21.20.320(1) and cannot be resold without registration under the Securities Act of Washington or an exemption therefrom. The issuer shall exercise reasonable care to assure that the securities are restricted and that the purchasers of the securities are not underwriters within the meaning of section 2 (a)(11) of the Securities Act of 1933, which reasonable care may be demonstrated by the following:
(a) Reasonable inquiry to determine if the purchaser is acquiring the securities for himself or for other persons;
(b) Written disclosure to each purchaser prior to sale that the securities have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, and the Washington administrator of securities has not reviewed or recommended the offering or offering circular and the securities have not been registered under the Securities Act of Washington, chapter 21.20 RCW, and, therefore, cannot be resold unless they are registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Act of Washington chapter 21.20 RCW or unless an exemption from registration is available; and
(c) Placement of a legend on the certificate or other document that evidences the securities stating that the securities have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Act of Washington chapter 21.20 RCW and setting forth or referring to the restrictions on transferability and sale of the securities.
(d) A written disclosure or legend will be deemed to comply with the provisions of WAC 460-44A-502 (4)(b) or (c) if it complies with the North American Securities Administrators Association Uniform Disclosure Guidelines on Legends, NASAA Reports CCH Para. 1352 (1989).
While taking these actions will establish the requisite reasonable care, it is not the exclusive method to demonstrate such care. Other actions by the issuer may satisfy this provision. In addition, WAC 460-44A-502 (2)(b)(vii) requires the delivery of written disclosure of the limitations on resale to investors in certain instances.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 09-24-078, filed 11/30/09, effective 12/31/09)
WAC 460-44A-503 Filing of notice and payment of fee.
(1) An issuer offering or selling securities in reliance on WAC 460-44A-504, 460-44A-505, or 460-44A-506 shall file with the administrator of securities of the department of financial institutions or his or her designee a notice and pay a filing fee as follows:
(a)(i)(A) For an offering of a security in reliance upon the Securities Act of 1933, Regulation D, Rule 230.506(b) and RCW 21.20.327(2) and 21.20.320(1), the issuer shall file a notice on Securities and Exchange Commission Form D marking Rule 506(b) and pay a filing fee of three hundred dollars no later than fifteen days after the first sale of such securities in the state of Washington, unless the end of that period falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, in which case the due date would be the first business day following.
(B) For an offering of a security in reliance upon the Securities Act of 1933, Regulation D, Rule 230.506(c) and RCW 21.20.327(2), the issuer shall file a notice on Securities and Exchange Commission Form D marking Rule 506(c) and pay a filing fee of three hundred dollars no later than fifteen days after the first sale of such securities in the state of Washington, unless the end of that period falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, in which case the due date would be the first business day following.
(C) For an offering in reliance on Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 505 and WAC 460-44A-505, the issuer shall file the initial notice on Securities and Exchange Commission Form D marking Rule 505 and pay a filing fee of three hundred dollars no later than fifteen days after the first sale of securities in the state of Washington which results from an offer being made in reliance upon WAC 460-44A-505, unless the end of that period falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, in which case the due date would be the first business day following;
(((C))) (D) For an offering in reliance on Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 504 and WAC 460-44A-504, the issuer shall file the initial notice on Securities and Exchange Commission Form D marking Rule 504 and pay a filing fee of fifty dollars no later than ten business days (or such lesser period as the administrator may allow) prior to receipt of consideration or the delivery of a signed subscription agreement by an investor in the state of Washington which results from an offer being made in reliance upon WAC 460-44A-504;
(((D))) (E) For an offering in reliance on Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 147 and WAC 460-44A-504, the issuer shall file the initial notice on Washington Securities Division Form WAC 460-44A-504/Rule 147 and pay a filing fee of fifty dollars no later than ten business days (or such lesser period as the administrator may allow) prior to receipt of consideration or the delivery of a signed subscription agreement by an investor in the state of Washington which results from an offer being made in reliance on the exemption of WAC 460-44A-504;
(ii) The issuer shall include with the initial notice a statement indicating:
(A) The date of first sale of securities in the state of Washington; or
(B) That sales have yet to occur in the state of Washington.
(b) The issuer shall file with the administrator or his or her designee such other notices on Form D as are required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For purposes of this section, the initial notice on Securities and Exchange Commission Form D shall consist of ((either the Temporary Form D (17 C.F.R. 239.500T) as adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission together with an executed uniform consent to service of process on Form U-2 while Temporary Form D remains in effect from September 15, 2008 through March 15, 2009, or)) the notice of sales on Form D filed in paper or electronic format with the Securities and Exchange Commission through the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval System (EDGAR) in accordance with EDGAR rules set forth in Regulation S-T (17 C.F.R. Part 232) ((and in effect on September 15, 2008)).
(c) If the issuer files a notice of sales on Temporary Form D or a copy of the notice of sales on Form D filed in electronic format with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it shall either be manually signed by a person duly authorized by the issuer or a photocopy of a manually signed copy.
(d) By filing for the exemption of WAC 460-44A-504 or 460-44A-505, the issuer undertakes to furnish to the administrator, upon request, the information to be furnished or furnished by the issuer under WAC 460-44A-502 (2)(b) or otherwise to any purchaser that is not an accredited investor. Failure to submit the information in a timely manner will be a ground for denial or revocation of the exemption of WAC 460-44A-504 or 460-44A-505.
(2) An issuer may file an amendment to a previously filed notice of sales on Form D at any time.
(3) An issuer must file an amendment to a previously filed notice of sales on Form D for an offering:
(a) To correct a material mistake of fact or error in the previously filed notice of sales on Form D, as soon as practicable after discovery of the mistake or error;
(b) To reflect a change in the information provided in the previously filed notice of sales on Form D, as soon as practicable after the change, except that no amendment is required to reflect a change that occurs after the offering terminates or a change that occurs solely in the following information:
(i) The address or relationship of the issuer of a related person identified in response to Item 3 of the notice of sales on Form D;
(ii) An issuer's revenues or aggregate net asset value;
(iii) The minimum investment amount, if the change is an increase, or if the change, together with all other changes in that amount since the previously filed notice of sales on Form D, does not result in a decrease of more than ten percent;
(iv) Any address or state(s) of solicitation shown in response to Item 12 of the notice of sales on Form D;
(v) The total offering amount, if the change is a decrease, or if the change, together with all other changes in that amount since the previously filed notice of sales on Form D, does not result in an increase of more than ten percent;
(vi) The amount of securities sold in the offering or the amount remaining to be sold;
(vii) The number of nonaccredited investors who have invested in the offering, as long as the change does not increase the number to more than thirty-five;
(viii) The total number of investors who have invested in the offering;
(ix) The amount of sales commissions, finders' fees or use of proceeds for payments to executive officers, directors or promoters, if the change is a decrease, or if the change, together with all other changes in that amount since the previously filed notice of sales on Form D, does not result in an increase of more than ten percent; and
(c) Annually, on or before the first anniversary of the filing of the notice of sales on Form D or the filing of the most recent amendment to the notice of sales on Form D, if the offering is continuing at that time.
(4) An issuer that files an amendment to a previously filed notice of sales on Form D must provide current information in response to all requirements of the notice of sales on Form D regardless of why the amendment is filed.
(((5) Amendments to notices filed before September 15, 2008 and to notices filed on or after September 15, 2008 in paper format using Temporary Form D (17 C.F.R. 239.500T) must use Temporary Form D but need only report the issuer’s name and the information required by Part C and any material change in the facts from those set forth in Parts A and B.))
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 08-16-072, filed 7/31/08, effective 9/15/08)
WAC 460-44A-506 Conditions pertaining to the offer and sale of securities pursuant to Rule 506 of the Securities Act of 1933.
(1) Offers and sales of securities by an issuer in compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, Regulation D, Rules 230.501 through 230.503; 230.506; and 230.508 as made effective in Release No. 33-6389, and as amended in Release Nos. 33-6437, 33-6663, 33-6758, 33-6825, 33-6863, 33-6949, 33-6996, ((and)) 33-8891, 33-9414, and 33-9415 shall satisfy the conditions in subsections (2) and (3) of this section.
(2) To qualify for preemption under this section, offers and sales must satisfy all the terms and conditions of WAC 460-44A-503.
Note:
In order to comply with this section the issuer must comply with the provisions of Rule 506 (17 C.F.R. Sec. 230.506) of the Federal Securities and Exchange Commission.
(3) Offers or sales which are exempted under this section may not be combined in the same offering with offers or sales exempted under any other rule or section of chapter 21.20 RCW; however, nothing in this limitation shall act as an election. Should for any reason an offering fail to comply with all of the conditions for this section, the issuer may claim the availability of any other applicable exemption.