The U.S. House of Representatives, by a vote of 380 to 41, has passed the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, or JOBS Act in the form previously approved by the Senate last week. The bill now goes to President Obama, who is expected to sign it into law. The JOBS Act significantly impacts the securities laws, including through a new way to raise money known as “crowdfunding.”
The JOBS Act creates a new securities registration exemption known as “crowdfunding” that issuers can rely on to sell up to $1 million worth of securities to non-accredited investors as long as no individual investor invests more than: (a) $2,000 or 5% of the investor’s annual income in any 12-month period (for investors with annual income or net worth less than $100,000); or (b) 10% of the investor’s annual income or net worth up to $100,000 in any 12-month period (for investors with annual income or net worth in excess of $100,000). And, these “crowdfunders” do not count toward the newly-increased shareholders of record threshold that triggers Exchange Act registration under Section 12(g).
The securities may only be issued through a registered broker-dealer or “funding portal” over the internet that complies with additional requirements. The issuer has certain disclosure requirements during the offering process and following the offering.
Crowdfunding is a popular concept among those who see it as a way to empower smaller investors and smaller companies without access to traditional angel investors. However, regulators, including SEC Chairman Schapiro, have raised concerns that crowdfunding may be ripe for fraud among small investors most in need of SEC protection.
