SEC Proposes Amendments to Expand Definition of Accredited Investor

A. BACKGROUND

In 1982, the SEC adopted a series of rules, collectively designated “Regulation D,” which provide certain issuers with safe harbors from the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.  Rule 506 of Regulation D provides a non-exclusive safe harbor, whereby an issuer that meets the requirements of the rule is deemed to have made an offering exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

Under Rule 506, an issuer generally may sell an unlimited amount of securities to (1) up to 35 non-accredited investors, and (2) an unlimited number of “accredited investors.”  A purchaser is an accredited investor if an issuer “reasonably believes” that at the time of the sale the purchaser meets one of eight specific categories set forth in Rule 501(a). [4]  

The Proposed Rule builds upon (1) a December 2015 SEC staff report, which examined the history of the accredited investor definition and considered recommendations for amending that definition (“2015 Report”); [5]  and (2) a June 2019 SEC concept release, which solicited comments on ways to harmonize the exempt offering framework, including revisions to the accredited investor definition (“Concept Release”). [6]  In the Proposing Release, the SEC specifically examined the findings in the 2015 Report and the comments submitted in response to Concept Release, and proposed to expand the definition of “accredited investor” as described below.

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 required the SEC to undertake a review of the accredited investor definition every four years.  The existing income and net worth standards in the definition were set in 1982 and some have argued they have been eroded by inflation.  For reference, had these thresholds been adjusted for inflation, the income threshold today would be in excess of $500,000 for individuals ($740,000 for a married couple) and the net worth threshold would be in excess of $2.5 million.  Rather than increasing the financial thresholds, which the SEC recognized would significantly restrict the pool of capital available to private offerings without addressing investor protection issues in a meaningful way, the Proposed Rule includes new criteria that serve as additional proxies for meeting the underlying objectives identified by the U.S. Supreme Court in its 1953 Ralston-Purina decision for defining the class of investors that have sufficient financial sophistication, access to information, or ability to withstand investment loss to justify an exemption from the protection of the Securities Act. 

In the Proposing Release, the SEC acknowledged that unregistered offerings under Regulation D, particularly those under Rule 506(b), play a significant role in capital formation in the United States. [7]   An unnecessarily narrow definition would limit investor access to investment opportunities where there may be adequate investor protection given other factors such as investor’s financial sophistication or knowledge and experience in financial matters.  The Proposed Rule is crafted in such a way that the SEC believes balances investor protection considerations while also enlarging the pool of capital available to private issuers and funds.

B. INDIVIDUAL ACCREDITED INVESTORS

The Proposed Rule adds new categories to the definition of accredited investor that would permit individuals to qualify as accredited investors based on certain professional certifications, designations, or other credentials, or, with respect to investments in a private fund, based on the person’s status as a “knowledgeable employee” of the fund. 

• Joint Net Worth and Spousal Equivalents Expanded. In addition, for purposes of the $1 million joint net worth requirement under Rule 501(a), the Proposed Rule would add a note that “joint net worth” represents the aggregate net worth of the investor and his or her spousal equivalent, which would encompass any cohabitants occupying a relationship generally equivalent to that of a spouse.  It also provides that an investor relying on the Rule 501(a) joint net worth test would not need to purchase the security jointly. 
  
• Net Worth and Income Thresholds Unchanged. Previously, the Concept Release requested comment on whether the SEC should revise the current individual income ($200,000) and net worth ($1,000,000) thresholds.  In the Proposing Release, the SEC further considered these thresholds, noting that the figures have not been adjusted since 1982.  The SEC concluded that it does not believe modifications to the thresholds are necessary at this time, but it has requested comments on whether the final rule should instead make a one-time increase to the thresholds in the account for inflation, or whether the final rule should reflect a figure that is indexed to inflation on a going-forward basis.
  
• Certain Licensed Investment Professionals Would Automatically Qualify. Consistent with the recommendation in the 2015 Report, the Proposed Rule would allow an individual with certain investment-related professional certifications, designations, or other credentials (collectively, “credentials”) to qualify as an accredited investor.  The designations would be set out by the SEC in an order, but they are anticipated to include the following:
  • Licensed General Securities Representative (Series 7);
  • Licensed Investment Adviser Representative (Series 65); and
  • Licensed Private Securities Offerings Representative (Series 82).

The Proposed Rule also provides a non-exhaustive list of factors for the SEC to consider in issuing an order to include a designation, including whether (1) the credential arises out of examinations administered by a self-regulatory organization or educational institution; (2) such examinations are reasonably designed to demonstrate an individual’s knowledge with respect to securities and investing; (3) the person with the credential can reasonably be expected to have sufficient knowledge to evaluate prospective investments; and (4) the credential is made publicly available.  In addition, the individual would be required to maintain such credentials in good standing, if applicable.

C. ENTITIES QUALIFYING AS ACCREDITED INVESTORS
Additional Qualifying Entities.  The Proposed Rule would expand the types of entities that may qualify as accredited investors under Rule 501(a), add a “catch-all” category for entities with $5 million in investments, clarify the current ownership look-through provision, and permit certain family offices to qualify, as described below.

• Family Offices.  In addition, the Proposed Rule would allow “family offices” with at least $5 million in assets under management and their “family clients” (as each term is defined under the Advisers Act) to qualify as accredited investors.  
  
• Limited Liability Companies (“LLCs”).  Codifying the position of the SEC staff, LLCs would be added to the list of entities enumerated in Rule 501(a)(3), such that LLCs with total assets in excess of $5 million would be considered accredited investors. 
  
• All Entities With $5 Million in Investments.  The Proposed Rule would also create a new “catch-all” category of accredited investors for entities with $5 million in investments that were not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the offered securities. [8]  This catch-all provision is intended to capture, among other types of entities, Indian tribes, labor unions, governmental bodies and funds, and entities organized under the laws of a foreign country.  The SEC explained that requiring $5 million in investments, rather than in total assets, was consistent with the majority of comments submitted in response to the Concept Release and “may better demonstrate that the investor has experience in investing.”
  • The SEC noted that this “catch-all” provision would obviate the need of irrevocable trusts with total assets in excess of $5 million to be directed by a sophisticated person, which is currently required under Rule 501(a)(7), and is seeking comment on whether the change is appropriate.
    
• Registered Investment Advisers.  Under the Proposed Rule, investment advisers that are registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“Advisers Act”), or under state law (such registered investment advisers, “RIAs”) would be deemed accredited investors.  The SEC also requested comments on whether exempt reporting advisers should also qualify as accredited investors.
  • Importantly, this new category would apply where the registered investment adviser is the investor of record but would not cover clients of the RIAs (except with respect to clients of certain family offices, as discussed below).  By contrast, the Concept Release considered expanding the definition of accredited investor to include investors that are advised by a registered financial professional, such as a registered investment adviser or broker-dealer. [9]  That proposal, however, was not included in the Proposed Rule. [10] 
    
• Rural Business Investment Companies (“RBICs”)  RBICs would also be included in the types of entities that are deemed accredited investors under Rule 501(a)(1).  Similar to RIAs, the Proposed Rule does not impose a dollar thresholder and instead provides that an RBIC would qualify based solely upon its status as an RBIC. 
  
• Ownership Look-Through.  Currently, Rule 501(a)(8) permits an entity to qualify as an accredited investor if all of the entity’s equity owners are accredited investors. Given that an equity owner of an entity may also be an entity rather than a natural person, the Proposed Rule would add a note to Rule 501(a)(8) to clarify that an issuer may look through the various forms of equity ownership to the ultimate natural person owners in determining whether such owners are accredited investors. 

III. CONCLUSIONS

The Proposed Rule and conforming amendments are consistent with a recent trend to expand investor participation in private offerings, and the Proposing Release notes that the Proposed Rule is “an initial step in a broader effort to consider ways to harmonize and improve the exempt offering framework.”

It is worth noting that the Proposed Rule does not alter the SEC’s existing requirements for how issuers must determine whether investors satisfy the accredited investor criteria, which vary based on which category of Regulation D under which the issuer claims exemption.  For example, for offerings conducted under Rule 506(b), issuers may accept “self-certification” of accredited status from investors, while offerings under Rule 506(c), issuers must take reasonable steps to verify that each investor satisfies the accredited investor requirements. [11] 

 NOTES

1. The proposing release (“Proposing Release”), Amending the "Accredited Investor" Definition, SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (December 18, 2019), https://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed/2019/33-10734.pdf.
2. The SEC also proposed certain conforming amendments to Rule 215, Rule 163B and Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
3. For reference, had these thresholds been adjusted for inflation, the income threshold today would be in excess of $500,000 for individuals ($740,000 for a married couple) and the net worth threshold would be in excess of $2.5 million.  In 2011, to conform the accredited investor definition to the requirements of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the SEC amended the net worth test to exclude the value of an individual’s primary residence when determining accredited investor status.
4. Currently, an individual is only an accredited investor if that individual: (1) has income in excess of $200,000 individually or $300,000 with a spouse in the two most recent years preceding the transaction, and must have a reasonable expectation of maintaining that same income level in the current year; (2) has net worth in excess of $1 million, individually or with a spouse, without regard to the value of that individual’s primary home; or (3) is a director, executive officer, or general partner of the private fund or of a general partner of the private fund.  Certain enumerated entities, as provided in Rule 501(a), with over $5 million in assets also qualify as accredited investors, while other entities, such as banks and registered investment companies, qualify without regard to the assets test.
5. Report on the Review of the Definition of “Accredited Investor”, SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (December 18, 2015), https://www.sec.gov/files/review-definition-of-accredited-investor-12-18-2015.pdf.  In October 2014, the SEC also held a meeting of its Investor Advisory Committee to discuss recommendations from various subcommittees, including recommendations on new standards for the definition of “accredited investor” for natural persons.  See K&L Gates’ client alert: SEC Receives Recommendations on Changes to Accredited Investor Definition, K&L GATES (October 10, 2014), http://www.klgates.com/sec-receives-recommendations-on-changes-to-accredited-investor-definition-10-10-2014/.
6. Concept release on harmonization of securities offering, SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (June 18, 2019), https://www.sec.gov/rules/concept/2019/33-10649.pdf.
7. The SEC noted that the estimated amount of capital raised under Rule 506 offerings in 2018 was $1.7 trillion compared to $1.4 trillion in registered offerings.
8. The Proposed Rule would incorporate the definition of “investments” from Rule 2a51-1(b) under the 1940 Act.
9. See Concept Release at 57–59.
10. The SEC is seeking comment “on whether amending the accredited investor definition in this manner would provide sufficient investor protections and whether additional limitations on the types or amounts of investments or other conditions may be appropriate.”
11. For more information on the verification standards in Rule 506(c) offerings, see K&L Gates’ client alert: Gary J. Kocher, Reasonable Steps to Verify, K&L GATES (October 9, 2013), http://www.klgates.com/reasonable-steps-to-verify-10-09-2013/