83_FR_48018 83 FR 47834 - Regulation Crowdfunding and Regulation A Relief and Assistance for Victims of Hurricane Florence

83 FR 47834 - Regulation Crowdfunding and Regulation A Relief and Assistance for Victims of Hurricane Florence

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 184 (September 21, 2018)

Page Range47834-47836
FR Document2018-20740

We are adopting interim final temporary rules for issuers subject to reporting obligations pursuant to Regulation Crowdfunding and Regulation A in order to address the needs of companies directly or indirectly affected by Hurricane Florence. The temporary rules extend the filing deadlines for specified reports and forms due pursuant to Regulation Crowdfunding and Regulation A for certain issuers.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 184 (Friday, September 21, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 184 (Friday, September 21, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47834-47836]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20740]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

17 CFR Parts 227 and 230

[Release No. 33-10556]


Regulation Crowdfunding and Regulation A Relief and Assistance 
for Victims of Hurricane Florence

AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission.

ACTION: Interim final temporary rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting interim final temporary rules for issuers 
subject to reporting obligations pursuant to Regulation Crowdfunding 
and Regulation A in order to address the needs of companies directly or 
indirectly affected by Hurricane Florence. The temporary rules extend 
the filing deadlines for specified reports and forms due pursuant to 
Regulation Crowdfunding and Regulation A for certain issuers.

DATES: These rules are effective from September 21, 2018, through 
October 29, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Zepralka, Office Chief, or 
Amy Reischauer, Special Counsel, Office of Small Business Policy, 
Division of Corporation Finance, at (202) 551-3460, U.S. Securities and 
Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-3628.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are adopting amendments to 17 CFR 227.202 
(``Rule 202'') of Regulation Crowdfunding \1\ under the Securities Act 
of 1933 (the ``Securities Act'') \2\ and 17 CFR 230.257 (``Rule 257'') 
of Regulation A \3\ under the Securities Act as interim final temporary 
rules.
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    \1\ 17 CFR 227 et seq.
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.
    \3\ 17 CFR 230.251 through 230.263.
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I. Introduction

    On September 14, 2018, Hurricane Florence made landfall near the 
North Carolina and South Carolina border. The storm and subsequent 
flooding have displaced individuals and businesses and disrupted 
communications and transportation across the affected region. We are 
adopting these interim final temporary rules to address the needs of 
companies directly or indirectly affected by Hurricane Florence or its 
aftermath that are subject to reporting obligations pursuant to 
Regulation Crowdfunding or Regulation A.
    Section 28 of the Securities Act provides that the Commission may, 
by rule or regulation, ``conditionally or unconditionally exempt any 
person, security, or transaction, or any class or classes of persons, 
securities, or transactions, from any provision or provisions of this 
title or of any rule or regulation issued under this title, to the 
extent that such exemption is necessary or appropriate in the public 
interest, and is consistent with the protection of investors.'' \4\
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    \4\ 15 U.S.C. 77z-3.
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II. Temporary Relief From Filing Requirements for Issuers Subject to 
the Reporting Obligations of Regulation Crowdfunding or Regulation A

    The lack of communications, transportation, electricity, 
facilities, and available staff and professional advisors as a result 
of Hurricane Florence could hamper the efforts of companies with 
reporting obligations to meet their filing deadlines pursuant to 
Regulation Crowdfunding or Regulation A. At the same time, investors 
have an interest in the timely availability of required information 
about these companies. While the Commission believes that the temporary 
relief from filing requirements provided by the amendments to Rule 202 
of Regulation Crowdfunding \5\ and Rule 257 of Regulation A \6\ is both 
necessary in the public interest and consistent with the protection of 
investors, we remind companies that are the subject of the relief 
provided in these interim final temporary rules to continue to evaluate 
their obligations to make materially accurate and complete disclosures 
in accordance with the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities 
laws.
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    \5\ See Rule 202(c) of Regulation Crowdfunding. 17 CFR 
227.202(c).
    \6\ See Rule 257(f) of Regulation A. 17 CFR 230.257(f).
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    Accordingly, pursuant to Section 28 of the Securities Act, we are 
adopting interim final temporary rules providing that an issuer subject 
to the reporting requirements of either Regulation Crowdfunding or 
Regulation A is exempt from any requirement to file specified reports 
or forms with the Commission where the conditions below are satisfied:
    (a) The issuer is not able to meet a filing deadline due to 
Hurricane Florence or its aftermath;
    (b) The issuer files with the Commission, on or before October 29, 
2018, the report or form required to be filed pursuant to either 
Regulation Crowdfunding or Regulation A during the period from and 
including September 14, 2018 to and including October 26, 2018; and
    (c) In any such report or form, the issuer discloses that it is 
relying on the interim final temporary rules and states the reasons 
why, in good faith, it could not file such report or form on a timely 
basis.
    For Regulation Crowdfunding, the relief includes annual reports on 
Form C-AR, progress updates on Form C-U, and termination of reporting 
on Form C-TR. For Regulation A, the relief includes post-qualification 
amendments required at least every 12 months after the qualification 
date to include updated financial statements, annual reports on Form 1-
K, semi-annual reports on Form 1-SA, special financial reports on Forms 
1-K or 1-SA, current

[[Page 47835]]

reports on Form 1-U, and exit reports on Form 1-Z.

III. Economic Analysis

    Regulation Crowdfunding and Regulation A permit offers and sales of 
securities without registration under the Securities Act, subject to 
certain limitations and conditions, including compliance with ongoing 
reporting requirements. Based on staff analysis, between June 19, 2015 
(the effective date of the most recent Regulation A amendments \7\) and 
September 15, 2018, approximately 241 filers had Regulation A offering 
statements qualified by the Commission, excluding withdrawn offerings. 
Approximately 1,010 issuers initiated Regulation Crowdfunding offerings 
with Form C filings between May 16, 2016 and August 31, 2018, excluding 
issuers that have withdrawn offerings.\8\ Approximately 40 registered 
intermediaries, including 31 registered funding portals and 9 
registered broker-dealers, have participated in Regulation Crowdfunding 
offerings with Form C filings between May 16, 2016 and August 31, 2018, 
excluding withdrawn offerings.
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    \7\ SEC Rel. No. 33-9741 (Mar. 25, 2015) [80 FR 21806 (Apr. 20, 
2015)].
    \8\ These figures overstate the number of issuers with 
obligations to file annual reports under Regulation Crowdfunding, 
because they do not exclude issuers that have failed to raise the 
target amount or have exited the reporting regime.
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    We lack the data to estimate the number of investors in Regulation 
A or Regulation Crowdfunding offerings that could be affected if 
issuers rely on the relief provided by the interim final temporary 
rules, because information on the number of investors is generally not 
required to be disclosed in periodic or current reports required under 
Regulation A or in periodic reports or progress updates required under 
Regulation Crowdfunding.\9\
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    \9\ Regulation A issuers that file Form 1-Z to suspend reporting 
are required to disclose the number of shareholders of record.
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    We are mindful of the costs and benefits of the interim final 
temporary rules.\10\ We believe the interim final temporary rules will 
benefit issuers that have an obligation to file specified reports with 
the Commission pursuant to either Regulation Crowdfunding or Regulation 
A and have been adversely affected by Hurricane Florence or its 
aftermath by permitting them to take additional time to meet their 
reporting obligations. We expect the relief provided by the interim 
final temporary rules will benefit issuers that, absent the relief, 
would not be able to avail themselves of the exemption from 
registration under Regulation Crowdfunding or Regulation A because the 
timely filing of required reports is a condition to the exemptions. In 
the absence of this relief, issuers could incur prohibitively high 
costs in an attempt to meet filing deadlines given the lack of 
communications, transportation, electricity, facilities, and available 
staff and professional advisors.
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    \10\ Section 2(b) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C. 77b(b)] 
requires the Commission, when engaging in rulemaking where it is 
required to consider or determine whether an action is necessary or 
appropriate in the public interest, to consider, in addition to the 
protection of investors, whether the action will promote efficiency, 
competition, and capital formation.
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    The requirement for an issuer to disclose that it is relying on 
Rule 202(c) of Regulation Crowdfunding or Rule 257(f) of Regulation A 
and to state the reasons why, in good faith, it could not file a report 
or form on a timely basis may impose minimal additional costs on 
issuers availing themselves of this relief. However, we believe that 
these minimal costs are justified in light of the significant negative 
implications of not being able to rely on the exemption and the 
prohibitively high costs an issuer may incur in attempting to file in a 
timely manner.
    We also acknowledge that there may be costs imposed on investors, 
intermediaries, and other market participants due to delayed access to 
information about offerings conducted in reliance on Regulation A and 
Regulation Crowdfunding. Generally, reporting requirements strengthen 
investor protection and decrease the extent of information asymmetries 
between issuers and investors. Ongoing reporting provides investors 
with periodically updated information, allowing them to assess 
investment opportunities based on the information provided and their 
level of risk tolerance, resulting in better informed investment 
decisions and improved allocative efficiency. Given that the interim 
final temporary rules allow for delayed reporting for a limited time 
period and only under specified conditions, we do not believe such 
costs will be significant.
    The interim final temporary rules will not substantially affect 
competition or capital formation. We acknowledge the possibility that 
the interim final temporary rules may have a minor impact on 
efficiency. On the one hand, as noted above, the delay in reporting 
could marginally affect allocative efficiency to the extent that it 
allows information asymmetries between investors and issuers to persist 
for the length of time of the delay. On the other hand, we expect 
efficiency gains to the extent that the interim final temporary rules 
allow issuers to continue to rely on either of the exemptions from 
registration that would not be available if one of the required reports 
that is a condition to the exemptions was not filed in a timely manner, 
or to the extent the issuers are able to avoid paying a premium to 
service providers in an attempt to file in a timely manner by delaying 
reporting during the specified relief period.
    As an alternative to the relief specified in the interim final 
temporary rules, we could have considered a longer or shorter relief 
period. While a shorter period would have reduced the costs to 
investors of asymmetric information, it would also reduce the benefits 
of the interim final temporary rules to issuers. Similarly, a longer 
period would increase the costs to investors. We believe that the 
approximately nine-week delay in the interim final temporary rules is 
appropriate given the potential impact Hurricane Florence or its 
aftermath could have on the efforts of companies to meet filing 
deadlines pursuant to Regulation Crowdfunding and Regulation A.

IV. Procedural and Other Matters

    The Administrative Procedure Act (``APA'') generally requires an 
agency to publish notice of a rulemaking in the Federal Register and 
provide an opportunity for public comment. This requirement does not 
apply, however, if the agency ``for good cause finds . . . that notice 
and public procedure are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the 
public interest.'' \11\ The APA also generally requires that an agency 
publish an adopted rule in the Federal Register at least 30 days before 
it becomes effective. This requirement does not apply, however, if the 
agency finds good cause for making the rule effective sooner.\12\
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    \11\ 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B).
    \12\ 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
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    Given the temporary nature of the relief contemplated by the 
interim final temporary rules and the significant and immediate impact 
of Hurricane Florence and its aftermath on issuers in affected areas, 
as discussed above, the Commission finds that good cause exists to 
dispense with notice and comment as impracticable and unnecessary, and 
to act immediately to amend Rule 202 of Regulation Crowdfunding and 
Rule 257 of Regulation A.\13\ Further, the interim

[[Page 47836]]

final temporary rules will not affect the burden or cost estimates 
associated with existing collections of information under Regulation 
Crowdfunding and Regulation A for purposes of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995.\14\
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    \13\ This finding also satisfies the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 
808(2), allowing the interim final temporary rules to become 
effective notwithstanding the requirement of 5 U.S.C. 801 (if a 
federal agency finds that notice and public comment are impractical, 
unnecessary or contrary to the public interest, a rule shall take 
effect at such time as the federal agency promulgating the rule 
determines). The interim final temporary rules also do not require 
analysis under the Regulatory Flexibility Act. See 5 U.S.C. 604(a) 
(requiring a final regulatory flexibility analysis only for rules 
required by the APA or other law to undergo notice and comment).
    \14\ 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
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V. Statutory Basis and Text of Amendments

    We are adopting amendments to Rule 202 of Regulation Crowdfunding 
and Rule 257 of Regulation A under the authority set forth in the 
Securities Act (15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.), particularly, Section 28 
thereof.

List of Subjects

17 CFR Part 227

    Crowdfunding, Funding portals, Intermediaries, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Securities.

17 CFR Part 230

    Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Securities.

    In accordance with the foregoing, title 17, chapter II of the Code 
of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:

PART 227--REGULATION CROWDFUNDING, GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 227 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority:  15 U.S.C. 77d, 77d-1, 77s, 77z-3, 78c, 78o, 78q, 
78w, 78mm, and Pub. L. 112-106, secs. 301-305, 126 Stat. 306 (2012).


0
2. Amend Sec.  227.202 by adding paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  227.202   Ongoing reporting requirements.

* * * * *
    (c) Temporary relief from certain reporting requirements. (1) An 
issuer that is not able to meet a filing deadline for any report or 
form required to be filed by this section, 17 CFR 227.203(a)(3)), or 17 
CFR 227.203(b) during the period from and including September 14, 2018 
to and including October 26, 2018 due to Hurricane Florence and its 
aftermath shall be deemed to have satisfied the filing deadline for 
such report or form if the issuer files such report or form with the 
Commission on or before October 29, 2018.
    (2) In any report or form filed pursuant to paragraph (c)(1) of 
this section, the issuer must disclose that it is relying on this 
paragraph (c) and state the reasons why, in good faith, it could not 
file such report or form on a timely basis.

PART 230--GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS, SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

0
3. The authority citation for part 230 continues to read in part as 
follows:

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 77b, 77b note, 77c, 77d, 77f, 77g, 77h, 
77j, 77r, 77s, 77z-3, 77sss, 78c, 78d, 78j, 78l, 78m, 78n, 78o, 78o-
7 note, 78t, 78w, 78ll(d), 78mm, 80a-8, 80a-24, 80a-28, 80a-29, 80a-
30, and 80a-37, and Pub. L. 112-106, sec. 201(a), sec. 401, 126 
Stat. 313 (2012), unless otherwise noted.


0
4. Amend Sec.  230.257 by adding paragraph (f) to read as follows:


Sec.  230.257   Periodic and current reporting; exit report.

* * * * *
    (f) Temporary relief from ongoing reporting requirements. (1) An 
issuer that is not able to meet a filing deadline for any report or 
form required to be filed by 17 CFR 230.252(f)(2)(i)) or this section 
during the period from and including September 14, 2018 to and 
including October 26, 2018 due to Hurricane Florence and its aftermath 
shall be deemed to have satisfied the filing deadline for such report 
or form if the issuer files such report or form with the Commission on 
or before October 29, 2018.
    (2) In any report or form filed pursuant to paragraph (f)(1) of 
this section, the issuer must disclose that it is relying on this 
paragraph (f) and state the reasons why, in good faith, it could not 
file such report or form on a timely basis.

    By the Commission.

    Dated: September 19, 2018.
Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-20740 Filed 9-19-18; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                             47834                 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 184 / Friday, September 21, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

                                                                         Location                                                                  Remove                                                              Add

                                             § 679.45(e)(1)(i) and (ii) ......................................         IFQ permit holder .............................................         IFQ permit holder or RQE.
                                             § 679.45(e)(1)(i) ..................................................      the IFQ permit holder’s estimated fee liability                         the estimated fee liability.
                                             § 679.45(e)(2) .....................................................      IFQ fishing permit held ....................................            IFQ fishing permit or RFQ permit account
                                                                                                                                                                                                 held.
                                             § 679.45(e)(2), (f)(1)(i) and (ii), and (f)(5) ...........                IFQ permit holder .............................................         IFQ permit holder or RQE.
                                             § 679.45(f)(1) introductory text ...........................              IFQ permit holder has ......................................            IFQ permit holder or RQE has.
                                             § 679.45(f)(1) introductory text ...........................              by the IFQ permit holder ..................................             by the IFQ permit holder or RQE.
                                             § 679.45(f)(3) ......................................................     § 679.43 ............................................................   15 CFR part 906.
                                             § 679.45(f)(4) ......................................................     the IFQ permit holder .......................................           the IFQ permit holder or RQE.
                                             § 679.45(g) ..........................................................    IFQ permit holder unless the permit holder re-                          IFQ permit holder or RQE unless the IFQ per-
                                                                                                                          quests.                                                                mit holder or RQE requests.
                                             § 679.45(g) ..........................................................    IFQ permit holder’s ..........................................          IFQ permit holder’s or RQE’s.
                                             § 679.45(h) ..........................................................    § 679.43 ............................................................   15 CFR part 906.



                                             [FR Doc. 2018–20410 Filed 9–20–18; 8:45 am]                              I. Introduction                                                          Regulation A 6 is both necessary in the
                                             BILLING CODE 3510–22–P                                                      On September 14, 2018, Hurricane                                      public interest and consistent with the
                                                                                                                      Florence made landfall near the North                                    protection of investors, we remind
                                                                                                                      Carolina and South Carolina border. The                                  companies that are the subject of the
                                             SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                                  storm and subsequent flooding have                                       relief provided in these interim final
                                             COMMISSION                                                               displaced individuals and businesses                                     temporary rules to continue to evaluate
                                                                                                                      and disrupted communications and                                         their obligations to make materially
                                             17 CFR Parts 227 and 230                                                 transportation across the affected region.                               accurate and complete disclosures in
                                             [Release No. 33–10556]                                                   We are adopting these interim final                                      accordance with the anti-fraud
                                                                                                                      temporary rules to address the needs of                                  provisions of the federal securities laws.
                                             Regulation Crowdfunding and                                              companies directly or indirectly affected                                   Accordingly, pursuant to Section 28
                                             Regulation A Relief and Assistance for                                   by Hurricane Florence or its aftermath                                   of the Securities Act, we are adopting
                                             Victims of Hurricane Florence                                            that are subject to reporting obligations                                interim final temporary rules providing
                                                                                                                      pursuant to Regulation Crowdfunding or                                   that an issuer subject to the reporting
                                             AGENCY:  Securities and Exchange                                                                                                                  requirements of either Regulation
                                             Commission.                                                              Regulation A.
                                                                                                                         Section 28 of the Securities Act                                      Crowdfunding or Regulation A is
                                             ACTION: Interim final temporary rule.                                    provides that the Commission may, by                                     exempt from any requirement to file
                                             SUMMARY:   We are adopting interim final                                 rule or regulation, ‘‘conditionally or                                   specified reports or forms with the
                                             temporary rules for issuers subject to                                   unconditionally exempt any person,                                       Commission where the conditions
                                             reporting obligations pursuant to                                        security, or transaction, or any class or                                below are satisfied:
                                             Regulation Crowdfunding and                                              classes of persons, securities, or                                          (a) The issuer is not able to meet a
                                             Regulation A in order to address the                                     transactions, from any provision or                                      filing deadline due to Hurricane
                                             needs of companies directly or                                           provisions of this title or of any rule or                               Florence or its aftermath;
                                             indirectly affected by Hurricane                                         regulation issued under this title, to the                                  (b) The issuer files with the
                                             Florence. The temporary rules extend                                     extent that such exemption is necessary                                  Commission, on or before October 29,
                                             the filing deadlines for specified reports                               or appropriate in the public interest,                                   2018, the report or form required to be
                                             and forms due pursuant to Regulation                                     and is consistent with the protection of                                 filed pursuant to either Regulation
                                             Crowdfunding and Regulation A for                                        investors.’’ 4                                                           Crowdfunding or Regulation A during
                                             certain issuers.                                                         II. Temporary Relief From Filing                                         the period from and including
                                             DATES: These rules are effective from                                    Requirements for Issuers Subject to the                                  September 14, 2018 to and including
                                             September 21, 2018, through October                                      Reporting Obligations of Regulation                                      October 26, 2018; and
                                             29, 2018.                                                                Crowdfunding or Regulation A                                                (c) In any such report or form, the
                                             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                                                                                                                  issuer discloses that it is relying on the
                                                                                                                         The lack of communications,
                                             Jennifer Zepralka, Office Chief, or Amy                                                                                                           interim final temporary rules and states
                                                                                                                      transportation, electricity, facilities, and
                                             Reischauer, Special Counsel, Office of                                                                                                            the reasons why, in good faith, it could
                                                                                                                      available staff and professional advisors
                                             Small Business Policy, Division of                                                                                                                not file such report or form on a timely
                                                                                                                      as a result of Hurricane Florence could
                                             Corporation Finance, at (202) 551–3460,                                                                                                           basis.
                                                                                                                      hamper the efforts of companies with
                                             U.S. Securities and Exchange                                             reporting obligations to meet their filing                                  For Regulation Crowdfunding, the
                                             Commission, 100 F Street NE,                                             deadlines pursuant to Regulation                                         relief includes annual reports on Form
                                             Washington, DC 20549–3628.                                               Crowdfunding or Regulation A. At the                                     C–AR, progress updates on Form C–U,
                                             SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are                                        same time, investors have an interest in                                 and termination of reporting on Form
                                             adopting amendments to 17 CFR                                            the timely availability of required                                      C–TR. For Regulation A, the relief
                                             227.202 (‘‘Rule 202’’) of Regulation                                     information about these companies.                                       includes post-qualification amendments
                                             Crowdfunding 1 under the Securities                                      While the Commission believes that the                                   required at least every 12 months after
                                             Act of 1933 (the ‘‘Securities Act’’) 2 and                               temporary relief from filing                                             the qualification date to include
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES




                                             17 CFR 230.257 (‘‘Rule 257’’) of                                         requirements provided by the                                             updated financial statements, annual
                                             Regulation A 3 under the Securities Act                                  amendments to Rule 202 of Regulation                                     reports on Form 1–K, semi-annual
                                             as interim final temporary rules.                                        Crowdfunding 5 and Rule 257 of                                           reports on Form 1–SA, special financial
                                                                                                                                                                                               reports on Forms 1–K or 1–SA, current
                                               1 17 CFR 227 et seq.                                                     4 15
                                                                                                                           U.S.C. 77z–3.
                                               2 15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.                                                  5 See                                                                    6 See Rule 257(f) of Regulation A. 17 CFR
                                                                                                                            Rule 202(c) of Regulation Crowdfunding. 17
                                               3 17 CFR 230.251 through 230.263.                                      CFR 227.202(c).                                                          230.257(f).



                                        VerDate Sep<11>2014        17:31 Sep 20, 2018        Jkt 244001      PO 00000       Frm 00034       Fmt 4700      Sfmt 4700      E:\FR\FM\21SER1.SGM           21SER1


                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 184 / Friday, September 21, 2018 / Rules and Regulations                                                 47835

                                             reports on Form 1–U, and exit reports                   obligations. We expect the relief                     on either of the exemptions from
                                             on Form 1–Z.                                            provided by the interim final temporary               registration that would not be available
                                                                                                     rules will benefit issuers that, absent the           if one of the required reports that is a
                                             III. Economic Analysis
                                                                                                     relief, would not be able to avail                    condition to the exemptions was not
                                                Regulation Crowdfunding and                          themselves of the exemption from                      filed in a timely manner, or to the extent
                                             Regulation A permit offers and sales of                 registration under Regulation                         the issuers are able to avoid paying a
                                             securities without registration under the               Crowdfunding or Regulation A because                  premium to service providers in an
                                             Securities Act, subject to certain                      the timely filing of required reports is a            attempt to file in a timely manner by
                                             limitations and conditions, including                   condition to the exemptions. In the                   delaying reporting during the specified
                                             compliance with ongoing reporting                       absence of this relief, issuers could                 relief period.
                                             requirements. Based on staff analysis,                  incur prohibitively high costs in an                     As an alternative to the relief
                                             between June 19, 2015 (the effective                    attempt to meet filing deadlines given                specified in the interim final temporary
                                             date of the most recent Regulation A                    the lack of communications,                           rules, we could have considered a
                                             amendments 7) and September 15, 2018,                   transportation, electricity, facilities, and          longer or shorter relief period. While a
                                             approximately 241 filers had Regulation                 available staff and professional advisors.            shorter period would have reduced the
                                             A offering statements qualified by the                     The requirement for an issuer to                   costs to investors of asymmetric
                                             Commission, excluding withdrawn                         disclose that it is relying on Rule 202(c)            information, it would also reduce the
                                             offerings. Approximately 1,010 issuers                  of Regulation Crowdfunding or Rule                    benefits of the interim final temporary
                                             initiated Regulation Crowdfunding                       257(f) of Regulation A and to state the               rules to issuers. Similarly, a longer
                                             offerings with Form C filings between                   reasons why, in good faith, it could not              period would increase the costs to
                                             May 16, 2016 and August 31, 2018,                       file a report or form on a timely basis               investors. We believe that the
                                             excluding issuers that have withdrawn                   may impose minimal additional costs                   approximately nine-week delay in the
                                             offerings.8 Approximately 40 registered                 on issuers availing themselves of this                interim final temporary rules is
                                             intermediaries, including 31 registered                 relief. However, we believe that these                appropriate given the potential impact
                                             funding portals and 9 registered broker-                minimal costs are justified in light of the           Hurricane Florence or its aftermath
                                             dealers, have participated in Regulation                significant negative implications of not              could have on the efforts of companies
                                             Crowdfunding offerings with Form C                      being able to rely on the exemption and               to meet filing deadlines pursuant to
                                             filings between May 16, 2016 and                        the prohibitively high costs an issuer                Regulation Crowdfunding and
                                             August 31, 2018, excluding withdrawn                    may incur in attempting to file in a                  Regulation A.
                                             offerings.                                              timely manner.
                                                We lack the data to estimate the                        We also acknowledge that there may                 IV. Procedural and Other Matters
                                             number of investors in Regulation A or                  be costs imposed on investors,                           The Administrative Procedure Act
                                             Regulation Crowdfunding offerings that                  intermediaries, and other market                      (‘‘APA’’) generally requires an agency to
                                             could be affected if issuers rely on the                participants due to delayed access to                 publish notice of a rulemaking in the
                                             relief provided by the interim final                    information about offerings conducted                 Federal Register and provide an
                                             temporary rules, because information on                 in reliance on Regulation A and                       opportunity for public comment. This
                                             the number of investors is generally not                Regulation Crowdfunding. Generally,                   requirement does not apply, however, if
                                             required to be disclosed in periodic or                 reporting requirements strengthen                     the agency ‘‘for good cause finds . . .
                                             current reports required under                          investor protection and decrease the                  that notice and public procedure are
                                             Regulation A or in periodic reports or                  extent of information asymmetries                     impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary
                                             progress updates required under                         between issuers and investors. Ongoing                to the public interest.’’ 11 The APA also
                                             Regulation Crowdfunding.9                               reporting provides investors with                     generally requires that an agency
                                                We are mindful of the costs and                      periodically updated information,                     publish an adopted rule in the Federal
                                             benefits of the interim final temporary                 allowing them to assess investment                    Register at least 30 days before it
                                             rules.10 We believe the interim final                   opportunities based on the information                becomes effective. This requirement
                                             temporary rules will benefit issuers that               provided and their level of risk                      does not apply, however, if the agency
                                             have an obligation to file specified                    tolerance, resulting in better informed               finds good cause for making the rule
                                             reports with the Commission pursuant                    investment decisions and improved                     effective sooner.12
                                             to either Regulation Crowdfunding or                    allocative efficiency. Given that the                    Given the temporary nature of the
                                             Regulation A and have been adversely                    interim final temporary rules allow for               relief contemplated by the interim final
                                             affected by Hurricane Florence or its                   delayed reporting for a limited time                  temporary rules and the significant and
                                             aftermath by permitting them to take                    period and only under specified                       immediate impact of Hurricane Florence
                                             additional time to meet their reporting                 conditions, we do not believe such costs              and its aftermath on issuers in affected
                                                                                                     will be significant.                                  areas, as discussed above, the
                                               7 SEC Rel. No. 33–9741 (Mar. 25, 2015) [80 FR            The interim final temporary rules will
                                             21806 (Apr. 20, 2015)].
                                                                                                                                                           Commission finds that good cause exists
                                                                                                     not substantially affect competition or
                                               8 These figures overstate the number of issuers                                                             to dispense with notice and comment as
                                                                                                     capital formation. We acknowledge the
                                             with obligations to file annual reports under                                                                 impracticable and unnecessary, and to
                                                                                                     possibility that the interim final
                                             Regulation Crowdfunding, because they do not                                                                  act immediately to amend Rule 202 of
                                             exclude issuers that have failed to raise the target    temporary rules may have a minor
                                                                                                                                                           Regulation Crowdfunding and Rule 257
                                             amount or have exited the reporting regime.             impact on efficiency. On the one hand,
                                                                                                                                                           of Regulation A.13 Further, the interim
                                               9 Regulation A issuers that file Form 1–Z to
                                                                                                     as noted above, the delay in reporting
                                             suspend reporting are required to disclose the          could marginally affect allocative                      11 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B).
                                             number of shareholders of record.
                                                                                                     efficiency to the extent that it allows
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                                               10 Section 2(b) of the Securities Act [15 U.S.C.                                                              12 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
                                             77b(b)] requires the Commission, when engaging in       information asymmetries between                          13 This finding also satisfies the requirements of

                                             rulemaking where it is required to consider or          investors and issuers to persist for the              5 U.S.C. 808(2), allowing the interim final
                                             determine whether an action is necessary or             length of time of the delay. On the other             temporary rules to become effective
                                             appropriate in the public interest, to consider, in                                                           notwithstanding the requirement of 5 U.S.C. 801 (if
                                             addition to the protection of investors, whether the
                                                                                                     hand, we expect efficiency gains to the               a federal agency finds that notice and public
                                             action will promote efficiency, competition, and        extent that the interim final temporary               comment are impractical, unnecessary or contrary
                                             capital formation.                                      rules allow issuers to continue to rely                                                           Continued




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                                             47836             Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 184 / Friday, September 21, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

                                             final temporary rules will not affect the                  section, the issuer must disclose that it           ACTION: Notice of enforcement of
                                             burden or cost estimates associated with                   is relying on this paragraph (c) and state          regulation; change of enforcement date.
                                             existing collections of information                        the reasons why, in good faith, it could
                                             under Regulation Crowdfunding and                          not file such report or form on a timely            SUMMARY:   The Coast Guard will enforce
                                             Regulation A for purposes of the                           basis.                                              the special local regulation on the
                                             Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.14                                                                             waters of the New Jersey Intracoastal
                                                                                                        PART 230—GENERAL RULES AND
                                             V. Statutory Basis and Text of                                                                                 Waterway (ICW), near Atlantic City,
                                                                                                        REGULATIONS, SECURITIES ACT OF
                                             Amendments                                                                                                     New Jersey, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on
                                                                                                        1933
                                                                                                                                                            September 23, 2018. This action is
                                               We are adopting amendments to Rule
                                             202 of Regulation Crowdfunding and                         ■ 3. The authority citation for part 230            necessary to ensure safety of life on the
                                             Rule 257 of Regulation A under the                         continues to read in part as follows:               navigable waters of the United States
                                             authority set forth in the Securities Act                    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 77b, 77b note, 77c,
                                                                                                                                                            during a triathlon event. The purpose of
                                             (15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.), particularly,                     77d, 77f, 77g, 77h, 77j, 77r, 77s, 77z–3, 77sss,    this notice of enforcement is to
                                             Section 28 thereof.                                        78c, 78d, 78j, 78l, 78m, 78n, 78o, 78o-7 note,      announce a change in the date in which
                                                                                                        78t, 78w, 78ll(d), 78mm, 80a–8, 80a–24, 80a–        the event is being held.
                                             List of Subjects                                           28, 80a–29, 80a–30, and 80a–37, and Pub. L.
                                                                                                        112–106, sec. 201(a), sec. 401, 126 Stat. 313       DATES:  The regulations in 33 CFR
                                             17 CFR Part 227                                                                                                100.501 will be enforced from 6 a.m. to
                                                                                                        (2012), unless otherwise noted.
                                               Crowdfunding, Funding portals,                                                                               9 a.m. on September 23, 2018, for the
                                                                                                        ■ 4. Amend § 230.257 by adding
                                             Intermediaries, Reporting and                                                                                  special local regulation listed as (a)12 in
                                                                                                        paragraph (f) to read as follows:
                                             recordkeeping requirements, Securities.                                                                        the table to § 100.501.
                                             17 CFR Part 230                                            § 230.257 Periodic and current reporting;
                                                                                                        exit report.                                        FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:   If
                                               Reporting and recordkeeping                                                                                  you have questions about this notice of
                                                                                                        *      *    *      *     *
                                             requirements, Securities.                                                                                      enforcement, you may call or email
                                                                                                           (f) Temporary relief from ongoing
                                               In accordance with the foregoing, title                                                                      Petty Officer Thomas J. Welker,
                                                                                                        reporting requirements. (1) An issuer
                                             17, chapter II of the Code of Federal                      that is not able to meet a filing deadline          Waterways Management Branch, U.S.
                                             Regulations is amended as follows:                         for any report or form required to be               Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay;
                                                                                                        filed by 17 CFR 230.252(f)(2)(i)) or this           telephone (215) 271–4814, email
                                             PART 227—REGULATION                                                                                            Thomas.j.welker@uscg.mil.
                                                                                                        section during the period from and
                                             CROWDFUNDING, GENERAL RULES
                                                                                                        including September 14, 2018 to and                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:      From 6
                                             AND REGULATIONS
                                                                                                        including October 26, 2018 due to                   a.m. to 9 a.m. on September 23, 2018,
                                             ■  1. The authority citation for part 227                  Hurricane Florence and its aftermath                the Coast Guard will enforce the special
                                             is revised to read as follows:                             shall be deemed to have satisfied the               local regulation at 33 CFR 100.501, table
                                                                                                        filing deadline for such report or form             to § 100.501, (a)12 for the regulated area
                                                Authority: 15 U.S.C. 77d, 77d–1, 77s, 77z–
                                                                                                        if the issuer files such report or form             located in the New Jersey ICW in
                                             3, 78c, 78o, 78q, 78w, 78mm, and Pub. L.
                                             112–106, secs. 301–305, 126 Stat. 306 (2012).              with the Commission on or before
                                                                                                                                                            Atlantic City, NJ. The published
                                                                                                        October 29, 2018.
                                             ■ 2. Amend § 227.202 by adding                                                                                 enforcement periods for this event
                                                                                                           (2) In any report or form filed
                                             paragraph (c) to read as follows:                                                                              include the second or third Saturday
                                                                                                        pursuant to paragraph (f)(1) of this
                                                                                                        section, the issuer must disclose that it           and Sunday in September. We are
                                             § 227.202     Ongoing reporting requirements.                                                                  announcing a change of enforcement
                                                                                                        is relying on this paragraph (f) and state
                                             *      *    *     *      *                                                                                     date for this year’s event with this
                                                (c) Temporary relief from certain                       the reasons why, in good faith, it could
                                                                                                        not file such report or form on a timely            notice of enforcement because the event
                                             reporting requirements. (1) An issuer                                                                          will take place on the fourth Sunday in
                                             that is not able to meet a filing deadline                 basis.
                                                                                                                                                            September.
                                             for any report or form required to be                        By the Commission.
                                             filed by this section, 17 CFR                                Dated: September 19, 2018.                          The Captain of the Port, Delaware Bay
                                             227.203(a)(3)), or 17 CFR 227.203(b)                       Brent J. Fields,                                    will be enforcing the Special Local
                                             during the period from and including                       Secretary.
                                                                                                                                                            Regulation as specified in § 100.501(c).
                                             September 14, 2018 to and including                        [FR Doc. 2018–20740 Filed 9–19–18; 4:15 pm]           In addition to this notice of
                                             October 26, 2018 due to Hurricane                          BILLING CODE 8011–01–P                              enforcement in the Federal Register, the
                                             Florence and its aftermath shall be                                                                            Coast Guard plans to provide the
                                             deemed to have satisfied the filing                                                                            maritime community with advanced
                                             deadline for such report or form if the                                                                        notice of enforcement of regulation by
                                             issuer files such report or form with the                  DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND                              Broadcast Notice to Mariners (BNM),
                                             Commission on or before October 29,                        SECURITY                                            Local Notice to Mariners and on-scene
                                             2018.                                                                                                          notice by designated representative.
                                                (2) In any report or form filed                         Coast Guard
                                             pursuant to paragraph (c)(1) of this                                                                             Dated: September 18, 2018.
                                                                                                        33 CFR Part 100                                     Scott E. Anderson,
                                             to the public interest, a rule shall take effect at such                                                       Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the
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                                             time as the federal agency promulgating the rule           [Docket No. USCG–2018–0752]                         Port Delaware Bay.
                                             determines). The interim final temporary rules also
                                             do not require analysis under the Regulatory                                                                   [FR Doc. 2018–20613 Filed 9–20–18; 8:45 am]
                                             Flexibility Act. See 5 U.S.C. 604(a) (requiring a final    Special Local Regulation; Marine
                                                                                                                                                            BILLING CODE 9110–04–P
                                             regulatory flexibility analysis only for rules             Events Within the Fifth Coast Guard
                                             required by the APA or other law to undergo notice         District
                                             and comment).
                                               14 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.                                AGENCY:   Coast Guard, DHS.


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Document Created: 2018-09-21 00:23:17
Document Modified: 2018-09-21 00:23:17
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionInterim final temporary rule.
DatesThese rules are effective from September 21, 2018, through October 29, 2018.
ContactJennifer Zepralka, Office Chief, or Amy Reischauer, Special Counsel, Office of Small Business Policy, Division of Corporation Finance, at (202) 551-3460, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-3628.
FR Citation83 FR 47834 
CFR Citation17 CFR 227
17 CFR 230
CFR AssociatedCrowdfunding; Funding Portals; Intermediaries; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements and Securities

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