California's Institutional Investor Exemption

California has an exemption from the issuer qualification requirement under the Corporate Securities Law of 1968 for any offer or sale to, among other listed entities, institutional investors or governmental agencies or instrumentalities that the...

CalPERS Proposes Changes to Disclosure Rule

Yesterday, the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) issued this notice of proposed amendments to its placement agent disclosure rules.   The comment period ends on August 26, 2010.

Merger and Acquisition Specialists

The question of whether an unlicensed person may be compensated in a securities transaction continues to bedevil practitioners. Usually, the question arises in the context of a private placement or other capital raising activity. However, the...

Rule 260.204.9 - "What is to be Done?"

As I mentioned in this earlier post, California has its own definition of "venture capital company" in Rule 260.204.9. This rule is an exemption from the investment adviser registration requirement in Corporations Code Section 25230 if a person...

No Form D Filing - Now What?

In 1996, Congress added Section 18 to the Securities Act of 1933 as part of the National Securities Markets Improvement Act (NSMIA) to preempt state qualification requirements with respect to "covered securities", as defined. Section 18(b)(4)(D)...

Placement Agent Bill Amended

The amendments to AB 1743 (Hernandez) are now in print.  This bill would require placement agents with respect to California public retirement systems to register as lobbyists.

New DOC Chief Deputy Commissioner

When I was Commissioner of Corporations, I was sometimes asked about the other commissioners.  However, the Department of Corporations is headed by a Commissioner - not a commission.  Thus, there is only one Commissioner at a time.

Form D or 25102(f) Notice?

Issuers relying on Rule 506 of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933 have the benefit of federal preemption of California's (and other states') qualification requirement by virtue of Section 18(b)(4)(D) of that act. Although no state law...

Just Released: Marsh & Volk Updates

The publisher has now released the 2010 update to Marsh & Volk, Practice under the California Securities Laws.  Therefore, be sure that you check to see that you have an updated copy.