Tagged: FINRA

Capital Markets

FINRA Provides Informal Guidance for Canadian Issuers

The Financial Industry Regulatory, Inc. (“FINRA”) has recently provided our firm with informal guidance that, in accordance with the principles of the multijurisdictional disclosure system (“MJDS”), a Canadian issuer that is undertaking a U.S. registered public offering may count its reporting history in Canada (along with any reporting history in the United States) toward the 36 month requirement in FINRA Rule 5110.  This has the effect of providing an exemption from filing with FINRA for Canadian issuers with a combined Canadian and U.S. reporting history of at least 36 months, even if they have a shorter reporting history in the United States.  This guidance will save qualifying Canadian issuers the time and financial...

Capital Markets / Securities

The Danger of Paying Finder’s Fees to Unregistered Broker-Dealers

We get asked from time-to-time whether it is advisable for issuers to pay fees to unregistered “finders” for introducing potential investors in the United States to the issuer in connection with securities offerings. The short answer is “no.” Most finders are engaged by issuers under finder’s, advisory, or other arrangements, which typically require payment of “success fees” upon completion of a financing transaction. While these arrangements are sometimes structured to try to hide or disguise the true intent of the arrangement, payment of transaction-based compensation is treated by U.S. securities regulators as a nearly-conclusive indication that a person is engaged in the securities business and should be registered as a broker-dealer. The relevant...