As per revised FINRA Rule 5122, a FINRA
member who is involved in a private placement of unregistered securities is
required to agree that atleast 85% of the offering proceeds must be engaged for
the business operations identified in the "intended use of the offering
proceeds" disclosure section in the Private Placement Memorandum and such
proceeds will not be utilized for paying the offering costs, discounts,
commissions or any other cash or non-cash sales incentives.
The revised rule also requires disclosures to investors in
a private placement memorandum, term sheet or other offering document of the
intended use of offering proceeds, the offering expenses and the amount of
compensation that will be paid to the broker-dealer and its associated persons.
The rule also requires the filing of Private Placement Memorandum and
amendments thereto with FINRA.
The rule 5122 will have serious consequences for private placements as it will
apply to almost all private placements (except those which are exempted). The
revised rule is expected to prevent the investors against fraud and abuse, by
altering the manner and business practices in which FINRA member firms conduct
and price private placements.