While the costs of preparing an offering under Reg CF are significantly lower than other types of securities offerings, they can still be expensive in terms of professional and marketing fees prior to having any sense of whether the offering will be successful. The SEC heard the complaints from issuers on this point and have adopted a testing the waters provision that is substantially similar to that used in Reg A.

Under new Rule 206, issuers contemplating an offering under Reg CF may make written or oral offers to test the waters (“TTW”) prior to filing a Form C. Once the Form C is filed, the offering is live and no more TTW can be done. There is no restriction on the content of TTW communications, as there are for solicitations after the Form C has been filed under Rule 204(b), however, any TTW must include a legend containing the following:

(1) That no money or other consideration is being solicited, and if sent in response, will not be accepted;

(2) That no offer to buy the securit...more