CSBJ Daily

The Securities and Exchange Commission approved changes yesterday that are expected to give smaller companies faster and easier access to capital.

The commission adopted amendments to the eligibility requirements of Form S-3 and Form F-3 of the Securities Act.

The amendments will allow companies that do not meet public float requirements of the forms to register primary offerings of their securities – subject to certain restrictions – including the amount of securities such companies may sell pursuant to the expanded eligibility standard in any one-year period.

The amendments to Forms S-3 and F-3 will allow companies with less than $75 million in public float to register primary offerings of their securities on these forms, provided they meet the requirements.

The effective date for these amendments will be 30 days after their publication in the Federal Register.