S-3518 : Still Just a Bill

Small Business Mergers, Acquisitions, Sales, and Brokerage Simplification Act of 2018

This bill amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to exempt from that Act's registration requirements merger-and-acquisition brokers that facilitate transfer of ownership in privately held companies with earnings or revenues under a specified threshold. This exemption shall not apply, however, to brokers that:

  • receive, hold, transmit, or have custody of funds or securities to be exchanged by parties to an ownership transfer;
  • engage on behalf of an issuer in a public offering of registered securities;
  • engage on behalf of any party in a transaction involving specified shell companies;
  • provide financing related to the transfer of ownership;
  • assist any party to obtain financing from a third party in specified circumstances;
  • represent both buyer and seller without disclosure and consent from both parties;
  • facilitate a transaction with a group of buyers formed with the assistance of the broker;
  • engage in transferring ownership to a passive buyer;
  • bind a party to a transfer of ownership; or
  • are subject to suspension or revocation of registration or to other specified disqualifications.

Action Timeline

Action DateTypeTextSource
2018-09-27IntroReferralRead twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.Senate
2018-09-27IntroReferralIntroduced in SenateLibrary of Congress

Policy Area :

Finance and Financial Sector
See Subjects

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