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Glossary

Placement

By Konstantin Vasilev Member of the Board of Directors of Cbonds, Ph.D. in Economics
Updated July 1, 2023

What is the meaning of placements?

A private placement refers to the sale of securities to a limited number of individual investors, which is exempt from registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under Regulation D, similar to fixed annuities. This exemption allows companies to raise capital in a more cost-effective manner compared to a public offering. Unlike a public offering, a private placement does not require a formal prospectus. Typically, large and sophisticated investors such as investment banks, investment funds, and insurance companies participate in private placements.

Placement

Understanding Placements

A placement, also known as a private placement or unregistered offering, refers to securities offerings that are exempt from registration by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Unlike public offerings, these securities are not made available to the general public. Instead, they are offered exclusively to a limited group of investors, including high-net-worth individual investors who possess significant financial resources, as well as institutional investors such as investment funds and banks.

What is Regulation D?

Private placements, also known as unregistered offerings, operate under the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), specifically Regulation D. This set of rules provides guidelines for the sale of securities in unregistered offerings, distinguishing them from public offerings.

Within Regulation D, there are three key rules that govern private placements: Rules 504, 505, and 506. Rule 504 allows certain issuers to offer and sell up to $1 million worth of securities within a 12-month period, with the flexibility to offer these securities to any type of investor. Securities sold under Rule 504 may be freely traded.

Rule 505 permits businesses to sell up to $5 million of stock within 12 months with an unlimited number of investors. However, no more than 35 of these investors can be non-accredited. Non-accredited investors must be provided with specific information, including financial statements. If the offering includes both accredited and non-accredited investors, any information disclosed to accredited investors must also be provided to non-accredited investors.

Under Rule 506, a company can sell an unlimited amount of securities to an unlimited number of investors, with a maximum of 35 non-accredited investors. However, non-accredited investors participating in the offering must be "sophisticated investors" who possess the knowledge and experience to evaluate the investment. Securities sold under Rules 505 and 506 cannot be freely traded.

In summary, private placements, operating under Regulation D, allow for the sale of securities to a limited group of investors while exempting them from the same regulations as public offerings. The specific rules within Regulation D, such as Rules 504, 505, and 506, provide guidelines for the amount and type of securities that can be offered and the requirements for disclosure to different types of investors.

Cautions

While placements can provide valuable opportunities for investors, caution is necessary due to certain factors. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules are designed to safeguard investors and ensure appropriate disclosure of information to the public. Private placements, however, do not adhere to these regulations and can carry higher risks. As a result, financially knowledgeable individuals with high net worth and investment banks typically participate in such opportunities. Nevertheless, investors can potentially achieve favorable returns through placements.

For instance, in October 2020, FVCBankcorp, Inc. successfully concluded a private placement of $20 million in fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes. These notes carried a fixed interest rate of 4.875% for the initial five years. This serves as an example of how investors can potentially benefit from participating in private placements.

FAQ

  • What is private placement?

  • What is SEC?

  • What does a placement agent do?

  • Is a placement agent an underwriter?

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