Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Helping Angels Lead Our Startups Act” or the “HALOS Act”.
Helping Angels Lead Our Startups Act
A BILL
To clarify the definition of general solicitation under Federal securities law.
Sec. 2 Definition of angel investor group
As used in this Act, the term angel investor group means any group that—
is composed primarily of individual accredited investors who are interested in investing personal capital in early-stage companies;
holds regular meetings and has defined processes and procedures for making investment decisions, either individually or among the membership of the group as a whole; and
is not connected to broker-dealers or investment advisers.
Sec. 3 Clarification of general solicitation
The Securities and Exchange Commission shall amend Regulation D of its rules (17 C.F.R. 230.500 et seq.) to require that in carrying out the prohibition against general solicitation or general advertising contained in section 230.502(c) of title 17, Code of Federal Regulations, the prohibition shall not apply to a presentation or other communication made by or on behalf of an issuer which is made at an event—
sponsored by—
the United States or any territory thereof, by the District of Columbia, by any State, by a political subdivision of any State or territory, or by any agency or public instrumentality of any of the foregoing;
a college, university, or other institution of higher education;
a nonprofit organization;
an angel investor group;
a venture forum, venture capital association, or trade association; or
any other group, person or entity as the Securities and Exchange Commission may determine by rule;
where any advertising for the event does not reference any specific offering of securities by the issuer;
the sponsor of which—
does not make investment recommendations or provide investment advice to event attendees;
does not engage in an active role in any investment negotiations between the issuer and investors attending the event; and
does not charge event attendees any fees other than administrative fees; and
where no specific information regarding an offering of securities by the issuer is communicated or distributed by or on behalf of the issuer, other than—
that the issuer is in the process of offering securities or planning to offer securities;
the type and amount of securities being offered;
the amount of securities being offered that have already been subscribed for; and
the intended use of proceeds of the offering.