Securities and Exchange Commission: Alternative Criteria for Qualifying As An Accredited Investor Should Be Considered
Highlights
What GAO Found
Of the existing criteria in the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) accredited investor standard, many market participants identified net worth as the most important criterion for balancing investor protection and capital formation. For example, two market participants said the net worth criterion, more so than income, likely indicates the investors' ability to accumulate wealth and their investment knowledge. Others noted that some parts of the market might not accept adjustments to the thresholds. For example, an association of angel investors--accredited investors who invest in start-up companies--told GAO that they would be resistant to increased thresholds because it would decrease the number of eligible investors. GAO analysis of federal data on household net worth showed that adjusting the $1 million minimum threshold to approximately $2.3 million, to account for inflation, would decrease the number of households qualifying as accredited from approximately 8.5 million to 3.7 million.
While citing net worth as the most important criterion, several market participants GAO interviewed said that alternative criteria related to an investor's liquid investments and their use of an investment adviser also could balance investor protection and capital formation. GAO obtained views on eight alternative criteria that focus on investors' financial resources and their understanding of financial risk--criteria that SEC or industry groups previously proposed or that foreign regulators use. Among the financial resources criteria, market participants with whom GAO spoke most often identified a liquid investments requirement--a minimum dollar amount of investments in assets that can be easily sold, are marketable, and the value of which can be verified--as the most important for balancing investor protection and capital formation. Among the understanding financial risk criteria, market participants most often identified the use of a registered investment adviser. Beginning in 2014, SEC must review the accredited investor definition every 4 years to determine whether it should be adjusted. This study provides a reasonable starting point for SEC's review. Specifically, SEC will have the views of market participants about how existing and alternative qualifying criteria could help determine an investor's ability to bear and understand risks associated with unregistered securities offerings.
Why GAO Did This Study
Accredited investors who meet certain income and net worth thresholds may participate in unregistered securities offerings. GAO determined that the intended purposes of the accredited investor standard are to (1) protect investors by allowing only those who can withstand financial losses access to unregistered securities offerings and (2) streamline capital formation for small businesses. To qualify as accredited, SEC requires an investor to have an annual income over $200,000 ($300,000 for a married couple) or a net worth over $1 million, excluding a primary residence. The thresholds were set in the 1980s and 2010. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act mandates GAO to study the criteria for qualifying individual investors as accredited.
This report examines market participants' views on (1) the existing criteria for accredited investor status and (2) alternative criteria. To address these objectives, GAO conducted a literature review, examined relevant data, and interviewed domestic and foreign regulators and industry representatives to identify alternative criteria. GAO also conducted structured interviews of 27 market participants (including broker-dealers, investment advisers, attorneys, and accredited investors).
Recommendations
SEC should consider alternative criteria for the accredited investor standard. For example, participants with whom GAO spoke identified adding liquid investments and use of a registered adviser as alternative criteria. SEC agreed with GAO's recommendation.
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| United States Securities and Exchange Commission | To further advance the goals of balancing investor protection and capital formation in its accredited investor standard, SEC should consider alternative criteria, including those in this report, to help determine an individual's ability to bear and understand the risks associated with investing in private placements. For example, market participants that GAO spoke with identified adding a liquid investment requirement or use of an investment adviser as alternative criteria that would balance investor protection and capital formation, be relatively feasible to implement, and have some level of acceptance by the market. |
Over the past year, the Commission staff in the Division of Corporate Finance undertook a comprehensive review of the accredited investor definition and published their findings in a report on December 18, 2015. Specifically, SEC staff considered five alternative criteria for the accredited investor definition. The criteria includes permitting individuals with a minimum amount of investments, certain professional credentials, and experience investing in exempt offerings to qualify as accredited investors. The criteria also permits individuals who pass an examination and knowledgeable employees of private funds to qualify. In the report, the staff recommended that the Commission create additional methods for individuals to qualify based on criteria other than income and net worth. The SEC staff report was submitted to the SEC Commissioners who voted to approve its publication.
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