SYNDICATE LEGAL SUPPORT SERVICES

FAMILY OF NOTES OFFERING:

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In the current economic climate, bank financing can be difficult to obtain for even the most creditworthy borrower. Traditional lending sources for businesses have tightened the reins. Business owners may be tempted to turn to private lenders, which can allow their business to improve its overall financial situation, or to seize a business opportunity that would otherwise pass them by.

 

It seems simple: the company borrows the money, issues a promissory note, or notes evidencing the obligation to repay the private lender(s), and moves forward with the business. Unfortunately, things are not always as simple as they seem. Business owners should be aware that in many circumstances, issuing a promissory note to raise money may implicate Federal and State Securities Laws.

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Promissory notes are securities by definition. Although not widely known, State Securities Laws and the Federal Securities Act of 1933 include a “Note” and “Evidence of Indebtedness” in their respective statutory definitions of a “Security.” However, that does not end the analysis.

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The “Family” of Notes:

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Federal Law expressly categorizes a Note arising out of a current transaction with a maturity at time of issuance not exceeding nine months as an “Exempt Security,” meaning that Federal Registration requirements will not apply.

 

However, under the controlling U.S. Supreme Court ruling (Reves v. Ernst & Young, 110 S.Ct. 945 (1990)), Federal Law also sets up a rebuttable presumption that a Promissory Note with a maturity greater than nine months IS a security (as the statute requires) UNLESS it resembles one of a “Family of Notes” generally not considered to be a security for Federal Law purposes. The Reves court found the following Family of Notes not to be securities, regardless of maturity:

 

• Notes delivered in consumer financing.

• Notes secured by a mortgage on a home.

• Notes secured by a lien on a small business or some of its assets.

• Notes relating to a “character” loan to a bank customer.

• Notes that formalize an open-account indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business.

• Short-term notes secured by an assignment of accounts receivable.

• Notes given in connection with loans by a commercial bank to a business for current operations.

 

The court went on to hold that Notes that do not fit cleanly in one of those categories can be evaluated for family resemblance using the following factors, in no particular order of importance:

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1. Whether the borrower’s motivation is to raise money for general business use, and whether the lender’s motivation is to make a profit, including interest.

2. Whether the borrower’s plan of distribution of the note(s) resembles the plan of distribution of a security.

3. Whether the investing public reasonably expects that the note is a security.

4. Whether there is a regulatory scheme that protects the investor other than the securities laws (e.g., notes subject to FDIC regulation).

 

Common Notes that fall into this category that Syndicate Legal Support Services does Family of Notes Offerings for:

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• Owner Occupied Real Estate (must be for the owner or proposed owner of the Subject Property or a State Registered Mortgage Lender).

• Non-Owner Occupied Real Estate

• The Purchase or Refinance of Equipment:

  • Airplanes

  • Trains

  • Trucks

  • High Priced Equipment

  • Stock Portfolio Loans

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To Retain and Engage Syndicate Legal Support Services for a Private Note Offering:

 

Syndicate Legal Support Services regularly works with companies and their legal counsel with respect to the drafting of Private Placement Memorandums for Family of Notes Offerings; we consider it one of our specialties. Along with the complete custom drafting of the entire Private Placement Memorandum, our team will proactively assist you in ensuring you have the necessary filing codes to submit the Form D.

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The process of drafting the Family of Notes Private Placement Memorandum can take anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks, depending on the amount of material and the complexity of the Offering.

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Service(s) to be Provided:​

• Drafting & Preparation of a State & Federal Securities Laws Compliant Note Offering.

  • Our Custom Notes Offering Preparation includes (but is not limited to):

    • Offering Structuring and Development of a Presentation Grade Notes Offering,

    • Federal & State Securities Laws Compliance Review, and

    • Access to our Broker-Dealer Network & International Institutional Investment Banking Network.

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RATES:

Rates will be based on an Hourly Rate of $45.00 per hour plus expenses incurred including, but not limited to, postage and purchase of any special software necessary to complete task. Time to complete the job will be estimated and any projects estimated over $200.00 will require a TBD down payment. Syndicate Legal Support Services Bills for Services Rendered each week. Syndicate Legal Support Services requires a signed contract, which outlines the project details, prior to beginning any work. 

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