SEC Updates Accredited Investor Definition

The pool of potential investors for private offerings has widened under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s new definition of “accredited investor” in Rule 215 and Rule 501(a). Accredited investors—considered to be sufficiently sophisticated and risk tolerant—are permitted to participate in certain private offerings under Regulation D that are not subject to the same investor protections as public offerings. With new flexibility, one of the most notable changes alters the limits qualifying individuals based on wealth.