Securities Lawyer's Deskbook                          published by The University of Cincinnati College of Law

Rule 251 -- Scope of Exemption

---

1. Issuer. The issuer of the securities:
   
   
   1. is an entity organized under the laws of the United States or Canada, or any State, Province, Territory or possession thereof, or the District of Columbia, with its principal place of business in the United States or Canada;
      
      
   2. is not subject to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") immediately before the offering;
      
      
   3. is not a development stage company that either has no specific business plan or purpose, or has indicated that its business plan is to merge with an unidentified company or companies;
      
      
   4. is not an investment company registered or required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 ;
      
      
   5. is not issuing fractional undivided interests in oil or gas rights as defined in Rule 300 [Editor's note: Rule 300 under the Securities Act of 1933 is reserved], or a similar interest in other mineral rights; and
      
      
   6. is not disqualified because of Rule 262.
      
      
2. Aggregate Offering Price. The sum of all cash and other consideration to be received for the securities ("aggregate offering price") shall not exceed $5,000,000, including no more than $1,500,000 offered by all selling security holders, less the aggregate offering price for all securities sold within the twelve months before the start of and during the offering of securities in reliance upon Regulation A. No affiliate resales are permitted if the issuer has not had net income from continuing operations in at least one of its last two fiscal years.
   
   

   ---

   Note: Where a mixture of cash and non-cash consideration is to be received, the aggregate offering price shall be based on the price at which the securities are offered for cash. Any portion of the aggregate offering price attributable to cash received in a foreign currency shall be translated into United States currency at a currency exchange rate in effect on or at a reasonable time prior to the date of the sale of the securities. If securities are not offered for cash, the aggregate offering price shall be based on the value of the consideration as established by bona fide sales of that consideration made within a reasonable time, or, in the absence of sales, on the fair value as determined by an accepted standard. Valuations of non-cash consideration must be reasonable at the time made.

   ---

   
   
   
3. Integration with Other Offerings. Offers and sales made in reliance on this Regulation A will not be integrated with:
   
   
   1. prior offers or sales of securities; or
      
      
   2. subsequent offers or sales of securities that are:
      
      
      1. registered under the Securities Act, except as provided in Rule 254(d);
         
         
      2. made in reliance on Rule 701;
         
         
      3. made pursuant to an employee benefit plan;
         
         
      4. made in reliance on Regulation S; or
         
         
      5. made more than six months after the completion of the Regulation A offering.
         
         

         ---

         Note: If the issuer offers or sells securities for which the safe harbor rules are unavailable, such offers and sales still may not be integrated with the Regulation A offering, depending on the particular facts and circumstances. See Securities Act Release No. 4552.

         ---

         
         
         
4. Offering Conditions.
   
   
   1. Offers.
      
      
      1. Except as allowed by Rule 254, no offer of securities shall be made unless a Form 1-A offering statement has been filed with the Commission.
         
         
      2. After the Form 1-A offering statement has been filed:
         
         
         1. oral offers may be made;
            
            
         2. written offers under Rule 255 may be made;
            
            
         3. printed advertisements may be published or radio or television broadcasts made, if they state from whom a Preliminary Offering Circular or Final Offering Circular may be obtained, and contain no more than the following information:
            
            (1) the name of the issuer of the security;
            
            (2) the title of the security, the amount being offered and the per unit offering price to the public;
            
            (3) the general type of the issuer's business; and
            
            (4) a brief statement as to the general character and location of its property.
            
            
      3. after the Form 1-A offering statement has been qualified, other written offers may be made, but only if accompanied with or preceded by a Final Offering Circular.
         
         
   2. Sales.
      
      
      1. No sale of securities shall be made until:
         
         
         1. the Form 1-A offering statement has been qualified;
            
            
         2. A Preliminary Offering Circular or Final Offering Circular is furnished to the prospective purchaser at least 48 hours prior to the mailing of the confirmation of sale to that person; and
            
            
         3. A Final Offering Circular is delivered to the purchaser with the confirmation of sale, unless it has been delivered to that person at an earlier time.
            
            
      2. Sales by a dealer (including an underwriter no longer acting in that capacity for the security involved in such transaction) that take place within 90 days after the qualification of the Regulation A offering statement may be made only if the dealer delivers a copy of the current offering circular to the purchaser before or with the confirmation of sale. The issuer or underwriter of the offering shall provide requesting dealers with reasonable quantities of the offering circular for this purpose.
         
         
   3. Continuous or delayed offerings. Continuous or delayed offerings may be made under this Regulation A if permitted by Rule 415.

	Notice to Users: The Deskbook is made available with the understanding that the University of Cincinnati College of Law is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. See Terms and Conditions of Use.   © Copyright 1998-2008, University of Cincinnati, All Rights Reserved  Contact: ronald.jones@uc.edu