Lanterna Rally

Author: David Burton

Publisher:

Published: 2017

Total Pages: 14

ISBN-13:

Improving the secondary markets for small capitalization firms will help investors achieve a higher return and reduce risk, improve entrepreneurs' access to capital and promote innovation, economic growth and prosperity.The three key steps to improving secondary markets for small firms are:1. improving the regulatory environment for existing non-exchange over-the-counter (OTC) securities traded on alternative trading systems (ATSs), primarily by (a) providing the same reduced blue sky burden that large companies currently enjoy, (b) re-establishing the list of marginable OTC securities and (c) removing impediments to market making caused by Regulation SHO;2. amending the Securities Exchange Act to establish venture exchanges; and3. improving the regulatory environment for secondary sales of private securities, primarily by codifying the so-called section 4(a)(1-1/2) exemption and ensuring that platform traded securities are eligible for the exemption.The discussion draft of the “Main Street Growth Act” is a very positive framework for establishing venture exchanges although some improvements are necessary for it to fully achieve its objectives. The improvements recommended include (1) amending the definition of venture security, (2) changing Regulation SHO as it applies to market-makers, (3) making it clear that large exchange listing requirement are inapplicable to venture exchanges, (4) permitting market maker support programs and (5) a few other relatively minor changes.