Author: Kenneth G. Sam

Ken is a member of the firm's Business and Corporate practice groups and the Canadian Cross-Border practice and the co-chair of our Mining Industry Group Practice. As a trusted legal advisor to clients for their transactional and corporate governance needs, Ken strives to understand client goals and apply real-world business experience to capital markets, M&A and corporate transactions and regulatory compliance.

Compensation to Newsletter Writers Must Be Disclosed

Compensation to Newsletter Writers Must Be Disclosed

On April 10, 2017, the SEC’s Division of Enforcement brought enforcement actions against 27 individuals and entities behind various alleged stock promotion schemes. These actions arose when public companies, through promoters or communications firms, hired newsletter writers to generate publicity for their securities without publicly disclosing that the writers were being paid. While it is not illegal to hire newsletter writers, Section 17(b) of the...

The Danger of Paying Finder’s Fees to Unregistered Broker-Dealers

The Danger of Paying Finder’s Fees to Unregistered Broker-Dealers

We get asked from time-to-time whether it is advisable for issuers to pay fees to unregistered “finders” for introducing potential investors in the United States to the issuer in connection with securities offerings. The short answer is “no.” Most finders are engaged by issuers under finder’s, advisory, or other arrangements, which typically require payment of “success fees” upon completion of a financing transaction. While these...