SEC Expands Eligibility for Use of Forms S-3 and F-3 for Primary Offerings

On December 11, 2007, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted amendments to Forms S-3 and F-3, the short-forms used by eligible domestic and foreign companies, respectively, to register securities offerings under the Securities Act of 1933. Although the final amendments significantly retreat from the expansions contained in the proposed amendments, the SEC hopes these amendments will allow a greater number of public companies to benefit from the flexibility and efficiency in accessing the public securities markets afforded by Forms S-3 and F-3.