On January 25, the U.S. SEC proposed amendments to the definition of accredited investor in accordance with the Dodd-Frank Act. Specifically, under the SEC's proposal, while an individual would still need to have a net worth of at least $1 million, individually or jointly with a spouse, to meet the threshold, the amended requirements would now exclude the value of the individual's primary residence from the calculation. Comments on the proposal are being accepted until March 11, 2011.
In Canada, the definition of "accredited investor" in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus and Registration Exemptions includes individuals with financial assets exceeding $1 million (excluding primary residence) and those with net assets of at least $5 million (including net value of primary residence).
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