Title 15Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73

§77j Information required in prospectus

Title 15 › Chapter CHAPTER 2A— - SECURITIES AND TRUST INDENTURES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - DOMESTIC SECURITIES › § 77j

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Prospectuses must give the same information that is in the registration statement. For most securities, they do not have to include the documents listed in schedule A, paragraphs (28)–(32) of section 77aa. For securities from foreign governments or their subdivisions, they do not have to include the documents listed in schedule B, paragraphs (13)–(14) of section 77aa. If a prospectus is used more than nine months after the registration statement became effective, the information in it must be current to a date no more than sixteen months before the prospectus is used, as far as the user knows or can provide without unreasonable effort or expense. The SEC may also by rule allow other items to be left out if it finds that appropriate for the public interest or investor protection. The SEC must allow a shorter or summarized prospectus for certain offers. That short prospectus usually must be filed with the registration statement, but it is treated differently for some legal purposes. The SEC can stop or suspend use of a short prospectus if it was not filed or if it is misleading, and must give notice and a chance for a hearing. The SEC can require other information, group prospectuses by type and set rules for their form and contents, require that required statements appear in a clear and prominent place and in normal type size, and require copies of radio or TV prospectuses and other forms to be filed.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §77j

Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Except to the extent otherwise permitted or required pursuant to this subsection or subsections (c), (d), or (e)—
(1)a prospectus relating to a security other than a security issued by a foreign government or political subdivision thereof, shall contain the information contained in the registration statement, but it need not include the documents referred to in paragraphs (28) to (32), inclusive, of schedule A of section 77aa of this title;
(2)a prospectus relating to a security issued by a foreign government or political subdivision thereof shall contain the information contained in the registration statement, but it need not include the documents referred to in paragraphs (13) and (14) of schedule B of section 77aa of this title;
(3)notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection when a prospectus is used more than nine months after the effective date of the registration statement, the information contained therein shall be as of a date not more than sixteen months prior to such use, so far as such information is known to the user of such prospectus or can be furnished by such user without unreasonable effort or expense;
(4)there may be omitted from any prospectus any of the information required under this subsection which the Commission may by rules or regulations designate as not being necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors.
(b)In addition to the prospectus permitted or required in subsection (a), the Commission shall by rules or regulations deemed necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors permit the use of a prospectus for the purposes of subsection (b)(1) of section 77e of this title which omits in part or summarizes information in the prospectus specified in subsection (a). A prospectus permitted under this subsection shall, except to the extent the Commission by rules or regulations deemed necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors otherwise provides, be filed as part of the registration statement but shall not be deemed a part of such registration statement for the purposes of section 77k of this title. The Commission may at any time issue an order preventing or suspending the use of a prospectus permitted under this subsection, if it has reason to believe that such prospectus has not been filed (if required to be filed as part of the registration statement) or includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which such prospectus is or is to be used, not misleading. Upon issuance of an order under this subsection, the Commission shall give notice of the issuance of such order and opportunity for hearing by personal service or the sending of confirmed telegraphic notice. The Commission shall vacate or modify the order at any time for good cause or if such prospectus has been filed or amended in accordance with such order.
(c)Any prospectus shall contain such other information as the Commission may by rules or regulations require as being necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors.
(d)In the exercise of its powers under subsections (a), (b), or (c), the Commission shall have authority to classify prospectuses according to the nature and circumstances of their use or the nature of the security, issue, issuer, or otherwise, and, by rules and regulations and subject to such terms and conditions as it shall specify therein, to prescribe as to each class the form and contents which it may find appropriate and consistent with the public interest and the protection of investors.
(e)The statements or information required to be included in a prospectus by or under authority of subsections (a), (b), (c), or (d), when written, shall be placed in a conspicuous part of the prospectus and, except as otherwise permitted by rules or regulations, in type as large as that used generally in the body of the prospectus.
(f)In any case where a prospectus consists of a radio or television broadcast, copies thereof shall be filed with the Commission under such rules and regulations as it shall prescribe. The Commission may by rules and regulations require the filing with it of forms and prospectuses used in connection with the offer or sale of securities registered under this subchapter.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1954—Act Aug. 10, 1954, complemented changes in section 77e of this title by act Aug. 10, 1954, permitted offering activities in the waiting period and in so doing rearranged the sequence of the subsections, added new text contained in subsec. (b), and renumbered subsecs. (c) and (d) as (e) and (f), respectively. 1934—Subsec. (b)(1). Act June 6, 1934, amended par. (1).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1954 AmendmentAmendment by act Aug. 10, 1954, effective 60 days after Aug. 10, 1954, see note under section 77b of this title.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

For

Transfer of Functions

of Securities and Exchange Commission, with certain exceptions, to Chairman of such Commission, see Reorg. Plan No. 10 of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3175, 64 Stat. 1265, set out under section 78d of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 77j

Title 15Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73