By Evan Weinberger

Law360, New York (February 09, 2011, 2:08 PM ET) -- The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission proposed a rule Wednesday that would allow companies to issue securities “off the shelf” without receiving an investment-grade rating from credit ratings agencies.

The commission unanimously proposed the rule, which would allow companies that have issued $1 billion in nonconvertible securities in a three-year period to qualify for short-form registration of their securities.

The proposed rule, which closely mirrors a 2008 proposal that was shelved after complaints from companies, is part of the SEC's mandated rulemaking under the Dodd-Frank Wall...