Rule 144: Selling Restricted and Control Securities When acquiring restricted securities or holding control securities, you have to look for an exemption from the SEC's registration conditions to trade them in the marketplace. Here is how: Rule 144 allows you to resell publicly restricted and control securities by satisfying several requirements. This article will show how to go about it. Likewise, it will also show how to have a restrictive legend removed. Defining Restricted and Control Securities Restricted securities are defined as securities obtained in unregistered, private sales from the issuer or from an issuer’s affiliate. Investors normally receive restricted securities through private placement offerings, employee stock benefit plans, Regulation D offerings, as remuneration for professional work, or as an exchange deal for delivering "seed money" or capital to start a company. Rule 144(a)(3) specifically defines what sales create restricted ...