There was a significant increase in the number of completed initial public offerings (“IPOs”) in 2017 compared to 2016 and 2015. However, the number of completed IPOs was still down compared to 2014, which saw the highest...more
In late January 2018, MSCI reopened a consultation with the investment community on the treatment of unequal voting structures. Under the MSCI’s proposal, the weights of shares with unequal voting rights in the MSCI Equity...more
On February 2, 2018, the SEC approved on an accelerated basis the NYSE’s proposal, as modified by Amendment No. 3, to change its listing qualifications to facilitate listings for certain non-IPO offerings. Section 102.01B of...more
The Short Field Guide to IPOs -
For many years, most successful companies followed a relatively predictable capital-raising path. A lot has changed. The companies that tend to pursue IPOs in recent years are more mature,...more
On December 4, 2017, the SEC approved the NYSE’s proposed amendment to Section 202.06 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. The proposed amendment limits the issuance of material news by a listed company during the period of...more
On December 4, 2017, the SEC’s Chief Accountant, Wesley Bricker spoke at the 2017 AICPA Conference on Current SEC and PCAOB Developments. Highlights of Mr. Bricker’s comments include the following:
..Ongoing Priorities....more
THE EMERGING GROWTH COMPANY -
The JOBS Act created a new class of issuer: the emerging growth company (EGC). An EGC is defined as an issuer with total annual gross revenue of less than $1.07 billion (originally $1 billion,...more
On November 14, 2017, SEC Chief Accountant Wesley R. Bricker gave remarks before the Financial Executives International 36th Annual Current Financial Reporting Issues Conference: Effective Financial Reporting in a Period of...more
On October 16, 2017, Clermont Partners released a survey on the reliance of active investors on non-GAAP versus GAAP reporting, intangible assets and non-financial metrics. Unlike passive investors who invest in index funds,...more
With the effectiveness of Regulation Crowdfunding in May 2016 and amended Securities Act Rule 147 and new Securities Act Rule 147A in April 2017, there has been increasing interest in intrastate crowdfunded offerings. The...more
Treasury Report, Part II: Regulation of the Capital Markets -
The U.S. Department of the Treasury (“Treasury Department” or “Treasury”) issued its second report (of four reports), titled “A Financial System that Creates...more
On October 17, 2017, the staff (the “Staff”) of the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance issued two new compliance and disclosure interpretations (“C&DIs”) on the use of non-GAAP financial measures in forecasts for business...more
What is an "at-the-market" offering? -
An "at-the-market" offering is an offering of securities into an existing trading market for outstanding shares of the same class at other than a fixed price on, or though the...more
On September 11, 2017, SEC Chief Accountant Wesley Bricker gave a speech at the AICPA National Conference on Banks & Savings Institutions titled “Advancing High-Quality Financial Reporting in Our Financial and Capital...more
On September 20, 2017, the staff of the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance issued revised compliance and disclosure interpretations (“C&DIs”) for purposes reflecting updates for prior amendments to Securities Act Rules 147...more
On September 14, 2017, the staff of the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance (the “Staff”) issued three new compliance and disclosure interpretations (“C&DIs”) addressing Regulation A offerings with a concurrent Exchange Act...more
On September 13, 2017, the SEC Advisory Committee on Small and Emerging Companies held an open meeting to discuss the Sarbanes-Oxley (“SOX”) auditor attestation requirement, the final report that will be issued prior to the...more
On September 5, 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 2864 (Improving Access to Capital Act) by a vote of 403-3. The bill, which was sponsored by Rep. Krysten Sinema and previously amended by the Committee on...more
On August 25, 2016, the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance (“Corp Fin”) updated its Financial Reporting Manual by making the following changes...more
On August 18, 2017, the NYSE issued a proposed amendment to Section 202.06 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual to limit the issuance of material news by a listed company during the period of time from the official closing time...more
On August 22, 2017, Stephen Deane, CFA, Investor Engagement Advisor, Office of the Investor Advocate, gave a speech addressing two proposed updates issued by FASB in 2015 (one that would apply to GAAP and the other that would...more
As a reminder, the SEC’s new requirements for exhibit hyperlinks and the submission of all filings (subject to the exhibit filing requirement) in HTML format will be applicable to filings made on or after September 1, 2017....more
On August 14, 2017, the SEC approved the NYSE’s proposed rule change amending Sections 204.12, 204.21, and 202.06(B) of its NYSE Listed Company Manual to require listed companies to provide notice to the NYSE at least ten...more
SEC Permits Draft Registration Statements for All Initial Public Offerings and Direct Listings -
On June 29, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that the Division of Corporation Finance will permit...more
On July 31, 2017, the NYSE amended its proposal, originally issued on March 13, 2017 and then withdrawn on July 19, 2017, to modify its listing qualifications to facilitate direct offerings. Section 102.01B of the NYSE Listed...more