Securities Registration in Going Pubic Transactions

Many companies file a registration statement filing with the SEC in connection with their going public transaction. The most commonly used registration statement form is Form S-1. All companies may register securities on a Form S-1 registration statement. Private companies going public should be aware of the expansive disclosure required by the SEC in registration statements prior to making the decision to go public. A registration statement on Form S-1 has two principal parts which require expansive disclosures. Part I of the registration statement is the prospectus which requires the company provide certain disclosures about its business operations, financial condition, and management. Part II contains information that doesn't have to be delivered to investors. Financial Statement Requirements in Registration Statements l Going Public Transactions Financial statements included in a registration statement must be audited by a firm that is a member of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board ("PCOAB"). SEC rules allow smaller reporting companies to provide less financial information than larger reporting issuers. Rule 405 defines a smaller reporting company as a company that: (i) had a public float of less than $75 million as of the last business day of its most recently completed second fiscal quarter, computed by multiplying the aggregate number of shares of its common equity held by non-affiliates by the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average of the bid and asked prices of common equity, in its principal market; (ii) in the case of an initial registration statement under the Securities Act or Exchange Act for shares of its common equity, had a public float of less than $75 million as of a date within 30 days of the date of the filing, computed by multiplying the aggregate number of such shares held by non-affiliates before filing plus the number of such shares included in the registration statement by the public offering price of the shares; or (iii) if the public float as calculated under paragraph (1) or (2) above is zero, had annual revenues of less than $50 million during the most recently completed fiscal year for which audited financial statements are available. The financial statements required for a company that does not qualify as a smaller reporting company are: ? Audited balance sheets (consolidated if you have subsidiaries) as of the end of each of the two most recent fiscal years or if your company been in existence for less than one fiscal year, an audited balance sheet as of a date within 135 days of the date of filing the registration statement. ? Audited statements of income and cash flows for each of the three fiscal years preceding the date of the most recent audited balance sheet being filed or such shorter period as the issuer has been in existence. ? Interim reviewed financial statements for the current period if the filing is more than 135 days after the end of the issuer's fiscal year end. ? Date of financial statements: Each amendment must include updated interim or audited financial statements if the financial statements in the prior filing are more than 135 days old. Smaller Reporting Company Disclosures in Registration Statements Smaller reporting companies going public may elect to provide the following disclosures in their registration statement: ? Audited balance sheet as of the end of each of the most recent two fiscal years, or as of a date within 135 days if the issuer has existed for a period of less than one fiscal year. ? Audited statements of income, cash flows and changes in stockholders' equity for each of the two fiscal years preceding the date of the most recent audited balance sheet (or such shorter period that the issuer has been in business). ? Interim reviewed financial statements for the current period if the filing is more than 135 days after the end of your fiscal year. ? Date of financial statements: Each amendment must include updated interim or audited financial statements if the financial statements in the prior filing are more than 135 days old. Business Related Disclosures in Registration Statements l Going Public Transactions This business section of the registration statement describes the general character of the issuer's business and includes a brief description of the organizational history of the company, its principle products and services, potential markets and customers, methods for distributing products and services, availability of raw materials, intellectual property, competitive conditions, research and development expenses, costs associated with complying with regulations, and the number of full and part time employees. Risk Factor Disclosures in Registration Statements l Going Public Transactions The risk factor section of a registration statement describes the risks and uncertainties of investing in the issuer. This may include limited financial resources, a limited operating history, adverse economic conditions in a particular industry, lack of a market for the securities offered, industry competition, government regulation, and/or reliance on key personnel or on a limited number of suppliers, distributors, or customers. Other Required Disclosures in Registration Statements l Going Public Transactions This registation statement requires that the issuer identify its officers and directors and provide information on the issuer's compensation and benefits plan, material transactions between the issuer and its officers and directors, as well as material legal proceedings involving the issuer or its officers and directors. This section of the registration statement describes the distribution plan for the securities being registered in the going public transaction including the offering size. This section sets forth the planned uses of the proceeds from the sale of the securities being registered in the registration statement. Misstatements in Registration Statements used in Going Public Transactions If the registration statement, at the time it becomes effective, contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make other statements not misleading, Section 11 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933 imposes liability on the issuer and its management as well as other third parties. The Securities Act holds individuals who help prepare a registration statement on behalf of an issuer responsible for any misrepresentations and omissions in the registration statement. Section 11(a) of the Securities Act, 15 U.S.C. ? 77k(a) <http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode15/usc_sec_15_00000077---k000-.html, makes several categories of persons and entities responsible for material misstatements or omissions in a registration statement. A majority of the issuer's board of directors, as well as its principal executive officer or officers, principal financial officer, and its controller or principal accounting officer, must sign the registration statement used in the going public transaction. The issuer, as well as each signer is subject to potential civil liability under ? 11(a) of the Securities Act for material misstatements or omissions in the registration statement. In addition, any person who controls the issuer or any other responsible party is subject to liability. In addition to the issuer and its officers and directors, attorneys, accountants and underwriters are liable under Section 11(a) of the Securities Act. If you are going to offer and sell securities, or go public using an SEC registration statement you will need the assistance of an experienced securities lawyer to guide you through the registration process and ensure all required disclosures are made.

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