More than 2,000 Publicly Traded Companies Shifted to OTC’s Expert Market as Amended Rule 15c2-11 Goes into Effect

The SEC and OTC Markets Group follow through on prohibiting brokerage firms from quoting prices for OTC stocks for which brokers don’t have current, and thus reliable, financial information. Shareholders and investors of more than 2,000 publicly traded OTC Pink No Information companies (about 16% of all OTC companies and 18% of all OTC Pink companies) will now find it more difficult to buy and sell those stocks on the Expert Market. Read More ›

Finding Your Post-COVID Principal Executive Offices

The SEC has recently permitted public companies with remote-first operations to circumvent the requirement that they report an address and phone number for their principal executive offices on the cover page of their Form S-1 registration statements. Is this a reflection of the “new normal” and, if so, has the SEC answered through these filings the fundamental question whether there is any longer a purpose for disclosing the location of a registrant’s principal executive offices? Read More ›

The SEC Reminds Public Companies that All Filings Must Be Truthful and Complete, Even Form NTs to Extend a Periodic Report Deadline for a Few Days

Attacking information asymmetry between management and shareholders, the SEC charged eight companies for failing to disclose in Form 12b-25 filings that their reason for seeking a delayed annual or quarterly report was an anticipated restatement or correction of prior financial reporting. Public companies should be reminded that all filings – even arguably minor ones like Form NT – must be truthful and complete. Read More ›

Growth Companies Should Disclose Financial Projections In IPO Prospectuses

Spencer Feldman's article first appeared in Law360 (April 9, 2021, subscription required) Read More ›

The SEC Rebuilds the Integration Principles Guiding Concurrent Private and Public Offerings of Securities

The SEC’s new release amends the rules governing “integration” permitting private placements and registered public offerings to occur shortly before, after or at the same time with each other. The amendments replace the SEC’s prior five-factor test with practical updates for today’s markets that particularly benefit smaller publicly traded companies. Read More ›

The SEC Proposes a Safe Harbor for Permissible Capital-Raising Activities by Unregistered Finders

Recognizing the longstanding need for a new approach to the regulation of finders who help smaller businesses raise early stage capital, the SEC has published a notice of a proposed exemptive order and request for comment to formalize the regulatory status of unregistered finders. The proposed finders exemption from broker-dealer registration would facilitate a role for unregistered finders in the capital-raising process and clarify the circumstances under which issuers can legally compensate finders who comply with specified conditions. The author’s thoughts on the proposed finders exemption follow a summary of the rule proposal. Read More ›

SEC Reduces Registration Filing Fee Beginning in October 2020

Public companies and first-time issuers will pay about 16% less to register their securities with the SEC starting next month. Read More ›

The SEC Amends Regulation S-K Disclosure Rules to Empower Companies to Determine What and How Much Disclosure is Appropriate for Shareholders and Investors

On August 26, 2020, the SEC adopted amendments to its business, legal proceedings and risk factors disclosure rules. All public companies, particularly smaller ones, can benefit from the SEC’s continuing commitment to a principles-based and company-specific approach to disclosure in registration statements, periodic reports and certain proxy statements filed with the SEC.    Read More ›

SEC Provides Temporary Relief and Guidance Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

Publicly traded companies need to consider COVID-19’s effect on disclosure obligations

The Evolving Nature of Identifying and Disclosing the Business Risks of Using Third-Party Social Media Marketing

In Casper Sleep’s initial public offering prospectus, the company states that the use of third-party paid marketing programs to promote its products presents the possibility of negatively affecting its reputation and subjecting it to fines and other penalties. Read More ›