Initial Public Offerings
You may have read about how some small company became
an overnight success story by deciding to "go public".
Going public means that a company that was previously
owned by a limited number of private investors has elected,
for the first time, to sell ownership shares of the business
to the general public.
The public sale of ownership interests can generate funds
for working capital, repayment of debt, diversification,
acquisitions, marketing, and other uses. In addition,
a successful public offering increases the visibility
and appeal of your company, thereby escalating the demand
and value for shares of your company. Investors can benefit
from an IPO not only because of the potential increase
in market value for their stock, but also because publicly-held
stock is more liquid and can be readily sold if the business
appears to falter or if the investor needs quick cash.
The availability of a public market for shares will also
help determine the taxable values of the shares and assist
in estate transfers.
Publicly traded stock can also make a business more
attractive to prospective and existing employees if stock
option and other stock compensation plans are offered.
Employee stock-based programs are worth more if transfer
restrictions, such as those normally accompanying private
company stock, are not placed on the stock.
The use of IPOs has increased in popularity during the
'90s, and are a financing option limited to rapidly growing,
successful businesses that generate over a million dollars
in net annual income.
The use of IPOs is limited because: (1) there is a very
high cost and much complexity in complying with federal
and state laws governing the sale of business securities
(the cost for a small business can run from $50,000 —
$500,000); (2) offering your business's ownership for
public sale does little good unless your company has sufficient
investor awareness and appeal to make the IPO worthwhile;
and (3) management must be ready to handle the administrative
and legal demands of widespread public ownership. Of course,
an IPO also means a dilution of the existing shareholders'
interests and there is a possibility of takeovers or adjustments
in management control.
Securities laws are complicated. The sale of "securities"
to the public is regulated by federal and state laws that
have two primary objectives: (1) to require businesses
to disclose material information about the company to
investors, and (2) to prohibit misrepresentation and fraud
in the sale of securities. Under federal law, a "security"
is broadly defined and would include stocks, notes, bonds,
evidence of indebtedness, and most ownership interests.
The law defines a "public offering" of a security
by the classification of whether the investors are considered
"sophisticated" or not. However, state law definitions
of a "security" and of a "public offering"
can vary from the federal law.
Many small businesses can sell stock to insiders or to a small
group of investors without being subject to securities laws. However,
it's not always clear where the exemptions end, so always consult
a knowledgeable attorney before selling any stock in your company.
Source: Business Owner's Toolkit
