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D&O Insurance Implications of the JOBS Act. LLC. AUGUST 3, 2012. Granof International Group, LLC. Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act - JOBS Act: In a Nutshell. The JOBS Act is intended to: Reduce Disclosure and reporting requirements for Emerging Growth Companies ( EGC )
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D&O Insurance Implications of the JOBS Act LLC AUGUST 3, 2012 Granof International Group, LLC
Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act - JOBS Act: In a Nutshell • The JOBS Act is intended to: • Reduce Disclosure and reporting requirements for Emerging Growth Companies (EGC) • Give startups and other private companies new opportunities to raise funds and stay private longer: • Allow for Crowd Funding • Expand Scope of Private Placements under 144A • Increase shareholder registration threshold for private companies
JOBS Act: “Emerging Growth Company (EGC)” • An EGC is any issuer that had total annual gross revenues of less than $1 billion during its most recently completed fiscal year, Provided that: It completed its IPO after December 9, 2011. • EGCs have up to five years following their IPO to achieve full compliance during which time they can enjoy certain reduced public company disclosures, accounting and auditing requirements.
JOBS Act: EGC “IPO On-Ramp” Reduced Disclosure Requirements • The company need not present more than 2 years of audited financial statements in order for its registration statement to be effective. • IPO registration statement can enjoy Prior Non-Public SEC Review. However such statements must be made public 21 days before an IPO Road show. • EGCs can Test the Waters for prospective IPO’s by meeting qualified institutional buyers or accredited investors before or after a filing, to gauge their interests.
JOBS Act: Examples of EGC Ongoing Disclosure Exemptions • Section 102 amends SEA and Dodd-Frank to exempt an EGC from requiring separate shareholder approval of executive compensation. • Section 103 exempts an EGC from Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requiring an outside auditor’s attestation on a company’s assessment of its internal controls. • Section 104 allows an EGC to defer compliance with “new or revised” GAAP accounting requirements for public companies until they are applicable to private companies.
JOBS Act: Crowdfunding • Crowdfunding is a method of raising capital in which groups of people pool money, typically small contributions, often through on-line portals via the internet. • Under the JOBS Act, Crowdfunding is expressly permitted for small start- up businesses. They are exempt from certain registration requirements, but restricted to transactions of $1 million or less.
JOBS Act: Crowdfunding Financial Disclosure Requirements • For companies seeking to raise less that $100,000, the CEO must certify the accuracy of the financial statements; • For companies seeking to raise between $100,000 and $500,000, an accountant must verify the accuracy of the companies’ financials; • Companies seeking to raise over $500,000 are required to file fully audited financial statements.
JOBS Act: Crowdfunding Investment Restrictions on Raising Capital • If either the annual income or the net worth of an investor is less than $100,000, one can invest up to $2,000 or five percent of ones annual income or net worth. • If an investor’s income or net worth tops $100,000, one can invest up to 10 percent of one’s annual income or net worth, up to $100,000 maximum.
JOBS Act: Potential Liability • Potential Disclosure/Liability issues for EGC may not come into fruition until the end of the 5 year status period, or until a company’s EGC status terminates. • The Act imposes liability on Crowdfunding issuers for misrepresentations and omissions in the offerings, similar to Section 12 of the Securities Act of 1933.