Initial Public Offerings Resource Kit

Summary

This resource kit provides an overview of initial public offerings of equity securities, as well as links to detailed practice notes, templates, checklists, and clauses on this topic that can be found in Practical Guidance. Under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (15 U.S.C. § 77a et seq.) (Securities Act), any offer or sale of securities must either be registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or qualify for an exemption from the registration requirements. The process by which a company offers and sells its securities, usually common stock, to the public for the first time in an offering registered with the SEC is typically referred to as an initial public offering (IPO). An IPO is a relatively time-consuming and complex process that requires the cooperation and coordination of the issuer, the underwriters, their counsel, and other parties such as accountants.