SEC Form S-1 - Registration Statement Under the Securities Act of 1933
PURPOSE: Form S-1 is the basic registration form used by companies to register securities with the SEC before selling them to the public. It is used for initial public offerings (IPOs) and other securities offerings by domestic registrants for which no other form is authorized or prescribed.
KEY TERMINOLOGY:
- Registrant: The company filing the registration statement to offer securities
- Securities Act of 1933: Federal law requiring registration of securities offerings with the SEC
- Exchange Act of 1934: Federal law governing trading of securities and reporting requirements
- Prospectus: The disclosure document provided to investors describing the offering
- Registration Statement: The complete filing with SEC including prospectus and other exhibits
- Effective Date: Date when SEC declares registration statement effective and securities can be sold
- Rule 415: Allows "shelf registration" for delayed or continuous offerings
- Rule 462(b): Allows registration of additional securities for same offering
- Rule 457: Rules for calculating registration fees
- SIC Code: Standard Industrial Classification code identifying the registrant's primary business
- EIN: Employer Identification Number (IRS tax ID)
- NPI: Not applicable to this form (SEC uses CIK - Central Index Key)
FILER CATEGORIES:
- Large Accelerated Filer: Public float ≥ $700 million
- Accelerated Filer: Public float $75-700 million
- Non-Accelerated Filer: Public float < $75 million
- Smaller Reporting Company: Public float < $250 million OR revenues < $100 million with no public float or public float < $700 million
- Emerging Growth Company: Total annual gross revenues < $1.235 billion during most recent fiscal year
FEE CALCULATION:
- Filing fees are calculated based on the maximum aggregate offering price
- Current fee rate available at sec.gov/ofm/Article/feeamt.html
- Rule 457(a): Standard fee calculation based on offering price
- Rule 457(o): Fee based on maximum aggregate offering price (amount/price per unit can be omitted)
- Rule 457(p): Fee offset for unsold securities from earlier registration
- Rule 415(a)(6): Carry forward unsold securities from prior registration
SECURITY TYPES:
- Equity (common stock, preferred stock)
- Debt (bonds, notes, debentures)
- Debt Convertible into Equity
- Asset-Backed Securities
- Exchange-Traded Vehicle Securities
- Limited Partnership Interests
- Mortgage Backed Securities
FILING PROCESS:
- Submit electronically via EDGAR system
- Processing typically 30-60 days for initial review
- SEC staff may issue comment letters requiring response
- Effective upon SEC declaration (or automatic after 20 days if no stop order)
COMMON ERRORS TO AVOID:
- Incorrect fee calculation
- Missing or incorrect SIC code
- Incomplete financial statements per Regulation S-X
- Missing required exhibits per Item 601 of Regulation S-K
- Unsigned signature pages