Post by fastwalker on Sept 21, 2004 14:08:59 GMT -5
;D Informational.................
How To Go Public Without Cost
By William Cate
How Can You Become a Public Company Without Cost?
The 1934 Securities Act states that any private company with over 500
public shareholders is a public (reporting) company. In his book, Going
Public, Frederick Lipman, an experienced securities attorney, observes
that any public company may sponsor a private company by distributing
free stock of the private company to their shareholders. The industry
refers to a private company that goes public using this stock
distribution strategy as a Spinoff.
Why Will Public Companies Sponsor Spinoffs?
The public company sponsor usually gets 10% of the private company's
stock. The public company distributes half this stock (5%) to their
shareholders. By regularly paying their shareholders Spinoff stock
dividends, the public company keeps their shareholders. The public
company retains 5% of the private company's stock as a corporate asset.
This stock enhances the net worth of the public company. The public
company sponsor normally pays the cost of distributing the private
company's stock to their shareholders. This makes going public a cost
free service for the private company.
Why Should Any Private Company Go Public?
* Doing private placements is easier for a public company. Your company
can more easily convert your stock to cash.
* A public company can use its stock to buy corporate assets. By buying
cash-producing assets for your company's stock, you increase your
company's cashflow, without spending your company's money.
* When it comes time to sell your public company, the sale price will be
your company's share price multiplied by the number of issued shares.
The share sale price is usually greater than a sale price based on your
company's balance sheet.
* Business groups buying recently privatized Foreign Government
industries gain substantial insurance against a future Government
nationalization by becoming a U.S.Public Company.
How Does a Spinoff Compare With an Initial Public Offering (IPO)?
For an operating company, the average cost of doing an IPO is around
$750,000. It takes 18 months. Over half the private companies that
decide to go public with an IPO abandon the process before they become a
public company.
In a Spinoff, the public company sponsor pays your costs. It takes about
four months for your private company to become publicly trading.
If you do an IPO, you're not required to distribute any free stock to
the public. However, most IPO underwriters price the IPO stock at 15%
below the net worth of the company. This effectively gives the public
shareholders 15% of the private company free.
Where Do Spinoffs Trade?
A Spinoff is a public company. It will trade over-the-counter (OTC), if
it doesn't qualify to trade on a stock exchange. The public companies
that regularly sponsor Spinoffs, usually arrange to have the new public
company trade on the NASD Automatic Bulletin Board.
Why Shouldn't a Private Company Do a Spinoff?
* It's rarely cost effective to arrange a PUBLIC financing for a U. S.
Public Company. Unless you can arrange a private placement, you must be
certain that your broker or consultant has the contacts to fund your
Spinoff.
* The sponsoring company usually wants a seat on your Board of
Directors. As Mr. Lipman comments, the sponsor can be legally liable for
the misdeeds of the Spinoff.
* It's nearly impossible to find a Spinoff sponsor for a concept-
company. The potential of legal liability ensures that sponsors want
quality operating private companies for this process.
* A public company has a responsibility to its shareholders. As a matter
of corporate self-interest, the public company must insure a strong
share price. This responsibility adds ongoing costs to any company's
operation. Whether your public company trades OTC or on the NYSE,
investor relations will be part of your annual expenditures.
Why Aren't Spinoffs Popular?
* Every industry wants to sell products that make their members the most
money. The Spinoff saves you money. But, securities attorneys lose
income. U. S. brokerage firms make less money doing Private Placement
than public offerings. Financial printers lose money, etc. It isn't in
the Industries best interest to mention a Spinoff to the CFO of a
private company.
* Most OTC company insiders want to dump their stock quickly. The stock
in a Spinoff is restricted stock (subject to SEC Rule 144). Since
insiders can get free trading stock by buying a Trading Shell, they
avoid Spinoffs.
* Few public companies will sponsor Spinoffs because of the legal
liability problem.
Spinoffs work, but they may not work for your company. Discuss this
business strategy with your attorney & accountant. Seek an opinion from
a business consultant or stock broker familiar with Spinoffs. Knowing
that Spinoffs exist means you have half your answer about using a
Spinoff.
==========
Mr Cate (e-mail: money@southcoast.net) has been a business and equity
finance consultant for various public & private companies and individual
investors since '81, edits & publishes Investor Alert, and offers the
Equity Financing Workshop for private companies seeking to go public.
-----
Brought to you by - The 'Lectric Law Library
The Net's Finest Legal Resource For Legal Pros & Laypeople Alike.
www.lectlaw.com
How To Go Public Without Cost
By William Cate
How Can You Become a Public Company Without Cost?
The 1934 Securities Act states that any private company with over 500
public shareholders is a public (reporting) company. In his book, Going
Public, Frederick Lipman, an experienced securities attorney, observes
that any public company may sponsor a private company by distributing
free stock of the private company to their shareholders. The industry
refers to a private company that goes public using this stock
distribution strategy as a Spinoff.
Why Will Public Companies Sponsor Spinoffs?
The public company sponsor usually gets 10% of the private company's
stock. The public company distributes half this stock (5%) to their
shareholders. By regularly paying their shareholders Spinoff stock
dividends, the public company keeps their shareholders. The public
company retains 5% of the private company's stock as a corporate asset.
This stock enhances the net worth of the public company. The public
company sponsor normally pays the cost of distributing the private
company's stock to their shareholders. This makes going public a cost
free service for the private company.
Why Should Any Private Company Go Public?
* Doing private placements is easier for a public company. Your company
can more easily convert your stock to cash.
* A public company can use its stock to buy corporate assets. By buying
cash-producing assets for your company's stock, you increase your
company's cashflow, without spending your company's money.
* When it comes time to sell your public company, the sale price will be
your company's share price multiplied by the number of issued shares.
The share sale price is usually greater than a sale price based on your
company's balance sheet.
* Business groups buying recently privatized Foreign Government
industries gain substantial insurance against a future Government
nationalization by becoming a U.S.Public Company.
How Does a Spinoff Compare With an Initial Public Offering (IPO)?
For an operating company, the average cost of doing an IPO is around
$750,000. It takes 18 months. Over half the private companies that
decide to go public with an IPO abandon the process before they become a
public company.
In a Spinoff, the public company sponsor pays your costs. It takes about
four months for your private company to become publicly trading.
If you do an IPO, you're not required to distribute any free stock to
the public. However, most IPO underwriters price the IPO stock at 15%
below the net worth of the company. This effectively gives the public
shareholders 15% of the private company free.
Where Do Spinoffs Trade?
A Spinoff is a public company. It will trade over-the-counter (OTC), if
it doesn't qualify to trade on a stock exchange. The public companies
that regularly sponsor Spinoffs, usually arrange to have the new public
company trade on the NASD Automatic Bulletin Board.
Why Shouldn't a Private Company Do a Spinoff?
* It's rarely cost effective to arrange a PUBLIC financing for a U. S.
Public Company. Unless you can arrange a private placement, you must be
certain that your broker or consultant has the contacts to fund your
Spinoff.
* The sponsoring company usually wants a seat on your Board of
Directors. As Mr. Lipman comments, the sponsor can be legally liable for
the misdeeds of the Spinoff.
* It's nearly impossible to find a Spinoff sponsor for a concept-
company. The potential of legal liability ensures that sponsors want
quality operating private companies for this process.
* A public company has a responsibility to its shareholders. As a matter
of corporate self-interest, the public company must insure a strong
share price. This responsibility adds ongoing costs to any company's
operation. Whether your public company trades OTC or on the NYSE,
investor relations will be part of your annual expenditures.
Why Aren't Spinoffs Popular?
* Every industry wants to sell products that make their members the most
money. The Spinoff saves you money. But, securities attorneys lose
income. U. S. brokerage firms make less money doing Private Placement
than public offerings. Financial printers lose money, etc. It isn't in
the Industries best interest to mention a Spinoff to the CFO of a
private company.
* Most OTC company insiders want to dump their stock quickly. The stock
in a Spinoff is restricted stock (subject to SEC Rule 144). Since
insiders can get free trading stock by buying a Trading Shell, they
avoid Spinoffs.
* Few public companies will sponsor Spinoffs because of the legal
liability problem.
Spinoffs work, but they may not work for your company. Discuss this
business strategy with your attorney & accountant. Seek an opinion from
a business consultant or stock broker familiar with Spinoffs. Knowing
that Spinoffs exist means you have half your answer about using a
Spinoff.
==========
Mr Cate (e-mail: money@southcoast.net) has been a business and equity
finance consultant for various public & private companies and individual
investors since '81, edits & publishes Investor Alert, and offers the
Equity Financing Workshop for private companies seeking to go public.
-----
Brought to you by - The 'Lectric Law Library
The Net's Finest Legal Resource For Legal Pros & Laypeople Alike.
www.lectlaw.com
