What you need to know • The JOBS Act would ease some of the regulatory requirements on companies

seeking access to capital from both the private and public markets.

• The Act would create a new category of issuer called an emerging growth

company that would be able to offer stock through an IPO and phase-in

certain SEC reporting requirements.

• Private companies would get greater access to funding without triggering

public reporting requirements. The Act would increase the shareholder

threshold for mandatory registration and expand Regulation A offerings up

to $50 million.

• The Act would allow private companies to raise money through crowdfunding

in certain circumstances.

Overview A bill that would give private companies greater access to capital and ease the

regulatory requirements for certain companies seeking to go public is close to

becoming law.

The US House of Representatives, which already approved a version of the bill, is

expected to approve a similar bill next week that the US Senate approved on

Thursday in a 73 to 26 vote. President Barack Obama is expected to sign the

legislation into law shortly thereafter.

The legislation, called the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (JOBS Act or the

Act), would represent a major change in how private companies can access capital

through either the private or public markets.

No. 2012-07

23 March 2012

To the Point

JOBS Act to promote capital formation

Congress is trying to

boost job creation and

economic growth by

giving emerging growth

companies and private

companies greater access

to capital.

Ernst & Young AccountingLink

www.ey.com/us/accountinglink

2 23 March 2012 To the Point JOBS Act to promote capital formation

IPO on-ramp for emerging growth companies The Act would create a new category of issuer called an emerging growth company

(EGC) to encourage initial public offerings (IPOs). An EGC would be defined as an

issuer with annual revenues of less than $1 billion in its most recent fiscal year.

A company would be eligible for EGC status for five years after its IPO, but would

cease to qualify earlier if it (1) issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt in

a three-year period, (2) became a large accelerated filer (i.e., market capitalization

greater than $700 million) or (3) had annual revenues exceeding $1 billion.

The Act would exempt an EGC from the following requirements during the

on-ramp period:

• Having an independent auditor assess its internal control over financial

reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. However, an EGC

would still have to comply with the Section 404(a) requirement that

management assess its internal control over financial reporting, generally

beginning with its second annual report on Form 10-K.

• Providing more than two years of audited financial statements in its IPO

registration statement (i.e., 1933 Act Registration Statement). In post-IPO

annual reports, an EGC would need to include the same number of periods as

non-EGC issuers (i.e., three years of audited financial statements unless the

company is eligible for relief as a smaller reporting company).

• Presenting selected financial data in its registration statements or periodic

reports for any period before the earliest audited period in its effective IPO

registration statement.

• Adopting new or revised accounting standards effective for public companies.

Effective dates for private companies would apply.

• Complying with “say-on-pay” vote requirements under the Dodd-Frank Wall

Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. An EGC would satisfy executive

compensation disclosures in a manner consistent with a smaller reporting company.

• Restricting certain communications with accredited investors or qualified

institutional buyers before a securities registration and communications

between an EGC’s broker dealers and potential investors.

• Complying with future changes to PCAOB auditing standards related to

mandatory audit firm rotation and an Auditors Discussion & Analysis statement

(if adopted). Other new standards would not apply to audits of EGCs unless the

SEC decides that they should after considering the protection of investors and

whether the action will promote efficiency, competition and capital formation.

In a major change from current practice, EGCs would be able to submit IPO registration

statements and amendments to the SEC on a confidential basis. The SEC staff would be

able to comment and the company would be able to respond before the company files

publicly through the EDGAR system. The EGC would be required to publicly file its initial

public submission and all amendments no later than 21 days before a road show.

How we see it Some companies may accelerate their IPO plans because they would be able

to first test the waters regarding their disclosures without publicly disclosing

financial information.

Ernst & Young AccountingLink

www.ey.com/us/accountinglink

3 23 March 2012 To the Point JOBS Act to promote capital formation

An issuer that completed its IPO on or after 8 December 2011 could qualify as an

EGC, but the JOBS Act would permit any new EGC to forgo an exemption and

comply with the requirement of a non-EGC. However, if an EGC elects to comply

with the accounting standards of a non-EGC it would have to:

• Elect that option when it is first required to file with the SEC

• Comply with all updated accounting standards applicable to non-EGCs (i.e., it

couldn’t opt in and opt out on an update-by-update basis)

How we see it A company that qualifies as an EGC would have to evaluate its likely exit timing

and determine whether it should opt in or out. We expect that transition

guidance would be needed to help companies weigh their options.

Triggers for public registration and reporting The Act, by amending Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, would increase the

number of record holders that trigger a company’s obligation to register and report

as a public company to 2,000 people (or 500 people who are not accredited

investors) from 500 people. For an issuer that is a bank or bank holding company,

the trigger would be 2,000 people, even if none are accredited investors. To

provide further relief, the definition of a record holder would be amended to

exclude (1) individuals who received the securities through an employee stock

compensation plan that is exempt from registration and (2) holders of securities

issued through permitted crowdfunding (see discussion below).

In addition, the Act would raise the threshold below which a bank or bank holding

company may terminate registration and suspend its reporting obligation to

1,200 record holders from 300. The threshold of 300 record holders for non-banks

and non-bank holding companies would remain unchanged.

How we see it The Act would give private companies more flexibility to issue stock to employees

as compensation because these shareholders would no longer be counted among

record holders who could trigger public registration. Private companies may

consider revising employee compensation plans to better align company

objectives and compensation.

Other Act provisions The Act also includes the following provisions to encourage capital formation:

• Companies would be allowed to raise equity capital from a large pool of small

investors (e.g., through the internet) through crowdfunding without adding to

the record holder count if certain conditions are met, including:

• Sales within a 12-month period are limited to $1 million

• Financial statements are filed with the SEC, including management certification

or independent auditor review or audit based on the size of the offering

Modifications to

Section 12(g) of the

Exchange Act would allow

some companies to avoid

or suspend registration

and reporting as a

public company.

Ernst & Young AccountingLink

www.ey.com/us/accountinglink

4 23 March 2012 To the Point JOBS Act to promote capital formation

• Sales to any individual do not exceed (1) for an investor with annual income

or net worth less than $100,000, $2,000 or 5% of annual income or net

worth or (2) for an investor with annual income or net worth equal to or

greater than $100,000, 10% of annual income or net worth subject to a

cap of $100,000

• The threshold for offerings exempt from SEC registration under Regulation A

would rise to $50 million from $5 million raised over a 12-month period through

issuance of equity securities, debt securities or debt securities convertible or

exchangeable to equity interests, including any guarantees of such securities

• The ban on general solicitation in Regulation D offerings under Section 506

would be lifted, allowing companies and their brokers to advertise and solicit

accredited investors

What’s next? The Act would require the SEC to take a number of actions, including identifying

ways to simplify Regulation S-K for EGCs, studying whether to designate a minimum

increment for trading and quoting EGC securities and revising rules to eliminate the

prohibition against general solicitation or advertising under Regulation D for offers

and sales of securities if all purchasers are accredited investors.

How we see it By easing some reporting requirements and giving EGCs access to capital, the

Act could help create a more favorable environment for entrepreneurial growth.

At the same time, concerns exist that some provisions of the Act could

undermine investor protection, and therefore investor confidence. Investors

may demand a risk premium for investing in EGCs and accepting less protection.

Companies should consider the effect these changes have on their immediate

and long-term capital needs in accessing the private or public market.

Ernst & Young

Assurance | Tax | Transactions | Advisory

© 2012 Ernst & Young LLP.

All Rights Reserved.

SCORE No. CC0345

About Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 152,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.

Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit www.ey.com.

This publication has been carefully prepared but it necessarily contains information in summary form and is therefore intended for general guidance only; it is

not intended to be a substitute for detailed research or the exercise of professional judgment. The information presented in this publication should not be

construed as legal, tax, accounting, or any other professional advice or service. Ernst & Young LLP can accept no responsibility for loss occasioned to any

person acting or refraining from action as a result of any material in this publication. You should consult with Ernst & Young LLP or other professional advisors

familiar with your particular factual situation for advice concerning specific audit, tax or other matters before making any decision.