Regulation S-K
 
Description of Business
a.
General development
of business. Describe the general development of the business
of the registrant, its subsidiaries and any predecessor(s) during the
past five years, or such shorter period as the registrant may have been
engaged in business. Information shall be disclosed for earlier periods
if material to an understanding of the general development of the business.
1. In
describing developments, information shall be given as to matters such
as the following: the year in which the registrant was organized and its
form of organization; the nature and results of any bankruptcy, receivership
or similar proceedings with respect to the registrant or any of its significant
subsidiaries; the nature and results of any other material reclassification,
merger or consolidation of the registrant or any of its significant subsidiaries;
the acquisition or disposition of any material amount of assets otherwise
than in the ordinary course of business; and any material changes in the
mode of conducting the business.
2.
Registrants, (i) filing a registration statement on Form S-1 under
the Securities Act or on Form 10 and Form 10-SB under the Exchange Act,
(ii) not subject to the reporting requirements of
section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Exchange Act immediately prior to the filing
of such registration statement, and (iii) that (including predecessors)
have not received revenue from operations during each of the three fiscal
years immediately prior to the filing of registration statement, shall
provide the following information:
A. if
the registration statement is filed prior to the end of the registrant's
second fiscal quarter, a description of the registrant's plan of operation
for the remainder of the fiscal year; or
B.
if the
registration statement is filed subsequent to the end of the registrant's
second fiscal quarter, a descripition of the registrant's plan of operation
for the remainder of the fiscal year and for the first six months of the
next fiscal year. If such information is not available, the reasons for
its not being available shall be stated. Disclosure relating to any plan
shall include such matters as:
1. In
the case of a registration statement on Form S-1, a statement in narrative
form indicating the registrant's opinion as to the period of time that
the proceeds from the offering will satisfy cash requirements and whether
in the next six months it will be necessary to raise additional funds
to meet the expenditures required for operating the business of the registrant;
the specific reasons for such opinion shall be set forth and categories
of expenditures and sources of cash resources shall be identified; however,
amounts of expenditures and cash resources need not be provided; in addition,
if the narrative statement is based on a cash budget, such budget shall
be furnished to the Commission as supplemental information, but not as
part of the registration statement;
2. An
explanation of material product research and development to be performed
during the period covered in the plan;
3. Any
anticipated material acquisition of plant and equipment and the capacity
thereof;
4. Any
anticipated material changes in number of employees in the various departments
such as research and development, production, sales or administration;
and
5. Other
material areas which may be peculiar to the registrant's business.
b.
Financial information
about industry segments. Report for each segment, as defined by
generally accepted accounting principles, revenues from external customers,
a measure of profit or loss and total assets. A registrant must report
this information for each of the last three fiscal years or for as long
as it has been in business, whichever period is shorter. If the information
provided in response to this paragraph (b) conforms with generally accepted
accounting principles, a registrant may include in its financial statements
a cross reference to this data in lieu of presenting duplicative information
in the financial statements; conversely, a registrant may cross reference
to the financial statements.
1. If
a registrant changes the structure of its internal organization in a manner
that causes the composition of its reportable segments to change, the
registrant must restate the corresponding information for earlier periods,
including interim periods, unless it is impracticable to do so. Following
a change in the composition of its reportable segments, a registrant shall
disclose whether it has restated the corresponding items of segment information
for earlier periods. If it has not restated the items from earlier periods,
the registrant shall disclose in the year in which the change occurs segment
information for the current period under both the old basis and the new
basis of segmentation, unless it is impracticable to do so.
2. If
the registrant includes, or is required by Article 3 of Regulation S-X
to include, interim financial statements, discuss any facts relating to
the performance of any of the segments during the period which, in the
opinion of management, indicate that the three year segment financial
data may not be indicative of current or future operations of the segment.
Comparative financial information shall be included to the extent necessary
to the discussion.
c.
Narrative description
of business.
1.
Describe the business
done and intended to be done by the registrant and its subsidiaries, focusing
upon the registrant's dominant industry segment or each reportable industry
segment about which financial information is presented in the financial
statements. To the extent material to an understanding of the registrant's
business taken as a whole, the description of each such segment shall
include the information specified in paragraphs (c)(1) (i) through (x)
of this section. The matters specified in paragraphs (c)(1) (xi) through
(xiii) of this section shall be discussed with respect to the registrant's
business in general; where material, the industry segments to which these
matters are significant shall be identified.
i. The
principal products produced and services rendered by the registrant in
the industry segment and the principal markets for, and methods of distribution
of, the segment's principal products and services. In addition, state
for each of the last three fiscal years the amount or percentage of total
revenue contributed by any class of similar products or services which
accounted for 10 percent or more of consolidated revenue in any of the
last three fiscal years or 15 percent or more of consolidated revenue,
if total revenue did not exceed $50,000,000 during any of such fiscal
years.
ii. A
description of the status of a product or segment (e.g. whether
in the planning stage, whether prototypes exist, the degree to which product
design has progressed or whether further engineering is necessary), if
there has been a public announcement of, or if the registrant otherwise
has made public information about, a new product or industry segment that
would require the investment of a material amount of the assets of the
registrant or that otherwise is material. This paragraph is not intended
to require disclosure of otherwise nonpublic corporate information the
disclosure of which would affect adversely the registrant's competitive
position.
iii. The
sources and availability of raw materials.
iv. The
importance to the industry segment and the duration and effect of all
patents, trademarks, licenses, franchises and concessions held.
v. The
extent to which the business of the industry segment is or may be seasonal.
vi. The
practices of the registrant and the industry (respective industries) relating
to working capital items (e.g., where the registrant is required
to carry significant amounts of inventory to meet rapid delivery requirements
of customers or to assure itself of a continuous allotment of goods from
suppliers; where the registrant provides rights to return merchandise;
or where the registrant has provided extended payment terms to customers).
vii. The
dependence of the segment upon a single customer, or a few customers,
the loss of any one or more of which would have a material adverse effect
on the segment. The name of any customer and its relationship, if any,
with the registrant or its subsidiaries shall be disclosed if sales to
the customer by one or more segments are made in an aggregate amount equal
to 10 percent or more of the registrant's consolidated revenues and the
loss of such customer would have a material adverse effect on the registrant
and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. The names of other customers may
be included, unless in the particular case the effect of including the
names would be misleading. For purposes of this paragraph, a group of
customers under common control or customers that are affiliates of each
other shall be regarded as a single customer.
viii. The
dollar amount of backlog orders believed to be firm, as of a recent date
and as of a comparable date in the preceding fiscal year, together with
an indication of the portion thereof not reasonably expected to be filled
within the current fiscal year, and seasonal or other material aspects
of the backlog. (There may be included as firm orders government orders
that are firm but not yet funded and contracts awarded but not yet signed,
provided an appropriate statement is added to explain the nature of such
orders and the amount thereof. The portion of orders already included
in sales or operating revenues on the basis of percentage of completion
or program accounting shall be excluded.)
ix. A
description of any material portion of the business that may be subject
to renegotiation of profits or termination of contracts or subcontracts
at the election of the Government.
x. Competitive
conditions in the business involved including, where material, the identity
of the particular markets in which the registrant competes, an estimate
of the number of competitors and the registrant's competitive position,
if known or reasonably available to the registrant. Separate consideration
shall be given to the principal products or services or classes of products
or services of the segment, if any. Generally, the names of competitors
need not be disclosed. The registrant may include such names, unless in
the particular case the effect of including the names would be misleading.
Where, however, the registrant knows or has reason to know that one or
a small number of competitors is dominant in the industry it shall be
identified. The principal methods of competition (e.g., price,
service, warranty or product performance) shall be identified, and positive
and negative factors pertaining to the competitive position of the registrant,
to the extent that they exist, shall be explained if known or reasonably
available to the registrant.
xi. If
material, the estimated amount spent during each of the last three fiscal
years on company-sponsored research and development activities determined
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. In addition,
state, if material, the estimated dollar amount spent during each of such
years on customer-sponsored research activities relating to the development
of new products, services or techniques or the improvement of existing
products, services or techniques.
xii. Appropriate
disclosure also shall be made as to the material effects that compliance
with Federal, State and local provisions which have been enacted or adopted
regulating the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise
relating to the protection of the environment, may have upon the capital
expenditures, earnings and competitive position of the registrant and
its subsidiaries. The registrant shall disclose any material estimated
capital expenditures for environmental control facilities for the remainder
of its current fiscal year and its succeeding fiscal year and for such
further periods as the registrant may deem materials.
xiii. The
number of persons employed by the registrant.
d.
Financial information
about geographic areas.
1.
State for each
of the registrant's last three fiscal years, or for each fiscal year the
registrant has been engaged in business, whichever period is shorter:
i.
Revenues
from external customers attributed to:
A. The
registrant's country of domicile;
B. All
foreign countries, in total, from which the registrant derives revenues;
and
C. Any
individual foreign country, if material. Disclose the basis for attributing
revenues from external customers to individual countries.
ii.
Long-lived
assets, other than financial instruments, long-term customer relationships
of a financial institution, mortgage and other servicing rights, deferred
policy acquisition costs, and deferred tax assets, located in:
A. The
registrant's country of domicile;
B. All
foreign countries, in total, in which the registrant holds assets; and
C. Any
individual foreign country, if material.
2. A
registrant shall report the amounts based on the financial information
that it uses to produce the general-purpose financial statements. If providing
the geographic information is impracticable, the registrant shall disclose
that fact. A registrant may wish to provide, in addition to the information
required by paragraph (d)(1) of this section, subtotals of geographic
information about groups of countries. To the extent that the disclosed
information conforms with generally accepted accounting principles, the
registrant may include in its financial statements a cross reference to
this data in lieu of presenting duplicative data in its financial statements;
conversely, a registrant may cross-reference to the financial statements.
3. A
registrant shall describe any risks attendant to the foreign operations
and any dependence on one or more of the registrant's segments upon such
foreign operations, unless it would be more appropriate to discuss this
information in connection with the description of one or more of the registrant's
segments under paragraph (c) of this
item.
4. If
the registrant includes, or is required by
Article 3 of Regulation S-X,
to include, interim financial statements, discuss any facts relating to
the information furnished under this paragraph (d) that, in the opinion
of management, indicate that the three year financial data for geographic
areas may not be indicative of current or future operations. To the extent
necessary to the discussion, include comparative information.
e.
Available information.
Disclose the information in paragraphs (e)(1), (e)(2) and (e)(3) of this
section in any registration statement you file under the Securities Act (15
U.S.C. 77a et seq.),
and disclose the information in paragraphs (e)(3) and (e)(4)
of this section if you are filing an annual report on Form 10K (§249.310 of this chapter)
and are an accelerated filer or a large accelerated filer (as defined in
§240.12b-2 of this chapter):
1. Whether
you file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If you are
a reporting company, identify the reports and other information you file
with the SEC.
2. That
the public may read and copy any materials you file with the SEC at the
SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549.
State that the public may obtain information on the operation of the Public
Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. If you are an electronic
filer, state that the SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports,
proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers
that file electronically with the SEC and state the address of that site
(http://www.sec.gov).
3. You
are encouraged to give your Internet address, if available, except that
if you filing your annual report on Form 10-K and are an accelerated filer or a
large accelerated filer, you must disclose your Internet address, if you have one.
4.
i. Whether
you make available free of charge on or through your Internet website,
if you have one, your annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q (§249.308a of this chapter), current reports on Form 8-K (§249.308
of this chapter), and amendments to those reports
filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act (15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or 78o(d) as soon as reasonably practicable after you electronically file such
material with, or furnish it to, the SEC;
ii. If
you do not make your filings available in this manner, the reasons you
do not do so (including, where applicable, that you do not have an Internet
website); and
iii. If
you do not make your filings available in this manner, whether you voluntarily
will provide electronic or paper copies of your filings free of charge
upon request.
f.
Reports to security
holders. Disclose the following information in any registration
statement you file under the Securities Act:
1. If
the SEC's proxy rules or regulations, or stock exchange requirements,
do not require you to send an annual report to security holders or to
holders of American depository receipts, describe briefly the nature and
frequency of reports that you will give to security holders. Specify whether
the reports that you give will contain financial information that has
been examined and reported on, with an opinion expressed "by"
an independent public or certified public accountant.
2. For
a foreign private issuer, if the report will not contain financial information
prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles,
you must state whether the report will include a reconciliation of this
information with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
g.
Enforceability
of civil liabilities against foreign persons. Disclose the following
if you are a foreign private issuer filing a registration statement under
the Securities Act:
1.
Whether or not
investors may bring actions under the civil liability provisions of the
U.S. federal securities laws against the foreign private issuer, any of
its officers and directors who are residents of a foreign country, any
underwriters or experts named in the registration statement that are residents
of a foreign country, and whether investors may enforce these civil liability
provisions when the assets of the issuer or these other persons are located
outside of the United States. The disclosure must address the following
matters:
i. The
investor's ability to effect service of process within the United States
on the foreign private issuer or any person;
ii. The
investor's ability to enforce judgments obtained in U.S. courts against
foreign persons based upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S.
federal securities laws;
iii. The
investor's ability to enforce, in an appropriate foreign court, judgments
of U.S. courts based upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal
securities laws; and
iv. The
investor's ability to bring an original action in an appropriate foreign
court to enforce liabilities against the foreign private issuer or any
person based upon the U.S. federal securities laws.
2. If
you provide this disclosure based on an opinion of counsel, name counsel
in the prospectus and file as an exhibit to the registration statement
a signed consent of counsel to the use of its name and opinion.
Instructions
to Item 101:
1. In
determining what information about the industry segments is material to
an understanding of the registrant's business taken as a whole and therefore
required to be disclosed, pursuant to paragraph
(c) of this Item, the registrant should take into account both quantitative
and qualitative factors such as the significance of the matter to the
registrant (e.g.,whether a matter with a relatively minor impact
on the registrant's business is represented by management to be important
to its future profitability), the pervasiveness of the matter (e.g.,
whether it affects or may affect numerous items in the segment information),
and the impact of the matter (e.g., whether it distorts the trends
reflected in the segment information). Situations may arise when information
should be disclosed about a segment, although the information in quantitative
terms may not appear significant to the registrant's business taken as
a whole.
2. Base
the determination of whether information about segments is required for
a particular year upon an evaluation of interperiod comparability. For
instance, interperiod comparability would require a registrant to report
segment information in the current period even if not material under the
criteria for reportability of SFAS No. 131 if a segment has been significant
in the immediately preceding period and the registrant expects it to be
significant in the future.
3. The
Commission, upon written request of the registrant and where consistent
with the protection of investors, may permit the omission of any of the
information required by this Item or the furnishing in substitution thereof
of appropriate information of comparable character.
Regulatory History |
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47 FR 11401, Mar. 16, 1982
57 FR 36501, Aug. 13, 1992
63 FR 6370, 6381, Feb. 6, 1998
64 FR 1728, 1734, Jan. 12, 1999
67 FR 58480, 58504, Sept. 16, 2002
SEC Release 33-8644: 70 FR 76642 Dec. 27, 2005 |
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