What Is a Reverse Merger Super 8-K? Going Public Lawyer
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), Division of Corporate Finance frequently notes disclosure failures of reverse merger transactions in Form 8-K also known as “Super 8-K”. This blog post summarizes SEC staff comments in response to reports on Form 8-K reporting of reverse mergers with public shell companies and similar transactions that result in a public company no longer being designated as a shell company. These include that the issuer provide “Form 10 information” including audited financial statements in a Super 8-K.
Super 8-K’s disclosure requirements for reverse merger transactions are expansive and in most respects and comparable to the disclosures found in a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1833, as amended (the “Securities Act”). In addition to these requirements, issuers must comply with FINRA’s notice requirements under Rule 6490. Reverse merger issuers often find their securities subject to Depository Trust (“DTC”) scrutiny, DTC Chills and global locks because of the presumption of fraud associated with reverse mergers.
The SEC has noted that Super 8-K filings typically fail to provide the SEC’s required disclosures for transactions involving public shell companies under Items 2.01, 5.01 and 9.01 of Super 8-K.
Super 8-K reporting of reverse mergers includes:
Item 2.01 – Completion of acquisition or disposition of assets requires the issuer to provide information following a transaction that is outside the ordinary course of business. A corporate acquisition as well as an asset acquisition can result in a company no longer being a shell company. In the event that the asset acquisition results in a company no longer being a shell company, all information required in a Form 10 Registration Statement must be filed in a Super 8-K within four days of the completion of the transaction.
The SEC release concerning Form 8-K reporting of reverse mergers provides, “we frequently remind companies that Instruction 2 to Item 2.01 makes clear that the term “acquisition” includes every purchase, acquisition by lease, exchange, merger, consolidation, succession or other acquisition.” Further, when a company’s reverse merger or similar transaction includes an asset acquisition as defined in Item 2, then an Item 2.01 disclosure is also required.
Item 5.01 requires disclosures regarding a change of control. Issuers must include all disclosures required by Item 5.01 when filing a Super 8-K which include:
(i) identity of the person(s) acquiring such control;
(ii) date and description of the transaction which resulted in the change in control;
(iii) basis of control, including percentage of voting securities of the registrant now beneficially owned by the person(s) who acquired control;
(iv) amount of consideration used by the person(s) acquiring control;
(v) source of funds used by the person(s) acquiring control;
(vi) the identity of the person(s) from whom control was assumed;
(vii) any arrangements or understandings among the members of both the former and new control groups with respect to the election of directors or other matters; and
(viii) the information required by Item 403(c) of Regulation S-K.
Item 9.01 is the Financial Statements and Exhibits section of the Super 8-K. Issuers must include historical financial statements of the acquired private operating business. In particular, the Form 8-K must include two years of audited financial statements and unaudited reviewed interim periods to the date of filing. In addition, the issuer must include pro forma financial information accounting for the combined companies.
For more information about reverse mergers, click here.
For further information about this securities law blog post, please contact Brenda Hamilton, Securities Attorney at 101 Plaza Real S, Suite 202 N, Boca Raton, Florida, (561) 416-8956, by email at [email protected] or visit www.securitieslawyer101.com. This securities law blog post is provided as a general informational service to clients and friends of Hamilton & Associates Law Group and should not be construed as, and does not constitute legal advice on any specific matter, nor does this message create an attorney-client relationship. Please note that the prior results discussed herein do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Hamilton & Associates | Securities Lawyers
Brenda Hamilton, Securities Attorney
101 Plaza Real South, Suite 202 North
Boca Raton, Florida 33432
Telephone: (561) 416-8956
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www.SecuritiesLawyer101.com
