Pre-IPO and Public Company Services Group Anchin’s Pre-IPO and Public Company Services Group address the increasingly complex needs of private companies preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) as well as public companies navigating daunting regulatory and business challenges. Our team of seasoned professionals has years of experience and has worked with many small to mid-market companies to guide them through the complex IPO process, assisting them in the transitions necessary to become a publicly listed firm and helping to avoid costly delays. This expertise and experience coupled with Anchin’s significant in-house resources enables us to offer a uniquely comprehensive service. Additionally, with independence rules and regulatory requirements strengthened, many companies must now employ multiple firms in the pre- and post-IPO process. Anchin has worked seamlessly with other firms and teams of attorneys to bring the process to fruition, and we offer a suite of services that cannot be provided by your audit firm. Anchin was also one of the first firms in the nation to register with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB).

Anchin’s Pre-IPO and Public Company Services Group provides services in four different areas:

• IPO Readiness Services
• SEC Registration
• Tax Accounting Consultation Services
• Interim CFO Services
• Internal Controls and Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance

IPO Readiness Services Taking a company public can be one of the most exciting and rewarding events in the lifecycle of a business. The benefits can be significant: generating considerable wealth for owners, increasing operating capital, providing better access to the investment community, and enhancing the market recognition and public profile for your firm. However, there are significant challenges associated with an Initial Public Offering (IPO). Becoming publicly listed will result in marked changes in how your business operates, such as more stringent compliance requirements and information disclosures, pressure from investors, and more intrusive regulatory scrutiny. Because of the complex nature of IPOs and the many challenges involved, detailed and extensive planning is crucial for successful execution.

We customize our services to meet your needs and can work with you from the initial first step of deciding to go public through all the necessary filings and registrations to the final close. And our work does not stop there. Once your IPO is complete, we work with you to implement the controls and documentation needed to meet the proper regulatory requirements. From the first stages of contemplating an IPO through your early years as a publicly listed company, we provide everything you need to ensure success. Some of our services designed to prepare firms for an IPO include:

• IPO Readiness Assessment
• Review of Accounting and Bookkeeping Procedures
• Consultation on Accounting, Financial Reporting, and Disclosure Requirements
• Drafting Financial Statements, Footnotes, and SEC Schedules
• Acting as an Internal Accounting Department
• Conversion of S-Corp and LLC Structure to C-Corp Public Structure
• Preparation of Pro-Forma Deferral Taxes and Provisions Required as a C-Corp
• Preparation of Historical Financial Statements, Disclosures, and Schedules for Inclusion in Registration Statement
• Pre-IPO Assessment of Internal Controls for Purpose of Meeting SOX Requirements

Once you have completed an IPO, Anchin offers a host of services to get you up and running:

• Valuation Analysis
• Internal Control Reviews and Documentation
• Implementation of Control Recommendations
• Assistance in Drafting Forms 10K, 10Q, AK
• Assistance in Meeting Quarterly and Annual SEC Reporting Deadlines
• Assistance in Drafting "Management’s Discussion and Analysis" (MD&As) in filings
• Due Diligence with Respect to Potential Acquisitions
• Preparation of Pro-Forma Financial Statements in Connection with Acquisitions
• Accounting for Income Taxes, Including Analysis of Uncertain Tax Positions
• Providing Schedules, Analysis, Trial Balances, and Support to Independent Auditors
• Assistance in Preparing Delinquent Filings with the SEC
• Provide interim "CFO" Services

SEC Registration Registration with the SEC is one of the most critical steps of the IPO process. In addition to financial statements, companies must submit a large amount of information addressing every aspect of the business, including information on operations, liquidity and capital resources, risk profile, and internal controls, among other areas. The preparation and submission of such registration statements demand a substantive assessment of all business functions and considerable planning due to the complex and often highly technical nature of the filings.

Anchin is uniquely suited to assist firms with this process. We combine our experience and expertise with privately-held firms with our deep understanding of the disclosure and compliance requirements of the SEC to make the registration process as smooth as possible. After submission, we also work with you to respond to any comment letters issued by the SEC.

Tax Accounting Consultation Services The professionals at Anchin are specialists in ASC 740 (FAS109 and FIN 48) preparation and implementation services. We have a knowledgeable, dedicated team that stays on top of issues that your company may face, with experience addressing all of the changing rules of tax compliance. Many companies today are unclear about the documentation needed to support a tax position and the disclosures required within their financial statements. At Anchin, we can help you shed light on this complex, evolving issue. Anchin works with you to account for current and deferred taxes, addressing and resolving differences between the book basis and tax basis of your assets and liabilities. We ensure your financial statements are precise and relevant and appropriately account for tax credit carryforwards, loss carryforwards, valuation allowances, tax rate changes, and foreign taxes.

Interim CFO Services After a successfully executed IPO, there are many challenges in the full transition from private to public company. To help firms smooth this changeover, Anchin provides interim CFO services, where we can provide support to your CFO function as your organization adapts to a new public environment. Anchin provides this service in support of the initial IPO registration process and in support of a newly public company for purposes of meeting SEC filing and reporting requirements, including support with late or delinquent fillings, as well as SOX internal control requirements.

Internal Controls and Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 was designed to strengthen investor confidence in public companies by enhancing corporate governance and increasing the effectiveness of certain internal controls over financial reporting. In preparation for an IPO, it’s necessary to review your existing internal controls and, if appropriate, upgrade them to comply with SOX. Anchin is able to assess and, if necessary, design the internal controls of financial reporting systems to ensure compliance with SOX Section 404. Indeed, we apply this process to many of our privately held and not-for-profit clients who have seen and experienced how the best practices required by Section 404 help them improve business operations and secure their assets. We conduct the same process for our IPO clients so that they are in full compliance when they go public.

The Anchin Difference Anchin’s IPO Services Group has been designed to offer you seamless service as you move towards an IPO. Working with you from the initial decision to go public, we craft a roadmap that steers you towards a listing on a public exchange. During that process, we leverage our full suite of accounting, tax, financial, and business advisory services on your behalf to ensure that when the deal closes, everything is in place. Whether it’s reviewing your accounting and bookkeeping procedures, implementing an effective internal controls system, or preparing all the necessary SEC filing and documentation, we are able to address any issue that might arise.

Anchin is uniquely distinguished by deep involvement at the partner level. This enables you to reap the benefits of our partners’ years of insight, technical knowledge, and business acumen working with clients as they proceed towards an IPO. We pride ourselves on establishing a close working relationship with you and becoming Your Expert Partner.