IPO Center › Public Entity Definition
United States · Exchange Listing & Public Company
Public Entity Definition
The concept of a public company defined carefully in SEC-reporting terms rather than loose market language.
Part of the IPO Center's United States resources. The facts on this page follow the official text of the authorities cited below, each linked for verification.
Key facts
What the official sources actually say
Every statement below maps to a primary source listed at the bottom of this page.
Nasdaq has three market tiers
Nasdaq identifies three U.S. market tiers, and applicants must satisfy financial, liquidity, and corporate-governance requirements to list.
Periodic reporting is statutory
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 empowers the SEC to require periodic reporting of information by companies with publicly traded securities.
Form 8-K covers current events
Form 8-K is the current report under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, and many items are due within four business days of the triggering event unless otherwise specified.
Annual and quarterly reports
Form 10-K is the annual report and Form 10-Q is the quarterly report required of reporting companies.
Governance disclosure starts in the S-1
Management, compensation, ownership, and related-person-transaction disclosure appears in the registration statement and continues in public-company reporting after listing.
Where this sits in the IPO path
Exchange Listing & Public Company
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Official materials
Primary Authorities and Official Materials
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