IPO Disclosures Are Ripe for Reform

Current financial disclosure rules let would-be public companies paint a too-rosy picture while obscuring information that investors should know. Pre-IPO disclosures have grown increasingly bloated but typically lack information relevant to the likelihood of success for new business models. The authors propose “triggered” disclosures tailored to a company’s value drivers, wherein claims about customer value and potential market size must be supported by the consistent, objective collection of baseline data.