What Must Public Companies Disclose? A Primer

U.S. companies rely on the capital markets for a greater portion of their total funding, and on the debt capital markets for a greater portion of their credit financing, than do companies in Europe or Asia. In short, U.S. capital markets play a critical role in both the U.S. and global economy. Transparency is viewed as fundamental to the efficient functioning of these markets. Transparency, in the form of robust dis-closures by public companies, helps to protect investors, ensure a level playin