"Atkins noted that the number of publicly registered companies has fallen over the past 30 years as mergers and bankruptcies have outpaced new listings. His goal, he said, is to "make it cool to be a public company" again-something he believes has "taken a hit over time." Atkins outlined three obstacles he believes are holding issuers back. The first is what he described as expensive, overly long disclosures that impose an unnecessary burden on issuers."
"The second is the threat of securities litigation. Atkins reiterated his support for allowing companies-where state law permits-to adopt bylaws mandating arbitration and applying "loser pays" fee-shifting provisions, and said the SEC staff will no longer block an IPO solely because such measures are included. "If the state allows it, then that will be fine with us," he said. His third concern centers on what he characterized as "politicized shareholder activists" who can influence corporate governance battles."
"In my conversation with Lynn Martin, president of the New York Stock Exchange, during the recent Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit, she said that public listings on the NYSE have come roaring back in 2025. "The IPO market is really, really strong," she said. "We've had a great year so far across all sectors." According to S&P Global research, the first half of 2025 was the strongest start for U.S. IPO issuance since 2021, with 102 IPOs versus 78 in the same period of"
SEC Chairman Paul Atkins urged efforts to make public listings more accessible, citing a 30-year decline in publicly registered companies as mergers and bankruptcies outpaced new listings. He stated a goal to "make it cool to be a public company" again and identified three primary obstacles: expensive, lengthy disclosures; the threat of securities litigation; and the influence of "politicized shareholder activists." Atkins supported allowing companies, where state law permits, to adopt bylaws requiring arbitration and "loser pays" fee-shifting, and said SEC staff will not block IPOs solely for including such measures. IPO activity rebounded strongly in 2025, with the NYSE reporting robust listings and S&P Global noting 102 IPOs in the first half of 2025.
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