Core Viewpoint - The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) supports SEC Chair Paul Atkins' initiative to ease the regulatory path for small companies to go public, aiming to reduce filing burdens and enhance opportunities for initial public offerings (IPOs) [1][2]. Group 1: Regulatory Changes - SIFMA's President and CEO Kenneth Bentsen expressed encouragement regarding Atkins' goal to lessen regulatory burdens for smaller firms considering IPOs [2]. - Bentsen highlighted the importance of updating the concept of emerging growth companies to reflect current market conditions, including adjustments to reporting requirements and extending the timeline for smaller companies to go public [3]. - Atkins pointed out that companies with a market capitalization of $250 million face the same reporting requirements as much larger companies, suggesting a need for reform in the thresholds that differentiate 'large' and 'small' companies [4][5]. Group 2: Market Trends - The IPO market in the third quarter showed its strongest performance since 2021 in terms of listings and capital raised, although total listings remain significantly lower than in 2021 [6]. - The number of public firms in the U.S. has decreased to approximately 4,300, down from over 7,000 in the 1990s, indicating a trend where many firms, even those with substantial valuations, prefer to stay private [6].