First Cover

Fact Check by FC

News EN ↓ 14 episodes

A practitioner-focused podcast on U.S. capital markets, regulation, and deal execution. We break down SEC and exchange updates, IPOs & M&A activity, SPACs, issuer disclosure workflows, and D&O risk — translating complex developments into clear takeaways. Each episode answers: What changed, who it impacts, and what to do next. Built for issuers, advisors, and investors who care about execution.

Author

First Cover

Category

News

Podcast website

podcasters.spotify.com

Latest episode

Jul 10, 2026

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Episodes

Episode 14 - The SEC Admits It Became the Bottleneck 10.07.2026

In this episode, we break down the SEC's 2026 regulatory reset and what it could mean for American capital markets. After years of rising disclosure burdens, aggressive enforcement driven policy, and a shrinking public market pipeline, the SEC is now signaling a major pivot toward capital formation, clearer crypto rules, IPO access, financial materiality, and market structure reform. From toke...

Episode 13 - 2026H1 IPO Review: A Reopened Window, Not a Full Recovery 03.07.2026

In this episode, we review the U.S. IPO market in the first half of 2026 and examine what the latest issuance activity really says about capital markets sentiment. From deal volume and sector leadership to valuation discipline and investor demand, we look at why the IPO window has started to reopen, while still falling short of a full-cycle recovery. Episode 13 Checklist: ☐ Separate IPO recovery f...

Episode 12 - Nasdaq's New Proposal Picks Up Speed: Are Low-Market-Cap Companies Facing "Accelerated Delisting"? 26.06.2026

In this episode, we break down the Federal Reserve's June 2026 decision to hold rates steady while sending a more hawkish signal to markets. In Kevin Warsh's first meeting as Chair, the Fed left rates unchanged at 3.50% to 3.75%, but rewrote its message: the projections flipped from a rate cut to a hike, the statement was stripped of its easing language, and the door to near-term cuts quie...

Episode 11 - The Fed’s Hawkish Hold: Inflation, Demand, and the Higher-for-Longer Rate Path 19.06.2026

In this episode, we break down the Federal Reserve’s June 2026 decision to hold rates steady while sending a more hawkish signal to markets. From sticky CPI and PPI readings to resilient retail sales and a still-firm labor market, we examine why the Fed was not ready to cut, why it stopped short of hiking, and how investors reacted to a rate path that now looks higher-for-longer.   Episode 11 Chec...

Episode 10 - Economic Signals and the SEC’s Semiannual Reporting Proposal 12.06.2026

n this episode, we begin with the week’s key market signals, including the latest PPI/CPI readings and labor market data, and discuss what they may imply for interest-rate expectations, public market sentiment, and IPO timing. We then turn to the continuing AI IPO race, including OpenAI-related market attention and SpaceX’s latest capital markets developments, before moving into the SEC’s proposed...

Episode 9 - AI IPO Race: From Private Hype to Public Market Reality 05.06.2026

In this episode, we break down the emerging AI IPO race and what public market investors will actually be asked to price. From Anthropic and OpenAI to CoreWeave, Figma, Reddit, Cerebras, and other AI-related listings, we examine how AI companies are being classified, valued, and scrutinized as they move from private-market hype to public-market disclosure. Episode 9 Checklist: ☐ Separate AI narrat...

Episode 8 — SpaceX IPO: What Investors Need to Know from Its S-1? 29.05.2026

In this episode, we break down SpaceX’s S-1 filing and the practical market questions behind what could become one of the largest IPOs in U.S. history. From Starlink’s profitability and AI infrastructure expansion to Elon Musk’s voting control, staged lockups, underwriting structure, and valuation debate, we examine the key checkpoints investors and market participants should watch before listing....

Eposide 7 - Nasdaq & NYSE Listing Rules 22.05.2026

In this episode, we break down the practical realities of listing on Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange. From public float and shareholder distribution to governance requirements and recent Nasdaq rule changes, we examine the critical checkpoints companies must clear before entering the public markets. Episode 7 Checklist: ☐ Separate SEC approval from exchange approval in your IPO planning pro...

Episode 6 - Six Major Nasdaq and SEC Rule Changes 08.05.2026

The IPO window is finally opening back up, but the rulebook has changed underneath it. Between April 2025 and April 2026, Nasdaq filed roughly 70 rule changes with the SEC. The vast majority were routine market plumbing. Six were not. They are structural shifts that rewrite the playbook for public companies, SPAC sponsors, and the entire crypto ETP market. In this episode of Fact Check by First Co...

Episode 5 - SEO vs. GEO 01.05.2026

First Cover is a global professional services firm headquartered in New York, serving clients in more than 120 regions worldwide. We support public and emerging growth companies operating in complex market environments through integrated capital markets advisory, public perception strategy, and regulatory compliance services. Episode 5 Checklist: ☐  Audit your company's AI generated summary ri...

Episode 4 - How Shareholder Meetings Work 24.04.2026

First Cover is a global professional services firm headquartered in New York, serving clients in more than 120 regions worldwide. We support public and emerging growth companies operating in complex market environments through integrated capital markets advisory, public perception strategy, and regulatory compliance services. Episode 4 Checklist: ☐  Know which rules apply to your issuer type. U.S....

Episode 3 - SPAC Market 17.04.2026

First Cover is a global professional services firm headquartered in New York, serving clients in more than 120 regions worldwide. We support public and emerging growth companies operating in complex market environments through integrated capital markets advisory, public perception strategy, and regulatory compliance services. Episode 3 Checklist: ☐  Know the current unit structure. $10 per share, ...

Episode 2 - AI Disclosure Risk 10.04.2026

First Cover is a global professional services firm headquartered in New York, serving clients in more than 120 regions worldwide. We support public and emerging growth companies operating in complex market environments through integrated capital markets advisory, public perception strategy, and regulatory compliance services. Episode 2 Checklist: AI Disclosure Risk After March 2026 ☐ Audit every A...

Episode 1 - D&O Risk 02.04.2026

First Cover is a global professional services firm headquartered in New York, serving clients in more than 120 regions worldwide. We support public and emerging growth companies operating in complex market environments through integrated capital markets advisory, public perception strategy, and regulatory compliance services. 5 Key Steps to Evaluate Your Board's Insurance Coverage Is your Director...

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