With SEC workers offline, the government shutdown could screw IPO-ready companies

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The government shutdown has entered into day 19, making it the second-longest shutdown in U.S
history
With President Donald Trump slamming his hands down on a table and storming out of negotiations with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Chuck
Schumer earlier today, a fast-approaching end feels unlikely.Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are out of work as U.S
leaders struggle to reach a fair agreement on the federal budget, including employees of the U.S
Securities and Exchange Commission
The government agency, responsible for protecting investors and maintaining fair, orderly and efficient markets, shut down on December 27
documents, including paperwork for initial public offerings, has remained up and running
on the state of the IPO market in 2019.Several major technology companies have taken steps toward early-2019 IPOs, all of which are at risk
of a delay
A poor performing stock market is only adding fuel to the flames in a year that many had expected would bring record amounts of liquidity to
investors via high-profile offerings
Uber, Lyft, Slack and Pinterest have all begun IPO prep, for example, with Uber chief executive officer Dara Khosrowshahi recently claiming
Well-funded businesses with strong balance sheets, as Khosrowshahi pointed out, have a safety net ready if IPO plans go awry