Written by Reverse mergers are considered as a dream by many company founders and they look forward to the day when their up-and-coming young company can be welcomed into the arena of the public stock market as a publicly listed company.
Nonetheless, there are varied methods that a private business can use to appeal to the capital markets and attract capital. The most common is the IPO (Initial Public Offering). An IPO is when a previously closely held private company originally offers to sell its stock to the investing public.
When a closely held private business visits the requirements needed to do a reverse merger – sometimes called a reverse takeover – with a public shell company, it is as a means for entering the capital markets fast and perhaps giving the private company directors an exit strategy.
In the example above, the publicly traded company is referred to as a “shell,” since all that’s left of the original company is the corporate organization and trading ability.
In public shell reverse mergers the shareholders of a private company purchase control of the shell company, merging it with the private company. The shareholders of the private business get the greatest portion of the stock of the public shell corporation, thereby controlling its board of directors.
Of course, the specifics pertaining to a reverse merger are many, and possibly an overview of the character of a public shell reverse merger is a subject that should be broached with a experienced securities attorney with a deep knowledge of all the applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules.
When contemplating a reverse merger with a shell company a multitude of items require a response. Crucial concepts take center stage, such as: AIM stock exchange, REIT formation, filing registration statements SB-1 and SB-2, rule 15c211, market makers, public float, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), form S-8 stock for company founders and directors, accredited investors, SEC accounting practices, strategic planning, investment banking, NASD broker/dealers, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The best going public advice should be sought before contemplating a reverse merger, since many CEO’s are inexperienced and not aware of the pitfalls of going public via a public shell reverse merger.
Some of the benefits from taking a privately held company public with a reverse merger are better ways to raise capital, since the multiple sources of capitalization are much greater versus what a private company can attract. Furthermore, if there is a high enough interest from the investing public, the investment outlook about the company increases it could provide a secondary market for the company’s stock issue. The company can also keep managers by offering stock options. The resulting public company’s securities can also be employed as currency for acquiring other businesses (Mergers and Acquisitions).
The numerous rewards of taking a private company public far offset the alternative of remaining a private concern. The cachet associated with a publicly traded corporation is a boon; the superior opportunities for raising capital for growth and expansion are perfect considerations for becoming a publicly traded company. Reverse mergers with public shell companies have a place among the many ways to take a company public.
Franklin A. Roberson is a reverse merger and corporate financial specialist with a long track record in the corporate financial services sector; get more information about Mr. Roberson and reverse mergers.
