IPO Services

Before becoming a public company, you have to look like one

Fuel your company’s future

Deciding to take your company public is a decision that will truly transform the way you do business and, if done right, will enable you to unlock new business opportunities while driving sustainable growth.

But turning a privately owned enterprise into a publicly traded company through an Initial Public Offering (IPO) is a rigorous process. Going public requires significant effort as well as the different branches of your business working together towards a common goal. It can be a daunting and difficult task for those not prepared.

So where do you start? And how do you know if going public is right for your business?

The IPO journey

Evaluate your readiness

Have you evaluated if going public is your best option? Assessing your company's readiness to go public is a critical first step.

Before you embark on this journey, you have to:

Review objectives and capital needs
Outline advantages and disadvantages of going public
Explore all available options
Get guidance on stock exchanges in Canada and the U.S. (including SEC requirements)

Assess financial statements and reporting systems
Gain insight into costs and cultural changes
Explain the process and pitfalls
Establish a reasonable timeline

Your action plan

To make the transition from private enterprise to public company a smooth and successful process, you need to “get your house in order” by designing and following an optimal action plan.

To develop the ideal IPO action plan, you have to:

Make sure financial statements are in order and ready for prospectus
Get advise on necessary management restructuring

Establish an IPO advisory team
Look for guidance on professional IPO relationships

Execute the IPO process

The offering phase is a juggling act within a short timeframe. You will need to work alongside your underwriter, legal counsel and advisors to execute the right IPO process.

For the optimal execution of your IPO process, you have to:

Review your preliminary prospectus for internal consistency
Make sure the presentation of your financial statements and other financial data meets all disclosure requirements
Obtain financial information and assistance in drafting the critical Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) in your prospectus

Anticipate and respond to issues raised by regulators both in Canada and the U.S.
Seek help with the due diligence process
Prepare for necessary disclosure and reporting requirements necessary as a public company

How we can help

Like any journey, going public requires careful preparation. Our IPO Services team includes professionals with technical skills and industry expertise to help you better understand what it takes to go public, guide you through the entire IPO journey, meet your requirements as a successful public company and turn your vision into a reality. Start your journey by learning what you'll need to consider at every stage, before and beyond your IPO.

We can also help plan for the consequences of public life:

A corporate governance gap analysis prepares you for the requirements of managing a public company and assists in enhancing shareholder value. We evaluate your company's actual or planned corporate governance practices and policies against securities and listing guidelines, identify weaknesses and recommend remedial action.

A tax check-up helps boost the tax advantages and reduce the tax costs of going public. We review the tax consequences of going public, the potential risks and planning opportunities and the proactive measures you’ll need to take.

A financial controls review gives you an understanding of your company's systems—needed for the reporting demands of a public company. We assess your internal controls, highlight areas of potential risk and provide recommendations for improvement.