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ARTICLE · 16 MARCH 2011

Initial Public Offerings in Canada - A Business Law Guide

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The decision to go public is a significant milestone for a company. "Going public" refers to the process by which a private company becomes a public company. The most common procedure for going public is completing an initial public offering (IPO) of securities to the public.

CanadaFinance and Banking
Karrin Powys-Lybbe
Karrin Powys-Lybbe
Kevin Morris
Kevin Morris
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INTRODUCTION

Going Public

The decision to go public is a significant milestone for a company. "Going public" refers to the process by which a private company becomes a public company. The most common procedure for going public is completing an initial public offering (IPO) of securities to the public. Generally speaking, a company completing an IPO will also apply to list its securities on a stock exchange. This guide provides a general overview of the IPO process in Canada and ongoing reporting and governance requirements for Canadian public companies. The focus of this guide is on Canadian and foreign private companies rather than companies that have previously gone public in another country.

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