​You've made the decision to go public – a monumental moment in your company history. Aligning with the right transfer agent is a crucial decision to ensure your debut is a painless process, and that you're ready on day one with the right compliance, governance and reporting in place for a seamless transaction.

As transfer agent for your initial public offering (IPO), we guide you through the process and handle the details so you can focus on your future. And, as a provider of wide-ranging entity, equity and governance solutions, we support your company with so much more. Our specialized teams in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal have a strong track record of guiding many of Canada's most complex IPOs and most intricate Capital Pool Company programs.

Preparing for
your IPO

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Support for your
newly public company

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Move forward
with confidence

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Preparing for your IPO

Partnering with the right team of experts ensures your company is ready to IPO intelligently.

  • Complex processes navigated with ease

    IPOs are intense. But with Computershare you’ll have guided expertise throughout every stage leading up to your IPO. Industry-best practices ensure a smooth, uninterrupted transaction – reducing complexities at every step, including our IPO onboarding portal for new issuers and advisors.

  • Experienced, global partner with a strong track record

    Benefit from having an expert partner in your corner with proven experience to ensure your IPO runs seamlessly. As an industry leader that has executed thousands of IPOs across the globe, Computershare works hard to keep you on course.

  • Exceptional customer service delivered

    Working hand-in-hand with a dedicated team of IPO experts, you’ll have access to experienced professionals whenever you need them – ensuring you understand all the ins and outs of your transaction.

  • Innovative technology aligned with your needs of today and tomorrow

    Offer your stakeholders self-service technology with Computershare’s advanced digital platform, Investor Centre. And manage shareholder data securely and conveniently with our Issuer Online platform.

With Computershare, you can count on us to:

  • Establish existing and new securityholder master files and coordinate share issuances and stock certificate requirements.
  • Serve as escrow agent for founders’ shares that are required to be deposited into escrow in accordance with regulatory requirements. 
  • Implement and issue new shares via the Direct Registration System (DRS) as required, and electronically through the Canadian Depository for Securities (CDS) and Depository Trust Company (DTC).
  • Provide certification to the stock exchange for the issuance of IPO shares as well as for total outstanding share balances.
  • Participate in the closing call to release shares and credit the underwriters’ account.
  • Handle exchange of any existing, privately placed shares to the new publicly traded shares.
  • Manage any corporate actions such as secondary offerings or reverse splits.
  • Consult on other requirements, as necessary.


Support for your newly public company

​Successful execution of your IPO transaction is just the beginning. As a newly public company, there are a mountain of to-dos you’ll need to tackle.

  • Ongoing transfer agency services

    You’ll benefit from our decades of experience in the Canadian market and around the world, offering technology-enabled solutions and professional services tailored to your needs and delivered with enhanced security.

  • Hold a successful first annual meeting

    Our customizable portfolio of annual meeting services allows you to select the meeting components that are most important to your company for your very first AGM.

  • Engage employees with an equity plan

    Whether you need an equity awards program or an employee stock purchase plan, we administer the plan that is right for your company while providing your employees with convenient access to their holdings.

Moving forward with confidence

As you navigate life as a newly public company, you’ll take every step forward with confidence knowing Computershare has you covered with a wide range of intelligent solutions supporting registry and governance needs and requirements.

  • Modern and digital virtual annual meetings

    Enable virtual participation for issuers and shareholders in a meaningful, modern and digital way with Computershare’s virtual meeting solution. Whether you need a totally virtual option or simply a virtual component of your annual meeting, we provide strategies to broaden your shareholder engagement strategy.

  • Corporate actions

    To continue your growth, you’ll need the ability to handle future mergers and acquisitions. You need a partner who can make any corporate action happen, no matter the size, scale or geography of your transaction. Working with Computershare means you get a partner with decades of experience managing every type of event and transaction, no matter how unique or complex.

  • Global capital markets

    As you consider expansion into new geographies, having a partner with extensive access to global capital markets and expertise in jurisdictions worldwide is a big win. Whether you need to manage your listing in multiple markets, move securities across borders rapidly, or stay ahead of regulatory and market issues, Computershare has solutions to connect you and your investors to global markets.

Going public via a Capital Pool Company (CPC) program

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Latest insights

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    Post-IPO, a competitive employee equity plan should be top-of-mind

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IPO resources and insights for law firms

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Ready to IPO intelligently? Contact us today.

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