Understanding Qualifying Transactions: How Canadian Companies Go Public

What Is a Qualifying Transaction?

A qualifying transaction allows a private company in Canada to go public by issuing stock through a capital pool company (CPC). The CPC acquires the private company's shares, completing its transition to a public entity listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. This approach offers a more streamlined alternative to a traditional IPO and must be completed within a defined regulatory timeframe.

How Qualifying Transactions Operate in Canada

Private companies go public to raise capital to finance their operations and growth. Financing is either done through equity financing, which is the issuance of shares to the public, or debt financing, which involves a loan. In the U.S., equity financing is accomplished through an initial public offering (IPO). In Canada, equity financing can also be achieved in a different way, through a qualifying transaction and the creation of a capital pool company (CPC).

A capital pool company (CPC) is a listed company with experienced directors and capital, but no commercial operations. Essentially, it is a shell company whose sole purpose is to later acquire a privately held company through a qualifying transaction.

The directors of the CPC focus on acquiring a privately held company and, upon the completion of the acquisition, that company has access to the capital and the listing prepared by the capital pool company. The private company then becomes a fully-owned subsidiary of the CPC. Qualifying transactions must be completed by a CPC within 24 months after the date of the CPC's first listing, which involves filing a prospectus and applying for a new listing on the TSX Venture Exchange.

The qualifying transaction may be structured as a share for share exchange; an amalgamation, where the private company and CPC form one corporation; plan of arrangement, where the capital structure of the private company is complex or unique and requires court and shareholder approval; or an asset purchase, where the CPC purchases assets from a third party in exchange for cash and/or securities of the CPC. In each case, the shareholders of the private company become security holders of the CPC.

Going Public with Qualifying Transactions: An Overview

Capital pool companies, and associated qualifying transactions, are the most frequently used method of going public on the TSX Venture Exchange in Canada as opposed to initial public offerings (IPOs).

This method of going public is more efficient than a traditional initial public offering (IPO) because, unlike in an IPO, private companies are not required to incur upfront costs before marketing shares to prospective investors. Because the capital pool company will, by nature, have no business of its own, whatever line of trade that the private company engages in becomes the business of the CPC.

Qualifying transactions usually formally begin when the shareholders and the CPC create a Letter of Intent (LOI) outlining the terms of the agreement. Usually, the CPC must include a plan for financing the transaction in every LOI.

Essential Requirements for Capital Pool Companies in Qualifying Transactions

CPCs have certain rules and requirements to follow when turning a private company public. Law stipulates that a CPC must have three individuals that can contribute the greater of $100,000 or 5% of the total funds raised for the shares.

In addition, the CPC must sell the shares at twice the price of the seed shares to the public to a minimum of 200 investors. These investors have to purchase a minimum of 1,000 shares each. This sale must result in a value between $200,000 and $4,750,000. This raised capital then has to be used for an acquisition.

The Bottom Line

A qualifying transaction allows a private Canadian company to go public through a capital pool company (CPC) as a lower-cost alternative to an IPO. The CPC must meet regulatory requirements within 24 months to access capital through the TSX Venture Exchange.