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November 24, 2022
Typically a transfer agent is a company responsible for maintaining investor financial records and account balances for shares and security ownership. The transfer agent will record transactions, cancel and issue certificates, process investor communications, and handle a host of other investor problems, including reissuing lost or stolen certificates. Transfer agents work closely with registrars to ensure investors receive their due interest and dividend payments in a timely manner.
Traditionally, a transfer agent would be managing a public company’s books and records of shareholders.
However; all capital raises require this service as you will be selling a security type in order to raise capital - and the Transfer Agent will keep record of that value exchange with your investor pool.
Before most TAs were digital, the time, labor, and systems infrastructure required to maintain your own company register didn’t make good economic sense. Maintaining system access to central depositories, paying a dividend, doing tax reporting and remitting, fielding shareholder inquiries, all the associated AML and compliance reporting – is too big of an operation. It requires a significant back office managing it; therefore, the vast majority of companies hire an experienced transfer agent that not only knows the compliance and legal obligations, but has automated digital processes to fulfill on them.
As you embark on raising capital, you’ll need to keep a close eye on your records of ownership - also called a cap table in the startup world.
A cap table is most commonly utilized for startups and early-stage businesses but all types of companies may use it as well. In general, the cap table is an intricate breakdown of a company’s shareholders’ equity. Cap tables often include all of a company’s equity ownership capital, such as common equity shares, preferred equity shares, warrants, and convertible equity.
It shows the total market value of a company and its components, and is a key point of reference for business managers. It is important for the cap table to be accurate, customized to the business needs, and regularly maintained for decision-making based on the most current information.
When you raise capital via Reg A, Reg CF, Reg D506, Reg S (or any exemption in Canada), be rest-assured that our Shareholder Services will manage the back-office for your company: we can oversee the investor certificates, records, and accounts for you digitally and integrated with your raise.
If you are interested in a Private Placement or a Warrant exercise, our Shareholder Services are there as well to help manage the books and records either for a singular deal or overall for your company.
Our team of experts are here to help answer any questions you may have, so please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time.
We’re here to help.