How to Get a Stock Symbol Assigned
- 1). Create enough free-trading shares. Before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority can grant your company the right to use a stock symbol, you must show that you have at least 300,000 to 500,000 freely traded stock shares available.
- 2). Show nonaffiliated shareholders. FINRA will typically only list a stock if your company does not concentrate share ownership among a few company officers. Typically, you need at least 30 to 50 nonaffiliated shareholders before FINRA will consider your company for a stock symbol. Shares also must be reasonably distributed and cannot be concentrated in the hands of just a few of the nonaffiliated shareholders.
- 3). File a United States Securities and Exchange Commission registration statement. To be a listed company with a stock symbol, your company must file reports with the SEC relating to the background of the company officers and the company's financial statements.
- 4). Reserve a stock symbol. Each stock exchange has a form you can use to reserve a stock symbol. Assuming you qualify for listing and the stock symbol you request is not currently in use, you can usually get the symbol of your choice.
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