what is a reverse takeover rto 
a reverse takeover rto is a process whereby private companies can become publicly traded companies without going through an initial public offering ipo to begin a private company buys enough shares to control a publicly traded company the private company s shareholder then exchanges its shares in the private company for shares in the public company at this point the private company has effectively become a publicly traded company an rto is also sometimes referred to as a reverse merger a reverse ipo or a back door listing 