Article: Buying a 'shell' company can be cheaper alternative to IPO route.(Column)

When most talk about "shell companies," or "buying a public shell," there is usually a hint of nefariousness in the air, possibly because of the unfair association with the classic "shell game."

Too, many companies in the past have purchased shell companies to short-circuit SEC regulators, or pull some sort of financial chicanery.

But buying a public shell can be a perfectly legitimate, and smart, move for many private company owners, says James McKillop, managing director at Santa Monica-based BKL Capital, a consulting firm.

Why not just go public through an initial public offering?

First, an IPO is an expensive proposition, with no guarantee of ...

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