Dizzy....it works very similar to an IPO. The S1 filing will be PR'd then the SEC goes back and forth with "comments" for about 2-4 weeks then once they are satisfied, the company is taken on by an underwriter and clearinghouse for the shares under the new ticker board and then when it's time to trade...such and such date of trading will be announced and your account will reflect that on the day of it's opening trade. It will almost be a new stock with a whole new company valuation as well. Market Makers will come to Bid/Ask depending on Valuation and Demand for the stock on both Buy/Sell sides and it will begin to trade as any other stock on the OTC/Nasdaq controlled Boards.