When a company completes a reverse stock split, each outstanding share of the company is converted into a fraction of a share. For example, if a company declares a one for ten reverse stock split, every ten shares that you own will be converted into a single share. If you owned 10,000 shares of the company before the reverse stock split, you will own a total of 1,000 shares after the reverse How to Buy Pre-IPO Shares before a Company goes Public ... Investing in pre-IPO shares isn’t always easy. In most cases, the ability to purchase them will largely depend on whom you know. However, it’s not impossible. There are several ways and methods one can invest in pre-IPO shares with a company that intends to go public.