After the quietest start to the IPO year since the 2020 COVID lockdowns, with only about $187 million raised so far, less than half the amount at the same time in 2024, Australia’s IPO market has been waiting for a circuit breaker.
What’s different?
- Pathfinder Prospectus: The company can email an early draft to ASIC two weeks before formal lodgement, giving the regulator time to complete its review upfront and trimming at least one week from the traditional timetable.
- Shorter exposure and execution window: The period in which an IPO is most exposed to market volatility falls from about 3 and a half weeks to 2 and a half weeks.
- Early retail take-up: issuers may open applications to retail investors sooner, improving deal momentum.
- Eligibility: applies to companies that already meet the ASX fast-track criteria and expect a market cap above A$100 million, with no escrow period for the sale of shares imposed.
These changes will come into effect immediately.
ASIC chair Joe Long hopes the changes will deliver more IPOs, which means more investment opportunities, jobs and economic growth. Similar accelerators have been adopted in the US, UK, EU and elsewhere, so this move also keeps the ASX competitive globally.
If you’d like to discuss a potential listing, please contact Dale Copley, Scott Standen or Glenn Vassallo.