There are many measures of success for initial public offerings (IPOs). First and foremost is completing the deal and raising the intended proceeds. From the perspective of remaining and new shareholders, however, the subsequent short-term trading performance is more often seen as the measure of a good IPO as opposed to a bad one.

For the board and management of the newly listed entity, their measure of success and their reputation will depend on how well the newly listed entity performs in the medium term and delivers on the investment proposition on which new shareholders based their investment decision. Continue reading →

An IPO is often the most important capital markets and wealth creation event in a corporate life cycle. Unmatched access to capital at a lower cost is a clear benefit in favour of an IPO, along with corporate branding opportunities and a host of other benefits.

Companies consider three things when choosing a listing location—the actual out-of-pocket costs for establishing and maintaining the listing, the effects on valuation and liquidity, and the nonfinancial benefits. Continue reading →