The Road to IPO - Step 1: Appoint advisers

Professional advisers play an integral role in achieving a successful listing. They can help with a wide range of issues including legal, financial, accounting, valuation, prospectus preparation, due diligence, underwriting and marketing of the IPO. There are also specialist advisers such as independent valuation experts for specific industries such as the mining industry.

Professional advisers may be able to assist you with:

  • Corporate structure, prospectus, and legal matters - can include the structure of your management and board, Corporate governance structures, your organisation's constitution, prospectus preparation and the due diligence process
  • Financial matters – can include preparation of historical accounts, forecasts, taxation issues and the valuation of assets
  • Marketing and distribution of securities – can include management of the IPO, pricing of the issue, underwriting, marketing of the issue and allocation of securities
  • Communication – can include investor relations, public relations and Government relations

Key advisers who can assist you in these areas include:

  • Stockbrokers and Investment Banks - offer advisory services that can assist with the management of the listing process
  • Underwriters – agree to purchase any shares not taken up by investors under the IPO, to ensure the receipt of sufficient funds
  • Lawyers – assist with the legal aspects of a float
  • Accountants – advise on such aspects of the float as financial, taxation and valuation issues
  • Share registries – manage the register of share holders, process applications for the IPO and handle the share register on an ongoing basis
  • Communications and Investor Relations consultants – can liaise with members of the media to ensure that the float gets sufficient press coverage, and organise investor roadshows
  • Other experts – depending on the nature of your listing, other experts may be of assistance to provide specialist advice or reports, such as independent expert reports or real estate valuations