First IPO Lab seminar at Beursplein 5: a look back

Published in our newsletter of 16 July 2012 - A firm strike of the gong at Beursplein 5, the Amsterdam stock exchange, marked the start of the first IPO Lab seminar on 3 July of this year. It was a day full of speakers and workshops for potential stock exchange candidates, giving them a chance to think about whether they are ready for an IPO. The successful IPO of Ziggo and the listings of Core Laboratories and D.E. MASTER BLENDERS 1753 on the Amsterdam stock exchange earlier this year will have made a lot of companies wonder about a possible listing. But what does it take? How do you prepare for a listing? What can a company director expect? How does the (preparation for a) listing affect an organisation and its employees? These and many other issues were discussed by the experts from ABN AMRO, Citigate First Financial, Deloitte and NautaDutilh, the firms that organised the seminar in cooperation with NYSE Euronext.

After the opening gong, Ziggo CFO Bert Groenewegen kicked off the seminar by talking about his experiences with the cable company’s recent IPO. Alex Otto, director Investments of Delta Lloyd Asset Management, talked about what institutional investors expect from stock exchange candidates. He also provided a fascinating glimpse of developments at a few of Delta Lloyd’s investments. These presentations were followed by a panel discussion led by BNR radio presenter Rens de Jong and involving all the organising experts.

In the afternoon, the participants were able to submerge themselves in the workshops. The subjects covered included aspects of an IPO in the field of financial reporting and control, legal structure and corporate governance, valuation, equity story and risk management, as well as the opportunities and obligations in the field of communications and investor relations. After the sessions, the ten stock exchange candidates received a checklist.

If you missed the IPO Lab but are interested in a stock exchange listing, you will find a sneak preview of do’s and don’ts below. And if you have serious plans, you will be pleased to hear there will be another IPO Lab next year. And of course you can always talk to the experts any time you wish!

• Don’t start too late: behave like a listed company before you are one;
• Talk to investors a year before or even earlier and ask for feedback;
• Make sure that everyone in the company is committed and informed so the listing doesn’t cause a culture shock;
• Find a core team of trusted advisors and make sure you know exactly what you want, because every party has its own agenda and their own approach.