The climate for initial public offerings (IPO) in Australia continues to heat up with an average of 24.7 percent return on investment in 2016.
According to a report by IPO investment company OnMarket, investors received 39.4 percent return on from the seven companies that launched IPOs in April, followed by 9.4 percent in May.
So far, 25 companies have launched IPOs this year, including logistics software provider WiseTech Global.
However, the report comes amid the ASX's proposed changes to crack down on over-valued listing of tech startups. The sharemarket operator is considering a number of changes to admission requirements to stop the number of low-revenue companies listing. Proposed changes include:
- Increasing the consolidated profit requirement for the 12 months prior from $400,000 to at least $500,000
- Increase the net tangible asset requirement from $3 million to $5 million or increase minimum market capitalisation from $10 million to $20 million.
- Introduce a 20 percent minimum requirement of unrestricted securities.
Smaller listings in the ICT channel have included Brisbane provider Over The Wire, which turned over $16.2 million in the year before it floated, and is now on track for $22 million for 2016. The company's market capitalisation is greater than $100 million.
Spirit Telecom is eyeing a reverse listing at sub-$15 million valuation, while telecommunications provider Vonex failed to get its reverse listing over the line.
The public listing of collapsed electronics retailer Dick Smith is currently the subject of a senate inquiry. The company was bought from Woolworths by Anchorage Capital in 2012 for just $10 million of its own money. A year later, Dick Smith floated with a market capitalisation of $520 million.
Australian tech startup leaders have also been vocal about their sceptism for premature tech floats.
The $100 million IPO of online music streaming platform Guvera drew criticism from Atlassian founder Mike Canon-Brookes, who said he was “terrified” by Guvera’s prospectus.
Was pitched. Read Guvera prospectus. Terrified. $180m raised, <1m MAU? No revs? Little growth? Dodgy loans? ASX shouldn’t allow this stuff.
— Mike Cannon-Brookes (@mcannonbrookes) June 4, 2016
The Gold Coast-based music streaming company had a valuation of $1.2 billion, despite making just $1.2 million in revenue for the 2015 financial year. Guvera also made a net loss of $81.1 million for the year.
Founder of tech startup fund Blackbird Ventures Niki Scevak also weighed in on Twitter:
So horrifying and more $ than entire credible Aussie vc industry // streamer Guvera raising $100m through ASX https://t.co/mXZEf16WIx
— Niki Scevak (@nikiscevak) June 1, 2016
A number of other Australian tech companies have planned IPOs for this year.
Online retailer Kogan – a 10-year-old business – confirmed its IPO this morning, aiming to raise $50 million with a market capitalisation of $168 million.
Electronics and whitegoods retailer The Good Guys said it is going ahead with an IPO despite a potential acquisition from JB Hi-Fi. Details of the IPO haven't been made public yet, but Harvey Norman founder Gerry Harvey said he was willing to pay $900 million for The Good Guys.
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