How do I find out if a business is going on the public stock exchange?

boltneck123

Hi, so this is my first post on this forum, but I’ve been reading many posts for a few years now, quite often finding the info I need. But I cant this time, and I'm not sure what I need to search for etc.

So what do I need to learn? Or find out if it's possible (I hope it is)

Ok so soon I want to start investing in the stock market a little bit, nothing huge just small amounts of money, to learn how the place works etc, then maybe in the future make some serious commitments, I'll be doing a lot of reading over the next few months or so first also. I already have a little bit of stock in Tesco and Standard Life. But there is one question that I have and can’t seem to find the answer anywhere.

When a business decides to go on the public stock market and release shares for sale at X - pence per share, where do I find out this information?

So for instance let’s assume that, umm I don't know, ok, Tesco aren’t on the stock market yet, and because of their huge success want to release shares for sale to get more money etc. Surely that would be announced somewhere, with info about the release of their stock for sale, a date that it will be available for sale etc. I would really like to know where I can find this info.

I’ve googled every possible combination of this question I can think of, searched this forum a few times, looked at wikipedia, even the website “How Stuff Works” and nothing; I’m well and truly stumped.

Any help, anyone can give me, to point me in the right direction or even help eliminate things that I haven’t though of looking for yet that will lead me to no where will be great.

Thank you,

Kind Regards,

Ben.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

well here's the gen on Tesco.

Might get some info on forthcoming issues here.

boltneck123

Thanks, but I have the info about tesco, and it was just a hypothetical example, to help me explain my question.

Thank you for the link to that website, I can see roughly what its for, but I dont understand fully what I'm looking at. Could you provide some sort of explanation or put the site into context fo me?

Kind Regards,

Ben.

Rollinghome

boltneck123 wrote: »

So for instance let’s assume that, umm I don't know, ok, Tesco aren’t on the stock market yet, and because of their huge success want to release shares for sale to get more money etc. Surely that would be announced somewhere, with info about the release of their stock for sale, a date that it will be available for sale etc. I would really like to know where I can find this info.

When a company floats you'll find the information in the FT, Investors Chronicle, and in some other newspapers. But that won't necessarily mean you'll be able to buy shares. For many companies the shares are placed with institutions and small investors won't get a look in. Others may be offered but unless it's a public offer you'll need to be offered them via your stockbroker.

About the different types of floatations: http://www.desktoplawyer.co.uk/dtl/index.cfm?event=base:article&node=A76058BD76748


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Biggles

[Deleted User] wrote:

Might get some info on forthcoming issues here.

I used to use All IPO as well, but they seem to be defunct, not even replying to emails. Not sure if there's anyone else providing a similar service?

boltneck123

Hmm ok then, thats given me some things to think about, that website desktop lawyer looks like a great site, I'll be using that a lot I feel.

Thanks fo rthe Info, so really I should find a decent stock broker, to increases my chances of getting the chance to invest in the company i want if they go on the stock market. Ive seen the name 'Hargreaves Lansdown' going around in a couple of posts, I think they are a stock broker would I be right? Could anyone provide a link and a feedback review of their services?

Thnaks for the Info so far, its helping me get closer and closer to whatt I need to find out and how to go about achieveing what i want.

Kind Regards,

Ben.

P.S Sory for any spelling mistakes, rather tired just finished a 12 hour shift.

xyy123

Hargreaves Lansdowne do not have a Corporate Finance arm as far as I am aware so using them would be pretty pointless in this endeavour. When companies go public, or issue equity, the shares are underwritten by the investment bank(s), who in turn sell them to investors. Therefore you would need a prime brokerage if you wanted any chance of getting in on the IPO - HSBC, Merril Lynch, Citi, Cazenove etc.

Even if you had enough money to interest these brokers, and were lucky enough to get in, smaller private investors often pay a significantly higher price than the institutional investors/large private investors.

As for finding out which companies are going public, people who work in investment banks cannot (or should not) disclose any information about the deals they are working on (IPOs, mergers, acquisitions) including the names of the companies. This is insider trading and both the employee and the person they disclose the information to can be prosecuted.

Rollinghome

There's a listing of new issues here: http://investing.thisismoney.co.uk/watcher?watcher=new_issues . As you'll see, all are placings or introductions.

20 or 30 years ago there was money to be made stagging new issues but since the 'big bang' and the changing of rules that time has pretty much gone for private investors. I doubt that it's worth wasting your time with.

Biggles

xyy123 wrote: »

As for finding out which companies are going public, people who work in investment banks cannot (or should not) disclose any information about the deals they are working on (IPOs, mergers, acquisitions) including the names of the companies. This is insider trading and both the employee and the person they disclose the information to can be prosecuted.

M&As certainly. But flotations, be it by IPO, placing or whatever, are flagged up and publicly listed on various websites months in advance, including the companies handling it, the sum to be raised etc etc. The tricky bit, unless it's a large public IPO, is getting in on the action, which is what 'All IPO' did for small investors.

xyy123

Biggles wrote: »

M&As certainly. But flotations, be it by IPO, placing or whatever, are flagged up and publicly listed on various websites months in advance, including the companies handling it, the sum to be raised etc etc. The tricky bit, unless it's a large public IPO, is getting in on the action, which is what 'All IPO' did for small investors.

To clarify: I meant they cannot disclose it until the information has been disclosed to the general market.

Thrugelmir

Invest in a fund which gives exposure to private equity / unquoted companies. High risk, but occassionaly the fund managers find a diamond amongst the stones.

By the time a Company reaches a full listing most of the majority of the "profit" in the shares has already been made.