Past version: Effective from 23 Aug 2018 to 31 Dec 2018
An issuer applying for listing of its equity securities on the SGX Mainboard must meet the following conditions:—
(1) Shareholding Spread And Distribution
(a) The following table sets out the shareholding and distribution requirements:—
PUBLIC FLOAT | DISTRIBUTION | ||||
Market Capitalisation (S$ million) ("M") | Proportion of post-invitation share capital in public hands | Number of shareholders | Total Offer Size (S$ million) ("O") | Distribution | |
S G X - M A I N B O A R D | M < 300 | 25% | 500 | O< 75 | At least 40% of the invitation shares or $15 million whichever is lower, must be distributed to investors each allotted not more than 0.8% of the invitation shares or $300,000 worth of shares whichever is lower. |
300 ≤ M < 400 | 20% | 500 | 75 ≤ O < 120 | At least 20% of the invitation shares must be distributed to investors, each allotted not more than 0.4% of the invitation shares. | |
400 ≤ M < 1000 | 15% | 500 | O ≥ 120 | No requirement applicable. | |
M ≥ 1000 | 12% | 500 | Notes: 1) The shareholdings of an applicant and his associates must be aggregated and treated as one single holder. 2) Preferential allotments made pursuant to Rule 234 must be excluded. |
(i) The shareholding spread must not be obtained by artificial means, such as giving shares away and offering loans to prospective shareholders to buy the shares.
(ii) In the computation of the percentage of shares to be held in public hands, existing public shareholders may be included, subject to an aggregate limit of 5% of the issuer's post-invitation issued share capital and provided such shares are not under moratorium. For the purpose of this rule, "existing public shareholders" refer to shareholders of the issuer immediately before the invitation and who are deemed "public" as defined in the Manual. This rule is not applicable to an application for listing by way of introduction.
(iii) An overall distribution of shareholdings that is expected to provide an orderly secondary market in the securities when trading commences, and that will be unlikely to lead to a corner situation in the securities.
(iv) The subscription and allocation value of the shares at IPO for each investor must be at least S$500 and must be based on an integral multiple of a board lot.
(b)
(i) For a secondary listing, an issuer must have at least 500 shareholders worldwide. Where the Exchange and the primary home exchange do not have an established framework and arrangement to faciliate the movement of shares between the jurisdictions, the issuer should have at least 500 shareholders in Singapore or 1,000 shareholders worldwide.
(ii) The subscription and allocation value of the shares at IPO for each investor must be at least S$500 and must be based on an integral multiple of a board lot (either traded on the primary home exchange or on the Exchange as may be agreed by the Exchange).
(2) Quantitative Criteria
An issuer must also satisfy one of the following requirements:—
An issuer must also satisfy one of the following requirements:—
(a) Minimum consolidated pre-tax profit (based on full year consolidated audited accounts) of at least S$30 million for the latest financial year and has an operating track record of at least three years.
(b) Profitable in the latest financial year (pre-tax profit based on the latest full year consolidated audited accounts), has an operating track record of at least three years and has a market capitalisation of not less than S$150 million based on the issue price and post-invitation issued share capital.
(c) Operating revenue (actual or pro forma) in the latest completed financial year and a market capitalisation of not less than S$300 million based on the issue price and post-invitation issued share capital. Real Estate Investment Trusts and Business Trusts who have met the S$300 million market capitalisation test but do not have historical financial information may apply under this rule if they are able to demonstrate that they will generate operating revenue immediately upon listing.
(3) Profit Test
With respect to the profit tests in Rule 210(2)(a) and (b), the following shall apply:—
With respect to the profit tests in Rule 210(2)(a) and (b), the following shall apply:—
(a) An issuer must have been engaged in substantially the same business and have been under substantially the same management throughout the period for which the three years operating track record applies.
(b) If the group made low profits or losses in the two years before the application due to specific factors which were of a temporary nature and such adverse factors have either ceased or are expected to be rectified upon the issuer's listing, the application may still be considered.
(c) In determining the profits, exceptional or non-recurrent income and extraordinary items must be excluded.
(d) The Exchange will normally not consider an application for listing from an issuer which has changed or proposes to change its financial year end if the Exchange is of the opinion that the purpose of the change is to take advantage of exceptional or seasonal profits to show a better profit record.
(4) Financial Position And Liquidity
(a) The group must be in a healthy financial position, having regard to whether the Group has a positive cash flow from operating activities.
(b) Prior to listing, all debts owing to the group by its directors, substantial shareholders, and companies controlled by the directors and substantial shareholders must be settled. For the purposes of this paragraph (b), reference to debt includes third party indebtedness (including contingent liabilities for guarantees and indemnities) incurred by the group for the benefit of the directors, substantial shareholders and companies controlled by the directors and substantial shareholders. This rule does not apply to debts owing by the subsidiaries and associated companies of the issuer to the group.
(c) While the surplus arising from revaluation of plant and equipment can be shown in the books of the issuer, such surplus should not be capitalised or used for calculating its net tangible assets per share.
(5) Directors And Management
(a) The directors and executive officers should have appropriate experience and expertise to manage the group's business. As a pre-quotation disclosure requirement, an issuer must release a statement via SGXNET or in the prospectus, offering memorandum or introductory document identifying for each director, whether the person has prior experience (and what) or, if the director has no prior experience as a director of a listed company, whether the person has undertaken training in the roles and responsibilities of a director of a listed company.
(b) The character and integrity of the directors, management and controlling shareholders of the issuer will be a relevant factor for consideration. In considering whether the directors, management and controlling shareholders have the character and integrity expected of a listed issuer, the Exchange will take into account the disclosure made in compliance with Rule 246(5)(a).
(c) The issuer's board must have at least two non-executive directors who are independent and free of any material business or financial connection with the issuer.
(6) Chain Listing
A subsidiary or parent company of an existing listed issuer will not normally be considered suitable for listing if the assets and operations of the applicant are substantially the same as those of the existing issuer. In arriving at a decision, the Exchange will consider the applicant's business or commercial reasons for listing.
A subsidiary or parent company of an existing listed issuer will not normally be considered suitable for listing if the assets and operations of the applicant are substantially the same as those of the existing issuer. In arriving at a decision, the Exchange will consider the applicant's business or commercial reasons for listing.
(7) Articles Of Association
An issuer must ensure that its Articles of Association or constituent documents meet the requirements in Appendix 2.2.
An issuer must ensure that its Articles of Association or constituent documents meet the requirements in Appendix 2.2.
(8) Life Science Companies
A life science company that cannot meet the requirements in Rule 210(2), (3) and/or (4)(a) may list its equity securities on the SGX Mainboard if it fulfills the following conditions:
A life science company that cannot meet the requirements in Rule 210(2), (3) and/or (4)(a) may list its equity securities on the SGX Mainboard if it fulfills the following conditions:
(a) has successfully raised funds from institutional investors, accredited investors as defined in the SFA or such relevant persons as contemplated under sections 274 and 275 of the SFA prior to its IPO, not less than 6 months prior to the date of the listing application;
(b) meets the S$300 million market capitalisaion requirement in Rule 210(2)(c);
(c) has as its primary reason for listing, the use of proceeds of the IPO to bring identified products to commercialisation;
(d) demonstrates that it has a three-year record of operations in laboratory research and development and submit to the Exchange the following:
(i) details of patents granted or details of progress of patent applications;
(ii) the successful completion of, or the successful progression of, significant testing of the effectiveness of its products; and
(iii) the relevant expertise and experience of its key management and technical staff; and
(e) has available working capital that is sufficient for its present requirements and for at least 18 months after listing.
For the avoidance of doubt, an issuer seeking a listing of its equity securities on the SGX Mainboard through this Rule 210(8) must satisfy all other listing requirements in Rule 210 apart from Rule 210(2)(a), (2)(b), (3) and 4(a).
(9) Mineral, Oil and Gas Companies
(a) A mineral, oil and gas company must be able to establish the existence of a meaningful portfolio of reserves in a defined area which is substantiated by a qualified person's report prepared by an independent qualified person.
(b) The effective date of the qualified person's report must not be more than 6 months from the date of lodgement of the offer document.
(c) A mineral, oil and gas company must have working capital that is sufficient for its present requirements and for at least 18 months after listing which must include (i) operating, general and administrative and financing costs; (ii) property holding costs; and (iii) costs of any proposed exploration and/or development. Working capital shall be considered as the applicant's ability to access cash and other available liquid resources (including proceeds from the initial public offering and projected cashflows but excluding future borrowings/financing which have not been obtained) in order to meet its liabilities as they fall due. Where projected cashflows are relied upon, the issue manager must submit a confirmation to the Exchange that it is satisfied that the projections are prepared by the applicant's directors after due and careful enquiry. Proceeds from the initial public offering can be taken into consideration only if the invitation is fully underwritten. If the invitation is not underwritten but the listing is subject to a specified minimum amount to be raised from the invitation, the proceeds taken into consideration shall be limited to the minimum amount to be raised.
(d) A mineral, oil and gas company must have at least one independent director with appropriate industry experience and expertise.
(e) All mineral, oil and gas companies must satisfy other listing requirements in Rule 210.
(f) A mineral, oil and gas company that cannot meet the requirements in Rule 210(2), (3) and/or (4)(a) may list its securities on the SGX Mainboard if it fulfills the following additional conditions:
(i) has market capitalisation of not less than S$300 million based on the issue price and post-invitation issued share capital; and
(ii) discloses its plans and milestones to advance to production stage with capital expenditure for each milestone. These plans must be substantiated by the opinion of an independent qualified person.
(g) The issue manager must submit a confirmation to the Exchange that after conducting due diligence, the issue manager is not aware of any matter that has caused it to believe that the listing applicant:
(i) has not obtained all material licences, permits or certificates necessary to conduct its operations from the relevant governmental bodies in the jurisdictions where the Group operates;
(ii) is not in compliance with all laws, rules and regulations in all jurisdictions in which the Group operates, including but not limited to, the proper incorporation and good standing of any incorporated subsidiary or interest, except where such non-compliance is not material to the Group's business operations; and
(iii) does not possess title to or valid and enforceable rights to any assets (including licenses and agreements) as is appropriate to the listing applicant or the Group, except where such lack of, or defect in, such title or rights is not material to the Group's business operations.
In relying on the opinion from a legal adviser in providing the confirmation to the Exchange, the issue manager should make due diligence inquiries including:
(i) assessing the suitability of the legal adviser having regard to whether the legal adviser has the relevant experience and is authorized to practise and advise in the relevant jurisdiction; and
(ii) reviewing the terms and scope of engagement.
(10) Dual Class Share Structure
(a) In this Rule 210(10):
(i) "permitted holder group" means a group of persons or an entity permitted to hold multiple voting shares in accordance with Rule 210(10), and includes a holder of multiple voting shares;
(ii) "responsible director" means, in relation to any multiple voting shares, a director who is required to be appointed in accordance with Rule 210(10); and
(iii) references to any sale or transfer of multiple voting shares include any sale or transfer of interest (including beneficial interest or voting right) thereto, and whether or not for value.
(b) A listing applicant that intends to list with a dual class share structure must be suitable for listing with a dual class share structure.
(c) An issuer must specify the holders of multiple voting shares at IPO. The Exchange may permit a group of persons or an entity to be treated as a permitted holder group. In the case of a permitted holder group, an issuer must specify the scope of the permitted holder group at IPO. The issuer may not add to the scope subsequently.
(d) Each multiple voting share shall not carry more than 10 votes per share. An issuer must specify the number of votes at IPO, and may not increase such number subsequently.
(e) Subject to Rule 210(10)(f):
(i) a holder of multiple voting shares must be appointed as a responsible director; or
(ii) in the case of a permitted holder group, a responsible director must be appointed for the permitted holder group. The Exchange may require any other person to be appointed as a responsible director.
(f) An issuer with a dual class share structure must have automatic conversion provisions which provide that a multiple voting share will be converted into an ordinary voting share on a one-for-one basis in the event that:
(i) the multiple voting share is sold or transferred to any person, and in the case of a permitted holder group, other than to persons in the permitted holder group; or
(ii) a responsible director ceases service as a director (whether through death, incapacity, retirement, resignation or otherwise), and in the case of a permitted holder group, other than where a new responsible director is appointed,
unless otherwise specifically approved by shareholders through the enhanced voting process. The relevant holder of the multiple voting share, the person to whom the multiple voting share is to be sold or transferred and such responsible director (as the case may be), and their respective associates, must abstain from voting on the resolution.
(g) Holders of ordinary voting shares holding at least 10% of the total voting rights on a one-share-one-vote basis must be able to convene a general meeting.
(h) In any general meeting, the number of votes that may be cast by holders of ordinary voting shares who are not also holders of multiple voting shares must be at least 10% of the total voting rights of the issuer.
(i) The majority of each of the committees performing the functions of an audit committee, a nominating committee and a remuneration committee, including the respective chairmen, must be independent.
(j) The issuer must ensure that the requirements relating to the dual class share structure and the rights of the multiple voting shares and ordinary voting shares in Rules 210(10)(c) to 210(10)(i) are prescribed in its Articles of Association or other constituent documents.
Amended on 29 September 201129 September 2011, 10 August 201210 August 2012, 27 September 201327 September 2013, 19 January 201519 January 2015, 26 June 201826 June 2018 and 23 August 201823 August 2018.