IPO Stories

In this episode we welcome Anne Ross, EMEA Equity Syndicate Manager at Fidelity Management and Research, our first guest from the buy-side. With her background at JP Morgan and now on the buy-side, Anne provides invaluable insights into the IPO process, from the role of bookrunners and strategic selection of banks, to the importance of understanding investor types and maintaining a strong shareholder base post-IPO, offering her view of what it takes to successfully navigate the public markets. Anne also delves into the evolving nature of IPOs, highlighting the impact of market trends and the necessity of aligning management incentives with shareholder interests. She emphasizes the significance of timing and strategic planning, advising companies to be well-prepared and adaptable. Whether you're a company considering going public or an investor seeking to understand the IPO landscape better, this episode is packed with practical advice and expert insights that are sure to enhance your understanding of the IPO journey.   Disclaimer: The discussion in this episode is not financial advice, nor an investment recommendation, nor a solicitation to buy or sell any financial instruments or an offer for financial services or any other transaction. The information contained in the recording has no contractual value and is intended for informational purposes only. Amundsen Investment Management and the participants in this podcast may have holdings in the companies being discussed. Any views expressed are those of the guests only, and not of Fidelity Management & Research or Amundsen Investment Management.

Norva24 is a leader in underground infrastructure maintenance services in Northern Europe – that is the maintenance of all the infrastructure related to sewage and waste water. It is a Norwegian company, that has grown through the acquisition of smaller players over the years. In 2021, Henrik Damgaard, the company's CEO at the time, led Norva24 to an IPO in Stockholm, joining a number of other so-called ‘M&A compounders’ listed there – but all in different industries. With Henrik, we discuss all the specificities of the Norva24 IPO, such as his experience of managing an IPO in a new industry to investors, listing a Norwegian company in Sweden, with a Danish CEO, and the specificities of listing an M&A compounder. Disclaimer: this discussion is not financial advice, nor an investment recommendation, nor a solicitation to buy or sell any financial instruments, or an offer for financial services or any other transaction. The information contained in the recording have no contractual value and are destined for an informational purpose only. Amundsen Investment Management and the participants on this podcast may have holdings in the companies being discussed.

In this episode, we explore the journey of Taaleem, a leading operator of international private schools in the UAE, and its path to becoming one of the few listed education providers globally. Alan Williamson, the CEO of Taaleem, shares his experience taking Taaleem public in Dubai in November 2022. With Alan, we delve into the role of private education in the UAE, the unique challenges and opportunities of listing in a sector with few listed peers globally, and the positive impacts of raising capital for Taaleem's growth. We also discuss Alan's outlook for the education sector in the UAE and the broader GCC region. Disclaimer: this discussion is not financial advice, nor an investment recommendation, nor a solicitation to buy or sell any financial instruments, or an offer for financial services or any other transaction. The information contained in the recording have no contractual value and are destined for an informational purpose only. Amundsen Investment Management and the participants on this podcast may have holdings in the companies being discussed.

Matts Johansen is the CEO of Aker BioMarine, the global leader in krill fishing and production of krill-based products, such as omega 3 supplements and aquaculture feed. Aker BioMarine was founded as part of the Aker conglomerate, and Matts has been the CEO since 2015. In July 2020, they listed the company on Euronext Growth Oslo, in the middle of covid. They then up-listed it to the main exchange in 2021. With Matts, we discuss his experience of listing an innovative company with few listed peers in Europe, a very rapid IPO process during covid, and how to maintain a long-term focus even after listing. On the way, we will learn a lot of details about krill, a very interesting nutrient source at the bottom of the food pyramid. Disclaimer: this discussion is not financial advice, nor an investment recommendation, nor a solicitation to buy or sell any financial instruments, or an offer for financial services or any other transaction. The information contained in the recording have no contractual value and are destined for an informational purpose only. Amundsen Investment Management and the participants on this podcast may have holdings in the companies being discussed.

Øystein Kalleklev is the CEO of not one, but 2 listed companies: Flex LNG and Avance Gas, two leading shipping companies in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), both listed on Euronext Oslo.  Øystein shares his experience steering these companies through volatile market conditions and his rationale behind dual listing Flex LNG in the US in 2019. With Øystein, we discuss what being listed means for these companies, the technological evolutions in shipping, the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition, addressing methane emissions, and the broader implications for the shipping industry.   Disclaimer: this discussion is not financial advice, nor an investment recommendation, nor a solicitation to buy or sell any financial instruments, or an offer for financial services or any other transaction. The information contained in the recording have no contractual value and are destined for an informational purpose only. Amundsen Investment Management and the participants on this podcast may have holdings in the companies being discussed.

Saudi Arabia has evolved from having 4 IPOs per year 10 years ago, to 40 IPOs per year over the last few years. Nayef Al Athel has been in the middle of this evolution, as he headed the listings activity at the Saudi Exchange between 2018 and 2023. With Nayef, we discuss the policy decisions and incentives that have made Saudi Arabia one of the most active IPO markets globally, how going public has affected the strategy of the Tadawul group, the internationalization of the exchange, and the road ahead for the Saudi capital markets. If you have feedback, or there are any topics you would like us to cover on the show, please reach out at contact@ipostories.com   Disclaimer: this discussion is not financial advice, nor an investment recommendation, nor a solicitation to buy or sell any financial instruments, or an offer for financial services or any other transaction. The information contained in the recording have no contractual value and are destined for an informational purpose only. Amundsen Investment Management and the participants on this podcast may have holdings in the companies being discussed.   

Not all IPO processes end up with an IPO. The path is filled with twists and turns, in some cases cancellations, postponements, or even a strategic sale before reaching the stock market. In this episode, we sit down with Maria Hedengren, who led the IPO processes of both iZettle (bought out by Paypal in the final stages) and Readly (listed in Stockholm in 2020).  Through Maria's lens, we explore the critical moments, strategic decisions, and leadership challenges encountered when steering a company towards an IPO. From the decision of listing location to the intricacies of board composition and investor relations, Maria sheds light on the essentials of IPO readiness, the importance of strategic exits, and the impact of these decisions on a company's trajectory  If you have feedback, or there are any topics you would like us to cover on the show, please reach out at contact@ipostories.com   Disclaimer: this discussion is not financial advice, nor an investment recommendation, nor a solicitation to buy or sell any financial instruments, or an offer for financial services or any other transaction. The information contained in the recording have no contractual value and are destined for an informational purpose only. Amundsen Investment Management and the participants on this podcast may have holdings in the companies being discussed. 

In 2018, Spotify was the first company to do a direct listing instead of a regular IPO process – foregoing the usual bookbuilding process in favor of opening the shares directly on the market in an auction. Dakin Campbell is the author of the book Going Public, where he recounts the history and the inside stories of some of the major IPOs in recent memory, starting with the 1956 IPO of Ford, and focusing on the innovations that have occurred through time. With Dakin, we discuss what led Spotify and others to prefer a direct listing transaction, and some of the pros and cons of a direct listing vs. a traditional IPO. Disclaimer: this discussion is not financial advice, nor an investment recommendation, nor a solicitation to buy or sell any financial instruments, or an offer for financial services or any other transaction. The information contained in the recording have no contractual value and are destined for an informational purpose only. Amundsen Investment Management and the participants on this podcast may have holdings in the companies being discussed.

Criteo, a French adtech company, listed on Nasdaq in 2013. Edouard Lassalle joined in 2012 to prepare the company for the IPO, and later served as head of Investor Relations for the company until 2022.  One of the topics that comes up at an early stage during IPO preparation is the choice of listing location. In earlier episodes, we have heard from tech executives at Wise, DeliveryHero, OVHCloud and Exclusive Networks why they decided to list in Europe. Today, we look back at the 2013 US IPO of Criteo. Criteo was founded in 2005 and backed by leading VC investors such as Elaia, Index Ventures and Bessemer, with a global customer base. In 2013, the company was listed on Nasdaq, raising $280mn to fund its growth. Edouard Lassalle joined the company in 2012 to prepare the company for the IPO, and later served as head of Investor Relations for the company until 2022. Edouard shares with us his list of pros and cons of a US vs European listing for a European tech company, as well as considerations around the different characteristics of US and European markets, and the impact is has on the company. If you have feedback, or there are any topics you would like us to cover on the show, please reach out at contact@ipostories.com Disclaimer: this discussion is not financial advice, nor an investment recommendation, nor a solicitation to buy or sell any financial instruments, or an offer for financial services or any other transaction. The information contained in the recording have no contractual value and are destined for an informational purpose only. Amundsen Investment Management and the participants on this podcast may have holdings in the companies being discussed.

Middle Eastern equity capital markets have captured investors' attention the last 2 years, as the only truly active IPO market in the world throughout 2022 and 2023 - with close to 50 IPOs listing each of those years. To learn more about GCC equity markets, we are joined by Wassim Al Khatib, the CEO of Lazard in MENA. Lazard is an independent financial adviser, advising companies and their owners on all aspects of corporate finance, including organizing the IPO process. Before Lazard, Wassim was the CEO of Citigroup in Saudi Arabia, and before that the Head of Investment Banking at NCB Capital. With Wassim, we explore the reforms and opening of GCC capital markets to foreign investors, the IPO activity and diversification of the stock exchange beyond oil & gas, and the question of listing location for local, innovative companies. If you have feedback, or there are any topics you would like us to cover on the show, please reach out at contact@ipostories.com Disclaimer: this discussion is not financial advice, nor an investment recommendation, nor a solicitation to buy or sell any financial instruments, or an offer for financial services or any other transaction. The information contained in the recording have no contractual value and are destined for an informational purpose only. Amundsen Investment Management and the participants on this podcast may have holdings in the companies being discussed.