The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is seeking feedback on proposals to streamline prospectus requirements and broaden investor outreach channels for initial public offerings (IPOs).

MAS said in a statement last Thursday that these proposals seek to smoothen the listing process for issuers and widen options to reach out to potential investors.

These proposals fall into three main areas of focus – streamlining prospectus disclosures for IPOs; simplifying the process for secondary listings; providing greater flexibility and scope for issuers to gauge investor interest earlier in the IPO process.

For primary listings on the Singapore Exchange (SGX), MAS is proposing for issuers to focus on the disclosure of core information that are most relevant and material for investors.

This will concentrate issuers’ effort on disclosures that are most pertinent for decision-making by investors.

For secondary listings on SGX, MAS is proposing to align disclosure requirements with baseline international disclosure standards which are already commonly adopted by most established markets, including Singapore.

These simplified requirements allow issuers who already have primary listings elsewhere to use the same prospectuses with minimal adaptation for their secondary listing on SGX.

MAS is also proposing changes to existing legislation to allow issuers to gauge investor interest earlier in the IPO process.

This will support book building efforts as well as give investors more time to familiarize themselves with the issuers and their intended offers.

MAS said it has considered feedback and suggestions from industry stakeholders in formulating these proposals, while also taking into account the requirements and practices of major equities markets.

It noted the Singapore Exchange Regulation (SGX RegCo) is concurrently proposing reforms to streamline SGX-ST listing criteria.

“Together, MAS and SGX RegCo’s proposals seek to be more facilitative of listings by issuers, alongside enhanced disclosures for investors,” it said.

According to the statement, they are part of the first set of measures proposed to strengthen the competitiveness of Singapore’s equities market, as announced by the Equities Market Review Group on 21 February 2025.

The Review Group will further study complementary measures, including those related to strengthening investor protection and sharpening listed companies’ focus on shareholder value, it added.

MAS also invites views and suggestions from interested parties on the proposals set out in the consultation paper.

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