Why would a US-incorporated global financial technology company choose to float in London on AIM rather than in the US? For Jon Prideaux, CEO of Boku, it was a matter of scale, understanding and market appetite.
“Coming to the public markets seemed the best way to balance the interests of various stakeholders,” says Prideaux, “but we were not really big enough for a NASDAQ float. We thought we would not get the coverage and would stand out more in London. There was a level of understanding in the London market and appetite from investors.”
Prideaux’s view demonstrates that dynamic international companies like Boku are seeing through out-of-date myths – such as the idea that US listings always deliver higher valuations – that have sometimes fogged the subject. Institutional investors are not bound by national borders – they invest globally. Analysts follow important companies wherever they choose to float and have no problem comparing companies listed on different exchanges.