Listing a Company
ABOUT THE WSE
World Stock Exchange (WSE) is an advanced securities exchange developed for use in the virtual world of Second Life. The exchange provides and Second Life companies with the ability to raise capital from the global investment market using the in game Linden currency.
The World Stock Exchange is now the leading securities trading game in the world.
----------------------------------------------------LISTING ON THE WSE
Companies list on the World Stock Exchange for a variety of reasons, these include:
- Access to capital - Accessing a larger capital market for organic growth or through acquisitions, in this case the global investment community of Second Life.
- Improved Valuation - The possibility of increasing the value your the company.
- Exposure to retail (public) and institutional (stockbrokers and banks) investors.
- Increased Brand Awareness - Your company will receive greater media coverage in both SL, Web-based and print media. Interviews, reviews and analyst reports.
- Exit strategy for original investors - An IPO can facilitate an orderly exit for early stage investors or founders who want to realize part of their investment by selling a portion of their holdings in a float (IPO).
- Increased Liquidity - Listing on the Secondary market known as the 'Official List' provides your shareholders with the ability to readily enter and exit their holdings.
- Employee Shares Program - Being listed can simplify the process of remunerating your employees or directors with shares that can help align the interests of your employees with the goals of your company.
- Increased Credibility - Customers and Suppliers perceive a listing company as being in a stronger financial and strategic position.
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WHY THE WSE
The World Stock Exchange provides users with a fully automated trading platform that operates 24 hours, 7 Days per week. Investors also known as Traders have access to market research along with real-time and historical trading data allowing them to make informed decisions using the website. WSE TV will also provide both investors and company owners with key market data, trends and interviews from SL and RL on Market Watch and Nightly Business Report.
The client administration system provides companies with the ability to manage their company prospectus and profile, post announcements and updates on key financial data to shareholders, post proposals (motions) allowing shareholders to vote on key strategic decisions related to shares and the company along with the ability to share a percentage of the companies monthly profits in the form of paying dividends.
Schedule IPO presentations known as a road-show or shareholder meetings to be held in the Hope Capital Centre Conference room.
- Scale - The WSE is the first Internet based stock exchange with access to the global capital markets through Second Life. The WSE is the leading securities exchange in Second Life with over 600 members comprising of retail and institutional investors with short and long term investment strategies.
- Technology - The WSE is using leading edge technology to manage our electronic trading settlement and registry systems.
- Brand - The World Stock Exchange is a well known brand in both Real Life and Second Life with media articles around the world in magazines, newspapers, television, online and in Second Life.
- Governance - The WSE has a transparent management team with real life business experience. This is supported at the Board level by additional skills in marketing and successful business development in the Second Life economy provided by non-executive Directors.
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LISTING PROCESS
PRELIMINARY STAGE
Directors and managers need to examine a range of factors in order to determine if the company is suitable for auction market trading.
The key areas that need consideration include:
- Long-term goals and strategies, (where you want to be and what actions you will take to achieve those goals)
- Business Plan
- Timing (is listing now the right time in terms of your business and market conditions)
- The knowledge and experience of the existing management and board members
- Are the directors and managers prepared for greater disclosure, accountability and transparency
- Pre-listing Initiatives (mergers, acquisitions)
- Corporate Governance (management, employee and ethical policies)
- Book-keeping Process (accounting systems, employee payroll system, holding past records)
Before proceeding on your journey to an IPO there are some important steps.
- Ensure that you and your company complies with the WSE Terms of Service, Listing Rules & Constitution.
- Structural changes (Are there any changes that will be required to the current management or board structure)
- Cultural changes (Listing often requires a change of behavior by all people in the company to make prompt announcements of material information (continuous disclosure)
- Financial Reports (As part of your prospectus you need to present historical, current and forecasted financial results along with the valuation of assets and the business. Your accounting systems and corporate structure need to meet this requirement.
- Valuation (The market value of your business is central to listing on the WSE. Raising capital, funds for your company will affect the amount of shares which need to be issued. Your value may also be affected by any corporate restructuring and board appointments made prior to the listing. The value of your company can include the current value of all tangible assets such as cash on hand, shares, land, buildings, equipment, scripts along with intangible assets such as the brand name, customers and goodwill which includes 3 months of potential revenue. Any shares allocated to the founders/owners of the business are considered a payment by the company in return for past work and investment in the company and its operations.)
- Marketing (One of the main drivers of a successful IPO is marketing. Ensure that you or a third party are assigned with the role of promoting the investment opportunity and IPO to the market.)
- Capital Requirements (It is important that you carefully consider exactly how much money your company needs to raise and for what purpose you need to raise the funds. This can be determined by working out how much it will cost for any land, buildings, equipment, scripts, development, acquisitions, consulting fees, on-going expenses until break-even point.)
- Share Structure (Allocate the exact number of shares and set an initial offer price per share that will have a total value equal the current value of the company. Refer to the Valuation section above for this. Your IPO application will ask for Total Outstanding Shares and Shares offered. Founders Shares are considered a payment by the company in return for past work and investment in the company and its operations. shares offered are the amount of shares your company needs to sell to raise the money required from the IPO. When all shares are sold this is known as being Fully Subscribed.)
- The system will allocate to the owner of the company all shares not being offered in the IPO. E.g. Total Shares Outstanding: 100, Shares Offered: 10, Shares allocated to founder: 90
- Communications ( It is important that you maintain a good relationship with all stake-holders of your company such as your customers, shareholders, employees and suppliers. This can be achieved through Investor Relations, Public Relations and Human Resources (Employee Relations)
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APPLICATION & PROSPECTUS
Ensure that yourself and any potential company directors are a registered members of the WSE.
Set the duration of the IPO. This is known as the Initial Offer Period. This is the time frame that allows investors to buy shares in the company and to subscribe to the IPO. If the IPO is under subscribed the WSE will make a decision to either extend the offer or to Roll back the IPO. If the IPO is rolled back all investors will be refunded all monies from the purchase of shares in the IPO. The IPO will then be closed and canceled.
You can register at your Avatar with the WSE by visiting a WSE ATM and clicking the ATM. Follow the instructions provided and then simply click 'List Your Company' at the top of the site.
Once you have submitted your IPO application it will be reviewed by the WSE within 48 hours. Your application may approved or declined entirely at the discretion of the WSE.
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PRIMARY MARKET - INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
Listing Fee: None
The WSE charges a flat fee of 3% on the sale of all securities from either a company or individual.
During the IPO phase company owners are unable to access or withdraw any funds until the IPO is fully subscribed. This is to protect shareholders in case there isn't enough interest in the IPO and the company doesn't sell all shares offered within the Initial offer Period.
Once your IPO has been approved your company will be added to the Upcoming IPO's list that is displayed on the website and in the Main Trading Hall. Your company will remain there until all shares offered are sold. Once the IPO is fully subscribed the company will be moved to the Official List.
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SECONDARY MARKET - OFFICIAL LIST
The Secondary market allows investors who subscribed to the IPO to buy and sell shares in the company on the open market. Company founders are unable to sell their shares for 3 months from the date of being admitted to the official list.
Once on the official list companies receive a the 'Listed on WSE' sign or WSE flag.
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MANAGING YOUR COMPANY AND LISTING
You can manage your company and listing using the WSE website.
Features include:- Editing your Prospectus, Updated the Prospectus with the Latest information if your company is added to the Official List
- Editing or Updated your Company Directors
- Share Registry (Ability to view your Shareholder listing along with details on the Avatar name, number of shares and % of ownership)
- Announcements (Ability to post announcements to the market and your shareholders with information on new products or services, monthly financial reporting and key company data.
- Share Buyback System (Ability to buyback shares from the market at a premium to the current share price. This will buy shares off the market and then the shares will be deleted from the Total Outstanding Shares therefore increasing the equity of the remaining shareholders)
- Voting System (Ability to put forward motions (proposals) for shareholders to vote on key company decisions that may affect the share structure or company ownership.