This session will look at the use of offshore companies (particularly BVI, Cayman, Bermuda and Jersey companies) for IPOs on international stock exchanges - from the initial planning stages to actual listing.

Although we are still in somewhat of a recession, there is no doubt that the markets have picked up since 2008 where companies are again looking to raise capital via IPOs and as usual offshore companies are in the mix. Offshore companies are listed on some of the world's largest stock exchanges including Nasdaq, New York Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange including AIM, Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Singapore Stock Exchange. These exchanges play a significant role in financial markets around the world and the use of offshore companies in such scenarios demonstrates to a large extent their acceptance in the global market place. Offshore companies in general offer corporate flexibility coupled with financial benefits when used for listings in some markets. The listing process is a very involved one and includes many players both onshore and offshore to move from a simple idea to listing and raising funds, and commencing trading.