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IPO Advisory Services Company in Malaysia
Great CFO provides end-to-end IPO advisory, guiding businesses from initial planning to successful listing on Bursa Malaysia or the Nasdaq in the U.S. Our strategic support helps unlock capital, elevate market visibility, and drive sustainable growth.
Why Partner with Great CFO
Explore the key advantages of partnering with Great CFO to drive your business growth and compliance success.
Our Services for
IPO Advisory in Malaysia
02
Due Diligence Coordination
- Support legal, audit, and tax due diligence with experienced professionals.
03
Stakeholder Alignment
- Coordinate with underwriters, lawyers, accountants, tax agents, and company secretaries.
04
Regulatory Submissions
- Prepare documentation and liaise with Bursa Malaysia or SEC/Nasdaq for application and approval.
05
Valuation & Allocation Planning
- Advise on share pricing model, institutional vs retail allocations, and investment story positioning.
06
Investor Engagement & Roadshows
- Organise physical and virtual roadshows to engage institutional and retail investors.
07
Post-Listing Compliance
- Assist with quarterly announcements, ESG disclosures, internal controls, and investor relations setup.
Bursa Malaysia vs Nasdaq
Key Comparison
| Aspect | Bursa Malaysia | Nasdaq (USA) |
|---|---|---|
| Listing Board |
Main Market, ACE Market, LEAP Market |
Capital Market, Global Market |
| Eligibility |
Profit & revenue-based (Main), growth-stage (ACE), micro-cap (LEAP) |
Equity, market cap, corporate governance standards |
| Capital Raised |
RM20M–RM100M (typically) |
USD10M – USD500M+ |
| Timeline |
6–12 months (depending on board) |
6–9 months (IPO) or 3–6 months (SPAC) |
| Investor Base |
Domestic and ASEAN investors |
Global institutional and retail investors |
| Pricing Mechanism | Fixed-price IPO or private placement | Book-building or SPAC negotiated pricing |
| Compliance Costs | RM1M–RM3M typically | USD3M–USD5M+ including SEC costs |
| Post-IPO Requirements | Bursa/SC disclosure, quarterly reports | SEC filings, Sarbanes-Oxley, investor disclosures |
Strengthen Your Business with Proven Expertise
Malaysia’s Complex
Domestic Capital Markets
Before going public, a Malaysian company has to choose the Bursa Malaysia board that matches its growth stage and finances. Each one comes with its own entry rules:
| Board | Suitable For | Key Eligibility Basis |
| Main Market | Established, profitable companies | Profit or market-cap test, with track record requirements |
| ACE Market | Growth-stage companies | Sponsor-driven, no minimum profit track record |
| LEAP Market | Micro-cap and small companies | Sophisticated investors only; lightest-touch requirements |
Quantitative and Qualitative Listing Criteria
You’ll need to satisfy two kinds of requirements.
A company can look healthy on paper and still hit delays if its governance—and its listing group structure—isn’t ready for listing.
The Trade-Offs of Going Public
Going public can change everything—but it comes with real trade-offs. Trade-offs to consider:
- Less control, since you now share success with public shareholders
- Less privacy in how you operate and decide
- Considerable time and money during the listing itself
- Compliance obligations that never really end
- Heavier fiduciary responsibility and public scrutiny
Weighing both sides helps you decide whether an IPO genuinely fits your long-term goals or whether another financing route would serve you better.
How far in advance
should a company start preparing?
Ideally, kick off pre-IPO advisory two to three years before listing, giving yourself room for restructuring, internal control reviews, and compliance.
Though the right timeline depends on your size and how ready the market is. Starting early gives you time to:
- Strengthen governance and recruit qualified independent directors
- Sort out tax, legal, or licensing issues without the clock ticking
- Build a credible, multi-year financial track record backed by clean financial statements
- Put in place internal controls that hold up under due diligence
- Restructure the group, if needed, into a clean, investor-ready entity
Building the Due Diligence
Working Group
Listing on Bursa Malaysia means bringing on advisors who together form the due diligence working group (DDWG). The core members are:
- Investment Bank (Principal Advisor): Advises on structure, timing, and pricing, coordinates the other professionals, prepares the prospectus, and files it with regulators.
- Lawyers: Handle legal matters, run the legal due diligence, and draft documents such as the planning memorandum and report.
- Reporting Accountants: Prepare the Accountant’s Report and review the financial readiness and internal controls.
- Property Valuer: Needed when the listing involves revalued property, plant, or equipment.
- Business and Market Researcher: Reports on prospects, market positioning, and risks.
- Issuing House and Share Registrar: Manage share allotment and balloting and keep the Register of Members.
- Public Relations Company: Builds awareness and appeal for the company.
- Tax Advisor: Weighs in on tax matters, particularly around restructuring, property transfers, or cross-border activity.
- Company Secretary: Keeps statutory records accurate and makes sure the board follows the listing requirements and the Code on Corporate Governance.
Common Compliance Pitfalls That Delay IPOs
A handful of recurring problems can hold up a listing if you don’t deal with them early:
Life After Listing (Post-IPO)
A newly listed company carries a permanent compliance load that calls for dedicated in-house capability or ongoing advisory support. The main obligations include:
- Periodic Financial Disclosure: Quarterly and annual reporting within Bursa Malaysia’s deadlines
- Material Information Disclosure: Prompt announcements of anything that could meaningfully move the share price
- Related-Party and Notifiable Transaction Disclosure: Open reporting of dealings with directors, major shareholders, or connected parties
- Corporate Governance Reporting: Annual disclosure against the Code on Corporate Governance
- Sustainability and ESG Reporting: Environmental, social, and governance disclosure that’s increasingly required
- Maintaining Board Independence: Keeping up with the one-third independent director rule
We, as a company, assist clients with corporate exercises subsequent to listing so you stay on top of regulatory compliance at every turn.
Companies that brush this off often find themselves stretched thin once they’re listed.
So build your financial reporting and governance capability into the pre-IPO plan, not as something to bolt on later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Choose Bursa if your focus is on regional capital and you meet local listing requirements. Choose Nasdaq if you target global investors, especially for tech, consumer, or export-driven sectors.
- Bursa Malaysia: Typically 6–12 months
- Nasdaq: 6–9 months (traditional IPO) or 3–6 months (via SPAC merger)
A SPAC is a listed shell company that merges with your business, allowing fast-track entry to Nasdaq without a full IPO. It suits companies ready for U.S. exposure but needing speed or valuation flexibility.
- Bursa IPO: RM1M–RM3M
- Nasdaq IPO: USD3M–USD5M+
These include advisory, legal, audit, listing, and compliance costs.
Yes. Malaysian companies like Empro Group have successfully listed by meeting SEC and Nasdaq governance, disclosure, and audit standards.
You will be subject to periodic reporting, corporate governance obligations, and investor engagement. We provide ongoing advisory for financial reporting, disclosures, and compliance.
Yes. We provide strategic advisory for companies considering dual listings to access both regional and global capital markets.
Meet Our Professional
Ms. Vivien Lim
Enquiry Now
Switching to us is simple and hassle-free. Once you’re ready, we handle everything by coordinating directly with your current provider to ensure a seamless transition.