How to apply for an IPO in Europe

• Residents of the listing country, when the issuer runs a public retail offer there and your bank or broker carries it.
• EU and EEA residents elsewhere, sometimes, when the prospectus is passported to their country.
• Everyone else: eligibility is defined per offer. Our coverage for these markets is browse-only today and we mark access as "not verified".

• An account with an intermediary authorised in the listing country (FCA, BaFin, AMF, AFM or FINMA supervised) that participates in the offer.
• Some retail offers run through dedicated platforms named in the prospectus.

• Participating banks and brokers named in the prospectus.
• Retail-offer platforms where the issuer appoints one (common in the UK).
• For Frankfurt listings, banks and brokers connected to the exchange's subscription functionality during the offer period.

Each IPO page lists the channels confirmed for that specific issue, with their own deadlines, minimums and evidence dates. Paid placements never affect what appears there.

1. 1

   Check whether a retail offer exists

   Many European IPOs are institutional-only. The prospectus states whether a public offer is made and in which countries.

2. 2

   Find the intermediaries

   The prospectus names the banks, brokers or platform carrying the retail tranche.

3. 3

   Place the order during the offer period

   Orders are usually within the price range; final price is set at the end of book-building.

4. 4

   Allocation and settlement

   Retail allocations are described in the prospectus; shares settle to your account before or on the first trading day.

1. Intention to float

   Several weeks before the offer.

2. Offer period

   Roughly one to two weeks, often closing a day earlier for retail than for institutions.

3. Pricing and allocation

   At the end of book-building.

4. First trading day

   Shortly after pricing.

Provider deadlines (a bank's or broker's cut-off) are often earlier than the issuer close. Each IPO page shows both separately.

• Browse-only coverage: we do not yet have verified IPO records for these markets, which is different from there being no IPOs.
• Retail tranches are frequently absent; do not assume one exists.
• Switzerland is outside the EU passporting regime; eligibility is set deal by deal by the syndicate banks.

• EU Prospectus Regulation (2017/1129)
• FCA Prospectus Regulation Rules
• SIX Swiss Exchange listing rules

Checked by the BrokerBazaar IPO desk on 2026-10-05; next scheduled review 2027-01-05. This guide describes documented procedures and eligibility. It is not investment, legal or tax advice, and BrokerBazaar does not take applications or money.