IPO Watch: Meet the next health, tech and retail players ready to become ASX debutantes

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The market was a tough place in the latter part of 2018 for companies looking to make their debut on the ASX.

Those hanging in there, hoping they can cross the finish line, will be rooting for a better 2019.

Just three of the 11 health and tech IPOs that listed in November and December have gained ground.

Anti-ageing drug developer Exopharm (ASX:EX1) is the best performer since listing, with shares advancing 130 per cent since it made its debut on December 18.

The company sold shares under its IPO at 20c each and is trading around 46c now.

Exopharm was spun out of a Melbourne biotech incubator called Altnia Group to “bring a new type of potential regenerative medicine into clinical use to treat health span-related medical conditions”.

The new-look anti-ageing sector is all about manipulating your body’s proteins and genes to recover faster and (although this isn’t Exopharm’s line) live longer but remain physically younger.

Atomos (ASX:AMS) which makes and sells camera add-ons for amateur Instagrammers and professional photographers, is also enjoying a nice share price rally not long after listing.

The company lit up the boards on December 28 and has gained 58.5 per cent to trade at 65c.

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Medtech company EMvision Medical Devices (ASX:EMV), meanwhile, has climbed 52 per cent from its IPO issue price to 38c.

EMvision is developing medical imaging technology that utilises electromagnetic microwave energy to create images of the human brain and other organs.

It is acquiring the intellectual property to develop and commercialise the technology. The company’s initial focus is neurological conditions, specifically stroke care due to the clinical need and potentially large commercial opportunity.

Nanoveu (ASX:NVU) was the worst performer with a 62.5 per cent drop in its share price to 7.5c.

The Perth-based tech company, which hit the ASX on November 30, has been working for more than five years on high-tech mobile phone screen protectors that allow users to view 3D images, video and games.

Nanoveu raised $6m for its ‘EyeFly3D’ screen protectors.

Therapeutic goods company Fiji Kava (ASX:FIJ) has also seen its share price more than halved since it listed on December 20.

Kava is a numbing relaxant that comes from the ground root of the piper methysticum plant.

The plant’s active ingredient, kavalactones, has a number of medicinal benefits and has been recognised as a natural alternative to treat anxiety, insomnia, stress and muscle tension.

Fiji Kava is trading at 9c at the moment — 55 per cent lower than its IPO issue price.

See below how the most recent health and tech debutantes have fared since listing:

Swipe or scroll to reveal full table. Click headings to sort

*JXT backdoor listed into Mobilarm

Meanwhile, there are about eight companies still working to go public.

Some have been delayed, while others are closing in on their expected deadlines.

AXS Group, which will trade under the ticker “AXS” when it finally lights up the boards, was due to start trading in late November.

The company provides software for the digitisation and automation of asset processing solutions to the financial services sector.

AXS has now revised its expected listing date to February 28.

High-tech recruitment platform Jobstore raised less than 2 per cent of the $8m it was seeking in its IPO but decided to give investors more time to take a stake in the company.

The Malaysia-based company aims to automate hiring for corporate customers using high-tech algorithms that advertise jobs on 50 different employment sites by automatically recommending the best candidates.

The company was due to list in December, but has pushed that out to April 5 after extending its IPO to March 15.

Mediland Pharm is closing in on its anticipated listing date of January 25.

The company launched a $12.5m-15m IPO late last year.

Mediland is what is referred to as a ‘daigou’ retailer.

‘Daigou’ is a specifically Chinese term which means to buy on behalf of, referring to people outside China who shop on behalf of a China resident.

The company owns retail stores in Sydney, Melbourne and Surfers Paradise which are specially designed for tour groups and ‘daigou’ buyers, wanting to buy Australian products.

Here’s a list of upcoming IPOs:

Swipe or scroll to reveal full table. Click headings to sort

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