Sponsors

Who are APX’s Sponsors?

The APX Listees listing process is supported by an expert adviser which APX refers to as an APX Sponsor. These Sponsors range from Brokers, to accountants and Lawyers and are a unique concept to APX aimed at enhancing the listing experience of our Listees:

Why are Sponsors Important to APX and its Listees?

The importance of the Sponsors and its Listees should not be underestimated.

With the majority of our clients listing on an exchange for the first time it is important that they have an understanding of all the requirements and rules relevant to their exchange listing. This is where the sponsor plays a vital role as they ensure this understanding is realised by each of their listees, validating price-sensitive documents and providing advice and guidance on business activities, as to what is required from an exchange compliance point of view.

APX sets out strict criteria for becoming an APX Sponsor, in order to safeguard the integrity of the market, and to ensure that existing and prospective APX companies have ready access to the high-quality advice they deserve.

Benefits of being an APX Sponsor

The APX market provides an opportunity for an array of financial services companies to become involved with Australia’s newest ASIC regulated registered stock exchange. Some advantages of participating on this exciting new exchange include:

• Using already possessed and available specialisation, firms are able to access another income stream to their portfolio through sponsor participation on the APX.
• Being an APX Registered Sponsor adds another service to a firms list of offered specialisations.
• APX allows their branding to be used by sponsors in marketing and other initiatives and APX also actively markets their sponsors to potential listees and in other exchange related initiatives. This works to enhance a company’s reputation and prestige in the market place.
• Provides access to a host of new clients and business opportunities and assists in the diversification of a firm’s client base.
• Firms with potential clients will have access to a regulated stock exchange with the added exposure, capital access opportunities and prestige in the marketplace that this comes with.

How to become an APX Sponsor

To become an APX Sponsor you must first apply to APX and meet the requirements outlined below (a full list can be found in APX Business Rules Chapter 9). A new applicant must:

1. Must either:
   a) Be a financial services licensee;
   b) Hold a current practicing certificate under the Legal Practice Act 1996 in the state of Victoria, or its equivalent in another State of Territory of Australia; or
   c) Be a qualified accountant (as defined in the *Act);
2. satisfy APX that it is competent to discharge the responsibilities of a sponsor;
3. give an undertaking to APX in the form set out in Appendix 9-1 of the APX Business Rules; and
4. Pay to APX all prescribed fees.

The Application

It is encouraged that before an application is lodged that you discuss your application for admission as an APX Registered Sponsor with the APX Sponsor Regulation Department. The pre-application discussion will clarify the admission requirements for APX Sponsors, the application process and your ongoing requirements as a new APX Registered Sponsor.

Application Process
Once discussions have been held with the APX Market Sponsor Regulation Department new applicants are required to complete and submit the relevant application forms (Appendix 9-1 of the APX Business Rules) for admission as a new APX Sponsor.

The APX Sponsor Regulation Department will then review the application to ensure it complies with the APX Business rules before preparing a submission supporting the application to the APX Adjudicatory Tribunal who will then consider the application.

Successful applicants
Upon successfully gaining admission as an APX Registered Sponsor, you will receive a copy of the APX Business and Listing Rules and a certificate of admission as an APX Registered Sponsor.

What if your application is rejected?
If an APX Sponsor Application is intended to be rejected APX notifies the person of their intention to reject the application and the reasons for this occurring. The applicant is then provided the opportunity to resolve the issues surrounding the rejection or if further aggrieved with the decision, request a hearing with the APX Appeals Tribunal to address the reasons for the rejection.

Appointing a Sponsor:
Appointing a Sponsor is one of the most crucial steps to be undertaken by an entity that wishes to list on APX.

As an applicant to list on the APX, under the APX listing Standards, the entity must engage a sponsor to advise the entity in connection with the application. This must be done so prior to issuance of a Prospectus by the Entity.

Once the entity is listed with APX, and becomes a Listee of APX it is also a requirement for listees to engage a sponsor to:

1. Give advice to the listee about the applications of the Listee’s listing standards.
2. Prepare reports for the listee, when the listee is involved in any sort of transactional activities such as takeovers and acquisitions.

APX has a list of Sponsors that are pre-accredited with APX which you may seek to appoint.

Alternatively, if you wish to appoint a company as your Sponsor however they are not on the APX list, they simply have to go through an application process to become an APX Sponsor.

As Sponsors play a crucial role in the listing and ongoing compliance of listees, there is a set of requirements which an application must meet, as well as a set of guidelines they must meet ongoing.

The following is a list of APX accredited sponsors that are currently available to represent APX listees: