Anthropic opens Australian retail IPO as AI regulation tightens
Anthropic began its Australian retail offering for shares ahead of a planned Nasdaq listing, while the Australian government moves to strengthen AI oversight.
Anthropic, the developer of the Claude AI chatbot, launched its Australian retail initial public offering on Wednesday, giving individual investors the chance to apply for shares before the company’s anticipated Nasdaq debut. The offering runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Australian Eastern Daylight Time and is set to close on Nov. 17, according to the schedule published by broker Stake.
The company aims to raise up to $64.4 billion through the IPO, complemented by a $26 billion private placement, for a potential total of $90.4 billion. Shares are expected to be priced between $70 and $78 each and will be newly issued Class A common shares under a prospectus to be filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
Participating brokers include Commonwealth Bank of Australia's CommSec unit as lead broker, along with Bell Potter, LGT Wealth, Macquarie Group, Morgans, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, Sharesies and Stake. Prospective investors must review the prospectus on Anthropic’s IPO website and submit applications through the listed brokers.
Anthropic plans to list its Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker "ANT" and does not intend to seek a listing on the Australian Securities Exchange. Australia is among a few non-U.S. markets, alongside Japan, Canada and parts of Europe, where retail investors can buy the company’s shares directly.
The IPO launch coincides with heightened scrutiny of AI in Australia. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans to introduce mandatory reporting for certain AI-related incidents and to establish an AI safety regulator with enforcement powers. > "The law needs to get ahead of, and in some cases, make sure that it catches up with what is a very fast-changing world," Albanese told Reuters. The government is also reviewing criminal-law provisions for serious misconduct and has rejected a proposed copyright exemption that would let AI firms train models on Australian content without licensing.