Insurance solutions for pre-IPO companies, newly listed entities and small-cap businesses as they scale, raise capital and navigate the responsibilities of public ownership.
Insurance solutions for pre-IPO companies, newly listed entities and small-cap businesses as they scale, raise capital and navigate the responsibilities of public ownership.
Specialist Risk Group (SRG) has deep expertise across governance, disclosure and regulatory risk for companies preparing to list or operating in public markets. We work with founders, executives and boards to understand corporate structure, capital strategy and exposure to investor and regulatory scrutiny, and structure insurance programs aligned to the realities of listed and pre-listed businesses.
Pre-IPO and small listed companies face heightened scrutiny, increased disclosure requirements and complex governance expectations. Misstatements, shareholder actions, cyber incidents or operational disruptions can have immediate financial and reputational impact. As businesses scale and enter regulated markets, bespoke insurance programs become essential to support leadership accountability, protect capital-raising activities and safeguard organisational resilience.
Liabilities facing directors, executives and officers, from claims involving mismanagement, disclosure issues, shareholder actions or regulatory scrutiny.
Prospectus liability, misstatement claims and exposures linked to capital-raising documents.
Issues arising from financial reporting, operational decisions, employment practices or market announcements.
Data breaches, business interruption, ransomware and digital risks affecting investor trust and operational continuity.
Liabilities relating to client loss, service failures, third-party damage or operational incidents.
Risks related to facility damage, equipment failure and revenue disruption affecting day-to-day operations.
We arrange cover for a wide range of pre-IPO and small listed businesses, with specialist expertise across:
Protection for directors and officers from claims of mismanagement, breach of duty, regulatory investigation or shareholder action.
Coverage for liabilities arising from disclosures in prospectuses, offer documents and capital-raising materials during an IPO or pre-IPO transaction.
Bundled protection for governance, employment liability, crime and statutory liability exposures within small listed and pre-IPO companies.
Protection against financial loss claims resulting from errors, omissions or failures in professional services or advisory activities.
Coverage for data breaches, system failure, ransomware and digital risks impacting sensitive company, customer or investor information.
Covers offices, operational sites, equipment and business assets against fire, theft, damage or accidental loss.
Protects revenue and operational expenses when operations are disrupted by insured events.
Protection against IP infringement allegations and defence costs associated with protecting proprietary technology.
Coverage for obligations arising from commercial agreements, supply contracts and partnership arrangements.
Pre‑IPO companies in Australia typically need Prospectus Liability (POSI) to protect against disclosure and investor claims, alongside Directors & Officers Liability, Professional Indemnity, Cyber, Management Liability, and Public & Products Liability to meet governance, advice‑based, and operational risks. These policies work together to cover the capital‑markets exposure of listing and the core risks of running and scaling the business.
Pre-IPO insurance focuses on capital-raising and disclosure risk, while post-listing programs must address ongoing shareholder exposure, continuous disclosure obligations, employment practices and heightened regulatory scrutiny.
Public Offering of Securities Insurance (POSI) covers liabilities arising from misstatements or omissions in prospectuses, offer documents or capital-raising materials. It is commonly required for IPOs, secondary raisings and reverse listings.
Management Liability Insurance is not sufficient for ASX‑listed companies, because in Australia it is designed for private businesses and does not cover securities‑related, disclosure or shareholder risks. Listed entities require a full Directors & Officers Liability program, which is built to meet their continuous disclosure and investor‑driven exposures.
Robust insurance programs demonstrate strong governance, protect leadership teams and reduce transaction risk, which can be critical to investor confidence during IPOs and funding rounds.
Yes. Cyber incidents can trigger disclosure obligations, regulatory investigations and shareholder claims, making cyber insurance a critical component of listed company risk management.
Yes, insurance should be structured to evolve through funding rounds, IPO preparation, listing and post-IPO growth, ensuring continuity of protection as exposure changes.
Ideally 6–12 months before an IPO or capital raise, allowing time to structure appropriate cover, engage insurers early and avoid gaps during transaction periods.
D&O insurance protects directors and officers against personal liability arising from governance decisions, disclosure obligations, shareholder actions and regulatory investigations, which increase significantly once a company is listed.
Yes. Directors can face personal liability for misleading or incomplete disclosures, even where the company itself is also named in a claim. D&O insurance provides essential personal asset protection.
Yes. Small ASX‑listed companies face the same core market, disclosure and governance risks as large listed entities because the ASX Listing Rules and Corporations Act apply equally to all. The difference is that these risks can be more acute for small caps, which tend to have higher volatility, less analyst coverage, and greater sensitivity to economic conditions, making missteps harder to absorb.
Shareholder actions can arise from disclosure issues, performance announcements or governance decisions. D&O insurance is designed to respond to defence costs, settlements and regulatory proceedings.
Insurers closely review board structure, financial controls, disclosure processes, capital strategy and claims history when underwriting listed and pre-IPO risks.
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