SpaceX IPO: how can I buy shares, and what are the risks?

A Falcon 9 SpaceX heavy rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. Elon Musk plans to raise $75bn from the SpaceX IPO. Photograph: John Raoux/AP View image in fullscreen A Falcon 9 SpaceX heavy rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. Elon Musk plans to raise $75bn from the SpaceX IPO. Photograph: John Raoux/AP Explainer SpaceX IPO: how can I buy shares, and what are the risks? Elon Musk firm plans the biggest stock market launch in history – but experts have flagged potential downsides It’s being billed as the biggest stock market launch in history. Shares in Elon Musk’s SpaceX are poised to be released on 12 June with a valuation of $135 (£100.84). The company plans to sell 555.6m of them, which means it will raise $75bn from the sale. On Friday, it was reported that up to a quarter of the shares could be reserved for individual investors, rather than funds and banks. This is a bigger share than is typically the case in a large initial public offering (IPO). How do I buy shares? The shares will be listed on the Nasdaq in New York, and you may well end up owning some even if you do not attempt to buy any directly. Recent changes , and other fund managers may choose to invest. In the UK, some investment trusts already have stakes in the company. These include Edinburgh Worldwide and Baillie Gifford US Growth. If you want to buy individual shares you will need to a platform that is acting as a broker for them. In the UK, AJ Bell and Hargreaves Lansdown are offering clients the chance to bid for shares. In the US, you will be able to buy through Charles Schwab, Fidelity, Robinhood, SoFi Technologies, and Morgan Stanley’s E*Trade. View image in fullscreen SpaceX will set the official share price on 11 June, based on interest from investors. Photograph: Dado Ruvić/Reuters“Normally, it is quite difficult for UK-based retail investors to access US IPOs, but a number of UK brokers and investment platforms are offering access to this one, sensing both strong client demand and, no doubt, a commercial opportunity,” says Jason Hollands, the managing director of BestInvest. “Minimum subscriptions are typically about £1,000, with applications closing next Wednesday. Check with your platform/broker whether they are taking part in the IPO and whether they can facilitate applying for the shares in an Isa or investment account.” Before the IPO, you can register your interest and how much you want to invest.