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IG Australia has launched a promotion tied to Anthropic's planned initial public offering, offering eligible Australian customers one Anthropic share at the final IPO price.
The move targets retail investors seeking exposure to one of the most closely watched US artificial intelligence listings.
Under the arrangement, IG will buy the share after Anthropic begins trading, rather than provide access before the listing. Eligible customers must be new IG Trading share trading customers, or existing customers who have not yet traded on their IG Trading account, and must fund the account with at least the amount required by the broker.
Customers who qualify are entitled to one Anthropic share at the lower of the final IPO price stated in Anthropic's last prospectus or other official announcement, or the price at which IG buys the share on their behalf. IG will absorb any increase above the final IPO price and pass on any lower purchase price if the stock falls on its first day.
The offer reflects rising Australian interest in high-profile US technology floats, as local retail investors look for ways to access deals that are often difficult to enter directly. US IPO allocations are usually dominated by institutional investors, leaving many smaller investors to buy only after trading starts.
Michael Jones, Managing Director, IG Australia, said the promotion was designed to address that gap.
"Australians have made it clear they want a stake in the companies shaping AI, but allocations in big US IPOs are typically difficult to access for Australian retail investors," Jones said.
He added: "We wanted to give Aussies a way to get in on what could be the biggest IPO of the year without having to depend on an allocation in the IPO. Too many investors are missing out on some of the most exciting IPOs in recent history, and this offer is looking to help change that.
"We're giving everyday investors a straightforward way to own a share in a company at the centre of AI, at the price typically reserved for institutions."
Retail demand
IG linked the launch to strong local appetite for large US technology offerings. It said the recent SpaceX IPO drew tens of thousands of Australian investors and ranked among the most sought-after IPOs by local retail buyers in more than a decade.
The broker also pointed to activity on its own pre-IPO contracts for difference market tied to Anthropic. Trading volume in that market has risen more than 27-fold since launch, according to IG, while long positions have exceeded short positions by more than 95% in recent months.
When the figures were compiled, 80% of CFD traders on IG's platform were long on Anthropic, signalling expectations of a higher market capitalisation at the close of the first trading day. IG's platform was pricing Anthropic's expected market capitalisation at USD $1.9 trillion, up from USD $500 billion seven months earlier.
Those figures reflect the positioning and views of IG and its customers rather than a broader market consensus. Even so, they underline the intensity of retail interest in companies associated with generative AI, particularly those seen as rivals to better-known names in the sector.
How it works
The promotion is limited in scope, with each eligible customer entitled to only one share. That suggests the offer is aimed less at building large positions and more at giving retail investors a route into the stock at a price linked to the IPO itself.
IG said shares bought under the promotion will be made available to customers soon after the first day of trading. Separate terms also cover scenarios in which the IPO is delayed or cancelled.
Anthropic, the company behind the AI assistant Claude, has drawn significant investor attention as demand for artificial intelligence businesses continues to reshape public and private markets. Investors are expected to watch its planned listing closely as they assess both valuation appetite and the broader durability of the AI investment cycle.
For Australian retail investors, the main attraction may be the chance to secure stock on terms that are usually difficult to obtain in overseas offerings.