Daniel Simons
Champaign
Prof @ U. of Illinois. Co-author of Nobody's Fool (coming July 11: bit.ly/3Wm7rCa) and The Invisible Gorilla. Fond of wearing gorilla suits in public.
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Articles by Daniel Simons
UK IPO information flows - changes to the COBS rules now in force
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UK capital markets: New AIM regime in force
We've updated our Privacy Statement. Before you continue, please read our new Privacy Statement and familiarize yourself with the terms.
UK capital markets: New AIM regime in force
We've updated our Privacy Statement. Before you continue, please read our new Privacy Statement and familiarize yourself with the terms.
UK IPO information flows - changes to the COBS rules now in force
We've updated our Privacy Statement. Before you continue, please read our new Privacy Statement and familiarize yourself with the terms.
UK capital markets: New AIM regime in force
We've updated our Privacy Statement. Before you continue, please read our new Privacy Statement and familiarize yourself with the terms.
UK capital markets: New AIM regime in force
We've updated our Privacy Statement. Before you continue, please read our new Privacy Statement and familiarize yourself with the terms.
UK IPO information flows - changes to the COBS rules now in force
On 5 August 2026, the FCA published Policy Statement PS26/16, "Changes to information flows for UK equity IPOs". The statement follows Consultation Paper CP26/14, which proposed changes to the COBS 11A rules after market feedback suggested they were...
UK Capital Markets: LSE publishes proposals to enhance the AIM regime
The London Stock Exchange (“LSE”) has published long-awaited proposals to overhaul the AIM regulatory regime, following its Discussion Paper, “Shaping the Future of AIM”, published in November 2025. That paper introduced immediate changes to the AIM Rules for Companies (“AIM Rules”), implemented through derogation requests (as covered in our article here).
Hogan Lovells is advising Ingredion Incorporated on its £2.7 billion recommended takeover offer of Tate & Lyle PLC
The transaction remains subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions, including shareholder approval and regulatory clearances and is expected to complete in the second half of 2027. Bill Curtin, co-lead Hogan Lovells partner for the transaction, said: “It has been a real pleasure to work with our client Ingredion on this opportunity to expand their global operations and bring together complementary portfolios for the benefit of customers, employees, and stakeholders.
UK Capital Markets: LSE publishes proposals to enhance the AIM regime
On 4 June 2026, the LSE published for consultation the following key amendments to the AIM Rules, which it groups into specific areas as set out below. Reducing unnecessary admission burdens In response to feedback that AIM admission documents have become increasingly complex and less valuable for investors, the LSE is seeking to redesign the document and “modernise, simplify and streamline” the admission process.
UK IPO information flows – FCA listens to feedback and proposes changes to COBS rules
On 28 April 2026, the FCA published Consultation Paper CP 26/14 – Changes to information flows for UK equity IPOs (CP 26/14), setting out proposed changes to the rules governing information flows during UK equity initial public offerings (IPOs).
UK IPO information flows - FCA listens to feedback and proposes changes to COBS rules
On 28 April 2026, the FCA published Consultation Paper CP 26/14 – Changes to information flows for UK equity IPOs (CP 26/14), setting out proposed changes to the rules governing information flows during UK equity initial public offerings (IPOs). The...
UK IPO information flows – FCA listens to feedback and proposes changes to COBS rules
Background to the FCA 2018 reforms In July 2018, the FCA introduced a package of rules designed to improve the quality and availability of information during the UK equity IPO process. Overall, the reforms sought to address perceived risks of bias in connected research coverage, promote the availability of unconnected research and ensure that an FCA-approved prospectus was the primary source of information for investors in an IPO process.
UK Equity Capital Markets: FCA publishes important guidance in preparation for the UK’s forthcoming new prospectus regime
In July 2025, the FCA published Policy Statement PS25/9, which set out its final rules relating to the forthcoming new UK POATRs regime, set to take effect from 19 January 2026. The new rules include the new Prospectus Rules: Admission to Trading on a Regulated Market sourcebook (PRM), certain amended UKLRs, the amended Market Conduct sourcebook for firms operating primary MTFs, and other related amendments to the FCA’s Handbook.
Africatown Plaza: Community-Led Design Roots Black Seattleites in Place Original
A recent project in Seattle—Africatown Plaza—demonstrates the alchemy of community collaboration and a development team’s commitment to creating a neighborhood that can thrive. Much can be learned from how the team prioritized people in the process to make a people-centered place. Seattle’s Central District was founded in the late 1800s as the city’s first Black settlement, which evolved into a vibrant community of thriving residences and businesses.
Summary of Takeover Code Changes on Dual Class Share Structures, IPOs and Share Buybacks | JD Supra
The Takeover Code (Code) changes in Panel consultation paper “PCP 2025/1” and response statement “RS 2025/1”: set out (in response to related amendments to the UK Listing Rules in 2024) a new framework for the application of the Code to a dual class share structure company (DCSS) i.e. a company with, in addition to voting ordinary shares, a share class (“Class B” or “special” shares) with enhanced voting rights/control.
Summary of Takeover Code changes on dual class share structures, IPOs and share buybacks
The Takeover Code (Code) changes in Panel consultation paper “PCP 2025/1” and response statement “RS 2025/1”: set out (in response to related amendments to the UK Listing Rules in 2024) a new framework for the application of the Code to a dual class share structure company (DCSS) i.e. a company with, in addition to voting ordinary shares, a share class (“Class B” or “special” shares) with enhanced voting rights/control.
UK Capital Markets: Shaping the future of AIM – What’s Changing Now and What’s on the Horizon? | JD Supra
On 21 November 2025, the London Stock Exchange (LSE) released its Feedback Statement following its Discussion Paper: Shaping the Future of AIM, which invited market participants to share their perspectives on the future direction of AIM in the light of significant reforms to the UK capital markets framework. In its Feedback Statement, the LSE summarises the key feedback received and sets out specific amendments to the AIM Rules for Companies (AIM Rules).
UK Capital Markets: Shaping the future of AIM - what’s changing now and what’s on the horizon?
In its Feedback Statement, the LSE summarises the market’s feedback to its Discussion Paper published earlier this year, highlighting that AIM continues to play a significant role within the UK’s capital market landscape; a view reinforced by feedback received during its discussions with stakeholders, who expressed strong support for AIM as a market uniquely positioned between the private markets and the Main Market. (For background, click here to read our summary of the Discussion Paper).
The wild world of robofauna and regenerative robots
Get your mind-blown emojis out, as Daniel Simons shares some of the leading robot technologies that are turbocharging a regenerative revolution. In 2025, you might be forgiven for feeling like you’re living inside an episode of Black Mirror. Almost daily, we’re bombarded with a flood of AI news headlines that are, let’s say, both tantalising and discombobulating.
UK Equity Capital Markets: New UK public offers and admissions to trading regime in force in early 2026 | JD Supra
On 15 July 2025, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published its final rules for the new UK public offers and admissions to trading regime which will take effect on 19 January 2026, replacing the current EU-derived regulatory framework.
Summary of UK Takeover Panel Practice Statement 35 (PS35): Profit forecasts, quantified financial benefits statements and investment research | JD Supra
PS35 provides further guidance on how the Panel usually applies Rule 28 (profit forecasts and quantified financial benefits statements) in practice. Rule 28 lays out relatively stringent regulatory obligations/reporting requirements for targets and securities exchange bidders to report on profit forecasts and QFBS. This article sets out the key points from PS35.
Summary of UK Takeover Panel Practice Statement 36 (PS36): Unlisted share alternatives | JD Supra
PS36 provides guidance on how the Panel usually applies Takeover Code provisions relating to an unlisted share alternative to a cash offer (stub equity), emphasising that the Panel should be consulted at an early stage (including if “rollover shares” are later listed). This article sets out the key points from PS36.
UK Equity Capital Markets: New UK public offers and admissions to trading regime in force in early 2026
Background Following recommendations made in Lord Hill’s UK Listings Review and the UK Secondary Capital Raising Review, together with subsequent consultations, the UK Government introduced the Public Offers and Admissions to Trading Regulations 2024 (SI 2024/105) (POATRs) which came into effect, for limited purposes, on 30 January 2024.
PISCES - FCA publishes its final rules and welcomes applications from market operators
On 5 June 2025, the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (PISCES Sandbox) Regulations 2025 (the “Regulations”) came into force, establishing the legislative framework for PISCES operators and participating stakeholders. The Regulations temporarily modify existing legal requirements for the new platform to operate whilst it is tested within a ‘sandbox’ environment for a five-year trial period.
UK Capital Markets: London Stock Exchange launches market discussion on the future of AIM | JD Supra
On 7 April 2025, the London Stock Exchange (LSE) published a discussion paper ‘Shaping the Future of AIM’ (Discussion Paper) inviting feedback on proposals to develop the overall AIM market framework and update the AIM Rules for Companies (AIM Rules) to ensure the UK’s most prominent growth market remains fit for purpose. We take a look at the LSE’s key points for discussion.
Saying Yes to Life: An Easter Reflection
Easter may not be a holiday that everyone observes in a religious way—but its deeper invitation is something we all know in our bones. It’s the intuition that Life, in all its changing forms, is larger than loss. That it encompasses birth and death, breakdowns and breakthroughs, and somehow includes it all and grows ever richer. That’s a truth worth celebrating, especially in hard times.
UK Capital Markets: London Stock Exchange launches market discussion on the future of AIM
In its Discussion Paper, the LSE asserts the importance of AIM’s role in the UK’s economy, supporting growing companies since its launch 30 years ago, whilst remaining the most active European growth market in recent years.
Mansion House speech: Reforms to UK pensions and green light to PISCES - Implications for UK ECM
Regulation – Regulating for growth The Chancellor stated that the UK has been regulating for risk, but not regulating for growth. She noted that while it was correct to make regulatory changes in response to the Global Financial Crisis, such regulation has gone too far and resulted in a system which seeks to eliminate risk taking.
New UK Listing Regime – now open for business | JD Supra
July 12, 2024 Danette Antao, Tom Brassington, Wilson Pek, Daniel Simons Hogan Lovells + Follow x Following x Following - Unfollow Contact To embed, copy and paste the code into your website or blog: New Listing Rules come into force on 29 July 2024, implementing long-awaited reforms to the UK’s Listing Regime.
Product development startup SupplyScope lands $300,000 pre-Seed from Skalata
SupplyScope, a product development startup dealing with regulatory compliance and safety to get to market faster, has raised $300,000 from early-stage investor Skalata. The challenge faced by product suppliers is that takes months of testing and paperwork to get to market. As a result, many have bypassed larger stockists by selling direct-to-consumer and via online marketplaces.
What you need to know about Victoria's state budget - and how spending growing revenue leads to more debt
But that was not to be, for the government – which has the largest debt of all the states and territories at A$156 billion – has kept its fiscal juices flowing. State coffers have swelled beyond the budget estimates last year by $4.2 billion, but instead of banking the revenue surge, the government has chosen to keep spending. $6 billion of new initiatives were announced for 2024-25, or about $3 billion net of savings.
Breakthrough Victoria cops a $360 million haircut, LaunchVic scores $40 million in state budget
The Victorian government is cutting funding for its sovereign venture fund, Breakthrough Victoria, by $90 million annually over the next four year, today’s state budget reveals. The reduction in capital allocation for the $2 billion fund comes amid sustained criticism and a high profile media campaign by the likes of Adir Shiffman, chair of ASX-listed Catapult Sports, who wanted the fund abolished, in recent months.
Expat Google engineering exec Claire Southey heads home to join ecommerce marketer Rokt
Data engineer and artificial intelligence expect Claire Southey is back in Sydney after six years in the UK and US working for Amazon and Google, at ecommerce marketing platform Rokt. Southey, who collected her swipe card as senior VP of engineering this week, is one of three new hires for the Australian arm of the US-based, Square Peg-backed tech unicorn, which was last valued at $3.5 billion following a $458 million Series E round in 2021.
The real reason retailers are replacing staff with AI bots is not because they're cheaper, but for customer data
You might have seen viral videos of Wendy’s drive-thru customers in the United States ordering their fast food from the firm’s generative AI bot Wendy’s FreshAI. Most show a very human-like transaction punctuated with cries of amazement at how fast, accurate and polite the system is. While the system and others like it are in their infancy, and some still rely heavily on human assistance, retailers are investing huge sums in AI to replace human workers. Why the rush to automate?
Startmate Demo Day: Carbonaught is transforming farm fertilisers and carbon reduction using volcanic rock
Startmate held Demo Day for its summer 2024 cohort at Blackbird’s Sunrise in Sydney last week and Startup Daily is profiling the 10 startups involved. Today it’s Carbonaught, which is using basalt rock as fertiliser for farmlands The global food system is broken, and the challenges on our horizon are even harder to swallow.
How Judy Anderson-Firth turned Dom Pym's family office into an impact investor
Judy Anderson-Firth is CEO of Euphemia, the family office of serial entrepreneur Dom Pym, founder of UpBank. She recently sat down with Cheryl Mack from Aussie Angels and Maxine Minter from Co Ventures to talk about her experience as an investor on their podcast, First Cheque. It’s both an aspirational and practical discussion, where Anderson-Firth shares insights around transparency and accessibility within startups, building relationships, connecting portfolio founders, and creating systems.
Joy and Tenacity: Defending Design for Housing that Works.
Today, nearly every community needs attainable and affordable housing. For architects, developers, and policymakers, responding to this need is increasingly challenging. Many obstacles exist, from complex financing structures to NIMBYs, shrinking budgets and soaring construction costs. As architects striving to create successful housing that fosters stability and connection, we work hard to develop community-oriented designs that endure throughout the development process.
Blackbird-backed Kiki's cofounder is now rebuilding the short-term rental startup one coffee at a time
The New York-based cofounder of New Zealand subletting startup Kiki, Toby Thomas-Smith, is blunt in his own performance assessment. “When we launched Kiki.nyc last year I fucked up,” he’s written on LinkedIn, after the business shuttered its New York launch after 3 months, only to revive it late last month amid controversy over plans to launch a “girls only club” called Girls Who NYC in the Big Apple.
Tassie carbon accounting startup banks $5.3 million Seed round
US climate tech investor Sophie Purdom has made her first international investment via her New York VC fund Planeteer Capital, leading a $5.3 million Seed round. Purdom visited Sydney late last year as a keynote speaker at Climate Salad‘s Climate Tech Festival, which featured more than 50 Australian climate tech startups. The one she’s picked as her first offshore bet is Tasmanian carbon accounting startup Sumday.
How to use mindful breathing to manage anxiety
Anxiety is a huge issue that many in society go through. It is considered the most common mental health condition in Australia and America. had an anxiety disorder such as social phobia or post-traumatic stress disorder in the previous 12 months, while in America, over accounting for 19.1% of the population suffer from anxiety disorders.
Startmate Demo Day: KiwiFibre has turned a native New Zealand plant into something better than carbon fibre
From snowboards to satellites, the fibre-fuelled startup, helmed by a couple of 20-year-olds, has created a fibreglass replacement that is healthier, more sustainable, and superior in almost every way to its fossil fuel-based counterparts. The potential applications are almost limitless. Ben Scales and his co-founder William Murrell stumbled upon the idea of using natural materials to replace carbon fibres while studying at the University of Canterbury.
Agricultural waste conversation startup Bygen banks $2.6 million Series A
A startup turning agricultural waste into activated carbon, which is used to filter environmental toxins, has raised $2.6 million in a Series A. Government-backed investment fund Breakthrough Victoria chipped in $1 million, joined by VCs Alberts Impact Ventures, Investible, Artesian and Startmate. The funds will support the testing and establishment of Bygen’s large-scale production plant, with future plans to build more commercial plants in Australia and overseas.
Eucalyptus head of growth Matt Rossi departs to launch his own marketing startup, Oodle
A senior marketing exec from Canva and Eucalyptus has struck out on his own to launch a media strategy startup. Matt Rossi left his role as head of growth at Eucalyptus to found Oodle, saying it will offer media strategy and buying for growth-oriented brands, with a focus on helping internal marketing teams build conviction to scale into brand channels. Rossi spent the last 7 years building internal creative and media functions at leading startups such as Canva, Eucalyptus and Koala.
Smart hotels get even smarter: 72 Byte to launch in Australia with AI expert backing
China’s Qitian Dasheng Network Technology is expanding its 72 Byte AI System for smart hotels and commercial buildings into Australia, with the help of a local AI expert. Launched in 2014 by entrepreneur Qi Wu (Allen), the Beijing and Shanghai-based company’s AI-powered IoT services are used by some of China’s leading hotel and real estate brands, including BTG Homeinns and Jin Jiang International Hotels.
FinTech Australia calls for capital raising and trade support ahead of federal budget
FinTech Australia is calling on the Federal government to address the challenging capital raising environment for startups and renew its support for Austrade’s effort to promote our local sector abroad.
Share trading platform Superhero cuts it brokerage fee to $2
Online share trading platform Superhero has cut its brokerage fee on ASX trades up to $20,000 from $5 to just $2. The 60% reduction in the digital trading platform’s brokerage fee undercuts rival Stake, which charges $3 for ASX trades up to $30,000. Superhero charges a 0.01% fee for trades over $20,000. The Superhero-branded app now has nearly 300,000 customers and $2 billion in assets on the platform.
The NSW government is putting Investment NSW under the premier's wing
After a year in power, NSW Premier Chris Minns has decided to put Investment NSW under his watch, along with the Office of the Chief Scientist, amid a restructure of the NSW Department of Enterprise, Investment and Trade (DEIT) that will see its demise. The state government announced the shakeup on Friday afternoon, claiming that DEIT’s “industry, innovation, trade and investment functions will return to the centre of government” with Investment NSW being transferred to the Premier’s Department.
Maria MacNamara is the Space Industry Association of Australia's new CEO
Startup founder, government tech advisor and Spark Festival director Maria MacNamara will be the next CEO of the Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA). Sydney-based MacNamara will step into the role on April 22 having recently completed a term as the Director of Government Affairs and Innovation Strategy at global ICT infrastructure company Kyndryl. She was previously CEO of Advance.org, Australia’s diaspora organisation, and has held senior roles in the Australian and NSW governments.
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