Learn how to own shares before the Automation Anywhere IPO. Get access to select pre-IPO companies at Equitybee.
Automation Anywhere IPO Stock News
01/12/2022: AA Recognized by 2021 Gartner Peer Insights™
10/26/2021: AA Named to Newsweek’s List of the Most Loved Workplaces
12/23/2021: Automation Anywhere to Acquire FortressIQ
12/16/2020: AA has Deployed Over 2.6M Bots Worldwide as Companies Continue to Navigate Pandemic Challenges
11/21/2019: Automation Anywhere Announces $290 Million Series B
11/15/2018: Automation Anywhere Announces $300 Million Investment
07/02/2018: Automation Anywhere Raises $250 Million in Series A
What is Automation Anywhere?
Automation Anywhere is a robotics process automation (RPA) software company for enterprise organizations. Its products are cloud-native and sold as a service (SaaS), helping customers use technology to automate repetitive office tasks.
RPA software integrates with modern and legacy IT systems to bridge system gaps, improve efficiencies, and replace manually-driven business workflows.
It also integrates with Microsoft Office programs like Excel to automate repetitive tasks.
Automation reduces costs to free time for more mission-critical projects while increasing compliance, reducing human errors, improving customer service, and streamlining operations.
The sales pitch for RPA always sounds magical. It’s not.
RPA requires specialized software, trained users, and willing management to make investment decisions to improve operations.
However, for large organizations, RPA is often worth the investment. That’s why companies like Automation Anywhere have grown revenues significantly over the past decade.
Here’s a basic tutorial. I’ve set the video to start with the Excel package demonstration, where most readers will understand the use case.
The company was founded in 2003 as Tethys Solutions but rebranded to Automation Anywhere in 2010. It is based in San Jose, CA.
Is Automation Anywhere Stock Publicly Traded?
No. Automation Anywhere is a private company.
The company’s founders and employees join multiple high-profile venture capital organizations in equity ownership.
Since its founding, Automation Anywhere has raised more than $850 million.
The latest funding round, a Series B that raised $290 million, closed in November 2019, valuing the company at nearly $7 billion.
Prominent venture capital investors include Salesforce Ventures, Softbank Investment, Goldman Sachs, General Atlantic, NEA, World Innovation Lab, and Workday Ventures.
Automation Anywhere missed the 2020-2021 IPO window when several companies began trading publicly.
Rival UiPath conducted its IPO on April 21st, 2021, pricing at $56 per share. The stock, which trades under the symbol “PATH”, traded as high as $90 per share shortly after the IPO.
However, UiPath stock fell as low as $13.66 per share, a peak-to-trough decrease of 85%.
The widespread decrease in growth stocks has led to a dramatic slowdown in IPO activity, which may have impacted the timeline for the Automation Anywhere IPO.
When is the Automation Anywhere IPO Date?
We don’t know yet.
Automation Anywhere’s most recent funding round was a Series B in 2019, suggesting the startup has maintained adequate cash flow from business operations.
As such, venture capital investors may get anxious about exiting their investment.
However, Automation Anywhere is still growing and may need future funding rounds to perfect its product and onboard talent for long-term growth if the IPO process remains delayed due to broader market conditions.
The author will update this webpage with news about a forthcoming Automation Anywhere IPO date.
What is the Automation Anywhere Stock Price?
There is no publicly traded Automation Anywhere stock price yet.
The author has seen an implied valuation of up to $18.4 billion on pre-IPO platforms.
What is the Automation Anywhere Stock Symbol? Automation Anywhere Ticker?
Automation Anywhere has not submitted filings to the SEC yet.
Once they complete the regulatory filing and release it to the public, we’ll learn the Automation Anywhere stock symbol.
Until then, we can only speculate on the Automation Anywhere ticker. Here are a few suggestions that appear to be available in the U.S.:
- AMA
- AAW
- AANY
Can you Invest in Automation Anywhere Stock Today?
Possibly.
Check out our list of the top pre-IPO investing platforms for potential availability.
Equitybee provides accredited investors access to pre-IPO startups by funding employee stock options. In exchange, investors gain a portion of the future stock value.
However, only accredited investors can invest on most pre-IPO platforms. (accredited means the investor has invested assets > $1 million, not including primary home equity, or annual income > $200k single, $300k married).
Pre-IPO investing is risky because private companies’ financials are not yet public or scrutinized by regulators. Investors may not have enough information to make an informed investment decision and can lose money.
Non-accredited investors can look to venture capital funds for pre-IPO access.
Below are three ways to invest in the Automation Anywhere IPO when the stock begins trading.
How to Buy Automation Anywhere Stock in the Future
1. Buy the stock after the Automation Anywhere IPO
Most investors will not have the opportunity to buy Automation Anywhere stock before the IPO.
Non-accredited investors cannot buy the stock pre-IPO as of now.
However, some investors may be able to participate in the IPO when it arrives (see #2 below).
Even so, acquiring IPO shares for the highest demand IPOs is always challenging and never guaranteed. So you may have to wait until the IPO date and buy the stock once it is trading.
Keep in mind that IPOs often come with inflated stock prices, so you may be able to buy shares below the IPO price if you are patient.
You can buy post-IPO stocks with any online broker. My favorite is M1 Finance, which I consider the best for long-term buy-and-hold investors.
M1 Finance does not provide IPO access.
2. Buy Automation Anywhere stock during the Automation Anywhere IPO through a broker
Underwriters (big banks like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, etc.) like to give IPO shares to their wealthiest clients. Historically, the rich benefited most from IPOs.
However, startups are beginning to request that some shares be allocated to retail investors. Certain online brokers now provide this service.
You’ll need an online brokerage account that offers free IPO investing to its customers to invest in the IPO.
This space is becoming more competitive, so multiple brokers will now be vying for the highest-profile upcoming IPOs.
The online brokers now offering free IPO access with zero or low minimum account values include:
- Tradestation — $500 account minimum. Highest IPO volume in partnership with ClickIPO.
- SoFi Invest — No account minimums. Scored the massive Rivian IPO for customers in 2021.
- Robinhood — No account minimums. Likely candidate to increase IPO volumes in the coming years.
By having accounts with these brokers, you’ll receive communication regarding upcoming IPOs on their platforms. You can also read company S-1 SEC filings for clues about IPO access for retail investors.
Sometimes the broker’s name is listed in the S-1 filing. Other times, you’ll need to look for signs of a directed share program.
3. Participate in the Directed Share Program (Registered Customers)
Another possibility (far from a certainty) is a directed share program.
When companies file their S-1 SEC filing (to begin the IPO process), they sometimes include a directed share program for executives, affiliates, and others who helped it grow.
Automation Anywhere can attribute success to its monthly paying customers. As such, the company may offer IPO shares to customers.
This has happened before.
Uber offered shares to drivers that completed a certain number of trips.
GoPro offered shares to its email list.
Airbnb offered IPO shares to hosts.
Robinhood offered shares to its customers (all 22 million of them. Only about 300,000 requested shares)
Considering Automation Anywhere’s enterprise clientele, it’s unlikely the company would offer shares to customers.
Bookmark this page for more information as the IPO approaches.
When companies deploy directed share programs, customers will get an email and be asked to open an account with whichever broker got the deal. So unless you already have an account with that broker, you’ll need to open a new account.
Then carefully follow the instructions outlined in the communications. If you don’t pay attention, you can miss out on shares.
That’s one possible way to own Automation Anywhere stock pre-IPO and three more potential ways to own Automation Anywhere stock during or after the IPO. Good luck investing.
Where can I find the Automation Anywhere S-1 Filing?
Automation Anywhere has not yet filed for an IPO with the SEC. As of now, the author is not aware of definitive plans for a forthcoming IPO.
However, after several fundraising rounds and the onboarding of investors, the author anticipates an IPO when broader market conditions improve.
Disclosure: The web page contains affiliate links from our partners. If a reader opens an account or buys a service from a link in this article, we may be compensated at no additional cost to the reader. Opening an account with a broker that provides access to IPOs does not guarantee the customer allocations of specific IPOs. IPO and pre-IPO investing involves unique risks. Do not invest with money you cannot afford to lose. Long HOOD, RIVN.
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