Finance
FTSE Russell proposes fast-entry rule for its US indexes as large IPOs loom
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 19, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 19, 2026
Quick Summary
FTSE Russell is consulting on a fast entry IPO rule and tweaks to 5% float and voting thresholds for Russell U.S. Equity Indexes. It aims to speed inclusion of mega IPOs like SpaceX and OpenAI. Feedback closes March 18.
FTSE Russell eyes fast entry for U.S. indexes as mega IPOs approach
(Corrects to remove extraneous text from headline)
Feb 18 (Reuters) - Index provider FTSE Russell on Wednesday proposed introducing a "fast-entry" mechanism for initial public offerings and revising eligibility requirements for its Russell U.S. Equity Indexes ahead of several large listings.
The year is shaping up to be one of the busiest for new listings, with major offerings in the pipeline, including Elon Musk's SpaceX and artificial intelligence firms such as OpenAI and Anthropic.
Currently, IPOs are included only during quarterly reviews and must meet all requirements, such as a minimum 5% free float and 5% public voting rights.
FTSE Russell, a London Stock Exchange Group business, said market expectations suggest some upcoming offerings may not meet these thresholds.
"The consultation therefore proposes both a Fast-Entry mechanism and potential modifications to the minimum float and voting-rights requirements to accommodate these sizeable offerings," FTSE Russell said in a statement.
The index provider is seeking market feedback on the proposals until March 18.
Peer Nasdaq earlier this month proposed a similar fast-entry rule to speed up the addition of newly listed large companies to its index.
(Reporting by Mrinmay Dey in Mexico City; Editing by Maju Samuel and Sriraj Kalluvila)
Key Takeaways
- •FTSE Russell proposed a fast-entry mechanism to add IPOs to Russell U.S. Equity Indexes more quickly.
- •The consultation may relax 5% free float and 5% public voting-rights thresholds for large listings.
- •Move targets potential mega IPOs, including SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic, expected in 2026.
- •Currently, IPOs join during quarterly reviews; feedback on changes is open until March 18.
- •Nasdaq has proposed a similar fast-entry rule to accelerate inclusion of big new listings.
Frequently Asked Questions about FTSE Russell proposes fast-entry rule for its US indexes as large IPOs loom
1What is the main topic?
FTSE Russell is consulting on a fast-entry rule and adjusted eligibility thresholds to speed IPO inclusion in the Russell U.S. Equity Indexes ahead of several large listings.
2Why is FTSE Russell proposing this change?
Several anticipated mega IPOs may not meet current 5% free float and voting-rights thresholds, and faster inclusion could better reflect market reality.
3How does this relate to Nasdaq?
Nasdaq proposed a similar fast-entry rule earlier this month to accelerate index inclusion for newly listed large companies.
