This initiative aims to improve access to public listings for issuers and clarify the roles while strengthening the differentiation of each market segment, particularly the Main Market and ACE Market. The differentiations are as follows:
- MAIN Market – Premier market for larger, more established corporations
- ACE Market – Market for small and mid-sized corporations, serving as a stepping-stone to the MAIN Market
The key enhancements that were introduced include:
MAIN Market: Higher profit requirements, stronger financial reporting quality, greater flexibility in operating cash flow assessment and broader eligibility for infrastructure-type of listings.
ACE Market: Reinforced as a sponsor-driven market, with a minimum two-financial year post-listing track record before transfer to MAIN Market, removal of exemptions on sponsorship and moratorium, and the introduction of minimum public share allocation requirements.
According to the SC, the enhancements are a result of public consultations that were completed in December 2025 as part of the market segmentation review, incorporating feedback from various stakeholders.
The adopted proposals for the MAIN Market will take effect on June 3, 2026, through the revised Equity Guidelines.
For information on Equity Guidelines and Response Paper, please visit:
Revised Equity Guidelines: https://www.sc.com.my/regulation/guidelines/equity
Public Response Paper: https://www.sc.com.my/regulation/consultation-papers