Did UK investors get SpaceX IPO shares? SpaceX was generous in offering shares to small investors, although it appears the UK has ended up with a smaller allocation than forecast. There was believed to be as much as $2billion set aside for British retail investors, but an update from operator Marex this morning said that 2.7million shares were allocated to the UK. At $135 per share, or £100, this equates to $364million or £270million. Even getting to take part was unusual for UK investors though, as US IPOs are normally off the table for UK investors due to regulations from America’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Prospective investors had the opportunity to apply for SpaceX shares between last Friday 5 June and 11.59pm on Wednesday 10 June, through authorised platforms such as AJ Bell, Barclays Private Bank, CMC Markets, eToro, Freetrade, Hargreaves Lansdown, IG, Interactive Brokers, Interactive Investor and Revolut. Those who missed the deadline had to wait until this afternoon's listing to buy in the open market. Once shares are available to buy, they can do so through their investing platform. Did UK investors get all the shares they asked for? As one of the most hyped stock market listings in history, investment platforms have been working all week to ensure that as many British private investors as possible will be able to buy in. The popularity of the shares meant some investors will only get a fraction of what they bid for. Marex says those who applied for up to $2,700, equating to £2,013, in the retail offer were allocated in full to the nearest whole share. Those who applied for more were scaed back, with individuals capped at 1,000 shares - so $135,000 or £100,000 worth. The majority of the $75billion offer was reserved for institutional investors such as investment banks, pension funds and wealth managers, but 61 per cent of ordinary investors got all they applied for. Investment platforms say that allocations will be communicated to successful applicants before the US market opens. How soon can investors sell SpaceX shares? As with many IPOs, there will be plenty of investors looking to make a quick buck: buying in with the expectation that shares will rise and then selling quickly. Early indications suggest SpaceX shares could jump by as much as 35 per cent on opening, which would value it at $2.4trillion. The forecasts come from how oversubscribed the offer was, meaning demand for shares outweighed supply. But many are asking how quickly it will be possible to sell. When companies float on the stock market, a so-called lock-up period prevents large shareholders, such as pension funds, from selling their shares. This typically lasts between 90 and 180 days to stabilise the stock. This does not typically apply to small private investors, who are free to sell their shares on the open market as soon as trading begins. However, individual platforms may have different policies regarding ‘flipping’ IPOs and could penalise investors for selling within a say two-week period. It is best to check the rules with your broker before you consider selling your SpaceX shares. Investors have been warned that early trading may be volatile.