TermUpdated: 2026-07-09
What are Pool A and Pool B in a Hong Kong IPO?
Pool A and Pool B split public offer applications by application size.
Plain meaning
Smaller applications generally go into Pool A, while larger applications go into Pool B. Each pool usually receives a portion of the public offer shares.
Why it matters
The split affects competition across application tiers. Small and large applications may not compete in the same pool, so allocation curves can differ.
How to read it
Check the Pool A tail tier, Pool B head tier, supply in each pool and the final allocation pattern. In hot IPOs, a large application is not always more efficient.
How it appears here
HK IPO AI's allotment prediction shows the A-tail, B-head and most likely allocation mode for each pool.
Common mistakes
- Assuming bigger applications are always more efficient.
- Ignoring the jump between A-tail and B-head tiers.
- Looking only at overall win rate instead of pool-level allocation curves.