SoftBank Vision Fund owns more than 7% of the enterprise messaging platform developer, which could list at a valuation near $17bn.

US-based enterprise communication platform developer Slack filed for a $100m direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday that will enable corporate investors Comcast, Alphabet and SoftBank to exit.

The direct listing will involve no new stock being issued and will instead allow existing shareholders to sell shares. Instead of being handled by underwriters, a market maker will set the price based on buy and sell orders from NYSE brokers.

Slack’s workplace communication software has more than…

Robert Lavine

Robert Lavine is special features editor for Global Venturing.