Japan's private-share market gathers pace with new trading platform

Nstock lets startup employees cash out before IPOs, drawing on regulatory reforms Nstock President Shoji Miyata said the new trading platform aims to facilitate 20 billion yen ($126 million) in trades over three years. (Photo by Tsubasa Suruga) TOKYO -- Japan's nascent market for trading shares of unlisted startups is gaining pace, with a new platform opening on Monday that lets employees cash out stock options awarded to them before any initial public offering, potentially easing pressure on young companies to list prematurely.