Slack surges 50% in unusual listing, grabs $23 billion valuation

Traders work on the floor during the Slack Technologies Inc. IPO at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S. June 20, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

(Reuters) - Shares of Slack Technologies Inc surged 50 percent in their debut through a direct listing on Thursday, giving the workplace messaging app owner a valuation of about $23 billion.

The stock opened at $38.50, nearly 48% above a reference price of $26 set by the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday.

Slack is the second high-profile technology company after Spotify Technology SA to opt for a direct listing over a traditional IPO.

The Slack Technologies Inc. logo is seen at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) during the company's IPO in New York, U.S. June 20, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

The direct listing could further pave the way for companies looking to go public without the aid of Wall Street underwriters, who charge millions of dollars in fees.

(Reporting by Bharath Manjesh in Bengaluru)