• 72% of global capital was raised in H1
• 2011 saw the largest PE-backed IPO ever
• NYSE ranked first by capital raised

London, 8 December 2011 – After a promising start in the first two quarters, IPO activity dropped dramatically midway through the year, principally due to investors concerns about sovereign debt issues in Europe and Standard & Poor’s downgrade of US credit rating. Year to date, the capital raised globally is down by 45%, with US$155.8b, and number of deals is also down by 20% (1117 IPOs), compared to full year 2010. Seventy-two percent of global capital was raised in the first 6 months of the year.

However 2011 fundraising activity still exceeded 2009 by more than US$40b, according to Ernst & Young’s year-end Global IPO update. The report predicts that the value of IPOs by year-end for 2011 will be approximately US$170b.

Maria Pinelli, Global Vice Chair Strategic Growth Markets for Ernst & Young says: “The uncertainty around a resolution to the Eurozone debt crisis and its impact on the global economy has left investors and issuers with a lack of confidence.”

Asian flotations down 56% by value
Asian exchanges completed 543 deals in the first 11 months of the year raising US$77.7b, a 56% drop in capital raised compared to full year 2010 (US$177.6b). The largest IPO on Asian exchanges this year was the US$5.5b listing of Hutchison Port Holdings on the Singapore Exchange (SGX), followed by Italian fashion house Prada SpA, for US$2.5b on HKEx.

The Hong Kong Stock exchange raised US$19.6b in 53 deals, while the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges (SME and ChiNext) raised US$40.8b in 262 deals altogether. “Asia has been a key driver of the IPO resurgence as the global economy emerged from recession. In 2010, Asian exchanges led the world in bringing new companies to market, this trend continued in 2011; however, we have also seen a higher proportion of private enterprises wanting to go public,” says Pinelli.

IPOs by regions
IPO activity on US exchanges held up relatively well with a modest 16% drop in capital raised, from US$43.5b via 163 deals in 2010 to US$36.4b in 114 IPOs listed so far this year. IPOs on European exchanges accounted for 19% of capital raised and US$29.6b in value via 251 IPOs. This compares with 13% of total capital raised last year, with 252 IPOs raising US$36.7b. Deal value and activity has also fallen for Central and South American issuers (US$8.6b and 27 IPOs) with no IPOs recorded in Q4’11.

PE-backed IPOs
2011 saw the largest PE-backed IPO ever with the US$4.3b IPO of the America’s largest hospital chain operator, HCA Holdings Inc in March on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Globally, PE-backed IPOs companies exited 168 companies, raising around US$37b. Seventy companies raised US$31.4b in the first six months of 2011, putting the industry on pace for its best year on record.

However, issuance reversed its course midway through the year, as investor slowly started to lose confidence in the capital market. Despite the challenging environment, pricing generally improved for PE-backed deals compared to 2010, resulting primarily from a number of large deals that took advantage of the wide-open window in the first quarter of the year. Overall, PE-backed deals have accounted for 24% of the global proceeds raised in 2011, the highest percentage on record.

Jeff Bunder, Global Private Equity Leader at Ernst & Young says: “Moving into 2012, the outlook remains heavily dependent upon a stabilization in Europe, accelerated growth in the US and improved investor confidence in Asia. With PE portfolio aging rapidly, sponsors are looking closely for any indication that the IPO window is reopening.” Currently, there are more than 95 companies registered to go public, which in aggregate could raise more than US$20b.

“In a new normal, where volatility in public equities markets and in the global economy are constant and expected, PE firms have become more nimble and are prepared for when the IPO window opens next,” concludes Bunder.

IPOs by sectors
The leading sectors by number of deals were materials  (254), industrials  (185 IPOs); and high technology (137). The following 3 sectors (out of 12) accounted for 47.3% of total capital raised: materials (US$28.0b), industrials (US$26.1b) and energy (US$19.7b).

US exchanges at front
The top three IPOs by capital raised were Glencore International plc, which raised US$10.0b from a dual listing on the London Stock Exchange and HKEx, Hutchinson Port Holding (US$5.4b), which listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange and Bankia (US$4.4b), which listed on the Madrid Stock Exchange. Of the top 20 IPOs, 13 are from emerging markets.

There were 61 deals which raised US$28.2b (18.1%) in the eleven months of 2011. In second place by funds raised, is Shenzhen Stock exchange, (SME and ChinNext) which raised US$26.3b (16.8%) and HKEx for US$19.6b (12.6%). The top three exchanges by deal activity are the Shenzhen stock exchange (226 IPOs); Warsaw Stock exchange (117) and Australian Securities Exchange (93).

Moving into 2012
Concludes Maria: “The key to the IPO market recovery lies in the speedy resolution of the European debt crisis, which is likely to have a stabilizing effect on the global capital market and restore investors’ confidence. Many fast growing companies will continue to look at IPOs as a way of raising capital and remain at the heart of their growth strategies.”

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Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit www.ey.com.
This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global Ernst & Young organization that also does not provide any services to clients

‘Materials’ includes chemicals; construction materials; containers and packaging; metals, mining and other materials; paper and forest products.

‘Industrials’ includes automobiles and components; building/construction and engineering; construction materials; machinery and other industrials; transportation and infrastructure.

Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit www.ey.com.

This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global Ernst & Young organization that also does not provide any services to clients