The FINANCIAL — Fifty-three European IPOs raised €4.6bn in Q3, 30% less than the proceeds raised in the same period last year (when 76 IPOs raised €6.6bn). The majority of the IPOs priced in the first few weeks of the quarter and activity is yet to pick up after the summer lull. The only IPO raising more than €100m after the summer is the €132m (£96m) IPO of On The Beach Group in London.
Frankfurt was the leading exchange this quarter as it hosted the €1.2bn privatisation of Deutsche Pfandbriefbank which accounted for 25% of total Q3 European IPO proceeds alone. Looking forward for the rest of the year, Q4 is expected to be another active quarter. Proceeds of €2.6bn have already been raised on Deutsche Börse with the listing of Bayer’s spin-off Covestro, the classified ads company Scout24, and wind and solar park operator CHORUS Clean Energy in the first days of October, according to PwC.
In London, despite a quiet Q3 with 9 IPOs raising a total of €747m (£536m), London YTD proceeds have exceeded €10bn and it remains the largest market year-to-date. However, YTD proceeds are down 43% compared to the same period last year (YTD 2014 – 109 IPOs, €17.8bn). Almost half of the London year-to-date IPO activity (31 IPOs, €5.0bn) is in the financial sector as investment funds and trusts continue to be in favour with the City for fundraisings.
Although publicly announced postponements did not materially change quarter on quarter (10 European IPOs have been postponed in Q3 similar to 11 in Q2 2015), companies have cited adverse market conditions rather than dual tracks processes as was the trend in the first half of 2015. Global equity markets have indeed experienced their worst quarter since 2011 as increased volatility, uncertainty over China and over the US monetary policy further unsettled investors during the summer.
Vivienne Maclachlan, Capital Markets director at PwC, said:
“The last two months have been a slightly hair raising rollercoaster ride – we have watched the fallout from the Chinese stock market turmoil as volatility indices rose to levels not seen since 2011. Equities and debt, especially the high yield market, have been battered and bruised and this market turbulence has been slow to subside. The decision being debated with investment bankers in many boardrooms across Europe is focused on the timing of launching an IPO and the markets’ receptiveness to new issuers with the key question being – when is the right time to launch?”
Despite the volatile markets, the pipeline is well stocked with diverse and large and high profile companies. We are seeing several €1+ billion opportunities seeking to IPO across Europe’s exchanges, such as the privatisations of Poste Italiane in Milan and ABN Amro Bank in Amsterdam.
Mark Hughes, Capital Markets partner at PwC, said:
“We await the final quarter of 2015 with interest. On one hand there is a promising European IPO pipeline made up of companies from varying sectors seeking to IPO across Europe’s exchanges whilst on the other hand the markets remain challenging with investors wary of falling equity indices and continued concern over China’s growth prospects. The question for companies is whether they are better keeping their powder dry and waiting for more stable markets. However, based on recent announcements it seems companies and bankers remain confident that the markets will be open in Q4.”
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