Share sales globally plummeted some 70% from a year ago in the first half, to levels not seen in almost two decades, as investors and issuers shied away from volatile markets. However, with green shoots sprouting in some markets, there are some large deals on the horizon. IPOs in Asia fared better than in regions such as Europe and the United States
SINGAPORE: It’s been a rather quiet first six months of the year for initial public offerings (IPOs) in Asia, as the region got swept up in the market rout caused by raging inflation and hawkish monetary policies.
However, with green shoots sprouting in some markets, there are some large deals on the horizon.
Share sales globally plummeted some 70% from a year ago in the first half, to levels not seen in almost two decades, as investors and issuers shied away from volatile markets.
IPOs in Asia fared better than in regions such as Europe and the United States, with large deals in China and South Korea helping listings here account for almost 60% of global volumes, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
Now, a world-beating rally in Chinese and Hong Kong stocks has brightened the outlook for the second half, while large listings are being readied from Japan to South Korea and South-East Asia.
Here are among the largest potential Asian listings for the second half of 2022:
> Syngenta GroupThe seed and fertiliser giant owned by China National Chemical Corp is considering launching its mega IPO in Shanghai before the end of the year, paving the way for what would be one of the world’s biggest listings this year. Syngenta could seek to raise 65 billion yuan (RM43bil) on the Nasdaq-style Star Board.
> OfBusinessIndian startup OfBusiness, founded by a husband and wife, is in discussions about raising US$2bil (RM8.8bil) in an IPO that would be the nation’s biggest tech debut since fintech giant Paytm went public last year, Bloomberg News has reported. The company, which helps Indian enterprises buy bulk raw materials, could go public in six months to a year, one of the co-founders said in April.
> BeerCoThai Beverage Pcl’s brewery unit, which has twice tried to go public in Singapore, is going for third time lucky. BeerCo started gauging investor demand for its potential IPO last month which could raise US$800mil (RM3.5bil) to US$1bil (RM4.4bil), Bloomberg News has reported. The maker of Chang beer has had to pause its listings plans twice over the past two years due to the pandemic, with lockdowns affecting its business.
> K BankSouth Korean online-only bank K Bank has applied for preliminary approval for a domestic IPO that could raise about US$1bil (RM4.4bil), IFR reported, citing unidentified people with the matter. The company is planning to bring the deal as early as this year, which would make it the biggest offering since LG Energy Solution.
> Rakuten BankThe banking arm of Japanese online retailer Rakuten Group Inc applied this week to list on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. IFR reported that the IPO could raise about US$1bil (RM4.4bil).
> China Tourism Group Duty Free CorpThe world’s largest travel retailer could relaunch its planned Hong Kong listing as early as August or September after it refiled its application last week, Bloomberg News reported. CTG Duty Free – already traded in Shanghai – could raise around US$2bil (RM8.8bil) to US$3bil (RM13bil) which would make it the city’s biggest offering of the year.
> Ant Group CoWhat would potentially be the most high-profile IPO – if it comes to pass – is a comeback of Jack Ma’s Ant Group listing, almost two years after it was abruptly pulled. Chinese financial regulators have started early stage discussions on a potential revival of the listing, Bloomberg News reported last month, which would mark a major dialling back of a crackdown on the country’s tech industry. — Bloomberg
