São Paulo – Emerging countries accounted for 67% of the total of listings of companies, known as initial public offerings (IPOs), in the second quarter of 2011. The figures were culled from Ernst & Young’s “Q2 2011 Global IPO update” survey, and also show that developing nations also accounted for 55% of the volume of capital raised. Brazil raised US$ 2 billion, through five offerings, and the Middle East raised US$ 487 million, with seven listings. Both are emerging regions.
IPOs are initial offerings of a given company’s shares in the stock exchange. According to Ernst & Young, the IPO market remained relatively calm in the Middle East and Africa – where Arab countries are located – from April to June this year. In the consulting firm’s survey, the two regions are part of a geographic group that also comprises Europe and, combined with the European nations, accounted for 28% of the IPOs held during the period. In terms of volume of capital, the three regions accounted for 34% of the total raised.
Europe, the Middle East and Africa rank second in the list of number of listings, at 105 IPOs, and also in volume of funds raised, at US$ 22 billion. The region’s share of the total number of IPOs increased, up from 23% in the same period of last year, when 73 IPOs were held, as well as the volume of funds obtained, which was equivalent to 25% of the total worldwide in the second quarter of 2010, at US$ 10 billion.
Brazil raised the most funds in Latin America, at US$ 2 billion. In total, South and Central America raised US$ 5.4 billion with 14 IPOs. In Brazil, according to the survey, the listings were made at the São Paulo Stock Exchange to finance expansion plans of the companies. This year, 10 IPOs have taken place in the country, as against 11 operations last year. In Brazil, 30 IPOs are expected to be held in 2011 across sectors such as retail, oil and gas and mining.
The value raised worldwide through initial public offerings grew by 38% in the second quarter of the year compared with the same period of 2010, according to Ernst & Young. A total of 378 IPOs took place, raising a total of US$ 64.61 billion. The three sectors that collaborated the most to the results were materials – which comprises metals, mining, chemicals, building material, containers and packaging, pulp and paper –, industry and energy.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum