Facebook's initial public offering was not the only one that took place in the first half of the year, though no one could blame investors for thinking otherwise.
So far this year, 71 US companies have completed IPOs and raised $26.9 billion of total proceeds, according to the PwC US IPO Watch. However, IPOs dropped from 44 in the first quarter to 27 this quarter.
The second quarter started out strong, PricewaterhouseCoopers said today in a press release, but IPO activity stalled at the end of May, because ongoing global macroeconomic concerns increased market volatility and made investors skittish. Consequently, no pricings have been completed in the US since the Facebook IPO in mid-May, which raised $16 billion, PwC said.
Global market activity has also declined, PwC said. Second-quarter IPO activity dropped 65 percent from a year earlier in Europe and 40 percent in Asia.
Companies continue to register their intent to go public, fueling hope that activity will pick up in the second half of the year, PwC said in the release.
"The IPO market entered the second quarter with considerable momentum and with confidence levels supported by the high registration pipeline," said Henri Leveque, leader of PwC's U.S. Capital Markets and Accounting Advisory Services. "However, pricing activity proved unsustainable as volatility increased along with renewed concerns over global uncertainty and other market dynamics. That said, as the markets are seeing increasingly compressed IPO windows of opportunity, our clients are now more than ever focused on readying themselves to be able to execute deals when, and not if, the windows re-open."
The US technology sector had the most IPOs in the second quarter (eight), followed by financial services (six).
I recently read an article that sharply criticized some of the companies that discussed going public. Similar to the bubble of 1999/2000, there are a bunch of "me-too" companies that are really just apps, not full-fledged businesses. I think Instagram--which I'm not sure ever went public--was one example of that type. Rather than revolutionize digital photography, it lets you manipulate photos you've already taken. That's already been done--it's called Photoshop. It's possible they have a mobile technology that I've missed: that certainly is the next frontier when it comes to pictures.
@Barbara - I agree. The combination of the gloabal economy with the issues that surrounded tje Facebhook IPO undermine the faith of investors and increase the percieved risk for future IPO offerings, at least for awhile. But when the economy shows signs of improving, that qwill be short-lived.
I do think the global economy is behind the hesitancy in IPO, but Facebook was so badly mismanaged from the get-go, I think there has also been a crisis of faith. First, the price came in under estimates. Then, NASDAQ messed up. Then, of all things, NASDAQ offers to pay for its mistake...so what's the point of gambling in the market if you can get direct payment from NASDAQ?
According to this prediction, Online ticketing platform Eventbrite will potentially file for IPO in late 2012. Eventbrite recently sold its 50 millionth ticket in Feb. 2012. It earned $50 million in a funding round last May 2011. Apparently it will not be as big as FB's, but we will have something to talk about.
@Eldredge, as far as facebook's IPO is concerened, the things are unfolding and it seems that even its underwriters, Morgen Stanley, did not think that $38 was a right pricing. Inverstors will inverst in anything that makes profit or has a chance to make profit.
Might we also be seeing some seasonal slowdown as people are more focused on summer vacations etc. Summer is traditionally a slow time for the stock market.
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
Archived Dialogues
Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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