AsPac IPO scene off to slow start

Southeast Asia’s initial public offering (IPO) scene was tepid at the early part of 2024 amid concerns on high interest rates and inflationary pressures, a report by Ernst & Young Global Ltd. showed.

- RICHMOND MERCURIO

According to the EY Global IPO Trends Q1 2024, IPO activity across Southeast Asia was lukewarm, with 38 deals raising $1 billion, down from 51 deals which raised $1.4 billion in the same period last year.

Among the most active exchanges in Southeast Asia during the first quarter were Indonesia with 20 IPOs raising $224 million, Malaysia with IPOs raising $279 million and Thailand with six IPOs raising $273 million.

Meanwhile, EY Global indicated that the Philippines, Singapore and Sri Lanka each saw one IPO on their exchanges during the period.

The report’s first quarter 2024 data covers completed IPOs from January 1 to March 18, 2024, plus expected IPOs by March 31, 2024.