Year-to-date (YTD) 2022, there have been a total of 992 IPOs (initial public offerings) raising US$146b, a 44% and 57% decrease year-over-year (YOY), respectively, according to EY. This follows the trend for the year in which IPO companies and investors were faced with mounting macroeconomic challenges, market uncertainties, increasing volatility and falling global equity prices. Volatility (CBOE VIX average) increased from 19.7 in 2021 to 25.6 in YTD 2022.

YTD, the technology sector continued to lead by number of IPOs, although the average deal size came down from US$261m to US$123m YOY. While the energy sector overtook by proceeds with the largest increase of 176%, driven largely by three of the global top five deals in YTD 2022, the consumer products sector witnessed the biggest drop in average deal size (69%).

Q3 2022 saw the lowest SPAC IPO proceeds since Q3 2016. The SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Company) market was continually challenged this quarter with only 17 deals, raising US$0.9b. A record number of existing SPACs are actively seeking targets, with the majority facing potential expiration in the next year. These and other findings were published today by EY.

Overall regional performance

Major economies and financial markets in the Americas and EMEIA remain under pressure.

Americas exchanges saw the sharpest decline, recording only 116 deals raising US$7.5b YTD, a decrease of 94% in proceeds and 72% in volume YOY. In direct contrast to a record-breaking year in 2021, YTD Americas IPO activity sank to its lowest level in 20 years.

YOY, EMEIA IPO activity fell by 50% and 52% by number and proceeds, respectively. Europe dropped 76% in proceeds, but the Middle East continued with a 209% increase in proceeds, despite a 51% decrease in the number of deals.

As the region has been less impacted by inflation and geopolitical issues, Asia-Pacific exchanges have performed relatively better, housing five of the top 10 global IPOs in YTD. YTD it has also contributed 61% and 69% of the global share of IPOs and proceeds, respectively. However, it still registered YOY declines of 25% by deal number and 22% by deal size.

Soaring inflation and rising interest rates are adversely affecting the global equity market. Geopolitical tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic led to more market uncertainty and volatility.

In the Americas, IPO pipelines are waiting for the market to reopen next year, and in EMEIA, tough market conditions continue to squeeze IPO windows. For APAC (Asia-Pacific), while public filings for IPOs have not picked up, activity remains strong in the background as companies evaluate their options for 2023.