Global tech IPOs gain momentum in third quarter

Following a sluggish first half of 2016, global technology IPOs picked up steam in the third quarter, according to PwC’s Global Technology IPO Review. During the quarter, there were 20 tech IPOs globally, compared with 14 IPOs in the previous three months. Proceeds increased 264% in the third quarter reaching US$5.38 billion. The results also represent a significant change from a year earlier, when there were just 11 IPOs in the 2015 third quarter. On a year over year basis, total proceeds rose 31%, but average proceeds declined.

Investors remained on the sidelines in the UK, with no tech IPOs for the past three quarters. This can largely be attributed to both pre- and post-Brexit uncertainties.

“The rebound we experienced in the third-quarter technology IPO market may hint at a good run for the next few months,“ said Raman Chitkara, PwC’s Global Technology Industry Leader. “That said, IPO proceeds were comparatively low, driven by a larger number of low-value listings. In addition, the absence of large IPOs from major markets like the US could signal that the technology IPO market, while ‘open for business,’ may not be at its best.“ IPOs of two Unicorns (US$1 billion-plus valuation) during the third quarter helped to raise overall average proceeds (US$269 million), but average proceeds remained lower than historical levels.

China led the way with nine tech IPOs in the third quarter, but this tally does not yet suggest a strong revival of the Chinese capital market. “Regulators still set the IPO rhythms in China, and introduction of the new major assets restructuring regulation is expected to cool the back-door listings fever in the domestic market,“ said Jianbin Gao, PwC China Technology Industry Leader. “Cross-border IPOs, especially Hong Kong and US, are once again becoming appealing for Chinese tech companies.“

The US IPO market remained steady in the third quarter, with six tech IPOs raising a total of US$627 million. Largely stable economic conditions, modest volatility and strong returns from recent IPOs boosted confidence. Europe had three third-quarter IPOs, including the largest tech IPO of the quarter. Japan and India each had one, with Japan’s being the second-largest IPO of the quarter; messaging app LINE raised US$1.1 billion in the year’s largest NYSE tech IPO.

The Software and Internet Software & Services subsectors have accounted for more than half the number of technology IPOs and close to half the proceeds over the last five quarters. In the third quarter of 2016, Software led the way with nine IPOs globally. Internet Software & Services followed with four IPOs. Of the nine Software companies, five were from China.

The trend we continue to see with these two subsectors can be attributed to their comparatively lower cost models as well as strong top-line or user growth. Internet-based businesses are consistently a top pick for an IPO due to their quick scalability, although concerns about the ability of these companies to post net income weigh on investors’ minds. IT Consulting & Services led technology subsectors in total third-quarter proceeds with US$2.5 billion, followed by Internet Software & Services with US$1.7 billion.