China has overtaken the U.S. this year as the world’s top venue for initial public offerings, riding a steady stream of small-cap listings in Shanghai and Shenzhen together with several multibillion-dollar brokerage IPOs in Hong Kong.
Chinese companies have raised nearly $29 billion from IPOs in the mainland and Hong Kong stock markets in 2015, topping the $15 billion raised in the U.S., according to Dealogic. It is the first time in four years that China has had the lead at this point in the year.
Hong Kong has been home to the world’s second- and third-biggest IPOs in 2015. HTSC, a Chinese brokerage firm better known domestically as Huatai Securities Co. 6886, -2.11% , raised $4.5 billion in Hong Kong, and rival GF Securities 1776, -1.02% raised $4.1 billion. Those trail only a $4.8 billion float by Madrid airport operator Aena AENA, -0.16% in Spain.
On its own, Hong Kong has seen $11.8 billion in IPOs in 2015, beating the New York Stock Exchange’s $9.1 billion. The NYSE’s top IPO this year was the $1.4 billion float in May by gas-transport-services firm Tallgrass Energy GP TEGP, -0.96% .
The last time so much money was raised by IPOs in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Shenzhen at this point in the year was in 2011, when commodity trader Glencore International, since renamed Glencore PLC GLEN, -1.42% 0805, -1.47% raised $10 billion in a dual Hong Kong-London listing.
source:Market Watch