Hong Kong IPOs to raise HK$100 billion less in 2019, says KPMG
- Fundraising through listings hit an eight-year high in 2018 at HK$300 billion
- Investors, companies yet to fully adapt to listings reform aimed at technology, biotechnology firms
Fundraising through initial public offerings in Hong Kong is expected to decline by HK$100 billion (US$12.8 billion) in 2019 amid market uncertainties, according to professional services company KPMG. At HK$300 billion, such fundraising hit an eight-year high in 2018.
The special administrative region is expected to retain its position as one of the world’s largest IPO markets next year, even if it only raises HK$200 billion from 200 listings in 2019, a third below this year because of smaller flotation sizes, according to the accounting giant.
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“Global uncertainties such as Brexit and the trade war, the fact that we have not yet heard of mega deals in the coming year and the shrinking IPO sizes of many newly listed companies may prompt others to reschedule their listings,” said Maggie Lee, head of the capital markets development group at KPMG.
Seven companies listed in Hong Kong slashed their IPO sizes recently, amid a surge in new share offerings and a major sell-off in the equity market. Alibaba Group Holding-backed Babytree shrank its listing size by 70 per cent and Club Med owner Fosun Tourism Group reduced its IPO size by half. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.
The city’s bourse operator, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, introduced its biggest listing reform in 25 years in April to attract technology and biotechnology companies, but the performance of many newly listed shares has been less than satisfactory.
Mainland China smartphone maker Xiaomi, whose listing was Hong Kong’s second-largest IPO this year, has been trading under its IPO price for about three months. Meituan Dianping, China's largest on-demand online services provider, has been trading under its IPO price of HK$69 for two months.
“This year is the first year for the Hong Kong stock exchange’s reforms aimed at attracting new economy companies, so it will take time for both investors to adapt and companies to adjust their level of pricing,” said Lee.
We think Hong Kong will continue to be an important market for technology company IPOs
The Hong Kong bourse was this year mainly supported by three mega deals that together raised HK$135 billion, but no such deals have been announced for the coming year. Meanwhile, big deals have been announced in the US, with Tencent Music planning to raise US$1.2 billion in New York.
It is hard to comment on which city will top the IPO market as decisions about listing destinations eventually depend on an individual firm’s strategy and direction, said Lee. Nonetheless, the analysts were confident Hong Kong would remain one of the top destinations for listings amid a growing technology industry.
The new technology board in Shanghai will not directly compete with the Hong Kong stock exchange as the former British colony remains an attractive destination for foreign investors, said Louis Lau, partner of the capital markets advisory group at KPMG.
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“The technology sector was one of the strongest for IPOs in 2018. We expect that it will continue to be one of the stronger sectors for IPOs in 2019, and be a major driver of IPO activity, despite the negative impact of the US-China trade war. We think Hong Kong will continue to be an important market for technology company IPOs,” said David Holland, head of capital markets in Asia-Pacific at law firm Baker McKenzie.
According to new research by the firm, a total of 68 Chinese companies were listed in Hong Kong this year, raising US$34.1 billion. The US, however, also witnessed an 85 per cent year-on-year jump in flotations by Chinese companies, with 37 companies raising US$9.2 billion.
“IPO sizes next year may appear to be smaller because this year has been exceptionally good. There were a lot of technology stocks listed in the market [this year] and usually they got a very high valuation,” said Kenny Tang, chairman of the Hong Kong Institute of Financial Analysts and Professional Commentators.
