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Steven Lam Hoi-yuen, executive director and co-CEO of Gogox Holding celebrated his company’s IPO at Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing on June 24, 2022. Photo: Dickson Lee
BusinessBanking & Finance

Hong Kong to be among top three IPO hubs in 2023, with fundraising set to double to US$26 billion: PwC

  • The city should regain bragging rights as a top three IPO market in 2023 as stable markets and reforms fill its deal pipeline, PwC report says
  • Hong Kong has fallen to fourth globally in 2022, as the number of deals dropped 19 per cent and average deal value declined 59 per cent
IPO
Mia Castagnone
Mia Castagnone
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The number of initial public offerings (IPOs) in Hong Kong is likely to drop 19 per cent this year amid a global slowdown, but the city’s stock exchange should regain bragging rights as one of the world’s top three markets by facilitating twice as much fundingraising in 2023, according to PwC.

Hong Kong saw 69 IPOs in the first 11 months of 2022, and PwC expects this to reach 80 by the end of December, bringing the year’s total funds raised to HK$105.6 billion (US$13.6 billion).

A stable capital market, as well as regulatory reforms and enhancements, should fill the city’s IPO pipeline with more listing applications next year, according to Benson Wong, entrepreneur group leader at PwC Hong Kong.

“We expect Hong Kong’s IPO market to rebound in 2023 as factors such as major interest rate hikes by central banks are gradually digested,” Wong said.

A bull sculpture looks over the plaza outside Exchange Square, the home of bourse operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, in Central, Hong Kong, on October 22, 2022. The exchange saw 19 per cent fewer IPOs in 2022 than in 2021. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Hong Kong should see 100 listings in 2023, with funds raised nearly doubling to HK$200 billion, with 20 to 30 per cent coming from private equity, according to a PwC report released on Monday.

“The Hong Kong market is expected to regain its place among the world’s top three fundraising markets,” Wong said.

The city landed in the fourth spot among the world’s largest fundraising destinations through the first 11 months of the year, after being on top seven times in the last 13 years.

Chinese nickel firm Lygend to raise US$470 million in Hong Kong IPO: sources

In addition to fewer IPOs, average deal value also declined 59 per cent year over year to HK$1.4 billion, according to the report.

The expansion of the cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect scheme will provide unique value and business opportunities for enterprises and investors in 2023, Wong said.
New economy companies, including in biotech and specialised technology, are expected to drive activity in 2023, partly thanks to new Securities and Futures Commission rules that lower the revenue threshold for technology-company listings in the city.

Hong Kong builds new springboard to regain top spot in global IPO league

“We believe many technology companies will come to Hong Kong for financing, further accelerating the growth of the technology industry,” said Eddie Wong, capital markets services partner at PwC Hong Kong.

IPOs have plummeted globally this year amid mounting macroeconomic challenges, market uncertainties, increasing volatility and falling global equity prices.
Yet a flurry of activity in China’s exchanges helped the Asia-Pacific region expand its share of new listings compared to 2021.

China’s No 2 chip maker targets US$2.5 billion in Shanghai IPO

Shanghai-based Star Market is the top exchange in 2022, followed by Shenzhen-based ChiNex. PwC predicts that mainland China markets will boast nearly 400 IPOs by the end of 2022, with fundraising exceeding 560 billion yuan (US$80 billion), 3 per cent more than last year.

A few blockbuster listings carried Hong Kong’s IPO market, including US$2.3 billion raised by China Tourism in August and a US$1.7 billion launch by Tianqi Lithium.
Among the IPOs set to add to Hong Kong’s total in December, Chinese snack maker Weilong Delicious Global is set to raise as much as HK$1.1 billion from new investors this month – a fraction of the US$500 million it initially planned to raise.

The company is aiming to price 96.40 million shares at HK$9.36 to HK$11.40 each, according to an exchange filing on Monday. The company expects to determine the final price on December 8 and start trading on December 15, according to the filing.

Morgan Stanley, CICC and UBS Group are the joint sponsors.

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