Clifford Tompsett, PwC: Senior Executives Expect Eastern Promise to Dominate IPO Pipeline by 2050

January 16, 2012

In only fifteen years from now, China is predicted by almost 80% of respondents to PwC's "Capital Markets in 2025" report to be the most favored destination for companies looking to raise capital and float their businesses. In a poll of almost 400 executives from across the globe, 8 out of 10 also believed that by 2025, companies listing on Chinese exchanges would also raise the most capital of any international exchange through initial public offerings (IPOs).

The report confirmed the current attractiveness of London and New York as the leading financial centers for access to international capital, with 72% and 74% of those surveyed saying that they would consider those markets for an IPO on a foreign exchange.

However, when asked what they thought the position would be in 2025, those percentages decreased to 27% and 39% respectively, due to the potential growth of capital markets activity in China (55%) and India (38%) by that time.

Clifford Tompsett, IPO Centre leader, PwC said, "It may seem that the rise of the East is inevitable, but established exchanges around the world would disagree with the pace of this shift. There have been major IPOs in the UK, the US, Spain and Poland this year and PwC expects this to continue in the near term. If we are set for an IPO 'tug of war' between West and East, it can only benefit companies and investors."

The shift to the East is dependent on a number of critical factors, the key one being access. The Shanghai exchange is currently still closed to foreign issuers, despite the Chinese Government's announcement back in 2008 to open the market.

Also, the way in which the legal and regulatory environment will evolve, followed by political uncertainty, are collectively seen by respondents as the factors most likely to derail the shift to the emerging market exchanges.

Currently, developed markets dwarf their emerging markets rivals in terms of size, so sustained growth must take place if the East is to make a meaningful challenge, PwC says.

However, as an indicator of the exponential growth in Asia so far, the combined market capitalization of China's Shanghai and Shenzhen equities markets has risen from US$400bn in 2005 to US$4trn at the end of Q4 2010.

Clifford Tompsett, partner, PwC added: "The capital markets spotlight may be turning towards the East, but it is still imperative for companies to select the right stock exchange for their particular needs– that will be the platform which puts them in the best position to achieve their immediate IPO objectives and beyond. Each exchange has its own particular merits and businesses must carefully consider which of these markets is best to tap."