The U.S. is losing its share of global IPOs, according to a survey of 50 attorneys whose firms advised on three-quarters of all public offerings for companies on U.S. exchanges this year.
While the U.S. share of IPOs is on the decline, China is expected to be a strong driver of U.S.-based IPO issuance next year, according to the survey conducted by KCSA Strategic Communications. The firm, which specializes in financial public and investor relations, said it found the professionals it polled expect 2011 to be a busy for IPOs.
The survey of attorneys involved with IPOs also found that 37% of the respondents believe Brazil will drive global IPO issuance, while 30% said they expect India to do so.
Various dealmakers have voiced concern over the last decade that the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may have damped the pace of IPOs in the U.S. In this recent survey, respondents said they do not expect Dodd-Frank to affect IPO issuance in 2011.
The survey found that improved conditions in the U.S. IPO markets are tied to sunnier investor confidence and increased demand for new issues, among other reasons. A bulk of those polled said life sciences and technology businesses are behind much of the new IPO issuance; other industries like consumer-retail as well as Internet companies are also helping keep bankers busy.
