Global equity issuance up from 2016 slump

Global equity raising rose by almost a fifth in 2017 and bankers expect issuance to increase further in 2018 as the improving global economy and buoyant stock markets drive larger flotations and rights issues to finance acquisitions.

Companies raised $780.2 billion in equity in 2017, up 19 per cent from $656.4 billion last year, Thomson Reuters Equity Capital Markets (ECM) data up to December 26 showed.

Global proceeds from initial public offerings (IPOs) rose by 35 per cent to $178.6 billion in 2017. However, overall issues and the global IPO market fell short of 2014-15 cycle peaks.

European bank rights issues continued to