Tech Market IPOs
The total IPO value in the Korea Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (KOSDAQ) bourse is expected reach 1.4 trillion won (US$1.3 billion) this year to set a 14-year high, with the average IPO-based financing amount per company estimated at approximately 20 billion won (US$18 million).
According to the Korea Exchange, both the amount and the number of listed companies have been on the rise in the stock market segment since 2012. The financing amount increased from 285.6 billion won (US$260.7 million) to 648.2 billion won (US$591.8 million) between 2012 and 2013. Also, the number of newly listed companies is expected to reach 72 by the end of this year, 35 more than a year earlier. A total of 80 companies applied for the listing examination between January and Nov. 13, and 10 more are expected to turn in their applications within this year.
In 2014, the number of applications for IPOs, re-listing of spinoffs, and listing through mergers with special-purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) increased alike. As of Nov. 13, 70 applied for an IPO, six for listing through a merger with SPAC, and four for re-listing.