Global equity issuance for 2022 plummeted 66.6 percent from last year, to $351.76 billion, levels not seen since 2006, a new report by S&P Global Market Intelligence showed. The total value of initial public offerings (IPOs) dropped even further, down 71.3 percent for the year.
Corporate merger and acquisitions (M&A) also slowed down last year. Total value of global announced M&A deals fell 35.8 percent year over year, to $2.983 trillion, the second-lowest annual totals since 2013. As the report noted, “Lower equity prices and greater volatility gave issuers little incentive to sell shares at reduced valuations.”
“Persistent economic headwinds held back global M&A and IPO activity in 2022, and a sharp turnaround is not expected,” Joe Mantone, author of the report, stated.  “Any signs of the Fed loosening monetary policy should benefit M&A and equity issuance.”…