Investing Updates: Singapore gets noticed as IPO activity rises

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https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion-features/singapore-gets-noticed-ipo-activity-rises

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Singapore’s IPO market has drawn attention after overtaking London in Bloomberg’s 2025 ranking of busiest listing venues. With US$1.44 billion raised this year, largely from REITs, Singapore is now ranked ninth globally, while London slipped to 23rd. The surge comes as companies and sponsors capitalize on buoyant investor sentiment, with the Straits Times Index hitting record highs.

Recent Catalist board listings have performed well. MetaOptics, which sold shares at S$0.20, ended last week at S$0.53. Lum Chang Creations, spun off from Lum Chang Holdings, peaked at S$0.59 before settling at S$0.455, while Dezign Format rose from its S$0.20 IPO price to close at S$0.29. These successes contrast with mixed results from mainboard debuts. Centurion Accommodation REIT delivered gains, rising from S$0.88 to S$1.04. However, NTT DC REIT stumbled initially, falling below its IPO price due to concerns over yields and tenant risks, before recovering to US$1.02. Info-Tech Systems, the first mainboard IPO in nearly two years, debuted at S$0.87 and remains volatile, closing at S$0.88.

Momentum appears strong, with upcoming listings in the pipeline. Coliwoo, a co-living property player with 25 sites and expansion plans to 4,000 rooms, and Soon Hock Enterprise, an industrial developer, have filed for mainboard IPOs. Catalist may also see Leong Guan Holdings, a food producer, and Infinity Development, a chemical supplier, entering the market.

While IPO participation carries risks, the rise in listings boosts the broader ecosystem. Investor relations firms are hiring, and research houses, law firms, and banks may follow suit. If Singapore sustains this momentum, surpassing London in IPO activity could become a norm rather than a headline.