Bursa sees IPOs worth more than RM7.4b this year
KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia Bhd expects initial public offerings (IPOs) worth more than RM7.4 billion this year, with the listings of 13 firms year-to-date.
Chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tajuddin Atan said next year ’s IPO performance would likely be better.
“We would probably close around this region (of RM7.4 billion), maybe just another one or two more listings by year-end.
“We are not seeing the traction that we had anticipated. After the first half, there was some levelling off,” he said yesterday after the launch of the “What’s Your Goal” campaign to raise awareness on share investment opportunities.
The next IPOs will be Sime Darby Bhd’s plantation and property businesses on November 30.
Tajuddin said Bursa aims to boost retail investors’ participation to 25 per cent from 23.3 per cent with 80 programmes to boost financial literacy.
He said only four per cent of the 853 respondents have chosen to invest in shares while the rest opted for less traditional investment tools. “The public should consider share investments as part of their investment portfolio and change the perception that share investments are risky.
“Investment in shares will help diversify portfolio with an opportunity to get higher returns compared with fixed deposit, current and savings account.
“There are other investment products on Bursa Malaysia like Exchange Trade Funds, structured warrants and real estate investment trusts, which are attractive and can meet investors’ risk appetite. Zarina Zakariah