S.imilar to Nasdaq’s historic first quarter for its US exchangeThe European markets, with seven exchanges across the continent, saw a record 32 initial public offerings (IPOs) in the first quarter, which was the largest number of IPOs during the period. The strong start positions Nasdaq as one of the leading stock exchange operators in Europe. The momentum is expected to increase in the further course of the year.
In the first quarter, a total of 32 companies were listed on the stock exchanges in Stockholm, Helsinki, Copenhagen and Tallinn, including the Finnish medical technology supplier Nightingale and the Swedish biotech company Lipigon Pharmaceuticals. The listings brought in 1.7 billion euros. Stockholm welcomed 23 listings on the stock exchange and the four listings in Copenhagen in the first quarter hit their 2007 record.
The Nasdaq exchange in Scandinavia was also the first IPO of the Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC), AQC Bure, which traded up to SEK 106 and had a turnover of 700,000 shares in five minutes. The SPAC raised $ 404 million on its IPO and attracted 35,000 new shareholders.
The robust start to the year builds on the recovery of the European IPO markets in the second half of 2020. Despite the uncertainties caused by the global pandemic, Nasdaq’s European markets ended 2020 with 79 listings up from 63 the previous year, showing how Nasdaq’s exchanges have been able to function smoothly even in turbulent times.
In addition, Nasdaq celebrated its 97th corporate change with the listing and growth of companies in Nasdaq’s European markets First growth market in the north to the Nordic main market.
One aspect that makes the Nordic markets very dominant from an IPO perspective is the ability to list small and medium-sized companies. Since 2014, a third of all IPOs in Europe have taken place in the Nordic markets, where Sweden was the most active market and this continues to be the trend.
Adam Kostyál,
Head of European Listings, Nasdaq
