<article>Numbers best explain the dismal year the Singapore IPO markets had in 2015.</article>

Numbers best explain the dismal year the Singapore IPO markets had in 2015.
It saw 13 listings that raised a combined S$339 million, and more than 50 per cent of that came from a single IPO &#8211; China’s mall landlord BHG Retail REIT &#8211; the sole listing on the main board in 2015. Several large listings were deferred. Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, which were once distant competitors to Singapore,  saw more activity last year compared to Singapore.
In comparison,  in 2014, Singapore had 28 listings that raised a combined  S$2.32 billion. Even during the global financial crisis, the city-state had global 22 IPOs in 2008 raising $931 million and 23 floats in 2009.
The Singapore exchange has been left in the dust by regional rival Hong Kong, which emerged as the world&#8217;s largest IPO market in 2015 with 138 listings ahead of New York, Shanghai and London. Companies raised $25 billion from HK listings last year, about 160 times more than what firms did in Singapore.
If 2015, was amongst the worst year, lacklustre showing in Singapore is set to extend to 2016, as most listings are set to be on the Catalist Board.
In fact, two Catalist listings are already through, the latest being centralised dishwashing firm GS Holdings, which made a reasonably strong debut earlier this week, rising 4% in the morning trade on Monday (January 18), against a slump in the broader market, before closing at the day S$0.26 today, up from its IPO price of S$0.25.
Executive chairman and chief executive of GS Holdings Limited, Pang Pok, said: “We are pleased and encouraged that our investment story resonated well with investors to have received such strong support for our IPO. This is a strong testament of our business model, investment merits and strategies as we look towards bringing GS to the next phase of growth.”
Last Friday (January 15), this portal had reported that clean air environmental and technological solutions provider <a style="color: #000080;" href="http://dealstreetasia.com/tag/eindec" target="_blank">Eindec Corporation Limited</a> had raised  S$7.5 million by placing out 35.8 million shares,  making it the first listing in the city state in 2016.
The company&#8217;s counter opened Friday&#8217;s trading at S$0.235, higher than the initial public offering price of S$0.21, and closed as S$0.255, 21% higher at from offer price of 21 cents, and around 7.5m shares changed hands on its debut day, making it amongst the  most active stocks by volume on January 15.
The current IPOs reflect a continuing trend of Catalist listings that have minor public tranches. Overall, it reflects a slowing global economic climate that is seeing fewer companies considering an IPO as they seek to stay private, rather than be subject to the sentiments of public capital markets.  Turbulent public capital markets, driven by unstable situation in China, are impacting the Asia Pacific region which is also impacted by the global commodities slump.
This week also saw a third local company launch a listing on Catalist board.
<h3>Secura Group launches IPO, targets $19.4m</h3>
Security firm Secura Group launched its initial public offering (IPO) on the Singapore Exchange&#8217;s (SGX) Catalist board on Wednesday (Jan 20), and it is targeting to raise S$28 million (US$19.4 million) as growth capital to fund its expansion.
Secura will sell 112 million shares at S$0.25 each in its IPO, with each share coming with two detachable warrants. These are convertible to new Secura shares at an exercise price of S$0.35 cents within the next three years, from 2016 to 2018.
According to Secura, funds raised will be be used to expand its security and cybersecurity businesses, as well as enhance corporate infrastructure and for working capital purposes. Secura Group emerged from the merger of Secura, which offers security printing services, and Soverus, which provides security guards, cyber security and other security-related services.
Shareholders of Secura Group include billionaire investor <a style="color: #000080;" href="http://dealstreetasia.com/tag/peter-lim" target="_blank">Peter Lim</a>; <a style="color: #000080;" href="http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=8574019&amp;ticker=UOBK:SP" target="_blank">Wee Ee Chao</a>, who is chairman of <a style="color: #000080;" href="http://dealstreetasia.com/tag/UOB-Kay-Hian" target="_blank">UOB-Kay Hian Holdings</a>; and local property giant <a style="color: #000080;" href="http://dealstreetasia.com/tag/city-developments" target="_blank">City Developments</a>. Secura&#8217;s share offer closes on 26 January 2015, with trading commenting on 28 January 2015.
Also Read: <a style="color: #ff0000;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/stories/eindec-launches-trading-sgx-catalist-amidst-sgx-turbulence-27186/">Eindec, Singapore’s first IPO in 2016, rises 21% on debut</a>
GS Holdings, which had listed earlier,  is a centralised commercial dishware washing company providing an end-to-end integrated semi-automated cleaning services, with three central facilities located at 1 Senoko Avenue and Jurong East retail malls IMM and Big Box. These provide services to operators of food courts, coffee shops, restaurants, hawker centres, shopping malls and the Singapore General Hospital.
The corporation is one of three service providers appointed by <a style="color: #000080;" href="http://dealstreetasia.com/tag/spring-singapore" target="_blank">SPRING Singapore</a> for centralised or outsourced dishwashing under the Food and Beverage (F&amp;B) Productivity and Capability Solutions scheme that is aimed at raising capability and productivity in the sector.
The listing of GS Holdings brings the total number of Catalist companies on SGX to 174 corporations with a combined market capitalisation of S$10 billion. GS Holdings opened trading at S$0.28
<a href="http://dealstreetasia.com/tag/mohamed-nasser-ismail" target="_blank">Mohamed Nasser Ismail</a>, head of SME Development &amp; Listings, SGX, said, “We are delighted to support GS Holdings, which is another successful local company, in its journey to increase productivity and efficiency. The company brings an innovative business model to our growth platform, and we look forward to supporting its growth as it embarks on its blueprint for greater innovation and expansion.”
The listing of GS Holdings brings the total number of Catalist companies on SGX to 174, with a combined market capitalisation of S$10 billion.GS Holdings opened at S$0.28 on 18 January but at market close on 21 January 2015, Thursday, it closed at $0.25.
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Secura Group plans is aiming to raise U$19.4 million in its IPO on the SGX Catalist, while GS Holdings listed on 18 January 2015, trading at 28 cents.

Secura Group targets S$19.4m in IPO, GS Holdings raises S$4.1m. Yet, S'pore listings slump set to continue in 2016

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Secura Group targets S$19.4m in IPO, GS Holdings raises S$4.1m. Yet, S'pore listings slump set to continue in 2016

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