Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 01 APRIL 2016

2016 IPO Report

WilmerHale
WilmerHale
Contributor
WilmerHale

WilmerHale

WilmerHale's London office was established more than 40 years ago. With lawyers qualified in the...

View firm profile
Explore more from WilmerHale

The 2015 IPO market produced 152 IPOs, a disappointing tally that lagged well behind the 244 IPOs in 2014 despite continued strength in the life sciences sector.

United StatesCorporate/Commercial Law
WilmerHale
WilmerHale
Author LinkedIn connections

REVIEW

The 2015 IPO market produced 152 IPOs, a disappointing tally that lagged well behind the 244 IPOs in 2014 despite continued strength in the life sciences sector. Setting aside the anomalous years of 2008 and 2009, however, the 2015 total was largely in line with the annual average of 157 IPOs that prevailed over the ten-year period preceding 2014.

The year started slowly, with the first quarter producing 28 IPOs. The pace of new offerings increased to 63 in the second quarter—June's 33 IPOs represented the highest monthly total since 2000. The IPO market struggled for the balance of the year, with deal flow hampered by heightened volatility and broad market declines. The major indices all hit yearly lows in late August, as the capital markets reeled from news of surprisingly slow economic growth in China. The third quarter produced 31 IPOs and the fourth quarter added 30 more. The year ended on a whimper, with only a pair of new offerings in December—

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Healthcare Trends & Transactions Q2 2026

Healthcare M&A activity maintained steady momentum through Q2 2026, driven by physician practice consolidation, AI-enabled technology acquisitions, and strategic outpatient expansion. Private equity investment persisted despite intensifying regulatory scrutiny of MSO arrangements, while digital health buyers paid significant premiums for platforms demonstrating production-grade AI capabilities and proprietary data assets.
United StatesCorporate/Commercial Law
Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
Article

CLIENT ALERT: 2026 Mid-Year Update On SEC And CFTC Enforcement

The SEC and CFTC have fundamentally shifted their enforcement approach in 2026, moving away from high-volume technical violations toward targeted actions addressing serious fraud and market manipulation. This mid-year update examines new leadership priorities, enhanced inter-agency coordination, revised cooperation policies, the elimination of "no-deny" settlement provisions, and a landmark Supreme Court ruling on disgorgement that collectively reshape the regulatory landscape for market participants.
United StatesCorporate/Commercial Law
Sher Tremonte
Sher Tremonte
Article

Sanofi And Regeneron Expand Immunology Collaboration In Deal Worth Up To $8 Billion

Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals announce a major expansion of their immunology partnership, committing up to $8 billion to develop and commercialize four long-acting antibodies targeting key inflammatory pathways. The collaboration includes a $1 billion upfront payment and milestone-based payments, with both companies sharing development costs and future profits equally.
United StatesCorporate/Commercial Law
Goodwin Procter LLP
Goodwin Procter LLP
Article

PTAB/USPTO Update - October 2026

The USPTO has released new templates and guidance for AIA trial proceedings, announced key appointments including a Chief AI Officer, and published updated procedures for patent applications and subject matter eligibility declarations. Director Squires delivered multiple addresses emphasizing the constitutional importance of intellectual property rights while the agency expanded its community engagement efforts and international collaboration through WIPO's Global IP Assignment Platform pilot program.
United StatesIntellectual Property
WilmerHale
WilmerHale
Article

SEC Approves FINRA’s New “Outside Activities” Rule

The Securities and Exchange Commission has approved FINRA Rule 3290, which will replace existing rules governing outside business activities and private securities transactions for registered persons. This new rule narrows the scope to focus on investment-related activities while maintaining similar supervisory obligations for member firms. Understanding the key changes and implementation requirements will be critical for broker-dealers as they update their compliance policies and procedures.
United StatesFinance and Banking
WilmerHale
WilmerHale
Article

23x5 Trading Comes To US Exchanges: What Firms Should Know Before Launch

US national securities exchanges are preparing to launch 23x5 trading by December 6, 2026, marking the most significant expansion of trading hours in decades. This comprehensive analysis examines the regulatory approvals, operational infrastructure changes, investor protection mechanisms, and issuer considerations necessary to support overnight equity trading from Sunday through Thursday evenings.
United StatesFinance and Banking
WilmerHale
WilmerHale
Article

SEC 2027 Exam Priorities: Familiar Priorities, Evolving Markets

The SEC Division of Examinations has released its fiscal year 2027 examination priorities, signaling continued focus on investment adviser fiduciary obligations, broker-dealer financial responsibility, and Regulation Best Interest while adapting to evolving market practices. Private credit, artificial intelligence governance, and retail investor protection emerge as prominent areas of scrutiny, with examiners expected to probe valuation practices, conflicts of interest, and technology controls across regula
United StatesFinance and Banking
WilmerHale
WilmerHale
Article

PTAB/USPTO Update - September 2026

The USPTO has released its latest economic impact report on IP-intensive industries, announced a new community engagement office in North Carolina, and issued several administrative updates including relief for Japanese applicants affected by a severe earthquake. The Patent Trial and Appeal Board has also designated new precedential and informative decisions addressing obviousness-type double patenting and Markush groupings.
United StatesIntellectual Property
WilmerHale
WilmerHale
Article

The SEC’s Transfer Agent Modernization Proposal: Implications For Onchain Recordkeeping

The SEC has proposed a comprehensive overhaul of transfer agent regulations that would formally recognize distributed ledger technology and blockchain-based recordkeeping systems within the existing regulatory framework. This modernization effort imposes enhanced operational, safeguarding, and compliance obligations while establishing technology-neutral standards that could significantly impact tokenization initiatives and digital asset market infrastructure.
United StatesFinance and Banking
WilmerHale
WilmerHale
Article

Washington Attorney General Publishes First Data Privacy Report

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown released the state's first Data Privacy Report, examining how the modern data economy incentivizes personal information collection and retention. The report catalogs resulting harms and recommends that lawmakers strengthen privacy protections, enforcement, and public education while highlighting Washington's continued lack of a comprehensive consumer privacy statute despite inspiring other states' privacy laws.
United StatesPrivacy
WilmerHale
WilmerHale