Real estate up, mining at record low in uneven IPO market: PwC

TORONTO, April 1, 2013 /CNW/ - For the first time in a decade, Canada's normally bustling mining sector couldn't muster a single Initial Public Offering (IPO) on either the TSX or TSX Venture exchange in the first quarter of 2013, according to a survey of the Canadian IPO market by PwC.

Only the real estate sector showed any signs of life in the quarter, as three IPOs from that sector made it to the TSX in the first three months of the year. All were real estate income trusts (REITs). There were only four new issues on all Canadian exchanges during the period with total proceeds of $422 million, the PwC survey showed.

"It's a classic good news/bad news story. The interest in real estate is certainly encouraging, and has been since last year," observes Dean Braunsteiner, national IPO services leader, PwC. "We believe there could be more to come as retail investors continue to seek yield through REITs."

By comparison, there were 13 new issues on all Canadian exchanges with a total value of $20 million in the first quarter of 2012 - 12 of them from mining companies. There were no IPOs on the TSX in the first quarter of 2012.

Normally a stalwart of the IPO market, the mining sector has registered at least two new mining issues on one of Canada's two leading exchanges for every quarter since 2003. (A single small mining issue for $250,000 was placed on the CNSX in the first quarter of this year.) Canada is considered one of the world's premier markets for new issues of equity in mining companies.

"The complete lack of activity in mining, a sector that has been a pillar of Canada's equity market, is unprecedented," says Braunsteiner. "The TSX Venture usually generates some activity for junior mining companies. Not so this quarter, and it's been the same with London - another major market where mining companies raise equity."

Braunsteiner adds, "Some mining companies have recently sought debt financing, with anecdotal evidence that private equity firms look to be moving into the mining sector creating speculation that miners had turned to a new source of funding. However, the availability of money for the costly construction phase of new mines still remains a question mark. Given the importance of the mining industry to our equity markets, this is a trend that bears watching."

PwC has conducted its survey of the IPO market in Canada for more than 10 years. The reports are issued on a quarterly basis to provide information to the corporate sector, investors, the media and others that will help them put the market into better perspective. For the purposes of the survey, investment vehicles such as structured products are not considered IPOs because they do not represent new equity raised for operating companies.

Follow PwC on Twitter at @PwC_Canada_LLP and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pwccanada.

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PwC Canada helps organizations and individuals create the value they're looking for. More than 5,700 partners and staff in offices across the country are committed to delivering quality in assurance, tax, consulting and deals services. PwC Canada is a member of the PwC network of firms with more than 180,000 people in 158 countries. Find out more by visiting us at www.pwc.com/ca.

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SOURCE: PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers)

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