Top 10 Largest Global IPOs Of All Time

Alibaba Group’s staggering initial public offering of $25 billion shattered all records and became the largest IPO ever. But how does the Alibaba number compare to other huge IPOs? We have compiled a list of the top 10 IPOs of all time. The list may surprise you. Only one U.S.‑based company made the top five (hint: it wasn’t Facebook). Chinese companies comprise three of the top five IPOs.

Top Ten Global IPOs

1. Alibaba Holdings Group (NYSE:BABA), a diversified online ecommerce company based in China, went public on September 18, 2014 at a whopping $21.8 billion. Four days later, underwriters exercised an option to sell more shares, bringing the total IPO to $25 billion. Although technology companies traditionally list on NASDAQ, Alibaba chose the New York Stock Exchange for its debut and used underwriting primarily from Credit Suisse. 

2. ABC Bank, otherwise known as the Agricultural Bank of China (listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange), is one of China’s five largest banks. ABC Bank went public on July 7, 2010 at an initial offering raising $19.228 billion. The follow-on greenshoe offerings from underwriter Goldman Sachs Asia brought the total to over $22 billion.  

3. ICBC Bank, or Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange), went public on October 20, 2006, fetching a total of $19.092 billion. At that time, ICBC Bank was the largest mainland Chinese bank and the third large Chinese bank to go public. 

4. NTT DoCoMo (NYSE:DCM), a Tokyo‑based telecommunications player, went to the public market on October 22, 1998, raising $18.099 billion. Underwritten by Goldman Sachs Asia, this IPO launched NTT to the third largest market cap for a Japanese company.  

5. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) rounds out the top five. This debit and credit card processing company entered the public market on March 18, 2008, and raised $17.864 billion—no small feat during a global financial crisis. It is the largest IPO for any U.S.‑based company. 

6.  AIA (OTC:AAIGF), a Hong Kong-based investment and insurance company, was offered to the public on October 21, 2010. It raised $17.816 billion and become the third Hong Kong-based financial company on this top 10 IPO list.  

7.  Enel S.p.A.(OTC:ENLAY) listed on the New York Stock Exchange on November 1, 1999 after it raised $16.452 billion.  This Italian company competes in the gas and electric market in Europe and the Americas. It is the only utility company on the top 10 IPO list.  

8.  Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) was one of the most-hyped IPOs in history. It listed on May 1, 2012 and raised $16.007 billion.  This social media technology company's launch was riddled with trading issues and questionable information-sharing accusations. Nevertheless, it still became the largest technology IPO in U.S. history.  

9.  General Motors (NYSE:GM) debuted on November 17, 2010 after emerging from a bankruptcy filing one year earlier.  This U.S.-based car manufacturer raised $15.774 billion in its initial public offering.  

10.  Nippon Tel (NYSE:NTT) is a Tokyo-based telecommunication provider.  This is the oldest IPO on this list. The company raised $15.301 billion on February 9, 1987.  

The Bottom Line

The much-hyped Alibaba IPO was the largest of all time. A look back at the top 10 global IPOs in history shows that Asian companies dominate. Visa, Facebook, and General Motors are the only U.S.‑based companies on the top 10 global IPO list.

By Kristina Zucchi, CFA

Source:http://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/011215/top-10-largest-global-ipos-all-time.asp