Malaysia’s nine-month IPO proceeds rise to US$1.62 billion
EY reported 38 Malaysian listings, compared with 37 a year earlier, even as Southeast Asia’s IPO volume and proceeds declined.
Malaysia’s initial public offerings (IPOs) generated US$1.62 billion (RM6.56 billion) across 38 listings during the first nine months of 2026, Ernst & Young (EY) said. The year-earlier period produced US$992 million from 37 listings.
The increase contrasted with weaker activity across Southeast Asia. EY put the region’s nine-month proceeds at US$3 billion from 56 IPOs, with value down 13% and listing volume falling 26% year-on-year.
Malaysia’s third-quarter performance also improved. Proceeds reached US$167.2 million from nine IPOs in 3Q2026, against US$94 million from eight listings a year earlier. Regionally, quarterly proceeds fell to US$500 million across 20 IPOs, versus US$2.1 billion from 26 listings in 2025.
Elsewhere in Southeast Asia, Singapore’s eight IPOs generated US$1.28 billion over the nine-month period. Indonesia raised US$121.3 million through seven listings, while Thailand’s three IPOs brought in US$21.3 million.
EY Capital Markets representative Nghia Trung Nguyen said the improvement in Malaysian proceeds suggested continuing investor appetite. With investors becoming more selective, he said issuers needed to prepare thoroughly and set realistic expectations for market timing and investor demands.
Regulatory reforms, subdued economic expectations and geopolitical uncertainty had weakened regional listing sentiment, according to EY Asean IPO leader Chan Yew Kiang. He identified Malaysia as the exception to Southeast Asia’s year-on-year slowdown in third-quarter IPO counts.
