LONDON, March 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Global IPO market activity is off to a record start in the first two months of 2011 with US $25.3 billion raised in 193 deals. Global investors seeking to capitalize on the emerging markets growth story have been fuelling stock market rallies and new listings world-wide. A number of key factors have driven this level of IPO activity, including state privatizations, multinational spin-offs, and companies in the natural resources (including oil and gas), industrial/infrastructure and technology sectors.

This is according to Ernst & Young's Global IPO trends report 2011. The report highlights the market outlook for IPO markets in 2011 and analyzes the key trends of 2010.

Gregory K. Ericksen, Global Vice Chair for Strategic Growth Markets for Ernst & Young comments: "The shortage of exit routes, the lack of capital-raising and the numerous listing postponements since the financial crisis began in 2007 have created a growing IPO pipeline worldwide. The secondary-market momentum is also expected to continue as companies ramp up their capitalization to record levels, particularly to support acquisitions.