Rebound for global IPO activity Baker McKenzie says

Rebound for global IPO activity Baker McKenzie says… Herbert Smith Freehills helps create Aussie non-profit tax app… England’s Law Society inaugurates 173rd president…

Rebound for global IPO activity Baker McKenzie says
Rebound for global IPO activity Baker McKenzie says
The overall level of IPO activity in the first half of 2017 rebounded from a slower H1 of 2016 according to Baker McKenzie.

Its Cross-Border IPO Index reveals that the value of issuance rose by 76% compared to the same period of 2016 to U$89 billion and volume increased 53% to 728 deals.

The growth was dominated by domestic deals though which were up 93% in value while cross-border deals gained 41%.

“Political stability in many markets, strong performance of IPOs and sound economic fundamentals are the forces driving investor demand, while investors have also learned to live with unpredictable developments,” said Koen Vanhaerents, global head of capital markets at Baker McKenzie.

Domestic and cross-border deal size combined averaged 15% higher than the low-base of the first half of 2016, at U$122 million.

The majority of the cross-border IPOs were in the financial sector while the tech sector saw a 443% rise in capital raised in IPOs to U$11.8 billion from 100 listings.

Herbert Smith Freehills helps create Aussie non-profit tax app
Herbert Smith Freehills charity law solicitor and tax specialist Samantha Loff has helped create an app for non-profits alongside Justice Connect.

The Melbourne based lawyer worked in collaboration with the University of Melbourne Law School, the Telematics Course Development Fund and Neota Logic, to develop the app which enables non-profits to establish if they are eligible, or remain eligible, for income tax exemption.

“I really enjoyed breaking down the information into a form that was logical and clear, ensuring that the app asks simple, relevant questions to reach its conclusions. It also educates users along the way as to why certain information is needed, what the legal requirements are, and provides practical ‘next steps’,” explained Ms. Loff.

The app is freely available.

England’s Law Society inaugurates 173rd president
Solicitor Joe Egan has been inaugurated as the 173rd president of the Law Society of England & Wales.

He succeeds Robert Bourns who he praised for his “exemplary leadership” during an “extraordinary period of flux” for the legal profession and vowed to carry on representing the profession to government along with the “public interest role” of the society.

"Most, if not all of us, came into the profession to ensure that people could exercise their rights, and I intend to continue to stand up tirelessly for access to justice,” he said.