After a long holiday season, from Christmas last year to Chinese New Year, the IPO frenzy of Chinese internet stock is ready to go again. Qihoo 360, the most popular anti virus software in China, will be going public in a few weeks. Xunlei, the largest file sharing service in China, is also preparing to list in Nasdaq, raising about US$200 million. Renren and Kaixin, two of the largest social networks in China, are also in the pipeline.
In 2010, four of the five best IPO debuts on American exchanges came from Chinese stocks, led by online video company Youku.com Inc.’s 161% pop in December, according to Dealogic. But the reverse was also true: The worst five debuts came from China-based companies, with mobile application company Ski-mobi Ltd. skidding 25% on its first day in December. In the whole year of 2010, more than 40 Chinese companies listed in the US, more than 10 of which pertain to Internet industry.
This year’s candidates for IPO seems to be even stronger than last year. Most of them are top dogs in their own categories. There will be a lot of action in the public market.
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