Dismal December for U.S. IPO market closing out 'solid' year

December could be the slowest month for initial public offerings in the U.S. since 2008, when the nation's financial system was near collapse, according to a new Ernst & Young LLP report. Five companies withdrew their offerings in late November, and during the first 11 days of December, there was only one IPO, that of Western Gas Equity Partners LP (WGP), according to Ernst & Young's U.S. IPO Pipeline Analysis. Yesterday, SolarCity Corp. was supposed to have become the second firm to begin offering its shares to the public this month, but it delayed its 10.1-million-share offering — the company priced its shares at $8 each today. Three other firms are scheduled to price this month. “November and December have been a little challenging,” said Jackie Kelley, Ernst & Young's Americas IPO leader. “Post-election and fiscal cliff issues are contributing to the slowdown, which will probably continue into early 2013.” Overall, 2012 was “solid year” for IPOs and an improvement over 2011, according to the report, released yesterday. About 130 IPOs raised $45 billion through Dec. 7, compared with 124 IPOs raising $40 billion in all of 2011. Of course, that includes the $16 billion Facebook Inc. (FB) offering in May, which, for better or worse, was the nation's third-largest IPO ever. Facebook shares that priced at $38 are now trading for about $28. Shares of the social-networking firm have traded as low as $17.55. “Overall, dealwise, we've had more activity in 2012 than in 2011, which is fabulous, considering we've had eurozone turmoil, Hurricane Sandy, the presidential election and the fiscal cliff,” Ms. Kelley said. Next year's IPO market is expected to be similar to 2012's, according to the Ernst & Young analysis. Fiscal cliff resolution and a strong retail season could give a boost to the IPO pipeline during the waning days of 2012 and in early 2013, the report said.