West Asia conflict stalls IPO plans and delays planned listings
Business
The conflict in West Asia is shaking up business plans, with companies hitting the brakes on going public.
IPOs made up almost 40% of public market exits for venture capital and private equity investors last year, but market uncertainty has some firms, like PhonePe and XED Executive Development, delaying or pulling their IPOs altogether.
Investors cautious despite $5.4 billion fundraising
Even though fundraising nearly doubled to $5.4 billion in 2025, investors are playing it safe.
Prabhav Kashyap from Bain & Company points out that deals are taking longer because buyers and sellers can't agree on prices.
With geopolitical risks rising, investors are focusing more on managing risk, which could mean more tough deals ahead.