One of the major indicators of the health of stock markets is the frequency of initial public offerings (IPOs). As we all know, the past two years have not been great for stock market flotations but there are signs that, thanks to governmental and industrial investment in clean technologies, IPOs are on the increase again, at least in this corner of the market.
The Obama administration, for example, is diverting billions of dollars of economic stimulus funds into the US clean-tech sector so that America can "harness the sun and the winds and the soil" to fuel its cars and factories.
Last year saw a drop off in clean-tech IPOs with only six being successfully completed worldwide during the second half of the year compared with 10 during the first half, according to Cleantech Group. The situation did not improve during the first half of this year, when there were again just six IPOs.
However, the US-based research firm was enthused by a handful of IPOs completed during the third quarter (Q3) of 2009. Most notable was the arrival of electric vehicle battery manufacturer A123Systems on Nasdaq, which Cleantech Group described as "one of the most significant clean-tech exits to date".
