Unsteady markets have dried up the number of initial public offerings (IPOs). Nationally 77 companies in the United States withdrew public offerings in 2008. While 55 companies successfully priced IPO offerings in 2008. By comparison through the first nine months of 2007, 226 U.S. companies completed IPOs. Only two U.S. companies priced public offerings in September, the worst monthly performance since April 2003, when just three companies completed their IPOs. No Minnesota-based companies have gone public this year. Four companies that had planned offerings have withdrawn them this year. Another three Minnesota offerings are on hold.

IPOs through the first nine months

2003: 81

2004: 218

2005: 233

2006: 172

2007: 226

2008: 55

Source: Bloomberg News