Specifically, the costs associated with international portfolio managers ignoring these concerns are rising as a result of divestment campaigns, delays in bringing initial public offerings (IPO's) to market and new scrutiny by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

According to the National Venture Capital Association, 67% of 500 VCs and CEOs polled recently predicted that the volume of initial public offerings will increase and 55% predict IPO quality will rebound in 2011.

FORBES: Venture Capital's Walking Dead

Despite the uptick in venture-backed companies filing for initial public offerings in the fourth quarter of 2010, the overall tepid IPO market has made it difficult for venture firms to post positive returns and to find exits.

FORBES: The Aughts: Venture Capital's Zombie Decade

Skype, which registered for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in August, has been trying to bulk up its business offerings, largely because it believes corporate users will be more willing to pay for its technology.

FORBES: Skype And Avaya To Partner On Communications Service

The IPO research shop found that an investor who bought all 68 U.S.-listed China initial public offerings from 2008 through mid-June would have seen an average loss of 24%, compared with an average return of 25% on non-Chinese IPOs.

FORBES: The Changing Face Of Chinese IPOs

Lazard is one of the most talked-about initial public offerings of the year and the second largest for a securities firm since Goldman's own IPO in 1999.

FORBES: Lazard's A Laggard