From data sharing to IPOs, tech firms mull Brexit impact

London

THE lasting impact of the UK's vote to break with the European Union won't be known for years, but the shift has immediate ramifications for the global technology industry. There are a few issues to be particularly mindful of.

Chaos in the global markets is not an environment that makes investors eager to buy shares in an initial public offering. Any technology startup considering an IPO will likely wait to see how the turmoil following the Brexit vote shakes out. There has already been a dearth of listings this year and the UK vote will only extend the lull. The European telecommunications company Telefonica SA is said to be postponing plans to sell shares of its infrastructure unit Telxius and UK wireless unit O2.