This year has been a whopper for ASX shares and market watchers alike. We saw multiple lithium sell-offs, tech tumble amid rate hikes, and coal miners roar 200% higher.
Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has slumped 5% and the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) has fallen 7%.
Amid the chaos, the market has lost some notable names. Indeed, many of the ASX shares that set out in January are no longer with us.
Let's cast our eyes back to five of the most significant delistings of 2022.
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5 ASX shares that didn't make it through 2022
While there have no doubt been plenty of ASX shares removed from the market for disappointing or nefarious reasons, I am going to focus on the positives.
I believe many market participants jumped for joy on news these stocks will no longer trade. Let's reminisce on major mergers and acquisitions that took market favourites off the bourse in 2022.
Former BNPL darling Afterpay takes final stand
Of course, what other former ASX stock would we start out with but Afterpay? It might evoke a tear to think of the ASX growth dream-turned-disappointment.
The buy now pay later (BNPL) favourite was absorbed into Block Inc (ASX: SQ2) in February as part of an all-scrip takeover that was once worth $39 billion.
Sydney Airport shares fly outbound from ASX
Another ASX staple was wiped from the boards in February. Shares in Sydney Airport were delisted after the travel giant was snapped up by a consortium of super funds for $23.6 billion.
Investors received $8.75 for every share they held at the time of the acquisition.
Embattled Crown takes a bow
The casino operator that found itself the subject of Royal Commissions in Victoria and Western Australia, as well as the Bergin Inquiry, was also taken over this year.
Private equity firm Blackstone posted a successful $8.9 billion – or $13.10 per share – bid for Crown Resorts. The stock last traded in June.
A deal for ASX share MyDeal
Online marketplace operator MyDeal also left the books this year following a $1.05 per share takeover bid from ASX 200 giant Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW).
The supermarket operator's offer implied an enterprise value of $243 million. MyDeal's stock traded for the last time in September.
ResApp shares removed from Aussie bourse
And finally, we lost ASX healthcare favourite ResApp. The company behind tech touted as capable of detecting COVID-19 using audio of a person's cough was snapped up by biotechnology giant Pfizer after a dramatic acquisition scuffle.
The New York-listed giant ultimately paid 20.8 cents for every ResApp share, taking the company off the ASX in September.
