Eight IPOs and four SPACs went public this past week. One IPO postponed, UK-based biotechGyroscope Therapeutics(VISN), citing market conditions. Filing activity maintained a comfortable pace/remained moderate, with seven IPOs and 10 SPACs submitting initial filings.
The week’s best performer, Sacramento bankFive Star Bancorp(FSBC) priced at the high end to raise $105 million at a $325 million market cap. The bank serves the greater Sacramento MSA through its seven branches and two loan offices, focusing on commercial real estate lending. While large money center banks control the majority of deposits in the area, the bank has more than doubled its share since 2016. Five Star finished up 25%.
Non-toxic lifestyle brandThe Honest Company(HNST) priced slightly above the midpoint to raise $413 million at a $1.6 billion market cap. Co-founded by actress Jessica Alba, the company offers baby care, skin and personal care, and household and wellness products. The company saw solid growth in 2020, though it has a history of losses and negative free cash flow, and insiders sold a majority of the IPO. Honest finished up 19%.
French-listed biotechValneva(VALN) priced within the range to raise $94 million at a $1.4 billion market cap. Valneva has successfully commercialized vaccines for Japanese Encephalitis and Cholera. Its clinical portfolio contains lead program VLA15, a vaccine targeting Borrelia (Lyme disease) under development in collaboration with Pfizer, which is currently in Phase 2 trials. Valneva finished up 12%.
Cannabinoid overdose biotechAnebulo Pharmaceuticals(ANEB) priced at the midpoint to raise $21 million at a $163 million market cap. The company’s lead candidate is intended to reverse the negative effect of cannabinoid overdose within 1 hour of administration. The company expects to begin a Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial for cannabinoid overdose in the Netherlands in the 4Q21. Anebulo finished up 1%.
After delaying pricing by a day, professional services firmBowman Consulting Group(BWMN) upsized and priced at the high end to raise $52 million at a $153 million market cap. The company offers planning, engineering, construction management, commissioning, environmental consulting, land procurement, and other services to over 2,200 clients in diverse end markets. Bowman finished flat.
Chinese e-commerce platformOnion Global(OG) downsized and priced at the low end to raise $68 million at a $728 million market cap. Onion Global’s platform offers more than 4,000 beauty, maternal and baby, fashion, and food and beverage brands to buyers across Asia. The company is profitable with strong growth, though it faces significant competition from larger players. Onion Global finished down 3%.
Cell therapy biotechTalaris Therapeutics(TALS) priced at the midpoint to raise $150 million at a $736 million market cap. Its lead candidate is a novel allogeneic cell therapy comprised of stem and immune cells that are procured from a healthy donor. The company is currently enrolling patients for a Phase 3 registration trial in the US in adult living donor kidney transplant recipients. Talaris finished down 4%.
Chinese health insurance platformWaterdrop(WDH) priced at the high end to raise $360 million at a $5.1 billion market cap. Unprofitable with explosive growth, the company was China’s #2 third-party life and health insurance broker by first year premiums in 2020, and its #1 medical crowdfunding platform by funds raised. Waterdrop finished down 19%.
Four SPACs raised $610 million led byValor Latitude Acquisition(VLATU), which raised $200 million to acquire a tech-enabled Latin American business.
