Last year was the best IPO year for venture-backed firms since 2004, and a great year for Boston-area offerings in particular, with area firms completing 17 IPOs worth a combined $1.3 billion, second only to San Jose-based firms’ 19 deals worth $2 billion
But enough about 2007. There are 10 New England life sciences and tech firms currently in registration. Which ones will make glorious market debuts in 2008? Which ones will file and fizzle? We’re not prepared to hazard a guess just yet, but we’d love to hear what you’re thinking.
Here’s what we know about the companies currently in registration (thanks to Renaissance Capital’s IPOhome.com and Morningnotes.com for use of the tools to aggregate the data):
GT Solar (SOLR) of Merrimack, NH
proposed maximum offering price: $200 million
filed: 4/26/07
latest filing: 6/5/07
recent news: In August, this supplier to the photovoltaic industry, signed a $171 million dollar contract with China’s Glory Silicon Energy to provide furnaces for silicon-ingot production.
NameMedia (NAME) of Waltham, MA
proposed maximum offering price: $173 million
filed: 11/2/07
latest filing: 12/13/07
recent news: NameMedia is cashing in on “direct navigation,” a phenomenon that Wade finds a tad disturbing.
Allegro MicroSystems (ALGM) of Worcester, MA
proposed maximum offering price: $115 million
filed: 8/8/07
latest filing: 11/30/07
recent news: The manufacturer of integrated circuits and sensors debuted two new automotive-grade motor controller integrated circuits in December.
POGO Jet (POGO) of Chicopee, MA
proposed maximum offering price: $104 million
filed: 9/13/07
latest filing: 1/4/08
recent news: POGO Jet plans to begin providing on-demand jet charter service in early 2009. (Yes, we know that’s not quite tech, but it’s cool.)
GlassHouse Technologies (GLAS) of Framingham, MA
proposed maximum offering price: $100 million
filed: 12/18/07
recent news: The provider of data-center management and Internet-based data backup services secured a $16 million convertible note loan from LRG Capital Group, Velocity Capital Group, and Leader Ventures in August
Elixir Pharmaceuticals (ELXR) of Cambridge, MA
proposed maximum offering price: $86 million
filed: 9/21/07
latest filing: 1/7/07
recent news: One of the founders of this firm, which is developing treatments for aging-related diseases such as cancer and diabetes, joined the scientific advisory board of rival Sirtris in November.
TransMedics (TMDX) of Andover, MA
proposed maximum offering price: $86 million
filed: 9/14/07
latest filing: 12/14/07
recent news: The firm, which makes a transport system for donor organs, closed a $25.5 million fourth-round financing that was one of the biggest New England venture deals of 2007’s second quarter.
BG Medicine (BGMD) of Waltham, MA
proposed maximum offering price: $80 million
filed: 8/3/07
latest filing: 12/28/07
recent news: The molecular diagnostics firm lowered the price range for its planned 4.5 million-share offering to $8 to $10 per share (down from $14 to $16) in December.
Archemix (ARCH) of Cambridge, MA
proposed maximum offering price: $69 million
filed: 7/24/07
latest filing: 1/3/08
recent news: The firm—which is developing “aptamers,” or short strands of DNA or RNA, as treatments for a variety of ailments—set terms for its offering of 4.5 million shares at $12 to $14 per share in October.
NitroSecurity (NITR) of Portsmouth, NH
proposed maximum offering price: $55 million
filed: 8/9/07
latest filing: 11/9/07
recent news: The network security firm inked a $3 million Army contract last month.
