The IPO markets continue their consistent march forward this week as we have four companies looking to raise a total of $270 million. The most popular deal this week will be Medpace, a contract research organization focused on biotechs. Again you will see that the insider support will continue to make biotechs the most active segment of the 2016 IPO market, controlling 36% of the total offerings. The issue is that their average return (-2%) far underperforms the non-biotechs offered this year (+26%).
Also, FYI this may be the last week of significant activity before the yearly summer slowdown, with activity likely picking up again after Labor Day.
Up first we have, as we said, the name that will likely garner the most attention, Medpace Holdings (MEDP ) Medspace is a research firm focused on small and mid-sized biopharmas. They are looking to raise $151 million by issuing 7 million shares at a range of $20-23. Potential investors should note that the company leads the industry in EBITDA margins and strong free cash flow generation. According to their filings the company says that by focusing on the faster-growing portion of the $23 billion Phase I-IV CRO market, Medpace has been able to grow revenue at a 22% CAGR from 2012-2015. As for the competition, overall Medpace's peers have been doing well, with both PRA Health Science (PRAH ) and INC Research (INCR ) trading up well over 100% since their respective 2014 IPOs.
Next up we have Protagonist Therapeutics (PTGX ) which is looking to raise $70 million by offering 5.8 million shares at a range of $11-13. According to their filings, by focusing on ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, the biotech's lead candidate completed Phase 1 trials and is scheduled to enter Phase 2b trials in the fourth quarter of 2016. A second candidate is expected to begin Phase 1 trials in 2017. Though its administration (oral as opposed to injectable) is novel, the drug would enter a crowded field led by AbbVie's blockbuster Humira.
Next is Motif Bio (MTFB ) which is a late stage biotech focused on antibiotics for multi-drug resistant bacteria. The company, which is currently listed on London's AIM market, hopes to raise $35 million by offering 2.8 million shares at $12.42. Analysts note that lead candidate, Iclaprim, which previously failed to receive FDA approval, was acquired in 2015 and is currently in two Phase 3 trials.
Finally, Airgain (AIRG ), which supplies embedded antenna components to enable wireless networking in electronic devices, is set to raise $14 million by offering 1.5 million shares in the $9-10 range. Analysts not that the company hopes to cash in on the growing Io-T industry as it battles falling ASPs.