The IPO Buzz: Heavy May Traffic, Uber Ahead

This week’s IPO market looks to be busy with seven names on the calendar. Bankers are looking to raise over $1 billion. Next week Uber Technologies (UBER proposed) tops the calendar with an IPO of nearly $8.5 billion. Interestingly enough, all of this IPO traffic developed from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s filing window last week. A week ago, on Friday, April 19, 2019, the IPO Calendar for the week of April 29th had nothing on it.

For the record: From Monday, April 22, through Friday, April 26, nine companies filed to go public. They are looking to raise about $1.33 billion.

Another 10 companies amended their S-1 filings last week. They are expecting to raise $9.68 billion. And all 10 of those amended filings found their way onto the IPO Calendar – seven this week, two next week, and one the week after that.

The moral of the story: Don’t leave home without checking the SEC’s filing window.

Now let’s take a look at May’s IPO traffic over the past 18 years. From 2001 through 2018, the May IPO Calendar averaged 16 deals. May 2007 was the busiest with 35 IPOs, while May 2003 was the slowest with just two IPOs. May 2019 opened with 10 IPOs, including the unicorn Uber tucked away on the calendar for the week of May 6th.

Seven IPOs in Early May

This week, seven IPOs are on tap. They are bunched together to be priced Wednesday evening and Thursday evening. Here they are:

Wednesday evening to trade Thursday morning:

Beyond Meat (BYND proposed), based in El Segundo, California, produces what it calls “revolutionary plant-based meats.” The company says: “We build meat directly from plants, an innovation that enables consumers to experience the taste, texture and other sensory attributes of popular animal-based meat products while enjoying the nutritional benefits of eating our plant-based meat products.” 

So-Young International (SY proposed), based in Beijing, is an online destination for discovering, evaluating and reserving medical aesthetic services in China.

TransMedics Group (TMDX proposed), based in Andover, Massachusetts, developed a new technology called the Organ Care System (OCS) that improves the outcome of organ transplantation procedures.

Trevi Therapeutics (TRVI proposed), based in New Haven, Connecticut, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of nalbuphine ER to treat serious neurologically mediated conditions.

Thursday evening for Friday morning

Red River Bancshares (RRBI proposed), based in Alexandria, Louisiana, is a bank holding company operating 23 banking centers throughout the state and one loan production office in Covington, Louisiana.

SciPlay (SCPL –proposed), based in Las Vegas, is a developer and publisher of digital games on mobile and web platforms. The company says it creates its games around compelling user experiences, often using authentic land-based content from Scientific Games to anchor these experiences.

Yungi (YJ proposed), based in China, is a social e-commerce platform that has pioneered a membership-based model that leverages the power of social interaction.

(For more information on these companies, please check the company profiles on IPOScoop.com’s website.)

Next Week: Uber

The week of May 6, 2019, will be known for the Uber IPO. Come Monday morning, more names could roll onto next week’s IPO Calendar. Anything could happen when the SEC’s filing window opens again for business.

Stay tuned.

Disclosure: Neither the author nor anyone else on the IPOScoop.com staff has a position in any stocks mentioned, nor do we trade or invest in IPOs. The author and IPOScoop.com staff do not issue advice, recommendations or opinions.