Category Archives: The IPO Buzz

It may have been a shortened trading week for Wall Street traders. It wasn’t for its bankers.

Tech IPOs broke out into party mode in the final week of June – with some of the sharpest opening-day gains seen this year. That trend of techs dancing topless on the beach was right in step with the way this IPO sector has performed throughout the first half of 2007.

Not only did the Blackstone Group (NYSE: BX) offering dominate last week’s IPO news, it more than lived up to expectations.

The reason Sterlite Industries (India) (NYSE: STL proposed) cannot be found on the IPO calendar is that it is a secondary offering.

The street sign at the corner of Broad and Wall says “one way,” but don’t believe it. Stocks went south last week while IPOs headed north, and one new issue soared to the top of this year’s IPO winner’s list.

Now June is upon us, you’ll start hearing people talk about “the summer doldrums” for the IPO market. Don’t believe it. Facts don’t support this myth.

Only a traditional holiday break was able to slow down today’s IPO Express. Bankers have just three deals on the Memorial Day holiday week’s new-issues calendar. But the IPO market’s recent fast pace looks likely to continue.

This week’s equities calendar is large — 25 deals. Sixteen are secondary offerings and nine are IPOs. But in this crowd, some appearances are deceiving.

Wall Street’s investment bankers plan on saddling up 16 deals for this week’s IPO Sweepstake. If all cross the finish line, it would be the largest week since mid-December 2004. Among this “sweet 16” bevy of ponies are a frontrunner and a dark horse, according to the IPO handicappers.