share_log

GlobalFoundries and 2 More Stocks Make Their Trading Debuts Today. What to Know. -- Barrons.com

Dow Jones Newswires ·  Oct 28, 2021 11:51

Luisa Beltran

GlobalFoundries, a chip maker, is leading a trio of companies to the public markets Thursday. Solo Brands, known for its grills and fire pits, and clean energy storage firm Fluence Energy, are also opening for trading.

GlobalFoundries and Fluence will both open on the Nasdaq, while Solo will trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

This week, nearly a dozen companies were expected to go public. Three firms opened on Wednesday. Rent the Runway (ticker: RENT), the online fashion rental company, dropped 8% from its $23 initial public offering. Informatica (INFA), the data-management company backed by the private-equity firm Permira, closed flat at its $29 offer price. Arteris (AIP), a provider of chip technology, rose 17% after pricing its deal at $14 a share.

The IPO market has grown discerning, and not every growth company will gain in the aftermarket, investment bankers have said. Six firms were expected to go public Thursday, but only three are opening. Ensemble Health Partners, Candela Medical, and LianBio had also been scheduled to list Thursday. Ensemble Health, which supplies revenue cycle management software for health systems including hospitals, has postponed its offering due to adverse market conditions. Ensemble said it will continue to evaluate the timing for the proposed IPO, a statement said.

Candela, which makes devices for cosmetic surgery, has also postponed its listing, a person familiar with the situation said. LianBio didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

GlobalFoundries is one of the most anticipated IPOs of the fourth quarter. The company raised nearly $2.6 billion after selling 55 million shares at $47 each, the top of its $42 to $47 price range. It will trade under the ticker GFS.

GlobalFoundries makes integrated circuits that power electronic devices, like cars, mobile phones, and personal computers. The company was formed in 2009 when Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) spun off its manufacturing operations. At $47 a share, GlobalFoundries boasts a valuation of $25 billion.

Solo Brands, which makes nearly smokeless fire pits as well as grills, collected $219.3 million. Solo sold 12.9 million shares at $17 each, also the top of its $14 to $17 price range. It will trade under the ticker DTC.

Founded in 2011, Solo is a direct-to-consumer platform of outdoor lifestyle brands. The company is known for its Solo Stove Lite, a portable backpacking camp stove that can boil water in less than 10 minutes using just twigs, sticks, and leaves. Solo launched its nearly smokeless fire pits in 2016. The company also offers kayaks, paddle boards, and men's apparel. Summit Partners invested in Solo in 2020. The growth equity firm will own 46% of Solo after the IPO, a prospectus said.

Lastly, Fluence Energy raised more than expected; the company collected $868 million after selling 31 million shares at $28, higher than its $21 to $24 range. Its ticker is FLNC.

Established in January 2018 as a joint venture between Siemens and AES, Fluence Energy provides energy storage technology to utilities, developers, and commercial, and industrial customers. Siemens and AES will each own 45.8% after the IPO, the prospectus said.

Write to Luisa Beltran at luisa.beltran@dowjones.com

Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement of any specific investment or investment strategy. Read more
    Write a comment