New York - Twenty-four venture-backed initial public offerings (IPOs) raised $5.3 billion during the fourth quarter of 2013, a slight decline from the third quarter of this year but a 91 percent increase, by dollars, compared to the previous quarter, according to the Exit Poll report by Thomson Reuters and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). This quarter also marked the third consecutive quarter to see 20 or more venture-backed IPOs since the fourth quarter of 2004. During full year 2013, 82 venture-backed companies went public in the United States, marking the strongest full year total for the number of new venture-backed listings since 2007. For the third quarter of 2013, 81 venture-backed M&A deals were reported, 31 of which had an aggregate deal value of $5.3 billion. This represents a nine percent increase in disclosed value from the third quarter of this year and marks the strongest quarter for M&A disclosed value since the third quarter of 2012. With 377 acquisitions of venture-backed companies during the year, full year 2013 ranks as the slowest year for venture-backed M&A since 2009.
"IPO activity for venture-backed companies continues to improve. The biotech sector is especially notable because it made up over half of the 2013 IPOs, which is more than the previous five years combined," said John Taylor, head of research for the National Venture Capital Association. "The on-ramp provision of the JOBS Act is likely a significant contributor to this shift and the venture industry overall remains hopeful that IPO and M&A levels will further strengthen as the bulging pipeline of mature companies awaits favorable market conditions."
IPO Activity Overview
There were 24 venture-backed IPOs valued at $5.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2013. By number of deals, quarterly volume decreased 11 percent from the third quarter of the year but registered a 91 percent increase, by dollars, compared to the previous quarter. Excluding the record $16.0 billion Facebook IPO, the fourth quarter of 2013 marks the strongest quarter for dollars raised by venture-backed companies since the second quarter of 2011.
Led by the internet specific sector, 10 of the 24 offerings during the quarter were information technology IPOs representing three-quarters of total proceeds raised in the fourth quarter. With six biotechnology offerings in the fourth quarter, this marks the third consecutive quarter for double-digit listings in the life sciences sector since the fourth quarter of 2000.
By location, 18 of the quarter's 24 IPOs were from U.S.-based companies. Criteo SA, a Paris, France-based internet marketing firm, raised $288.1 million on the NASDAQ stock exchange on October 29th, the largest non-US offering of the quarter.
In the largest IPO of the quarter, Twitter Inc (TWTR), a California-based social media platform, raised $2.1 billion and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on November 6th. The company is currently trading more than twice its $26 offering price.
Sixteen companies listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange during the quarter, seven companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and one listed Over-the-Counter. All of this quarter's six biotechnology IPOs listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange.
Twenty-two of the 24 companies brought to market this quarter are currently trading at or above their offering price. There are 52 venture-backed companies currently filed publicly for IPO with the SEC. This figure does not include confidential registrations filed under the JOBS Act, where many observers believe the majority of venture-backed companies now file.
Mergers and Acquisitions Overview
As of December 31st, 81 venture-backed M&A deals were reported for the fourth quarter of 2013, 31 of which had an aggregate deal value of $5.3 billion, the strongest quarter by disclosed deal value since the third quarter of 2012. The average disclosed deal value was $170.4 million, a five percent increase compared to the third quarter of 2013.
The information technology sector led the venture-backed M&A landscape with 66 of the 81 deals of the quarter and had a disclosed total dollar value of $4.2 billion. Within this sector, Computer Software and Services and Internet Specific deals accounted for the bulk of the targets with 27 and 25 transactions, respectively, across these sector subsets.
The largest venture-backed M&A transaction during the fourth quarter was Monsanto's $930 million purchase of Climate Corp, a San Francisco, California-based provider of weather risk technology services. eBay's $800 million acquisition of Chicago, Illinois-based Braintree Payment Solutions ranked as the second largest venture-backed M&A deal during the quarter.
Deals bringing in the top returns, those with disclosed values greater than four times the venture investment, accounted for 45 percent of the total disclosed transactions during the fourth quarter of 2013, on par with the third quarter of the year. Venture-backed M&A deals returning less than the amount invested accounted for 29 percent of the quarterly total.
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About National Venture Capital Association
Venture capitalists are committed to funding America's most innovative entrepreneurs, working closely with them to transform breakthrough ideas into emerging growth companies that drive U.S. job creation and economic growth. As the voice of the U.S. venture capital community, the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) empowers its members and the entrepreneurs they fund by advocating for policies that encourage innovation and reward long-term investment. As the venture community's preeminent trade association, NVCA serves as the definitive resource for venture capital data and unites its nearly 400 members through a full range of professional services. For more information about the NVCA, please visit www.nvca.org.