Thriving When The Device IPO Window Closes
Executive Summary
The general economic malaise closed the IPO window for medical device companies, forcing many to withdraw their public financing plans. Companies are adopting various financing and operational strategies to make a best of a bad situation.
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The A-List: 2008's Trend Shaping Series A Financings
Despite a miserable economy, new company formation continues apace. In biotech, recapitalizations and structured deals featured prominently; in diagnostics, interest remains strong even if rounds in 2008 were down from last year's highs; in devices, small and regional VCs have filled the void left by brand-name investors.
Medical Device and In Vitro Diagnostics/Research Deal Statistics Quarterly, Q3 2008
Highlights from the Q3 2008 review of device and diagnostics dealmaking: Led by late-stage rounds, financing for medical device firms--at just over $1bn--showed a slight improvement over the last quarter. IPOs and follow-ons were noticeably absent in Q3, reminiscent of a time in 2003 when the IPO window closed. Not even one of the 13 device M&A transactions reached the billion-dollar mark, but the largest deal, GE Healthcare's buy of Vital Signs for $990mm, came close. In vitro diagnostics/research financings doubled to $643mm led by Illumina's $343mm FOPO. M&A activity in this industry was scant with a mere three transactions. However, Nanogen's reverse merger with Elitech Group--worth $99mm-beat the median M&A deal price ($60mm) over the past five years. Interestingly many in vitro diagnostics players turned to alliances with tech transfer entities in hopes of filling their pipelines.
Medical Device and In Vitro Diagnostics/Research Deal Statistics Quarterly, Q3 2008
Highlights from the Q3 2008 review of device and diagnostics dealmaking: Led by late-stage rounds, financing for medical device firms--at just over $1bn--showed a slight improvement over the last quarter. IPOs and follow-ons were noticeably absent in Q3, reminiscent of a time in 2003 when the IPO window closed. Not even one of the 13 device M&A transactions reached the billion-dollar mark, but the largest deal, GE Healthcare's buy of Vital Signs for $990mm, came close. In vitro diagnostics/research financings doubled to $643mm led by Illumina's $343mm FOPO. M&A activity in this industry was scant with a mere three transactions. However, Nanogen's reverse merger with Elitech Group--worth $99mm-beat the median M&A deal price ($60mm) over the past five years. Interestingly many in vitro diagnostics players turned to alliances with tech transfer entities in hopes of filling their pipelines.