NEW YORK – Twenty-seven venture-backed initial public offerings (IPOs) raised $4.4 billion during the fourth quarter of 2014, an 18 percent increase, by number of offerings, from the third quarter of this year and a 68 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 seventh consecutive quarter to see 20 or more venture-backed IPOs, levels not seen since the fourth quarter of 2000.  During full year 2014, 115 venture-backed companies went public in the United States.  For the fourth quarter of 2014, 95 venture-backed M&A deals were reported, 29 of which had an aggregate deal value of $26.4 billion.  Bolstered by Facebook’s $19.5 billion purchase of Whatsapp Inc, the fourth quarter of 2014 marks the second strongest quarter for venture-backed M&A, by disclosed value, since records began in 1994.  With 455 acquisitions of venture-backed companies during the year, full year 2014 ranks as the strongest year for venture-backed M&A deals since 2012.

"2014 was an exceptionally strong year for the public markets, creating favorable conditions for venture-backed companies to make that long-awaited IPO.  With the technology sector grabbing all the headlines, it’s worth noting that for the second year in a row biotechnology companies accounted for more than half of all venture-backed IPOs," said Bobby Franklin, President & CEO of NVCA. "With the economy continuing to gain steam and the appetite for high-growth companies on the cutting edge of innovation at a high, we hope that the public markets continue to provide opportunities for the next batch of companies coming up through the venture pipeline."     

IPO Activity Overview

There were 27 venture-backed IPOs valued at $4.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014.  By number of deals, quarterly volume increased 17 percent from the third quarter of the year and registered a 68 percent increase, by dollars, compared to the previous quarter.  Venture-backed listings raised $15.3 billion during full year 2014, a 38 percent increase compared to full year 2013 and strongest annual period, by dollars, since 2012.

Led by the biotechnology sector, 16 of the 27 offerings during the quarter were life sciences IPOs representing 59 percent of total listings in the fourth quarter. With 59 biotechnology offerings during full year 2014, this marks the strongest annual period for US-listed venture-backed offerings in the sector since records began in 1994.

By location, 23 of the quarter's 27 IPOs were from U.S.-based companies.  Two offerings came from China-based companies during the fourth quarter including Beijing Momo Technology Co (MOMO) which raised $216.0 million on the NASDAQ stock exchange on December 10th, the largest non-US offering of the quarter.  

In the largest IPO of the quarter, LendingClub Corp (LC), a San Francisco, California-based online marketplace connecting borrowers and investors, raised $1.0 billion and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on December 10th.  The company is currently trading 58 percent above its $15 offering price.  

Eighteen companies listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange during the quarter, nine companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange.  Just over three-quarters of the 115 venture-backed IPOs during full year 2014 listed on NASDAQ, the highest percentage since full year 2007.
Twenty of the 27 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, 95 venture-backed M&A deals were reported for the fourth quarter of 2014, 29 of which had an aggregate deal value of $26.4 billion, the strongest quarter by disclosed deal value since the second quarter of 2000.  Excluding Facebook’s record-breaking $19.5 billion acquisition of Whatsapp Inc, full year 2014 disclosed M&A deal size totaled $26.5 billion, a 57 percent increase compared to full year 2013 and the strongest annual period for US venture-backed M&A exits since 2007.

The information technology sector led the venture-backed M&A landscape with 80 of the 95 deals of the quarter and had a disclosed total dollar value of $23.7 billion. Within this sector, Computer Software and Services and Internet Specific deals accounted for the bulk of the targets with 45 and 24 transactions, respectively, across these sector subsets.  

The largest venture-backed M&A transaction during the fourth quarter was Facebook's $19.5 billion purchase of Whatsapp Inc which, combined with its $1.9 billion acquisition of Oculus VR Inc in July, marked the company’s second multi-billion dollar deal completed this year.  Johnson & Johnson’s $1.8 billion acquisition of South San Francisco, California-based Alios BioPharma 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 62 percent of the total disclosed transactions during the fourth quarter of 2014, significantly higher than the 47 percent seen during the third quarter of the year. Venture-backed M&A deals returning less than the amount invested accounted for 19 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.   

CONTACT

Ben Veghte
NVCA
Tel: +1 202 864 5923
Email: bveghte@nvca.org  

Lauren Herman
Thomson Reuters
Tel: +1 646 223 5985
Email: lauren.herman@thomsonreuters.com