Kenvue, the buyer arm of healthcare large Johnson & Johnson, was valued at $41bn in an upsized preliminary public providing that marked the most important US itemizing in virtually 18 months.
The carved-out firm bought $3.7bn of inventory at a worth of $22 per share — barely above the center of its worth vary, based on an individual accustomed to the main points. The inventory will start buying and selling on the New York Inventory Alternate on Thursday.
The deal is the most important for the reason that IPO of electrical car maker Rivian in November 2021, and alone will greater than double the sum raised in conventional US listings this yr.
Kenvue produces over-the-counter medicines and types similar to Tylenol painkillers, Listerine mouthwash and Aveeno skincare merchandise. It reported income of $15bn and professional forma internet revenue of $1.5bn in 2022.
It additionally produces J&J’s child powder merchandise, which have been on the centre of years of authorized battles over whether or not they triggered most cancers, and the brand new firm has already been focused in lawsuits. J&J couldn’t be instantly reached for touch upon the Kenvue providing.
J&J, which can proceed to personal greater than 90 per cent of Kenvue’s shares, has agreed to protect it from any authorized prices associated to gross sales of child powder within the US and Canada. Nonetheless, Kenvue cautioned in its prospectus that it “can not guarantee” buyers that the indemnity from its mother or father can be ample, and it is usually going through claims associated to gross sales in different nations.
The US IPO market has been mired in one among its longest slowdowns in many years since early 2022 because of a mixture of rising rates of interest, risky inventory markets and pessimistic financial forecasts. Earlier than Wednesday’s deal, simply $2.4bn had been raised by way of conventional IPOs this yr, based on Dealogic knowledge.
Kenvue is uncommon amongst IPO candidates in that it’s worthwhile, backed by a big mother or father group, and plans to pay a $1.5bn annual dividend. As such, most bankers don’t anticipate it to set off a right away surge in additional listings, however the deal is nonetheless being carefully watched throughout Wall Avenue as a take a look at of investor confidence.
“It’s fairly idiosyncratic, however . . . I feel it’s a great signal,” stated a senior govt at a financial institution that didn’t work on the deal.
Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and Financial institution of America had been lead underwriters on the itemizing.
Inflammatory illness specialist Acelyrin is ready to offer an extra take a look at for the beleaguered listings market within the coming days with the most important biotech IPO since June 2021. It’s seeking to increase as much as $477mn at a valuation of as much as $1.6bn.
The biotech sector has been notably onerous hit by the IPO freeze, as early-stage corporations depend on fairness gross sales to fund lengthy and costly drug developments.