The three most important IPOs of 2013

The year 2013 was a significant and robust year for Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), particularly in the United States, marking a period of resurgence and vitality in the IPO market following the financial downturn experienced in the late 2000s. This resurgence was driven by a recovering economy, improved investor confidence, and a strong appetite for new public listings, especially from technology and biotechnology sectors, which saw some of the most notable IPOs of the year. Disagree with our list? Here is a more comprehensive listing of 2013 IPOs. 

A number of factors contributed to the favorable IPO climate in 2013, including a stable stock market environment, low-interest rates, and increasing growth prospects for companies in emerging technologies and biotech innovations. The year witnessed several high-profile IPOs, including Twitter, which garnered significant media attention and investor interest due to its prominent role in social media and digital communication.

Biotechnology firms also made a strong showing, with companies like Acceleron Pharma and bluebird bio going public, reflecting the growing investor interest in cutting-edge medical research and development. These biotech IPOs highlighted the sector’s potential for groundbreaking therapies and treatments, attracting significant investments.

The real estate and consumer sectors also saw notable IPOs, with companies like Hilton Worldwide Holdings and SeaWorld Entertainment making their public debuts, indicating a broader range of investor interest across different industries.

Overall, 2013 stands out as a year of renewed enthusiasm for IPOs, setting the stage for continued growth and dynamism in the public markets in subsequent years. The success of IPOs in 2013 also demonstrated the market’s capacity for recovery and growth, offering promising opportunities for companies seeking to expand and for investors looking for new ventures.

Twitter IPO

Twitter is a global social media platform that revolutionized the way individuals, businesses, and public figures communicate and share information. Founded in 2006 by Jack Dorsey, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams, Twitter allows users to post short messages known as “tweets” to share news, thoughts, and updates in real-time. Tweets were originally limited to 140 characters, though this limit was later doubled to 280 characters for most languages, allowing for more detailed expressions.

Operating on a model of followers, Twitter enables users to follow other accounts to receive their updates, fostering a dynamic and interactive environment where trends, hashtags, and viral content can spread rapidly. The platform has become a vital tool for real-time news dissemination, social movements, entertainment, and customer service, with users ranging from everyday individuals to global leaders and celebrities.

Over the years, Twitter has introduced various features to enhance user experience, including threaded tweets for easier conversation follow-ups, the ability to share images and videos, and advanced search functionalities. It also offers advertising solutions for businesses looking to reach a broader audience.

Twitter’s impact on media, politics, and social discourse is profound, often serving as the primary source for breaking news and as a powerful platform for social change. Its open and public nature has contributed to its role in significant global events, debates, and movements, highlighting its influence in shaping public opinion and communication in the digital age.
Twitter’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) took place on November 7, 2013, marking a significant milestone for the social media company. The IPO was highly anticipated by the market due to Twitter’s growing influence in social media and its role in global communication. On the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Twitter began trading under the ticker symbol “TWTR.”

The IPO was priced at $26 per share, but the opening trading price soared to $45.10, indicating strong investor demand and optimism about the company’s future prospects. This initial surge valued the company at around $31 billion. The public offering was seen as a success, reflecting the market’s confidence in Twitter’s potential to grow its user base, enhance engagement, and monetize its platform through advertising and other revenue streams.

The Twitter IPO was one of the most closely watched public debuts of the year, attracting attention from both the tech community and the general public. It came after Facebook’s IPO in 2012, and comparisons were drawn between the two social media giants’ approaches to going public and their post-IPO performances. Twitter’s transition from a private to a public company was a pivotal moment in its history, setting the stage for its next phase of growth and innovation in the social media landscape.

Norwegian Cruise Line IPO

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. is a premier global cruise company that offers travelers some of the most contemporary and innovative cruising experiences available. Founded in 1966, the company is headquartered in Miami, Florida, and operates three brands: Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. These brands cater to a diverse range of travelers and preferences, from casual freestyle cruising with Norwegian Cruise Line, which revolutionized the industry by offering guests a flexible, resort-style experience, to the luxurious and refined voyages offered by Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, which focus on delivering an upscale, all-inclusive cruise experience.
The Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. IPO took place in January 2013, marking a significant event for the company and the cruise industry. The company, known for its innovative freestyle cruising concept, offered shares to the public in an effort to raise capital to fund its expansion and modernization plans. Norwegian Cruise Line, based in Miami, Florida, is one of the major cruise operators globally, with a fleet that sails to various destinations around the world, including the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia.

During its IPO, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings priced its shares and managed to raise significant funds, reflecting investor confidence in the company’s growth prospects and the broader cruise market’s potential. The move was seen as a strategic step to strengthen its financial position, enhance its fleet, and improve its competitive stance in the cruise industry. Following the IPO, the company continued to expand its operations, introduce new ships, and innovate its offerings to enhance guest experiences, contributing to its growth and success in the cruise industry.

Acceleron Pharma IPO

Acceleron Pharma Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of therapeutics aimed at treating serious and rare diseases. Founded in 2003 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Acceleron has concentrated its research on the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily of proteins, which play critical roles in the regulation of cellular growth, repair, and health across multiple bodily systems.

The company has been particularly active in areas such as hematology, where it has sought to address unmet medical needs in diseases like beta-thalassemia and myelodysplastic syndromes. Acceleron’s pipeline has included candidates targeting pulmonary diseases, among other conditions. One of the most notable achievements in its portfolio was the development of luspatercept-aamt (REBLOZYL®), a first-in-class erythroid maturation agent co-developed with Bristol Myers Squibb, which received FDA approval for treating certain types of anemia in adults with beta-thalassemia or myelodysplastic syndromes.

Acceleron’s approach has often involved targeting the TGF-beta pathway to regulate cellular processes that could lead to therapeutic benefits in conditions with limited treatment options. The company’s dedication to advancing science and delivering new treatments has positioned it as a notable entity in the biotech industry, contributing to advancements in care for patients with rare and serious diseases.

Acceleron Pharma Inc. conducted its Initial Public Offering (IPO) on September 19, 2013. The company, trading under the ticker symbol “XLRN” on the NASDAQ, priced its IPO at $15 per share, aiming to raise funds to support its research and development efforts, particularly in the field of protein therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and rare diseases. At the time of its IPO, Acceleron was notable for its focus on the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily of proteins, which are involved in the regulation of various cellular processes.

The IPO was a significant step for Acceleron, enabling it to secure the capital necessary to advance its clinical programs and continue its research into novel therapeutics. The funds raised were earmarked for further development of its lead compounds, expansion of its clinical trials, and general corporate purposes. Acceleron’s successful entry into the public market underscored investor confidence in its scientific approach and the potential of its therapeutic pipeline to address unmet medical needs in oncology and rare diseases.