There have been 44 initial public offerings (IPOs) listed on the US stock markets in 2024 thus far, many of which continue to trade at a premium to their initial offering price, demonstrating the strength and buoyancy of current public markets. Concurrent with the capital markets regaining momentum, 2024 to date has shown robust merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, with notable growth of close to 11% in life sciences M&A activity compared to 2023. These developments are in line with the macro trends of lower inflation, wage stabilization and the potential promise of lower interest rates later in the year and continued strong sectoral interest in life sciences opportunities. Whether you have been waiting for improved market conditions to realize liquidity or are seeing firmer indicators of robust market performance for the rest of the year, now is the time to dust off the “dual-track manual” and take stock of the best course to supercharge your exit and achieve your business growth and transformation goals.
A dual-track process involves preparing for an IPO while also running a private M&A process, often through an auction. While dual tracks are more complicated and resource intensive than single-track exits, they are a proven path to securing successful exits on favorable terms.