Thursday, June 19, 2014

100% rise for Varonis Systems IPO on first day

The initial public offering market remains hot, with Varonis Systems, a little known data software provider, showing up big on its first day of trading.

Varonis debuted at $22 a share, up from an anticipated offering price of $17 to $19. By day's end, it closed at $44, a 100% gain. Shares were up another 2% in after-hours trading.

Varonis, which offered 4.8 million shares, underscores the continued strength of the IPO market, which posted its best gains last year in over a decade, with stocks gaining more than 30% from their offering price.

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New York City-based Varonis' products include data security and analysis software that allows clients to map, analyze and manage data. Customers include Barclays Bank, Mattel, Polo Ralph Lauren, Philip Morris and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield

Based on Friday's gains, Varonis has a market value of about $1 billion. But the 10-year-old company had sales of less than $75 million in 2013, and it has posted rising losses in each of the past three fiscal years.

Varonis also warns investors that it may not be profitable in the future.

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"Because the market for our software is rapidly evolving and has not yet reached widespread adoption, it is difficult for us to predict our future results of operations,'' Varonis says in its IPO registration statement. "We expect our operating expenses to increase over the next several years."

A downturn in the financial services, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing sector -- key Varonis customers, could also hurt sales, Varonis says.

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