GoPro raises R4.5bn in Nasdaq IPO

GoPro Inc's founder and CEO Nick Woodman (C) celebrates GoPro Inc's IPO with family and staff at the Nasdaq Market Site in New York City, June 26, 2014. Wearable sports camera maker GoPro Inc's initial public offering was priced at $24 per share, an underwriter said, valuing the company at up to $2.96 billion. At Woodman's right is his wife Jill.

GoPro Inc's founder and CEO Nick Woodman (C) celebrates GoPro Inc's IPO with family and staff at the Nasdaq Market Site in New York City, June 26, 2014. Wearable sports camera maker GoPro Inc's initial public offering was priced at $24 per share, an underwriter said, valuing the company at up to $2.96 billion. At Woodman's right is his wife Jill.

Published Jun 26, 2014

Share

New York - GoPro, whose cameras let surfers, skiers and sky divers record their exploits, raised $427 million (R4.5 billion) in its initial public offering after pricing the shares at the top of the marketed range.

GoPro and existing shareholders sold 17.8 million shares for $24 each, according to a statement yesterday, after offering them for $21 to $24.

The stock will start trading today, listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market under GPRO.

The IPO marks a decade since chief executive Nicholas Woodman, 39, had the idea to record himself surfing.

GoPro, which sold 3.8 million cameras last year and whose users’ videos showcase everything from a pelican’s eye view to bungee- jumping off a bridge, plans eventually to make money from that content as well as its cameras and is creating a media platform to that end, according to its prospectus.

At the IPO price, GoPro has a market valuation of $2.95 billion, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

The San Mateo, California-based company plans to use the proceeds from the IPO to repay debt -- some of which is owed to lead bookrunners JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and Barlcays.

GoPro also may use the funds to acquire complementary businesses or assets.

Selling shareholders include Riverwood Capital, Foxconn Technology and Sageview Capital Partners, the prospectus shows.

Woodman and employee Neil Dana also planned to sell stock.

 

Content Channels

 

The company’s waterproof cameras are sold online and in specialty shops and larger retailers for $199.99 to $399.99, based on image quality and accessory bundles.

GoPro’s profit margin narrowed to 37 percent last year from 43 percent in 2012, as research and development costs doubled, regulatory filings show. Revenue jumped 87 percent in 2013.

GoPro distributes user-generated content through Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

On Google’s YouTube alone, there have been more than 500 million views of GoPro videos.

While the company hasn’t yet derived revenue from media, it expects to start collecting fees this quarter from advertising through its partnerships with Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox Live and channels on YouTube and Virgin America Inc. - Bloomberg News

Related Topics: