UL Options Inc., a number one supplier of safety-focused testing and certification providers, is making ready to go public, on the heels of the profitable market debut of Reddit and Astera Labs. Moreover its core choices centered on electrical and hearth hazards, the tech agency additionally gives software program merchandise and advisory providers.
The Northbrook-headquartered firm just lately filed papers with the Securities and Change Fee for an preliminary public providing, aiming to lift round $800 million. UL Options plans to supply 28 million shares of frequent inventory for an estimated worth of $26-$29 per share. It has been permitted to listing on the New York Inventory Change beneath the image ULS.
The bookrunners for the providing are led by BofA Securities, Citigroup, J.P. Morgan, Jefferies, Goldman Sachs, and UBS Funding Financial institution. The underwriters have the choice to buy as much as 4.2 million extra shares of the corporate’s class-A inventory from the promoting stockholder on the provide worth, much less underwriting reductions and commissions.
The Firm
Based in 1894 by William Henry Merrill, Jr. — initially as Underwriters Electrical Bureau — UL Options operates beneath the enterprise segments of Testing, Inspection & Certification, and Software program & Advisory. As of December 2023, the corporate supplied impartial third-party testing, inspection, and certification providers, and associated software program and advisory choices to greater than 80,000 prospects in over 110 international locations.
UL Options has invested a complete of about $1.3 billion in 54 acquisitions between 2010 and 2023. The corporate ended 2023 with a complete long-term debt of $904 million, consisting of $300 million in mixture principal quantity of its 6.5% senior notes due 2028 and a credit score facility.
Financials
For the yr ended December 2023, UL Options reported income of $2.68 billion, in comparison with $2.52 billion within the earlier yr. Industrial and Client revenues grew 10% and 4% respectively, whereas Software program & Advisory income moved up 3%. In the meantime, internet earnings decreased to $276 million from $309 in 2022, reflecting greater bills.
