A hundred and sixty-four initial public offerings have been priced so far this year as of Sept 28th, 2007:

- 96 IPOs are currently trading above initial offering price;
- 66 are trading below the offering price;
- and 2 are trading at their offer price.

Two IPOs were priced during the week of September 24th, 2007. There are six deals on deck for the next week, hoping to raise nearly $1.5 billion.

IPO PERFORMANCE

The financial services company Duff & Phelps Corp (DUF: chart) on Thursday priced its initial public offering of 8.3 million Class A shares at $16 per share, below the expected range $16.50 to $18.50. The deal was worth about $133 million.

Shares of the company gained almost 15% on Friday, the first day of trading.

Goldman Sachs and UBS Securities were the underwriters on the deal.

The underwriters have an option to purchase 1.25 million additional shares to cover excess demand.

The New York-based Duff & Phelps provides financial advisory and investment banking services.

The shares ended the week at $18.35, up 14.7% from the offering price.

The aircraft leasing company Babcock & Brown Air Ltd (FLY: chart) raised nearly $430 million on Wednesday with an initial public offering of 18.7 million American depositary shares that were priced at $23 a piece, in the middle of the forecasted range. Each ADS represents one common share.

Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse Underwriters were the lead underwriters on the deal.

The underwriters have an option to purchase 2.8 million ADS to cover over-allotments.

Babcock & Brown Air, which is incorporated in Bermuda, but operates out of Dublin, is being spun off from Sydney-based advisory and investment firm Babcock & Brown, which will own about 30% of the company after the IPO.

The shares ended the week at $22.8, down 0.9% from the offering price.

IPO CALENDAR – week of October 1st

Biotech company BioHeart (BHRT: chart) plans to offer 3.6 million shares within a price range of $14 to $16 per share, in a bid to raise $57 million. BMO Capital Markets will be the lead underwriter on the deal.

China Digital TV Holding (STV: chart) plans to offer 12 million American depositary shares within a price range of $11 to $13 per share, in a bid to raise $180 million. Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse will be the lead underwriters on the deal.

Email marketing firm Constant Contact (CTCT: chart) plans to offer 6.7 million shares within a price range of $12 to $14 per share, in a bid to raise $108 million. CIBC and Thomas Weisel will be the lead managers on the deal.

Blank check company Liberty Acquisition Holdings (LIA: chart) plans to offer 75 million units at a price of $10 per unit, in a bid to raise $863 million. Citigroup will be the lead underwriter on the deal.

Inhalable drug developer MAP Pharmaceuticals (MAPP: chart) plans to offer 5 million shares within a price range of $14 to $16 per share, in a bid to raise $92 million. Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley will be the lead managers on the deal.

Irish specialty pharmaceutical company Merrion Pharmaceuticals (MERR: chart) plans to offers 4 million shares within a price range of $10 to $12 a share, I a bid to raise $55 million. Punk, Ziegel & Company will be the lead underwriter on the deal.