The Nasdaq Composite Index recent recovery is definitely stirring the activity of the IPO market. The Nasdaq closed at 2,152.82 on Thursday, July 14, recording a new 2005 high, which is 13.1% above its 2005 low marked on April 28.

The American Depositary Shares of the Shanghai-based company Focus Media Holdings (FMCN: chart) gained about 12% in their stock market debut on Wednesday. The company's shares began trading at $19 a share - $2 over the initial $17 per share price. Focus Media raised $172 million by offering 10.1 million ADSs. Goldman Sachs and CS First Boston acted as the lead underwriters on the deal. 3.1 million ADSs were sold by the shareholders.

Focus Media priced at $17, ahead of its $14 - $16 proposed range. The company's shares closed at $19.59 on Friday, up 15.2% from the offer price.

A drybulk shipper Quintana Maritime (QMAR: chart), an owner of eight Panamax vessels, priced 16.7 million shares at $11.50 per share on Thursday, below its proposed price range of $12 - $13, which was reduced from $14 -$16 earlier that day. Citigroup and Morgan Stanley acted as the lead managers on the deal. They have the option to buy up to 2.5 million additional shares to cover over-allotments, according to the regulatory filing.

The company's shares closed at $11.26 on Friday, down 2.09% from the IPO price.

CryoCor (CRYO: chart), a manufacturer of disposable catheter system, priced 3.7 million shares at $11.00 per share on Wednesday evening. The price was at the bottom of the initially proposed $11 - $13 price range. The company sold about 710 thousand shares above the planned 3 million. The deal was lead by WR Hambrecht. All of the shares were sold by the company, but it has granted to the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 556 thousand shares to cover over-allotments. First Albany Capital and Roth Capital Partners were co-managers of the deal.

Last month CryoCor raised the planned size of its shares to 3 million from 2.85 million. It also narrowed the range of the price per share to $11 - $13 from a previous range of $10 - $14.

The company's shares dropped 9.09% to close at $10.00 Friday.

Specialty finance company JER Investors Trust (JRT: chart) priced its offering of 12.2 million shares at $17.75 on Thursday, near the top of its proposed $16.50 - $18.50 price range at filing. Friedman Billings and Banc of America were the lead underwriters on the deal. 12.2 million shares were issued by the company, while 222.4 thousand were sold by shareholders. The company expects gross proceeds of $213 million as a result of the offering. The company has granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 1.8 million shares to cover over-allotments.

The company's shares closed at $18.35 on Friday, up 3.4% from the offer price.

IPOs scheduled to price the week July 18th, 2005:

There are 6 IPOs planning to go public the week of July 18, hoping to raise $988 million. Two of them seem to be attracting the most attention: Adams Respiratory Therapeutics and Hittite Microwave. Two brand-name companies are also joining this week’s IPO calendar: Diamond Foods and Maidenform Brands.

Adams Respiratory Therapeutics (ARXT: chart), a maker of drugs for the treatment of respiratory disorders, said on Wednesday that it will be offering 7.08 million shares within a price range of $14 - $16 to raise $106.2 million. Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley will act as the lead managers on the deal. The company will be offering 5.33 million shares and selling shareholders will be offering 1.75 million shares. The IPO is scheduled to start trading on Thursday, July 21.

Adams Respiratory reported net sales of $61.3 million for the year ending June 30, 2004, up versus $35.8 million the prior year.

Hittite Microwave (HITT: chart), a high speed data transmission designer, said on Thursday that it will be offering 4.5 million shares within a price range of $14 - $16 to raise $67.5 million. The company will offer 2.7 million shares and selling shareholders will offer 1.8 million shares. Lehman Brothers will act as the lead underwriter on the deal. The IPO is scheduled to price on Friday, July 22.

Hittite Microwave posted revenues of $61.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, up versus $42 million the previous year. The company also reported net income of $13.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, up versus net income of $7.2 million the previous year.

Diamond Foods (DMND: chart), a California-based nut distributor, said that it will be offering 5.3 million shares within the price range of $14 - $16 to raise $80 million. Merrill Lynch, Piper Jaffray and Harris Nesbitt will act as the lead managers on the deal. The IPO is to start trading on Friday, July 22.

Maidenform Brands (MFB: chart), a Bayonne, New Jersey-based intimate apparel company, said it will be offering 10 million shares within a price range of $14 - $16 to raise $150 million. UBS Investment Bank, CS First Boston and Goldman Sachs will act as the lead underwriters on the deal. The company will offer 3.375 million shares and selling shareholders will offer 6.625 million shares. The IPO is to start trading on Friday, July 22.

Insiders will be selling about two-thirds of the common stock being offered to investors.

Accentia Biopharmaceuticals (ABPI: chart), a Florida, Tampa – based drug-maker, said it will be offering 6.25 million shares within a price range of $11 - $13 per share in a bid to raise $386. Insiders will be selling 1.0 million shares. Jefferies is the lead underwriter on the deal.

Consolidated Communications (CNSL: chart), a provider of communication services in Illinois and Texas, said on Friday that it will be offering 16.0 million shares within a price range of $14 - $16. Insiders will be selling 7.0 million shares. CS First Boston and Citigroup will be the lead underwriters on the deal.

Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd. (GSTL: chart), a dry bulk shipper with a fleet of 16 vessels, said on Wednesday that it will be offering 11.5 million shares within a price range of $24 - $27 with an initial market capitalization of $612 million. Jefferies and Morgan Stanley will act as the lead underwriters on the deal.