And the biggest IPO of the year is… Tylenol? This week, Johnson & Johnson's spun-off consumer arm, Kenvue, became the largest IPO in the US in nearly 18 months. Kenvue, which makes bathroom-cabinet staples like Listerine, Neutrogena, and Benadryl, was valued at $41B on Wednesday. Shares surged 20% yesterday after it started trading on the NYSE, suggesting there’s an appetite for the already profitable, dividend-paying biz (aka: not your typical IPO).
New name, same boss: Initially, J&J will own more than 90% of Kenvue shares, with plans to reduce its stake.
Old problems: J&J’s consumer biz has faced ~40K lawsuits alleging its talc products contained cancer-causing substances. Last month J&J offered $9B to settle.
Like swallowing Tylenol without water… The IPO market is dry. Kenvue's blockbuster listing stands out in an otherwise anemic environment, as rising rates and recession fears spook companies from entering US markets. So far this year, US-listed companies have raised only $4.1B (not including Kenvue). That's a far cry from the IPO-palooza of 2021, which saw companies raise $155B. Elsewhere, Asian listings have picked up recently.
Smaller can be stronger… J&J is just the latest biz to hop on the #simplify trend. Last year, cereal star Kellogg said it planned to break into three pure-play companies (Snap, Crackle, and Pop?) and GE announced a similar move in 2021. Splitting up massive conglomerates allows the newly formed businesses to focus on narrower priorities and streamline operations, with the goal of boosting profits.