IPO Watch: Titan Machinery

www.titanmachinery.com
Nasdaq: TITN
Priced Dec. 5, 2007
$51.0 million proceeds
$99.2 million post-money valuation

It’s too late for the IPO; the deal was priced in December. That was back when IPOs could get priced. Given the paucity of offerings in the current market, it seems like a good time to look at what companies have been able to go public, and Titan Machinery has the honor of being the top IPO in terms of aftermarket performance in the last six months. The stock has more than doubled since the deal closed on Dec. 5 and now has a market capitalization of $258 million.

This high flier operates in a grounded industry. It’s a chain of farm-equipment dealerships headquartered in Fargo, N.D. Titan represents agricultural and construction machinery made by CNH Global (NYSE: CNH), sold under the Case and New Holland brands. Its 39 stores are in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. Hence, most investors could go through life without ever seeing one of Titan’s operations. The company’s customers, however, have come to see it as a reliable source for the parts and equipment they need to keep their own businesses operating.

Because demand for its lines is more or less fixed, Titan’s plan is to grow through acquisition. Most of its competitors are small, operating only one or two stores, and in some cases, the owners are interested in retiring and don’t have family members who want to take over. Since the IPO, Titan acquired Ceres Equipment, a Case-New Holland dealer in Roseau, Minn., that should add $11 million in revenue. Once a business is acquired, Titan can grow profits by standardizing processes, getting volume discounts on its inventory, and advertising more efficiently.

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