Rapid Micro Biosystems, a US-based microbial detection system provider which counts chemicals producer Asahi Kasei and pharmaceutical group Shenzhen Hepalink as investors, has filed to raise $100m in an initial public offering.
Founded in 2006, Rapid Micro has developed a device called Growth Direct used for the automated detection of microbial contamination in the manufacturing process of pharmaceutical products, medical devices and personal care products. It has raised over $340m of funding to date.
In March 2021, the company secured $81m in a funding round led by D1 Capital Partners that included Adage Capital Management, Sunley House Capital Management, CaaS Capital Management, funds and accounts managed by BlackRock and funds and accounts advised by T Rowe Price Associates.
Asahi Kasei’s medical products subsidiary, Asahi Kasei Medical, took part in a $120m round for the company in May 2020 that was led by Ally Bridge Group. That round also included Bain Capital’s Life Sciences unit, Endeavour Vision, Longitude Capital and Xeraya Capital.
Rapid Micro had received $60m in an August 2019 round co-led by Bain Capital Life Sciences and Xeraya Capital that also featured Asahi Kasei Medical, Longitude Capital, Quaker Partners, TVM Capital and Richard K. Mellon and Sons.
The compant raised $25m in a series C round backed by Shenzhen Hepalink subsidiary Hepalink USA, as well as Richard K Mellon and Sons, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB), TPG Biotech, Longitude Capital, Quaker Partners and TVM Capital in 2015.
The last five had also provided $32.6m of series B funding for Rapid Micro in 2013, after KPCB, TVM Capital and Quaker Partners joined Vimac Milestone Medica Fund in an $18.6m series A round in 2009.
Bain Capital Life Sciences owns the largest Rapid Micro stake at 26%, while its other notable shareholders include Ally Bridge Group (21.5%) Longitude Capital (12.4%), Xeraya Capital (9.3%) and Endeavour Vision (6.4%).
The IPO is set to take place on the Nasdaq Global Market, with JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Cowen and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company serving as underwriters.