FOIA Confidential Treatment Requested Pursuant to 17 C.F.R. §200.83
The entity requesting confidential treatment is:
Inogen, Inc.
326 Bollay Drive
Goleta, California 93117
Attn: Raymond Huggenberger
President & Chief Executive Officer
Telephone (805) 562-0500
CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THIS LETTER HAVE BEEN OMITTED FROM THE VERSION FILED VIA EDGAR. CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT HAS BEEN REQUESTED WITH RESPECT TO THE OMITTED PORTIONS. INFORMATION THAT WAS OMITTED IN THE EDGAR VERSION HAS BEEN NOTED IN THIS LETTER WITH A PLACEHOLDER IDENTIFIED BY THE MARK [CONFIDENTIAL ***]. |
January 13, 2014
VIA EDGAR AND OVERNIGHT DELIVERY
Amanda Ravitz
Assistant Director
United States Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporation Finance
100 F St NE
Mail Stop 3030
Washington, D.C. 20549
Re: | Inogen, Inc. |
Registration Statement on Form S-1 |
File No. 333-192605 |
Dear Ms. Ravitz:
On behalf of Inogen, Inc. (Inogen or the Company), we respectfully submit this supplemental letter in further response to Comment No. 23 from the staff (the Staff) of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) in its letter, dated November 12, 2013 (the Comment Letter) relating to the Confidential Draft Registration Statement on Form S-1 originally submitted by the Company to the Commission on October 16, 2013, as revised and publicly filed on November 27, 2013, and as amended on December 23, 2013 (as revised and as amended, the Registration Statement).
Because of the commercially sensitive nature of information contained herein, this submission is accompanied by the Companys request for confidential treatment of selected portions of this letter pursuant to Rule 83 of the Commissions Rules on Information and Requests, 17 C.F.R. § 200.83 and the Freedom of Information Act.
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED | |
January 13, 2014 | BY INOGEN, INC. | |
Page 2 | INGN-001 |
For ease of reference, we have set forth the Staffs comment in bold below, followed by the Companys response.
Common Stock Valuation, page 72
23. Please include a discussion of each significant factor contributing to the difference between the estimated fair value of your common stock as of the date of grant and the estimated IPO price (or pricing range). This discussion should describe significant intervening events within the company and changes in assumptions as well as weighting and selection of valuation methodologies employed that explain the changes in the underlying common stock fair value between these periods.
Determination of Estimate Preliminary IPO Price Range
The Company supplementally advises the Staff on a confidential basis that the Company currently estimates a preliminary IPO price range of $[***CONFIDENTIAL***] to $[***CONFIDENTIAL***] per share.
As is typical in an initial public offering (IPO), the anticipated price range was not derived using a formal determination of fair value of the Companys common stock, but was determined based in part on evolving discussions between the Company and J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC, the lead underwriter for the IPO, that took place on January 7, 2014. This indicative price range is based on a number of factors, including existing conditions in the public capital markets; the Companys prospects, and the history of and prospects for the Companys industry; and recent market prices of, and the demand for, publicly-traded common stock of generally comparable companies.
The Company expects to include the estimated preliminary IPO price range in an amendment to the Registration Statement that will precede the commencement of the Companys road show. This price range is subject to further revision based on market conditions, business developments and other factors.
Registration Statement Information
In connection with the Staffs review of the Companys option pricing decisions, the Company directs the Staff to the section captioned Stock-based compensation on page 66 of the Managements Discussion and Analysis section of the Registration Statement. This section includes a detailed explanation of the Companys approach to accounting for stock-based compensation, the methodology used by the Company to determine the fair value of its stock on dates when options were granted by the Board, and factors and approaches considered by the Company in determining fair value and factors that caused the fair value to increase over time.
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED | |
January 13, 2014 | BY INOGEN, INC. | |
Page 3 | INGN-001 |
Summary of Recent Equity Grants and Common Stock Valuations
As described on pages 71 of the Registration Statement, on October 11, 2013, the Company granted options to purchase common stock to certain employees and other service providers of the Company. At the time of these grants, the Board of Directors of the Company (the Board) determined that the fair value of the Companys common stock was $8.37 per share. The Board based its determination of the fair value of the Companys common stock on the factors described on page 68 and 69 of the Registration Statement including the valuation report of Timan, LLC, the Companys third-party independent valuation firm (the Valuation Report), which concluded that, as of September 30, 2013, the fair market value of the Companys common stock was $8.37 per share. As described in the Registration Statement on page 72, the Valuation Report applied a PWERM analysis that reflected a 60% probability that the Company would complete an IPO, a 20% probability of a sale of the Company, a 0% probability that the Company would continue as a going concern as a private company and a 20% probability of a liquidation of the Company. The Valuation Report further applied a risk-adjusted discount of 30%, a non-marketability discount of 12-16% to reflect the value of the common stock on a non-marketable, minority basis. At the time of the grants on October 11, 2013, the Board carefully considered all relevant information available to it, and determined that there were no material changes in the Companys business since September 30, 2013, or in the assumptions upon which the valuation was based, that affected the fair value of the Companys common stock on such dates.
The Company has not granted any additional options or other equity awards subsequent to October 11, 2013.
Explanation and Reconciliation of Difference Between the Fair Value of the Companys Common Stock in October 2013 and the Midpoint of the Estimated Preliminary IPO Range for a February IPO
The Company advises the Staff that the following disclosure will be included in the next pre-effective amendment to the Registration Statement in response to the Staffs comment to discuss each significant factor contributing to the difference between the estimated fair value of your common stock as of the date of grant and the estimated IPO price.
We note that, as is typical in initial public offerings, the estimated price range for this offering was not derived using a formal determination of fair value, but was determined by negotiation between us and the underwriters. Among the factors that were considered in setting this range were the following:
| an analysis of the typical valuation ranges seen in recent initial public offerings for companies in our industry; |
| the general condition of the securities markets and the recent market prices of, and the demand for, publicly traded common stock of generally comparable companies; |
| an assumption that there would be a receptive public trading market for a medical technology company such as ours; and |
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED | |
January 13, 2014 |
BY INOGEN, INC. | |
Page 4 |
INGN-001 |
| an assumption that there would be sufficient demand for our common stock to support an offering of the size contemplated by this prospectus. |
We believe that the difference between the fair value of our common stock as of October 11, 2013 and the assumed initial public offering price in this offering is the result of these factors and the following:
| The assumed initial public offering price assumes the completion of a successful initial public offering with no weighting placed on any other outcome for us such as an acquisition. As a result, the assumed initial public offering price effectively weights an initial public offering outcome at 100%. An initial public offering outcome can provide a potentially greater return for the holders of our common stock than a sale or a liquidation due to the elimination of the liquidation preferences of the preferred stock as a result of the conversion of preferred stock to common stock in connection with an initial public offering. |
| In contrast, at the time of the fair value determination in October 2013, we weighted the potential of an IPO outcome at 60%. Based on market conditions, market uncertainties, developments involving its competitors and other developments, we believed that a liquidation and a sale of us were equally likely outcomes at the time at 20%. |
| Similarly, because the assumed initial public offering price assumes that the IPO is completed and a public market for our common stock has developed, it excludes any marketability or minority discount for our common stock. The determination of fair value in October 2013 reflected the value of our common stock on a non-marketable, minority basis given the uncertainty of how the market would develop for an initial public offering in the subsequent months. |
| The assumed initial public offering price also assumes our receipt of the net proceeds from this offering, which proceeds would substantially strengthen our balance sheet and mitigate some of the financial risks associated with remaining a private company. |
| The NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (^NBI) and the Dow Jones U.S. Select Medical Equipment Total Return Index (^DJSMDQT) increased 18.68% and 11.08%, respectively, from October 11, 2013 to January 10, 2014 and the market for initial public offerings of common stock of similarly situated medical device companies has been favorable. |
| Our consideration of various objective and subjective factors in the previous fair value determination that are applicable to valuations based on private company valuation methodologies, and which were not taken into account in the analysis performed by the underwriters in considering the estimated preliminary price range for the Companys initial public offering. |
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED | |
January 13, 2014 |
BY INOGEN, INC. | |
Page 5 |
INGN-001 |
Conclusion
The estimated fair value of the Companys common stock has continued to increase in recognition of developments in the Companys business, changes in the market valuations of comparable public companies and the increased likelihood of completing an initial public offering. The Company believes that the fair values determined by the Board for the common stock applicable to each option grant are appropriate and demonstrate the Boards and the Companys diligent efforts to consider all relevant factors in determining fair value at the valuation date. The Company believes it has fully complied with all applicable rules and regulations for the determination of fair value, including the best practices outlined in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Audit and Accounting Practice Aid Series: Valuation of Privately Held Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation.
The Company and the underwriters are currently preparing to begin the road show for the offering on or about [***CONFIDENTIAL***] [***CONFIDENTIAL***]. To the extent it is feasible, we would appreciate the Staffs efforts to provide any further comments as soon as possible.
****
Please direct any questions or comments regarding the contents of this letter to me at (858) 350-2393 or Martin J. Waters at (858) 350-2308. Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely,
|
WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI |
Professional Corporation
|
/s/ Daniel R. Koeppen |
Daniel R. Koeppen |
Enclosures |
cc: | Alison Bauerlein, Inogen, Inc. |
Raymond Huggenberger, Inogen, Inc. |
Martin J. Waters, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C. |
B. Shayne Kennedy, Latham & Watkins LLP |
Timothy Clackett, BDO USA LLP |
Scott Hammon, Macias Gini & OConnell LLP |