Ablynx’s ambitions

With this week's hefty NASDAQ financing, nanobody company Ablynx N.V. (Euronext:ABLX; NASDAQ:ABLX) not only broadened its U.S. investor base, but added high-quality shareholders that are pushing the company to be even more ambitious as it makes the leap to becoming a commercial play.

Ablynx jumped $5.01 (29%) to $22.51 on Wednesday, its first day of trading on NASDAQ, after raising $230 million in an upsized offering of 13.1 million ADSs at $17.50, including overallotment. The deal size increased twice: on Oct. 2 Ablynx proposed to raise $150 million, then increased the offering to $175 million on Oct. 17. ...