E-Commerce News: News: Stock Watch: eMerge Rustles Up Big IPO

Web 2.0 is Here– Is Your Web Infrastructure Ready?
Web 2.0 has paved the way for a new level of interaction between shoppers and retailers. However, without rapid delivery of your rich Web content, the benefits will go unrealized. Maximize the value of your interactive Web site. Read White Paper Now.

The idea of an initial public offering for an online cattle marketplace might seem like some sort of post-modern joke, but it really is not. In reality, it is a hot business-to-business play. On Friday, eMerge Interactive (Nasdaq: EMRG), which offers an online cattle marketplace with auction services, went public at $15 a share. Shares rocketed up 32-1/4 to close at 47-1/4, a gain of 215 percent.

Pre-IPO demand was high, with eMerge pricing eight million shares at $15, above the revised range of $12 to $14 and well above the original range of $10 to $12. One of the biggest winners on Friday was leading business-to-business Internet Capital Group, which has a big stake in eMerge. It looks like there is really nothing to laugh about here.