MetroPCS Files for $1.13 Billion IPO

MetroPCS Communications Inc., a Dallas-based wireless communications services provider, has filed for a $1.125 billion IPO. Bear Stearns is serving as lead underwriter. The company has raised around $415 million in venture capital funding since its 1994 inception. It also secured an additional $688 million in late 2005 from TA Associates and Madison Dearborn Partners, but that capital was used to fund a tender offer for shares from existing stockholders (TA and Madison also provided $50m in new capital, which is included in the $688m figure). Shareholders include TA (13.24% pre-IPO stake), Madison Dearborn (13.20%), Accel Partners (11.26%) and M/C Venture Partners (8.45%).

 

MetroPCS had priced an IPO at $17 per share back in 2003 but, before the company could begin trading on the Nasdaq exchange, certain accounting inconsistencies were discovered and the IPO was withdrawn. www.mteropcs.com< ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />