LipoScience shares rise on 1st day of trading

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of LipoScience are up on their first day of trading, but the initial public offering of the cholesterol diagnostic test maker priced well below expectations.

The Raleigh, N.C., company sold 5 million shares for $9 each. Earlier this month LipoScience said it expected its IPO to price at $13 to $15 per share. On Thursday it lowered that range to $9 to $10 per share.

The shares rose 7 percent to $9.63 in midday trading Friday while the broader markets edged higher.

LipoScience Inc. makes a diagnostic test for LDL or "bad" cholesterol that is designed to assess cardiovascular disease risk.

It expects to raise about $38.6 million from the IPO after discounts and expenses are deducted. It said it will use the proceeds of the offering to hire sales and marketing staff and cover increased marketing costs, fund components of its Vantera testing system and develop new tests for it, and pay dividends on preferred stock.

The underwriters of the offering will have the option to buy another 750,000 shares over the next month to cover any over allotments.

The stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market Friday under the ticker symbol "LPDX."