Ebb & Flow

The venture crowd did more than their fair share of the financing work last week, with eight private equity deals accounting for $100.4 million (63%) of the $159.4 million raised. Only two public deals completed on the week: a $58 million follow-on by research tool provider Charles River(CRL) and a £735,000 ($1 million) IPO on London's AIM by Alltracel (LSE:AP.), which is developing polysaccharides for cancer therapeutics, cholesterol treatments and drug delivery.

CRL sold 2 million shares at $29, a 9% haircut from the company's $31.90 price prior to filing. Selling shareholders sold an additional 6 million shares in the deal, and are offering the entire 1.2 million-share shoe. Underwriters were CS First Boston; and Lehman...