The IPO of 62.9 million shares is expected to be priced between $20-$23 per unit, with the company having a valuation of about $8 billion at the high end of the range (all figures US$).

The animal health industry has become attractive for investors with revenue projected to expand at a five per cent rate until 2023, according to data firm Vetnosis.

“Farmers, ranchers and the animal business is not highly cyclical and so Elanco has a very high market share,” Jay Ritter, an IPO expert and professor at the University of Florida.

“The relatively high price earnings ratio that this sector has reflects the low volatility of their future income and cash flow,” Ritter, who owns stock in Zoetis and Lilly added.

“It is a relatively safe sector for investor.”

Zoetis Inc., the largest animal health company, has nearly tripled in value since Pfizer listed it about five years ago.

Zoetis’ IPO raised $2.2 billion and the company currently has a market capitalization of $43 billion.

BMO Market analyst said Elanco’s valuation range was significantly below the brokerage’s $12 billion to $13 billion expectation, but added that given Zoetis’ performance, it expects strong demand for the IPO.

Greenfield, Indiana-based Elanco, which offers more than 125 products to veterinarians and food animal producers in more than 90 countries, is the fourth-largest in the animal health industry globally.

It earned $9.9 million and brought in revenue of $1.5 billion for the six months ended June 30.

Lily said in July it would take Elanco public, marking the end of a nine-month review that weighed options for the unit. The drugmaker will hold about 82.3 per cent of Elanco after the IPO, the company’s regulatory filing showed.

— Reporting for Reuters by Ankur Banerjee in Bangalore.

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