Calico's clientele + commerce focus = a hot IPO

Calico Commerce, which makes e-commerce software for corporations, will offer 3.93 million shares this week with a price range of $12 to $14. Calico is tentatively scheduled to price Monday night for trading Tuesday.

So why does Calico (Proposed ticker: CLIC) have the wind at its back? For starters, it's one of those so-called infrastructure IPOs. If you haven't noticed most IPOs dealing with Internet infrastructure such as networks or e-commerce software have done well. Dot-coms are almost passe when it comes to IPO performance.

Calico's pedigree also isn't too shabby. Goldman Sachs is the lead underwriter with an assist from Hambrecht & Quist. Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers was Calico's venture capital firm and partner Bernard J. Lacroute is on Calico's board.

And then there's Calico's customer list. Calico counts Best Buy, Cabletron, Cisco Systems, Dell Computer, Gateway, Merrill Lynch and Nortel Networks among its main customers. Dell is also acquiring a stake in Calico at the IPO.

The company also has solid marketing arrangements with Silknet Software and Vignette. In addition, Calico is in talks with Andersen Consulting about a marketing alliance. Andersen Consulting is also interested in buying a stake in Calico at the IPO.

Those relationships make Calico among the most likely to make a big IPO splash, according to David Menlow of the IPO Financial Network, a research firm. "Calico has all the buzz phrases," said Menlow. "They have our highest ranking."

Calico's "eSales Suite" gives companies customised information and flags potential hiccups in the sales process. It also supports multiple sales channels. Dell uses Calico to configure enterprise sales and Nortel hooks up with customers with the software.

Menlow also likes Calico's revenue growth. For the year ending 31 March, the company reported sales of $21.4m and a loss of $15.2m. In 1998, Calico reported sales of $11.8m and a loss of $5.5m. For the quarter ending 30 June, the company had sales of $7.4m and a loss of $4.7m. Calico said its sales are evenly split between services and licensing.

But despite the pedigree and partnerships, Calico faces some risks. It could be lumped in as yet another e-commerce software provider and isn't profitable. Menlow, however, is confident Calico can differentiate itself from the pack. "You can't ignore the growth," said Menlow. "And the net (income) will come."