BUZZ-Wellington-backed Beta Bionics valued at $944 mln in cracking Nasdaq debut

** Shares of insulin delivery device maker Beta Bionics BBNX.O jump as much as 41.2% in their Nasdaq debut

** Stock opens for trading at $22, valuing the Irvine, California-based company at $943.6 mln

** BBNX sold 12 mln shares, 60% more than initially offered, at the top end of its marketed range of $16 and $17 to raise $204 mln

** IPO was twice upsized and follows medical device maker CeriBell's CBLL.O strong debut last year, underscoring a gradual recovery in medtech listings

** BBNX's strong show comes in the aftermath of underwhelming debuts by major IPO candidates including LNG exporter Venture Global VG.N and pork producer Smithfield Foods SFD.O

** BofA Securities, Piper Sandler, Leerink Partners, Stifel and Lake Street were the underwriters for the offering

** Asset manager Wellington Management, an existing Beta shareholder, had agreed to purchase $17 million worth of the company's shares in a concurrent private placement at the IPO price