(RTTNews) - A handful of companies, including specialty retailer Vitamin Shoppe, energy company AEI and social and medical services provider Addus HomeCare are expected to go public in the days ahead. The initial public offering of Dollar General and rue21 are also anticipated in the coming weeks. Vitamin Shoppe, Dollar General, and rue21 offerings are expected to drive off the IPO drain in retail sector. After Dole Food Co. (DOLE) and AGA Medical Holdings Inc. (AGAM), which went public recently, did not make any waves in their debuts last week, eyes are on the upcoming IPOs and their impact on the market.

New Jersey-based Vitamin Shoppe Inc., which filed its S-1 form with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in July, recently revealed that it expects its initial public offering price per share to be between $14.00 and $16.00. Vitamin Shoppe, a specialty retailer and direct marketer of vitamins, minerals, herbs, supplements, sports nutrition and other health and wellness products, said its common stock has been approved for listing on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "VSI". As of September 25, 2009. Vitamin Shoppe operated 434 stores in 37 states and the District of Columbia, located in high-traffic regional retail centers.

Vitamin Shoppe was acquired in November 2002 by Irving Place Capital Partners II, L.P., formerly Bear Stearns Merchant Banking Partners II, L.P. and its affiliates and other investors. VS Holdings, Inc., the issuer of the common stock offered, owns all of the common stock of Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. VS Holdings, Inc. has no operations of its own. All of company's operating assets are held by Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. and its direct wholly owned subsidiary, VS Direct Inc.

AEI, which is expected to go public in the days ahead, is offering 16.66 million ordinary shares, and the selling shareholders are offering 33.33 million ordinary shares. The company estimates the pricing of its initial public offering to be between $14.00 and $16.00 per share. AEI's ordinary shares have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance, under the symbol "AEI."

Ashmore Funds is the main shareholder of AEI, which owns and operates essential energy infrastructure assets in emerging markets. Buckland Investment Pte Ltd. also holds a significant stake in AEI.

Addus HomeCare Corp., which filed its initial prospectus with the regulatory about its initial public offering in July, disclosed in a recent filing that it expects to price the offering of 5 million common shares between $11.00 and $13.00 per share.

Addus HomeCare's common stock has been approved for listing on The Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "ADUS." Eos Funds is the majority shareholder of Addus HomeCare, a provider of a broad range of social and medical services.

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