A Look At The IPO Process
An initial public offering or IPO is the way a company introduces shares of its stock to the public for the first time. The goal is to offer up shares for an existing company or to raise funds for a new one. Whichever the reason, the IPO process is a standard practice that follows a certain path.
The first thing a company must do before issuing stock is file a registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC.) Since the SEC has the power of nullifying any attempt to go public, a companys statement must be thoroughly accurate. Data concerning the financial health of the company must be entirely truthful. Due diligence should be the order of the day. Putting a company out onto the IPO Market is serious business. Every step in the IPO Process must be done carefully.
Once the registration is completed (and sometimes beforehand) companies will seek one (or more than one) investment banker. An investment banker will serve two purposes. The first of these services is to distribute the companys prospectus to potential future stock holders. A prospectus is a legal document that outlines an overall biography of the company. A few things that are standard to include are a breakdown of the companys market, biographical information of company executives, financial statements and projections on stock price. This document is often referred to as a red herring. The reason for this nickname is that on its cover is a stamped notice in red ink from the SEC that no stock may be purchased before registration has been approved.
The second purpose of the investment bankers, or underwriters, is to buy the companys stock and then resell the shares to the public. Generally, a road show, takes place. Here the company executives and investment bankers promote the stock to possible investors by detailing company strategy.
Since a company is selling stock to an underwriter instead of directly in the marketplace, such as the New York Stock Exchange, they are mitigating their risk in the market. Further, they are able to receive their monies upfront and do not have to incur costs of promotion. The downside for the company is that it forfeits the chance of higher stock prices that could have been created by the market.
Selling to the underwriter cannot take place until registration has been approved by the SEC. Upon approval, and generally a day or so before the public offering is made, the investment banker and company executives will conclude how many shares to offer and the price per share. After all of this has taken place and the money and shares of stock are exchanged, the offering is complete.
Underwriters carefully look into a company before deciding to purchase securities. Before taking the risk, they want to feel confident that the value of the stock will be higher than what they paid for it. The potential exists for great profit but also for great loss.
Needless to say the IPO process, though fraught with risk for the investment banker, represents an exciting and hugely profitable opportunity. Just imagine if you were in a position to buy low the stock of the next high-tech giant.
We are a tax and advisory firm, as part of an international network under one name. We act with integrity and always strive to achieve professionalism. If you want to know how to IPO or the IPO How, we have the people with the expertise.
February 20, 2010 | Posted by Adriana Noton
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