GLOSSARY  STOCK MARKET

IPOs, Their Pros, Cons, and the IPO Process

Four Ways an IPO Can Hurt or Help Your Business

An IPO is short for an initial public offering. It is when a company initially offers shares of stocks to the
public. It's also called "going public." An IPO is the first time the owners of the company give up part of
their ownership to stockholders. Before that, the company is privately-owned.

Four Advantages 

The IPO is an exciting time for a company. It means it has become successful enough to require a lot
more capital to continue to grow. It's often the only way for the company to get enough cash to fund a
massive expansion. The funds allow the company to invest in new capital equipment and infrastructure. It
may also pay off debt.

Stock shares are useful for mergers and acquisitions. If the company wants to acquire another business, it
can offer shares as a form of payment.

The IPO also allows the company to attract top talent because it can offer stock options. They will enable
the company to pay its executives fairly low wages up front. In return, they have the promise that they can
cash out later with the IPO.

For the owners, it's finally time to cash in on all their hard work. These are either private equity investors
or senior management. They usually award themselves a significant percentage of the initial shares of
stock. They stand to make millions the day the company goes public. Many also enjoy the prestige of
being listed on the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ.

For investors, it's called getting in on "the ground floor." That's because IPO shares can skyrocket in value
when they are first made available on the stock market.
Four Disadvantages

The IPO process requires a lot of work. It can distract the company leaders from their business. That can
hurt profits. They also must hire an investment bank, such as Goldman Sachs or Morgan Stanley. These
investment firms are tasked with guiding the company as it goes through the complexities of the IPO
process. Not surprisingly, these firms charge a hefty fee.

Second, the business owners may not be able to take many shares for themselves. In some cases, the
original investors might require them to put all the money back into the company. Even if they take their
shares, they may not be able to sell them for years. That's because they could hurt the stock price if they
start selling large blocks and investors would see it as a lack of confidence in the business.

Third, business owners could lose ownership control of the business because the Board of Directors has
the power to fire them.

Fourth, a public company faces intense scrutiny from regulators including the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Its managers must also adhere to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. A lot of details about the
company's business and its owners become public. That could give valuable information to competitors. 

What IPOs Mean to the Economy

The number of IPOs being issued is usually a sign of the stock market's and economy's health. During
a recession, IPOs drop because they aren't worth the hassle when share prices are depressed. When the
number of IPOs increase, it can mean the economy is getting back on its feet again.

The IPO Process

According to the Corporate Finance Institute.1 there are five steps in the IPO process. First, the owners
must select a lead investment bank. This beauty contest occurs six months before the IPO, according to
CNBC.2 Applicant banks submit bids that detail how much the IPO will raise and the bank's fees. The
company selects the bank based on its reputation, the quality of its research, and its expertise in the
company's industry.
The company wants a bank that will sell the shares to as many banks, institutional investors, or
individuals as possible. It's the bank's responsibility to put together the buyers. It selects a group of banks
and investors to spread around the IPO's funding. The group also diversifies the risk.

Banks charge a fee between 3% to 7% of the IPO's total sales price.

The process of an investment bank handling an IPO is called underwriting. Once selected, the company
and its investment bank write the underwriting agreement. It details the amount of money to be raised, the
type of securities to be issued, and all fees. Underwriters ensure3 that the company successfully issues the
IPO and that the shares get sold at a certain price.

The second step is the due diligence and regulatory filings. It occurs three months before the IPO. This is
prepared by the IPO team. It consists of the lead investment banker, lawyers, accountants, investor
relations specialists, public relations professionals, and SEC experts.

The team assembles the financial information required. That includes identifying, then selling or writing
off, unprofitable assets. The team must find areas where the company can improve cash flow. Some
companies also look for new management and a new board of directors to run the newly public company. 

The investment bank files the S-1 registration statement with the SEC. This statement has detailed
information about the offering and company info. According to CNBC,4 the statement includes financial
statements, management background, and any legal problems. It also specifies where the money is to be
used, and who owns any stock before the company goes public. It discusses the firm's business model, its
competition, and its risks. It also describes how the company is governed and executive compensation.

The SEC will investigate the company. It makes sure all the information submitted is correct and that all
relevant financial data has been disclosed.

The third step is pricing. It depends on the value of the company. It also is affected by the success of the
road shows and the condition of the market and economy.

After the SEC approves the offering, it will work with the company to set a date for the IPO. The
underwriter must put together a prospectus that includes all financial information on the company. It
circulates it to prospective buyers during the roadshow. The prospectus includes a three-year history of
financial statements. Investors submit bids indicating how many shares they would like to buy.

After that, the company writes transition contracts for vendors. It must also complete financial
statements for submission to auditors.

Three months before the IPO, the board meets and reviews the audit. The company joins the stock
exchange that lists its IPO.

In the final month, the company files its prospectus with the SEC. It also issues a press
release announcing the availability of shares to the public.

The day before the IPO, bidding investors find out how many shares they were able to buy.

On the day of the IPO, the CEO and senior managers assemble at either the New York Stock Exchange or
NASDAQ for the first day of trading. They often ring the bell to open the exchange.

The fourth step is stabilization. It occurs immediately after the IPO. The underwriter creates a market for
the stock after it's issued. It makes sure there are enough buyers to keep the stock price at a reasonable
level. It only lasts for 25 days during the "quiet period."

The fifth step is the transition to market competition. It starts 25 days after the IPO, once the quiet period
ends. The underwriters provide estimates about the company's earnings. That assists investors as they
transition to relying on public information about the company.

Six months after the IPO, inside investors are free to sell their shares.

The Bottom Line

A private corporation becomes a public company through an IPO. It sells shares of ownership or stocks to
the public market. Going public allows the company to gain any of four advantages:

 An expansion through a huge capital boost.

 Capacity to acquire or merge with another company.
 Facility to competitively attract talented management.
  Enormous increase of investment value for the original private investors.

But an IPO also poses disadvantages:

 Process incurs huge costs.

 Original owners may not be able to sell their shares of stock immediately, as
doing so could reduce the stock price.
 Control of the business goes to the Board of Directors. This may or may not
be comprised of the original corporate owners.
 Company is now under constant scrutiny by the SEC.

The IPO process takes five steps:

 Selection of an investment bank

 Due diligence and filings
 Valuation
 Stabilization
 Transition to market competition.

The volume of issued stocks in the market could indicate the economy’s health. A decrease may signal a
recession, while an increase may express an economic upswing.

Article Sources
 How Common Stocks Allow You to Own a Piece of a Corporation

 How to Invest In Stocks

 Differences Between Stocks and Bonds

 How the SEC Is Preventing Another Depression

 About Investment Banks and How They Differ From Local Banks

 Understanding Shareholders' Preemptive Rights

 It's Possible to Go Public Faster Than an IPO. Here's How

 Make Money Buying Stocks

 What Exactly Are Stocks?

 Financial markets and the economy operate on trust.

 How the Stock Market Affects You, Even If You Don't Invest

 How the Stock Market Works

 The Nature of the Stock Market and How Stocks Are Issued

 Make Financial Markets Work for You

 The integrity of the markets is at stake.

 Investing for Beginners

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BY 
KIMBERLY AMADEO