Finance

The Pros and Cons of IPOs

What is an IPO?

An IPO, or an Initial Public Offering, is a common question among beginner investors or considering investment options in the stock market. Simply put, IPO takes place when the public is offered shares of a company’s stocks for the first time. Generally underwritten by investment banks, in the case of IPOs, the same investment banks also make the arrangements for the shares to be listed on various stock exchanges. Through the process, more commonly known as “going public” or “floating,” a private company with a limited number of shareholders who mainly comprise of primary investors (founders, their friends, and families) and professional investors (angel investors and venture capital providers), transforms into a publicly held company.

The Pros and Cons of IPOs 1

IPOs are generally utilized to increase additional equity capital for the company going public. As a result of IPOs, raising future capital and/or the trade of currently existing holdings becomes significantly more convenient. The monetization of investments made by the private shareholders, including private equity investors, is made simpler by using the Initial Public Offerings.

What are the primary and secondary markets?

There are two kinds of stock markets, the primary market and the secondary market. When a company issues its IPO, its shares are eligible to be traded in the primary market. This means that the dealings will be made directly between the company and its new public investors. Once an IPO is released, investors can purchase shares of the company; however, until the company is listed on the stock market, investors will not sell their purchased shares.

Approximately seven days after an IPO, once the company has sold the shares they made public, the company in question becomes a listener on the stock market. Once the company receives a listing, the investors are free to trade their shares on the market. A secondary market is where the trade of shares between buyers and sellers takes place through a broker. Post the release of IPOs, all trade of shares takes place in the secondary market.

Why go public?

The primary reason why a company may go public is to raise a significant amount of cash as capital for their growth and expansion. There are several ways by which a privately held company can also raise money, which include bringing in more private investors, borrowing the required amount from financial institutions, or even letting another company acquire the company in question. However, the issue of IPOs is guaranteed to raise the largest sum possible for the company and its initial investors.

As a result of increased exposure and scrutiny, a publicly held company can get better rates when it issues debt. Other profitable reasons for a company going public include the fact that the company can continue to issue stocks as long as there is a demand in the market, which is liquidity, which comes from open market trade. A publicly held company also has the ability to make implementations of plans such as the employee stock ownership plans, which will make it a more lucrative option for talented employees.

What is the IPO Process of a company?

The first step of the process is to form an IPO team, including a representative from the company’s investment bank for the IPO process, lawyers, accountants, public relations professionals, SEC experts, and investor relations specialists. The company and the investment bank sign an underwriting agreement that holds details regarding the financial operations of the IPO. Post that, the company and the bank file a registration statement with the SEC. The SEC analyzes the filed statement and the underwriting agreement, and all other information made available. Once the SEC signs off its approval, it sets a date for the launch of the IPO.

The Pros and Cons of IPOs 2

Pros of an IPO

  1. Issuing an IPO means a previously private company can diversify and expand its equity base, which results in a larger and varied group of investors.
  2. An IPO makes it more inexpensive for a company to access capital or reduce the “cost of capital.”
  3. Liquid equity participation resulting from going public will allow the company to bring in and retain the very best employee and management team.
  4. A publicly held company can facilitate acquisitions, possibly in return for shares of stock.
  5. An IPO also raises the largest sum of money for the company to fund its expansion compared to alternative solutions. It also creates several other monetary options such as cheaper bank loans, convertible debt, equity, and more.
  6. The company will note a significant increase in its exposure, prestige, and public image, greatly benefiting its profits.

Cons of an IPO

  1. Before a company can make significant profits from the issue of an IPO, it has to spend a large amount on legal, accounting, and marketing charges, many of which can stretch over a considerable period of time.
  2. As a result of the increased public exposure, the company is then required to disclose its business, tax, accounting, and other previously private records to the public investors.
  3. Once the company goes public, it becomes important for management to provide meaningful time, attention, and effort.
  4. If the market’s IPO price is not accepted, the risk that requires funding will not be raised. This brings in the possibility of the stock prices dropping immediately after the offering.
  5. As a result of the company going public, private information will also have to be made public. As a result, there is a risk of misused information by competitors, suppliers, and others. A public company also has to be the object of scrutiny from regulators that include the Securities and Exchange Commission.
  6. By bringing in public investors, the company has to relinquish its previously absolute control, and the arrival of new shareholders may also result in agency problems.
  7. A publicly held company runs a higher risk of legal and/or regulatory issues.

Who can invest in an IPO?

An adult eligible to enter a legally binding contract can participate in the IPO process of a company. A Demat account and a PAN card are the other necessities; a trading account is not a compulsory requirement in IPOs.

Leah Leonard

Coffee expert. Troublemaker. Typical music guru. Friendly beer fanatic. Introvert. Web specialist. Uniquely-equipped for implementing bullwhips in Ocean City, NJ. Spent a year importing licorice in Hanford, CA. Have some experience licensing cigarettes for the government. Once had a dream of selling toy monkeys in Las Vegas, NV. Spent the 80's working on hula hoops in Minneapolis, MN. What gets me going now is working with action figures in the government sector.

Related Articles

Back to top button