Blog

What is an Initial Public Offering (IPO)?

Initial Public Offering IPO

By Sinead Floody, 10th Oct 2017

An initial public offering (IPO) occurs when a private company offers shares of its stock for sale to the public on the open market for the first time. Typically, the shares are sold on a stock exchange, this process is also known as ‘Going Public’. By its very nature, this represents the first time the company will benefit financially from the public sale of its issued shares.

An IPO is usually carried out by smaller companies in an attempt to raise finances, but larger companies have been known to do it too. To initiate an IPO, the company will need the help of an underwriting firm or investment bank, who will do most of the work concerning the IPO.

The underwriting firm or investment bank will help the company to choose the type of security to issue, the asking price for the shares, the number of shares to be issued for sale and the timing of the IPO.

The Initial Public Offering Process

The underwriting firm or investment bank takes the following steps to start the IPO process:

  • Formation of an external IPO committee, consisting of a certified public accountant, lawyers and other experts
  • An audit of the financial statements of the company is carried out
  • Information about the company such as future performance is gathered and compiled into a “prospectus”
  • An admission document is provided to the current shareholders, outlining the plans for the IPO
  • The prospectus is filed with the relevant authorities
  • A date is chosen for the IPO
  • The shares are placed on a stock exchange

Once the company has attained the minimum required capital level, then it can convert to a Public Limited Company (PLC). A PLC has more stringent requirements than that of a private company, such as;

  • A minimum of two director
  • No option for dispensing with the AGM
  • A minimum issued share capital of €25,000
  • The name of the company must end with the suffix ‘Public Limited Company

The Reasons for an IPO

The main reason a company would initiate IPO proceedings is to raise funds and allow the liquidation of shares. The capital earned from selling shares can influence a major boost in the growth of a business. For investors, IPOs are significantly higher risk as opposed to purchasing currently traded stock. A deficiency of past data as well as (usually) a short time in business can increase the risk associated with purchasing recently issued shares.
“Going public” creates an opportunity for the existing shareholders (investors and founders) as well, they can sell some of their shares for a profit or they can choose to sell all of their shares if they want to ‘exit’ their investment.

Determining the Price of the Shares

In determining the price of the shares prior to the IPO, the underwriting firm or investment bank will look at internal factors such as the financial statements of the company, how profitable the company is, growth rates and external factors such as public trends and even investor confidence.

It should be noted that following the IPO, shares are sold between buyers and sellers on the open market, whereby the underlying company receives no compensation.

Considerations for Companies planning an IPO

A company that is not growing at a consistent pace is not ready for an IPO. The purchase of shares on any stock exchange requires investment and risk, so the company would have to have an attractive prospectus in order to get the attention of new potential shareholders. Companies considering an IPO need to look at an array of external factors such as how big the dedicated market is and if the market is buoyant. The company will also have to consider internal factors such as the predictability of their business as well as the strength of their product’s unique selling point.

A company should weigh up all the advantages and disadvantages before “going public”. The process is reversible but it can be potentially time-consuming and costly.

Company Bureau can offer advice for those considering an Initial Public Offering. Please complete our Contact Form and a member of our Company Secretarial department will be delighted to assist.

 

Disclaimer This article is for guidance purposes only. It does not constitute legal or professional advice. No liability is accepted by Company Bureau for any action taken or not taken in reliance on the information set out in this article. Professional or legal advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from any action as a result of this article. Any and all information is subject to change.

Sinéad Floody ACG

Corporate Services Manager - Sinéad is a Chartered Secretary and is an Associate Member of the Governance Institute, formerly known as the ICSA. Sinéad achieved a first-class honours in the MSc. in Management & Corporate Governance at Ulster University and holds a Bachelor of Irish Law (LLB). Sinéad is an integral part of our team heading up our Company Secretarial Department and has worked for the company for over 7 years. As a leader of good governance, Sinéad is skilled and approachable as she assists her team to provide exceptional services to our customers. We are pleased to share that Sinéad has been appointed to the ICSA Company Secretarial Practice Committee. As a Chartered member, she holds an important role in upholding the Code of Professional Standards and Ethics. Sinéad often lends her knowledge and experience, having had articles published with the ICSA. Sinéad has assisted thousands of Irish companies with their quest for good governance and compliance.