CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 82.67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money

What is an IPO and how does it work?

By Capital.com Research Team

07:19, 10 July 2024

IPOs are key market events for shares traders as they introduce a new asset to the financial marketplace. Learn all about what they are, why companies go public, and the processes involved in listing a company.

What is an IPO?

An IPO, or initial public offering, is when a company first offers its shares to the public in exchange for capital required for growth. These shares are listed on a stock exchange, enabling them to be traded publicly. When a company lists, it works with advisers to determine the number of shares to sell and at what initial price. After that, supply and demand factors will impact the ongoing price fluctuations of the company’s shares, determining the market capitalisation of the company.

How can I trade an IPO?

When an IPO has launched, you can either buy the physical shares or trade them using a derivative such as a CFD. Buying the physical shares through a traditional stockbroker, or via an online platform, means you’re hoping for the shares to increase in value, while trading the derivative means you can employ leverage to take a position on the price either increasing or decreasing. CFDs are typically traded on margin, which means that you can gain exposure to larger positions with a relatively small outlay. This amplifies your potential profits but also your potential losses, making leveraged trading risky.

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Long position overnight fee -0.0616%
Short position overnight fee 0.0137%
Overnight fee time 22:00 (UTC)
Spread 1.75

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98,894.20 Price
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Short position overnight fee 0.0137%
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Spread 50.00

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2.33 Price
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Short position overnight fee 0.0137%
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Long position overnight fee 0.0072%
Short position overnight fee -0.0292%
Overnight fee time 22:00 (UTC)
Spread 0.040

Why do companies go public?

  • Access to capital
    Listing on a stock exchange and selling shares provides companies with access to significant amounts of capital. Such funds are often used for expansion, research and development, acquisitions, debt repayment, and working capital.
  • Liquidity for traders/investors
    Going public provides liquidity for existing shareholders, including founders, early investors, and employees who hold equity in the company. Publicly traded shares can be bought and sold on stock exchanges, providing investors and traders with an exit strategy and the ability to realise their investment.
  • Marketing
    A public listing can increase a company's visibility and credibility in the market. Being publicly traded can attract attention from customers, suppliers, and potential business partners. It can also enhance the company's brand image and reputation.
  • Currency for acquisitions
    Publicly traded shares can be used as currency for acquisitions. Companies can use their stock to acquire other businesses, providing an alternative to cash transactions and enabling them to pursue growth through strategic acquisitions.
  • Employee incentives
    Publicly traded companies can offer stock-based compensation, such as stock options and restricted stock units, to attract and retain talented employees. Equity incentives can align the interests of employees with those of shareholders and provide employees with a stake in the company's success.
  • Valuation and benchmarking
    Going public can provide a transparent market valuation for the company. Publicly traded companies are subject to market scrutiny and are valued based on their performance and prospects. This valuation can be used for benchmarking purposes and can help attract investors and strategic partners.
  • Exit strategy for investors
    For venture capitalists, private equity firms, and other early investors, an IPO provides an exit strategy, allowing them to monetise their investment and realise a return on their capital. Going public provides potential trading opportunities for these investors to sell their shares to the public or institutional investors.

What is the IPO process?

The IPO process comprises a range of steps, from due diligence and registration to pricing and closing and beyond. Here are the key stages a company is likely to go through on the road to listing its shares.

  • Preparation
    Before the IPO, the company selects underwriters to manage the process, prepares financial statements, drafts regulatory filings, and establishes a timeline for the offering. This phase involves comprehensive planning to ensure a smooth transition to public company status.
  • Due diligence
    The company and its underwriters conduct thorough due diligence to assess compliance with regulatory requirements and to evaluate the company's financial performance, business operations, and potential risks. This step is critical for identifying any issues that need to be addressed before proceeding with the IPO.
  • Registration
    The company files a registration statement with the relevant securities regulator, such as the FCA. This document provides detailed information about the company, its business, financials, management team, and the proposed offering. It serves as the basis for regulatory review and investor disclosure.
  • Roadshow
    There may be a roadshow where the company and its underwriters market the IPO to potential investors. Company executives and underwriters meet with institutional investors, analysts, and other stakeholders to present the investment opportunity, discuss the company's prospects, and address any questions or concerns.
  • Pricing
    Based on feedback from the roadshow and market conditions, the underwriters determine the final offering price and the number of shares to be sold. This step is crucial as it determines the valuation of the company and the amount of capital it will raise through the IPO.
  • Regulatory review
    A regulatory agency such as the SEC in the US, or the FCA in the UK, reviews the registration statement and may issue comments or requests for clarification. The company and its underwriters work to address any concerns raised by the body to ensure compliance with securities laws and regulatory requirements.
  • Closing
    On the day of the IPO, the company and its underwriters finalise the offering. Shares are priced and allocated to investors, and the company's shares begin trading on the stock exchange. The offering proceeds are transferred to the company, marking its transition to public company status.
  • Post-IPO
    After the IPO, the company becomes a publicly traded company and must comply with ongoing reporting and disclosure requirements. It communicates with shareholders, manages its public image and reputation, and navigates the challenges and opportunities of being a publicly traded company.

FAQs

How much does an IPO cost?

IPO costs for companies planning to list can vary significantly based on the size and complexity of the offering, as well as the region and perceived risks. The fees involved in going public include underwriting, legal and accounting, marketing, listing, and regulatory costs, most of which are unavoidable. Accordingly, the fee can range from hundreds of thousands of pounds to several million for more complex deals.

How long is the IPO process?

The duration of the IPO process can vary according to the complexity of the deal and how long is spent on each of the constituent processes. For example, the preparation stage, involving an internal assessment, the selection of advisers, and preparing the registration statement, can be the most involved and challenging part of the listing, potentially taking more than a year. Subsequent stages such as marketing and closing are likely to be less time-consuming due to the preparation having already been done.

How do you find IPO companies?

To find IPO companies, it’s advisable to stay up to date with the latest financial news using trusted sources. Sometimes, specialist sites may have information on upcoming IPOs sooner than larger outlets. Other potential resources include regulatory body filings, investment bank media centres, social media and forums, and professional networks such as venture capitalist and corporate adviser circles, all of which can provide information from relevant parties on listing prospects.

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The difference between trading assets and CFDs
The main difference between CFD trading and trading assets, such as commodities and stocks, is that you don’t own the underlying asset when you trade on a CFD.
You can still benefit if the market moves in your favour, or make a loss if it moves against you. However, with traditional trading you enter a contract to exchange the legal ownership of the individual shares or the commodities for money, and you own this until you sell it again.
CFDs are leveraged products, which means that you only need to deposit a percentage of the full value of the CFD trade in order to open a position. But with traditional trading, you buy the assets for the full amount. In the UK, there is no stamp duty on CFD trading, but there is when you buy stocks, for example.
CFDs attract overnight costs to hold the trades (unless you use 1-1 leverage), which makes them more suited to short-term trading opportunities. Stocks and commodities are more normally bought and held for longer. You might also pay a broker commission or fees when buying and selling assets direct and you’d need somewhere to store them safely.
Capital Com is an execution-only service provider. The material provided in this article is for information purposes only and should not be understood as investment advice. Any opinion that may be provided on this page does not constitute a recommendation by Capital Com or its agents and has not been prepared in accordance with the legal requirements designed to promote investment research independence. While the information in this communication, or on which this communication is based, has been obtained from sources that Capital.com believes to be reliable and accurate, it has not undergone independent verification. No representation or warranty, whether expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy or completeness of any information obtained from third parties. If you rely on the information on this page, then you do so entirely at your own risk.

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