Business leaders often face circumstances that require more upfront capital investment than the company can generate internally. In these cases, the company can raise capital from outside investors to meet its objectives.
Investment bankers play a critical role in the broader economy by matching those selling securities with investors, thereby adding liquidity to markets. This makes financial development more efficient and helps businesses grow.
1. Identifying the Right Investors
The capital raising investment banking process can be time-consuming and complex. It requires proper planning and preparation, identifying possible investors, pitching your business, and negotiating terms. It’s important to understand the various financing options and how they differ from each other so you can choose the best one for your company.
Investors want to see a plan for how your company will achieve its objectives and what return they’ll receive in exchange for their investment. This should include financial projections, as well as a detailed description of the current state and potential future of your business.
The top motives for companies to raise capital are mergers and acquisitions, debt financing, the purchase of fixed assets, and expansion into new markets. A successful capital raising strategy involves maintaining a collaborative relationship with investors and providing them with regular updates on the company’s progress. This can help to build trust and increase the chances of getting the desired funding.
2. Developing a Strategy
Investment banks are middlemen between companies that want to issue new securities (like stocks or bonds) and the investing public. Investment bankers buy the shares at a discounted price and sell them on the market at a higher markup, generating profit for their employers. This is called underwriting. Investment bankers often work as part of a syndicate, with several other investment firms, to underwrite an offering so that their risk is spread out.
A private company may see a strategic opportunity that requires significant upfront capital investment – more than the business can generate internally. It might seek out outside investors to fill the gap. Investors look at your business plan, your liquidity and your financial statements to decide how much capital they can invest or loan you. They want to know how you intend to use the capital and approximately when you will reach your business goals. They also want to be sure that you can repay them in a timely manner.
3. Developing a Relationship
Investors want to invest in a company that has a clear vision and strong leadership. Demonstrate your expertise and show that you are a thoughtful partner by responding promptly to questions and suggestions.
Investment banks help companies and government organizations raise funds by selling securities – shares or bonds – to investors such as high net worth individuals or pension funds. The proceeds from these sales enable a company to fund large projects, such as an expansion into a new market or research and development.
A major aspect of investment banking involves underwriting, where a bank estimates how much a security might be demanded by investors and then issues it for sale at that price. This can involve evaluating current market conditions, assessing investor appetite and experience, comparing offerings in similar markets and benchmarking. It also involves creating financial models to help inform the client’s decision making. Some investment banks trade on their own accounts to generate in-house profit, which presents a potential conflict of interest.
4. Developing a Plan
An investment banker is an expert in advising clients on the best way to raise capital. This process involves a complex mix of factors and requires careful consideration. Having a roadmap for your fundraising journey will help you avoid the many pitfalls along the way.
Suppose that your business has spotted an opportunity that will propel its growth into the future, but it requires a substantial upfront capital investment – more than you can generate internally. In this case, you may choose to raise additional funding through venture capital in return for equity in your company.
An investment banker acts as a middleman between companies that want to issue new securities and investors that wish to purchase them. During underwriting, investment bankers determine the riskiness and market demand for a stock or bond offering before it is published. They then compile a list of orders at specific prices, called a book of demand, and allocate securities to institutional investors.
