An Initial Public Offering (IPO) is a corporation's first offering of stock to the public.
IPO's of existing stock provide an opportunity for shareholders to obtain cash. IPO's carried out though a capital increase are a source of financing for the company. Opening up capital to the public enables a company to obtain the equity capital it needs for development, and to diversify sources of financing.
The BNP Paribas Equity Capital Markets teams, working together with the Equities business line (Research, Trading), assist our clients in stock market procedures. The publication of very detailed information on the state of the company's business, its accounts, and an analysis of its environment, is mandatory for IPO's.
The company can list its stock on one of the regulated stock exchanges: the Premier Marché, the Second Marché, the Nouveau Marché and the Marché Libre and/or on foreign stock exchanges.
Listed stock is offered to institutional investors, retail investors and to the company's employees.