How does an IPO roadshow work?

A few questions on the IPO process:

  • Who goes on the roadshow? The ECM team or the IB Coverage group? Are analysts usually brought along? Is it really as fancy as people make it out to be, with private jets etc?
  • If there are 3 lead bookrunners do they all do a different roadshow and pitch to different investors?
  • What's the role of the Coverage group vs ECM team? Who prepares the pitches and prospectuses?
6 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Key management (CEO, CFO, COO) and depending on the firm sometimes a really senior banker goes, but more typically it's an analyst or associate. The lead-left bookrunner and maybe one or two other 'active' bookrunners (if you have 5 bookrunners, chances are two to three are active and the others are passive) set and host the meetings. Usually a salesperson from the firm who set the meeting and handles the account you are visiting will attend as well. Almost always it's an industry coverage banker who goes on the road. Coverage does the heavy lifting, ECM handles updates, IPO / ECM market analysis, and the interaction between sales, research and the coverage/client team (this is really handled by the syndicate desk).

Fanciness depends on the client, the banks, and the size / willingness to incur expense of the issuer. I've done a lot of private jet flying back in my roadshow days, but the types of jets ranged from G4s to tiny little turbo-props.

Like going to a bachelor party in Vegas, roadshows are fun for about a day and a half and then get really old, really quick.

"Anything less than the best is a felony"
 

Thanks. That's very helpful. Can you shed some light on the difference between a bookrunner and coordinator?

Also, from what I understand companies hire more banks as advisors so that they can spread all the shares between them and diversify/reach all potential interested investors. Why would a company only want to have 1 or 2 IPO advisors instead of 5/6 then? Surely it doesn't cost them more in fees?

Lastly, you mentioned it's rarely a senior banker going on the roadshow, why is that? Why would they send an analyst/associate and not an MD?

 

Sapiente adipisci ipsam aspernatur necessitatibus. Optio qui harum corporis veniam.

Commodi aut commodi quas dicta quia. Aut voluptate praesentium voluptas eum consequatur cum enim.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (78) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (72) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”