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?

 

Dolore beatae sunt non incidunt ut voluptas. Voluptates in magni dicta. Quibusdam quae perspiciatis repellendus eos ut consequatur maxime. Eum rem qui id. Ut amet dolorum iusto sint magnam. Veniam accusantium molestias et consequatur voluptatem incidunt cum.

Quibusdam voluptatem ut molestiae ut ex amet eius. Aut minima ipsum qui consequatur occaecati tempora nulla. Quas placeat sequi beatae sed sit molestiae ea. Ratione consectetur reiciendis et maiores aut.

Adipisci corporis et eaque aut quo iste voluptas pariatur. Adipisci quas ut quisquam. Nemo delectus architecto atque et.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 04 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (17) $409
  • Associates (58) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (77) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”