A highly levered money-mover First Data to go public – “Will the offer be sexy enough for investors?”

KKR & Co. LP; Market Cap (as of 03/10/2015): $7.85bn First Data Corporation; Market Cap (as of 03/10/2015): N.A.   Introduction On October 1st, 2015 the KKR-owned payment-processing company, First Data, announced the launch of its initial public offering, aiming to raise about $3.7bn. Apart from being the biggest US Read more…

Is time up for Universal Banks? Deutsche Bank – Postbank case

Introduction As the financial system stabilises after the recent crisis, three distinct business models are emerging. First, focused retail institutions with a specific offering of products and services, such as American regional banks and Europe’s savings banks. Second, investment banks which also operate asset management businesses and private equity investments. Read more…

Virtu Financial IPO: paving the way for high-frequency trading?

Virtu Financial Inc.; market cap (as of 17/04/2015): $3.2bn Introduction On April 16, Virtu Financial, one of the world’s largest high-frequency trading companies, commenced trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “VIRT”. The initial public offering, first ever in the HFT sector, proved successful as the company raised close Read more…