In September 2021 — Plaid, a fintech startup, announced another round of funding, with JPMorgan Chase and American Express. During previous initial Series D funding round in April, the company raised $425 million, bringing its valuation to more than $13 billion. Which is more than the $5.3B Visa was ready to pay for Plaid in January 2020 (deal was blocked by the Department of Justice). Taking into account its valuation growth, Plaid will be one of the largest Initial Public Offerings (IPO) when it's go public.
- Detailed instructions how to participate in Plaid (pre-IPO, offering price) see below👇
What is an IPO and how it works
IPO is a process of offering shares of a private corporation to the public in a new stock issuance. Why go public? The primary benefit of going public is easier access to capital.
To go public, a company must have a track record of growth and other favorable results and hire an investment bank to come in and underwrite the IPO. The underwriters also performed due diligence and verified financial information and business model.
Once the paperwork done, the company sells the stock to institutional investors. When the initial block of shares has been sold, the company with underwriters' help sets an initial price and date for the stock to begin trading on a stock exchange.
Company Profile and Financial Indicators before Plaid IPO
Plaid is a technology provider that lets customers connect their bank accounts to other apps so they can quickly and efficiently transfer money or make payments. Any time you connect your bank account to an app by simply signing into your bank account, you're likely using Plaid's technology. Plaid is a company on the leading edge of the "open banking" revolution. Open banking is when banks open up access to data from financial institutions through the use of an application programming interface (API).
The company benefited during the pandemic as customers have been forced to do more business online and through mobile apps. A source told Forbes back in April that Plaid's 2020 revenue was around $170 million, and its business grew 60% from the year prior. Zach Perret, Plaid's CEO, told Forbes: "Three-fourths of consumers are saying they've achieved a new normal in their financial life, and they plan to fully interact with their financial services digitally. The 50-plus demographic, for example, is one of the fastest-growing demographics amongst many of our customers."
How to Buy Plaid Stocks Before the IPO (Offering Price)
In the past, IPOs as highly profitable investments were available only to the privileged customers of the leading brokerage firms and it was challenging for retail investors to gain access. You couldn't buy shares paying the price set by the company and you had to wait until the shares actually start trading on the public stock market at whatever stock price supply and demand allows.
Technologies and marketplaces changed the rules of the game, now regular investors can get pre-IPO shares. To participate in Plaid IPO you need to use an IPO investing app like Freedom Finance (NASDAQ: FRHC), TD Ameritrade or Fidelity. They give its customers access to IPOs and secondary offerings through their existing brokerage account. Also you can buy Plaid shares when the company goes public via a commission-free trading app like eToro or Webull.
🚨 Detailed Instructions How to Participate in the Plaid IPO before public trading:
Below we share the instruction how to participate in the approaching Plaid IPO using Freedom Finance (Freedom24 platform). This marketplace is chosen as an example because almost all high profile IPOs get listed there.
🎁 A special offer is available for this IPO.
*** Freedom Finance services are NOT available to US citizens and residents.
- Apply for a Freedom Finance account — you need to prepare your identity document and a document confirming the address of residence (utility bill). The verification process is very fast, it will take 2 minutes to create your account.
- Deposit your account — to participate in an IPO, your account must have available funds in the amount you send IPO application for.
- 💡 Tip: It's recommended to deposit your account in advance. Often the exact IPO date is undefined until the last day. You may have a short notice for participation and account deposits also takes time for processing. Also, sometimes Freedom sends last-minute IPO offer when you have 2 hours to participate.
- Submit a request to participate in the IPO — when applications are open select Plaid and click Participate in the IPO > input the amount you want to invest > Send your application. Note: Before the book closing, a request can be withdrawn. At the time of the book closing, 1 day before the start of the exchange trading, the specified amount will be blocked on the account.
- Wait for allocation — The actual number of stocks purchased during an IPO depends on supply and demand. The higher underwriter reserves the right to partial execution of collective applications. So if the demand is high you may get less than you applied for. Of course, you will only pay for the shares purchased. The rest of the funds will be returned to your account.
- Start of trading — With the beginning of the public trading on the stock exchange, the purchased shares will appear on the account and a lock-up period will start — a 93-day period of prohibition on sale. You can’t sell stocks, but you can track their current value and growth indicators in your personal member area and a trading terminal.
- Closing your trade — At the end of the 93 days lock-up period, you will be able to manage your stocks at your discretion — leave in the portfolio or sell and withdraw money or transfer the stocks to another depository/ broker in your name. This can be done in your account by clicking the ‘Sell’ button next to the name of the security. In this case, a commission of 0.5% of the amount of the sale transaction is charged.
Is investing in IPOs profitable?
Not always. The average return at the end of the lock-up period is 72%, past IPOs data.
When is the Plaid IPO date?
Plaid's IPO date is not defined yet. We will update when the exact Plaid date IPO is known – if you want to get notified please subscribe for updates here.
What is Plaid IPO price range?
Plaid IPO price range is not defined yet. We will update when the Plaid IPO offering price is known – if you want to get notified please subscribe for updates here.
How to Invest in Plaid after the IPO date (opening price)?
After the IPO you can buy Plaid stocks via Freedom24. Or if you're from the US use a commission-free trading app like eToro on the first trading day.
In what currency Plaid IPO and post-IPO shares will be traded?
The Plaid IPO and stock trading currency will be USD.
If you have funds in another currency the cheapest way to convert your currency is to use the mid-market rate (that’s the one you’ll find on Google) which can be done via a fintech service like Wise. Banks may add hidden markups to their exchange rates - charging you more without your knowledge. And if they have a fee, they charge you twice. Wise never hides fees in the exchange rate.
What is the Plaid (stock symbol)
The stock ticker for Plaid will be probably PLAD
Plaid Prospectus
Plaid Registration Statement on Form S-1 is not available yet.
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Sources used: Nasdaq, The Motley Fool
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