Mini Case: EAST COAST YACHTS GOES PUBLIC
Larissa Warren and Dan Ervin have been discussing the future of East Coast Yachts. The company
has been experiencing fast growth, and the future looks like clear sailing. However, the fast growth
means that the company’s growth can no longer be funded by internal sources, so Larissa and Dan have
decided the time is right to take the company public. To this end, they have entered into discussions
with the investment bank of Crowe & Mallard. The company has a working relationship with Robin Perry,
the underwriter who assisted with the company’s previous bond offering. Crowe & Mallard have helped
numerous small companies in the IPO process, so Larissa and Dan feel confident with this choice.
Robin begins by telling Larissa and Dan about the process. Although Crowe & Mallard charged an
underwriter fee of 4 percent on the bond offering, the underwriter fee is 7 percent on all initial stock
offerings of the size of East Coast Yachts’ initial offering. Robin tells Larissa and Dan that the company
can expect to pay about $1,500,000 in legal fees and expenses, $15,000 in SEC registration fees, and
$20,000 in other filing fees. Additionally, to be listed on the NASDAQ, the company must pay $100,000.
There are also transfer agent fees of $8,500 and engraving expenses of $525,000. The company should
also expect to pay $75,000 for other expenses associated with the IPO.
Finally, Robin tells Larissa and Dan that to file with the SEC, the company must provide three years’
worth of audited financial statements. She is unsure of the costs of the audit. Dan tells Robin that the
company provides audited financial statements as part of its bond indenture, and the company pays
$300,000 per year for the outside auditor.
Respond to the following questions:
1. At the end of the discussion Dan asks Robin about the Dutch auction IPO process. What are the
differences in the expenses to East Coast Yachts if it uses a Dutch auction IPO versus a traditional
IPO? Should the company go public with a Dutch auction or use a traditional underwritten offering?
2. During the discussion of the potential IPO and East Coast Yachts’ future, Dan states that he
feels the company should raise $60 million. However, Larissa points out that if the company needs
more cash soon, a secondary offering close to the IPO would be potentially problematic. Instead,
she suggests that the company should raise $90 million in the IPO. How can we calculate the
optimal size of the IPO? What are the advantages and disadvantages of increasing the size of the
IPO to $90 million?
3. After deliberation, Larissa and Dan have decided that the company should use a firm
commitment offering with Crowe & Mallard as the lead underwriter. The IPO will be for $70 million.
Ignoring underpricing, how much will the IPO cost the company as a percentage of the funds
received?
4. Many of the employees of East Coast Yachts have shares of stock in the company because of an
existing employee stock purchase plan. To sell the stock, the employees can tender their shares to
be sold in the IPO at the offering price, or the employees can retain their stock and sell it in the
secondary market after East Coast Yachts goes public (once the 180-day lockup period expires).
Larissa asks you to advise the employees about which option is best. What would you suggest to
the employees?
Submit your responses in a minimum of two pages