The document discusses private equity investment in Trinidad and Tobago. It outlines why private equity is an important source of funding, the importance of private equity operations, and why current market conditions make it a favorable time for private equity investing. It also covers the private placement process, current challenges, goals to achieve private equity success, risks to investors and companies, due diligence needs, and possible exit strategies. The conclusion reiterates that private equity can be an important source of funds and is an important product for banks to offer, especially given current market conditions.
Currently 34 issues Liquidity – situation magnified with withdrawal of RBTT. (1.2Bn evaporated) There is no correlation between stock market performance & Economic performance (T&T primarily Oil & Gas) not reflected Government made commitment to address
Drafting the Offering Memorandum Assist management in preparing a high-quality offering memorandum for investors. work closely with Investment Banking, WISE, Markets to appropriately position client offerings. Preparing for the Road Show Senior team members to help management thoroughly prepare for and anticipate questions during interaction with potential investors. Work with management to craft a road show presentation that fairly presents and positions the client while providing potential investors with the information they need to make an investment decision. Managing Investors' Due Diligence Assist in managing the investor due diligence process, which includes the preparation of due diligence materials in advance of on-site visits. Structuring the Transaction Based on up-to-date knowledge of the private equity markets and a complete evaluation of the company's business and financial requirements, determine the most appropriate structure for financing. Match each company's needs with those of investors and lenders to develop a structure that provides important long-term capital. Negotiating the Terms Acting as agents, help management, board members and potential investors collaborate and put deal structures and terms into perspective based on our experiences with other transactions.
According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as at January 2007 there were 28,944 businesses registered in Trinidad and Tobago of which an estimated 1,535 have the minimum capital required to list on the Exchange. Interestingly enough only 27 companies have listed on the Exchange. (Companies classified as medium to large sized) The so-called ‘soft side’ issues in family-controlled companies include, for example, trust levels among shareholders, goal agreement, a participatory culture and views on the long-term health and competitiveness of the business. These relationship issues are directly linked to the risk perceptions of shareholders which in turn have a direct impact on the company’s cost of capital and its overall ability to create wealth.“ Very few family business members, especially those who are family leaders, want to invest time in building unity among shareholders and professionalizing the strategies and structures through which they interact.
Some of the measures suggested can effectively divert some of the private companies financing needs away from commercial borrowing Increasing this openness will result in beneficial changes for the company’s operations, such as increased efficiency and more rapid responses to competition. Thereby enabling Business owners to realize the advantages of more active use equity financing could outweigh its disadvantages. Commercial borrowing The Banking sector dominates as the major source of funding that companies choose to finance their activities. Because corporate borrowing is firmly embedded within the banking sector, corporations do not have any strong motivation to seek financing from the Capital markets. Over a five-year period from 2003 to 2008 private sector borrowing has increased significantly from $18.4 Billion to $43.1 Billion. To put this into perspective Bank credit to the private sector represented approximately 30% of GDP in 2007.
Key topics of interest to issuers – educate them on Understanding corporate disclosure Potential issuers Locally promote to business owners the value of listing access to cheaper financing enhances visibility (prestige) graduate from mom & pop Employee incentive programs (ESOP) Initiate discussions with brokers to get a commitment that they will support the market
To reduce the risks to the private equity investor, careful and extensive due diligence must be conducted. Some companies have three sets of books.
Often the most contentious issue in private equity negotiations. Exit strategy negotiations are really all about control. Tag-Along and Drag-Along Rights – A contractual obligation used to protect a minority shareholder . If a majority shareholder sells his or her stake, then the minority shareholder has the right to join the transaction and sell his or her minority stake in the company. (effectively oblige the majority shareholder to include the holdings of the minority holder in the negotiations in order to facilitate the possibility that a tag-along right is exercised.) Tag-Along and Drag-Along Rights – A right that enables a majority shareholder to force a minority shareholder to join in the sale of a company. The majority owner doing the dragging must give the minority shareholder the same price, terms, and conditions as any other seller. ( Designed to protect the majority shareholder. Because some buyers are only looking to have complete control of a company, drag-along rights help to eliminate minority owners and sell 100% of a company's securities to the buyer)