What is a Private Placement? - Pricoa Private Capital (2024)

Private placements explained. Find out how issuing a private placement as a means for raising capital could support your business objectives.

As the name suggests, a “private placement” is a private alternative to issuing, or selling, a publicly offered security as a means for raising capital. In a private placement, both the offering and sale of debt or equity securities is made between a business, or issuer, and a select number of investors. There may be as few as one investor for any issue.

The three most important features that would classify a securities issue as a private placement are:

  1. The securities are not publicly offered
  2. The securities are not required to be registered with the SEC
  3. The investors are limited in number and must be “accredited”*

Companies, both public and private, issue in the private placement market for a variety of reasons, including a desire to access long-term, fixed-rate capital, diversify financing sources, add additional financing capacity beyond existing investors (banks, private equity, etc.) or, in the case of privately held businesses, to maintain confidentiality.

Since private placements are offered only to a limited pool of accredited investors, they are exempt from registering with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This affords the issuer the opportunity to avoid certain costs associated with a public offering as well as allows for more flexibility regarding structure and terms.

"One of the key advantages of a private placement is its flexibility."

The most common type of private placement is long-term, fixed-rate senior debt, but there is an endless array of structuring alternatives. One of the key advantages of a private placement is its flexibility. Private placement debt securities are similar to bonds or bank loans and can either be secured, meaning they are backed by collateral, or unsecured, where collateral is not required. In addition to senior debt, other types of private placement debt issuances include:

  • Subordinated Debt
  • Term Loans
  • Revolving Loans
  • Asset Backed Loans
  • Leases
  • Shelf Issues

Traditionally, middle-market companies have issued debt in the private placement market through two primary channels:

  1. Directly with a private placement investor, such as a large insurance company or other institutional investor
  2. Through an agent (most often an investment bank) on a best efforts basis who solicits bids from several potential investors - this is typically for larger transactions: $100MM+

A private placement issuance is a way for institutional investors to lend to companies in a similar fashion as banks, with a “buy-and-hold” approach, and with no required trading or public disclosures. Historically, insurance companies refer to investments as purchasing “notes,” while banks make “loans.”

Types of Capital Available to Businesses

When businesses are started, they are often funded by the owners or a family loan. However, as they grow, many companies are unable to finance all needs solely from internal cash flows. When capital needs exceed cash-on-hand, businesses can utilise the following types of capital:

What is a Private Placement? - Pricoa Private Capital (1)

Private Placement Advantages

Private placements present the following advantages:

  • Long Term
    Private placements provide longer maturities than typical bank financing, at a fixed-interest rate. This is ideal for when a business is presented with a growth opportunity where they wouldn’t see the return on their investment right away; a business would have more time to pay back the private placement while having certainty of financing cost over the life of that investment.

    Also, private placements are typically "buy-and-hold," so the company would benefit from having a long-term relationship with the same investor throughout the life of the financing.

  • Speed in Execution
    The growth and maturity of the private placement market has led to improved standardisation of documentation, visibility of pricing and terms, increased capacity for financings as well as overall increase of size and depth of the market ($10MM - $1B+). Thus, the private placement market fosters an environment that allows for quick execution of an investment, generally within 6-8 weeks (for the first transaction. Follow-on financings can be executed within a shorter time frame).

    Additionally, it is typically faster to issue a private placement versus a corporate bond in the public market because the issuer is not required to expend time and resources creating a prospectus and registering with the SEC.

"Private Placements can complement existing bank debt versus compete with it."
  • Complement to Existing Financing
    Private placements also help diversify a company’s sources of capital and capital structure. Since the terms can be customised, private placements can complement existing bank debt versus compete with it, and can allow a company to better manage its debt obligations. Diversification of funding sources is particularly important during market cycles when bank liquidity may be tight.

    Private placements enable privately-held, middle-market companies and public companies to access capital just as they would with an underwritten public debt offering, but without certain requirements, such as ratings, registrations, or minimum size. And for public companies, private placements can offer superior execution relative to the public bond market for small issuance sizes as well as greater structural flexibility.

  • Privacy and Control
    Private placement transactions are negotiated confidentially. Also, public disclosure requirements are limited, compared to those found in the public market. Companies would not be beholden to public shareholders.

Uses

Long-term capital is congruent with a company’s long-term investments. Thus, capital raised from issuing a private placement is most commonly used to support long-term initiatives versus short-term needs, such as working capital. Companies, both public and private, use the capital raised from private placements in the following ways:

  • Debt refinancing
  • Debt diversification
  • Expansion/Growth capital
  • Acquisitions
  • Stock buyback/Recapitalisation
  • Taking a public company privat
  • Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

Pricing and Payment Structure

Private placement debt is predominantly a fixed-income note that pays a set coupon, on a negotiated schedule. Private placements are priced similarly to public securities, where pricing is determined by the U.S. Treasury rate, with the addition of a credit risk premium.

Repayment of the principal can be accomplished in several ways, depending on the credit quality and needs of the issuer, such as sinking fund payments (amortisation) or “bullets” as well as tailored/bespoke amortisation. Interest is typically paid quarterly or semi-annually.

A private placement allows for tailored terms and structures to meet the specific financing needs of the issuer.

Selecting a Private Placement Investor

There are important considerations for a company when determining whether to issue a private placement. When choosing a private placement investor or lender, some key characteristics to look for are:

  • They are relationship-oriented rather than transaction-orientated. It’s important that they show interest in the businesses they finance as well as work to understand the needs of the business and how it functions.
  • Because private placement debt is typically long-term, it is vital for the private placement investor to have the capacity to grow as a financial partner and have the knowledge and experience to help a company navigate during challenging times.
  • They are fast-acting, responsive and have access to key decision-makers within their organisation.
  • The private placement investor demonstrates a constant appetite for private placement debt throughout market cycles and the calendar year.
  • They follow through on their commitments.

Ultimately, it is most important to find a private placement investor who can offer financing best fitted for the goals of your business. If you’re interested in issuing a private placement, Pricoa Private Capital is here to help. View a private placement example.

*An investor is considered “accredited” if they meet minimum financial net worth qualifications as well as other requirements set by the federal government; They are considered to be more experienced and are the only investors allowed to purchase private placements. Being accredited should imply that the investor has the knowledge required to make prudent investment decisions but also that they can afford to take a loss should something go wrong.

This document does not take into account individual circ*mstances, objectives or needs, nor is it intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security or other financial instrument or any investment management services. This document does not constitute investment advice and should not be used solely as the basis for any investment decision.
This article represents the views, opinions and recommendations of the author(s) regarding the economic conditions, asset classes, securities, issuers or financial instruments referenced herein. Distribution of this information to any person other than the person to whom it was originally delivered is unauthorised, and any reproduction of these materials, in whole or in part, or the divulgence of any of the contents hereof, without prior consent of Pricoa Private Capital is prohibited. The information contained herein is current as of the date of issuance (or such earlier date as referenced herein) and is subject to change without notice. Pricoa Private Capital has no obligation to update any or all of such information; nor do we make any express or implied warranties or representations as to the completeness or accuracy or accept responsibility for errors. These materials are not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security or other financial instrument or any investment management services and should not be used as the basis for any investment decision. Past performance is no guarantee or reliable indicator of future results. No liability whatsoever is accepted for any loss (whether direct, indirect, or consequential) that may arise from any use of the information contained in or derived from this report. Pricoa Private Capital and its affiliates may make investment decisions that are inconsistent with the recommendations or views expressed herein, including for proprietary accounts of Pricoa Private Capital or its affiliates.
The opinions and recommendations herein do not take into account individual client circ*mstances, objectives, or needs and are not intended as recommendations of particular securities, financial instruments or strategies to particular clients or prospects. No determination has been made regarding the suitability of any securities, financial instruments or strategies for particular clients or prospects. For any securities or financial instruments mentioned herein, the recipient(s) of this report must make its own independent decisions.
What is a Private Placement? - Pricoa Private Capital (2024)

FAQs

What is a Private Placement? - Pricoa Private Capital? ›

A 'private placement', also known as a 'private placement debt offering', is the private sale, or 'issue' of corporate debt or equity securities by a company, or 'issuer', to a select number of investors.

What is private placement capital? ›

What Is Private Placement? Private placement is a common method of raising business capital by offering equity shares. Private placements can be done by either private companies wishing to acquire a few select investors or by publicly traded companies as a secondary stock offering.

What is private placement in primary capital market? ›

Private placement refers to the process of raising capital that involves selling of securities to a selected group of investors.

What is private placement for private company? ›

A private placement is an efficient and economic option for a company to raise capital without going public. It implies a company making an offer of securities or inviting a specific group of people to subscribe to securities by means of a private placement offer letter.

Is a private placement a capital raise? ›

A private placement is a method of raising capital through the sale of securities to a small number of accredited investors.

Why would a company do a private placement? ›

Issuing in the private placement market offers companies a variety of advantages, including maintaining confidentiality, accessing long-term, fixed-rate capital, diversifying financing sources and creating additional financing capacity.

How do private placement make money? ›

A private placement is the process companies use to raise money by selling securities to a limited number of potential investors. These offerings are designed to be exempt from federal securities registration requirements and, thus, from the compliance hurdles incumbent upon public offerings.

What is an example of a private placement? ›

Examples of the types of securities that may be sold through a private placement are common stock, preferred stock, and promissory notes. If promissory notes are involved, then they have a mixed maturity date and require periodic interest payments, rather than a single interest payment on the maturity date.

How does a private placement work? ›

A private placement is an offering of unregistered securities to a limited pool of investors. In a private placement, a company sells shares of stock in the company or other interest in the company, such as warrants or bonds, in exchange for cash.

Is private placement good or bad? ›

Is private placement good or bad? This distribution strategy is considered good, given the faster raising of funds, it ensures to a company. In addition, the maturities extend to a longer period, guaranteeing long-term returns.

What are the two types of private placement? ›

There are two kinds of private placement—preferential allotment and qualified institutional placement. A listed company can issue securities to a select group of entities, such as institutions or promoters, at a particular price. This scenario is known as a preferential allotment.

Is private placement the same as private equity? ›

Private placements can involve the issuance of either debt or equity securities. Private equity and private debt (loans to private companies) are sometimes incorrectly lumped together under the umbrella term “Private Equity.” They shouldn't be, as they are very different forms of investment.

Is private placement same as venture capital? ›

Private equity firms can buy companies from any industry while venture capital firms tend to focus on startups in technology, biotechnology, and clean technology—although not necessarily. Private equity firms also use both cash and debt in their investment, whereas venture capital firms deal with equity only.

What are the disadvantages of private placement? ›

Disadvantages of using private placements
  • a reduced market for the bonds or shares in your business, which may have a long-term effect on the value of the business as a whole.
  • a limited number of potential investors, who may not want to invest substantial amounts individually.

What are the risks of private placement? ›

The buyer of a private placement bond issue expects a higher rate of interest than can be earned on a publicly-traded security. Because of the additional risk of not obtaining a credit rating, a private placement buyer may not buy a bond unless it is secured by specific collateral.

Who buys private placement debt? ›

Private placement financing is typically a debt or capital lease obligation arranged between a municipality or a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and a single sophis- ticated institutional investor. The investor can be a bank, insurance company, finance company, hedge fund, or high–net worth individual.

What is the minimum investment for private placement? ›

The value of the private placement offer or invitation for each person should be of an investment size of Rs. 20,000 of the face value of the securities.

Can you sell a private placement? ›

Generally, most securities acquired in a private placement will be restricted securities. You should not expect to be able to easily and quickly resell your restricted securities. In fact, you should be prepared to hold the securities indefinitely.

What are typical private placement fees? ›

Instead, Creatis will be compensated by the issuer of the private securities you purchase, typically as a percentage of the capital you invest or in some cases as a flat fee. Placement fees typically range between 2-3% for debt securities and 5-10% for equity securities.

What is the 20% rule private placement? ›

If shareholder approval is not obtained, then the investor will not be able to acquire 20% or more of the common stock or voting power outstanding before the transaction.

Is a private placement a financing? ›

There is Private Placement Financing, for instance. This is a common financing alternative for emerging companies that want to raise capital by issuing or selling securities.

What is the object of private placement? ›

Concept of private placement

Private placement is a process through which a company can offer its shares or bonds privately to accredited investors. Companies that require capital but are not eligible to list their stocks publicly often rely on private placements.

Is private placement illegal? ›

In general, securities acquired in a private placement are “restricted,” meaning investors can't resell them without registration or an applicable exemption under the securities law. The company must also file a brief notice of the offering with the SEC.

How many investors are allowed in a private placement? ›

securities may not be sold to more than 35 non-accredited investors (all non-accredited investors, either alone or with a purchaser representative, must meet the legal standard of having sufficient knowledge and experience in financial and business matters to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the ...

How do placement agents get paid private equity? ›

The placement agent is compensated upon the successful placement of the fund with the investor(s) introduced by the agent. The agent's compensation, around 2% to 2.5%, is typically a percentage of new money raised for the fund.

Is a private placement an IPO? ›

An IPO differs from a private placement because an IPO is a company's introductory sale of shares to the general public whereas a private placement is a company's private offering of shares to institutional and accredited investors.

What is private placement also known as? ›

Private placement (or non-public offering) is a funding round of securities which are sold not through a public offering, but rather through a private offering, mostly to a small number of chosen investors. Generally, these investors include friends and family, accredited investors, and institutional investors.

What is the difference between private debt and private placements? ›

Private placement debt is predominantly a fixed-income note that pays a set coupon, on a negotiated schedule. Private placements are priced similarly to public securities, where pricing is determined by the U.S. Treasury rate, with the addition of a credit risk premium.

What are examples of private placement investments? ›

Some common examples of private placements include:
  • Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
  • Non-Traded REITs.
  • Hedge Funds.
  • Equipment Leasing Agreements.
  • Tenants-in-Common.
  • Various oil and gas limited partnerships.

Are private placements good investments? ›

Is private placement good or bad? This distribution strategy is considered good, given the faster raising of funds, it ensures to a company. In addition, the maturities extend to a longer period, guaranteeing long-term returns.

Is private placement private equity? ›

Private placements can involve the issuance of either debt or equity securities. Private equity and private debt (loans to private companies) are sometimes incorrectly lumped together under the umbrella term “Private Equity.” They shouldn't be, as they are very different forms of investment.

How does a company raise capital through private placement? ›

A private placement - or non-public offering - is where a business sells corporate bonds or shares to investors without offering them for sale on the open market. These investors could be insurance companies or high-net-worth individuals.

What are US private placements? ›

A US private placement refers to the issuance of a bond, or series of bonds, in a confidential - or private - transaction to a small group of well-established US private placement investors, comprised mainly of US insurance companies.

What are the risks of private placements? ›

The buyer of a private placement bond issue expects a higher rate of interest than can be earned on a publicly-traded security. Because of the additional risk of not obtaining a credit rating, a private placement buyer may not buy a bond unless it is secured by specific collateral.

Who are private placements generally sold to? ›

Private placement offerings are securities released for sale only to accredited investors such as investment banks, pensions, or mutual funds. Some high-net-worth individuals may also purchase the shares through these options.

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