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Bachelor Thesis from the year 2020 in the subject Economics - Finance, grade: 1.0, University of Frankfurt (Main) (Finance), language: English, abstract: In this study I examine the case of lockup period expirations for 142 IPOs in Germany between 2000 and 2019. I find significant abnormal returns around the expiration date of lockup periods during which existing shareholders are prevented from selling their shares. Both, abnormal returns and abnormal trading volumes around the unlock day are much larger for firms financed by venture capital or private equity. These findings are robust to different market models and are not due to market microstructure effects. When examining the cause for the observed abnormal returns abnormal trading volume and company size become prominent.

This study aims to analyse whether PE-backed IPOs in the UK in a post-financial crisis period retain to show first day underpricing, as it is true for average IPOs. However, more importantly is to find whether consisent with Johannson (2011), who found that European PE-backed IPOs have less underpricing, 4.67% compared to 16.40% in case of average IPOs, in paricular PE-backed IPOs in the UK show less underpricing than their non-backed counterparts. In the past, that is found true for PE-backed IPOs on the LSE between 1992 and 2005, and PE-backed IPOs on the LSE and the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) between 2011 and 2011. Hence, the first research question is: Do PE-backed IPOs in the UK show less underpricing on the initial day than non-sponsor backed IPOs in a post-financial crisis period? And secondly, do PE-backed IPOs in the UK in the long-run outperform non-sponsor backed IPOs in post-financial crisis period? One rationale is to examine whether equity markets experienced structural changes which might potentially affect the performance of PE-backed IPOs, which were deemed as such with superior returns. From a practical perspective, this study aims to make a contribution to investors who consider investing in equities in that sense, that it allows to better understand the aftermarket performance of PE-backed IPOs in the UK in a period after a major global financial crisis.

Corporate Governance in IPO Firms encompasses theories and concepts analyzing, judging and describing financial decisions in entrepreneurial firms and draws on positive and normative aspects of entrepreneurship. In a positive way, this monograph describes these phenomena in aspects of governance issues in IPO firms, and why and how governance structures shape the behavior, the boundaries and the performance of these firms. In a normative way, this monograph offers concepts on how institutions and mechanisms should be designed and work to optimize a respective goal or performance associated with the IPO of an entrepreneurial firm. Corporate governance mechanisms in IPO firms differ from the traditional corporate governance issues in several ways. First, an IPO confronts the founder-manager of the firm with the trade-off between obtaining additional resources to sustain future growth and profits and maintaining total control of the company. Secondly, this constitutes a trade-off for investors between the expected returns of a risky investment and the agency costs associated with moral hazard and adverse selection effects caused by imperfect and asymmetric information. Thirdly, analyzing IPOs offers insights into how these agency costs are priced by investors at the point in time that these costs occur. Fourthly, of difference is which governance mechanisms are at work at this initial stage of a company's lifecycle. Finally, analyzing corporate governance issues in IPO's offers additional insights on the macro level and reveals country-specific differences.

In an organized and organic way, this book covers all the possible theoretical and empirical facets of delisting, adding to the well-developed literature on IPOs. IPO and delisting are strictly related; the reasons for delisting may be found in the loss of the incentives that drove the firm to the public market in the past. However, the book presents unique motivations not directly related to the IPO decision. This book covers what the existing literature has not in focusing on specific aspects such as market liquidity and microstructure, listing costs, market for corporate control, corporate governance issues and so on. Of interest to academics and students, this contribution puts all pieces in order and finds a thread that can link each theory to the others.

The beginning of the new millennium was characterized by company scandals in accounting around the world. A transparent and fair presentation of financial statements is beneficial for capital market participants. Especially around initial public offerings different incentives of these players exist to influence financial statements in diverse aspects. Therefore, studies of earnings management try to identify abnormal behavior. Peter Ising covers additional aspects to shed light on substantial drivers of discretionary reporting behavior around going public. Factors like influence on real activities, industry affiliation, and specific years in the IPO process add further insight to this theoretical and practical topic. The dependence on these factors is high and confirms that company specifics are important for interpretation of financial results.

Former banker Philippe Espinasse, offers advice for the interview, selection and appointment of lead banks, as well as for the execution of an IPO. The book includes case studies from around the world and explains negotiation techniques through which issuers can save considerable time, effort and costs, and also limit their potential liabilities.

The Handbook of Research on IPOs provides a comprehensive review of the emerging trends and directions in the global initial public offerings (IPO) markets. The empirical evidence included in the book covers Europe, the US and the Far East, and presents a truly global perspective of IPO markets around the world and at the different stages of the entire IPO process.The Handbook is divided into six comprehensive parts:- why, when and where firms go public- preparation for the IPO- transaction structure and governance at the IPO- trading in the aftermarket- the aftermarket performance of IPOs- special types of IPOs.The chapters offer some important new insights into issues that will be of interest not only to the academic community but also to professionals involved in the preparation, structure and execution of such transactions, market regulators, and private and institutional investors.Contributors: N. Appadu, D.B. Audretsch, F. Bancel, S. Banerjee, F. Bertoni, W. Bessler, R. Boissin, M. Bonaventura, P. Brown, J. Cao, M. Cattaneo, S. Chaplinsky, S. Chattopadhyay, H.M.J. Colaco, D. Cumming, J. D Souza, S. Espenlaub, A. Faelten, A. Ferguson, C.S. Fernando, V.A. Gatchev, G. Giudici, M. Goergen, D. Gounopoulos, U. Güçbilmez, S. Gupta-Mukherjee, G. Gur-Gershgorn, S.P. Hegde, J. Hoebelt, S. Johan, A. Khurshed, P. Lam, E.E. Lehmann, M. Levis, W.L. Megginson, M. Meoli, J.-S. Michel, K. Migliorati, U.R. Mittoo, A.C. Mohliver, R. Nash, S. Owen, S. Paleari, J.A. Pandes, G. Pawlina, M. Remenar, J.R. Ritter, M.J. Robinson, M. Seim, A. Signori, P.A. Spindt, J.-A. Suchard, S. Vismara, K. Yamada

A detailed guide to the new era of IPO investing Typically generating a great deal of interest, excitement, and volatility, initial public offerings (IPOs) offer investors and traders with opportunities for both short-term and long-term profits. In the Third Edition of High-Profit IPO Strategies, IPO expert Tom Taulli explains all facets of IPO investing and trading, with a particular emphasis on the industries that are fueling the next generation of IPOs, from social networking and cloud computing to mobile technology. In the past year alone, many of these types of IPOs have provided enormous opportunities for nimble traders as prices have fluctuated widely for several months following the offering. This new edition reflects the new IPO environment and presents you with the insights needed to excel in such a dynamic arena. Discusses more sophisticated IPO trading strategies, explores the intricacies of the IPO process, and examines the importance of focused financial statement analysis Contains new chapters on secondary IPO markets, reverse mergers, and master limited partnerships Provides in-depth analysis of other major industries generating worthwhile IPOs Covers IPO investing from basic terms to advanced investing techniques Comprehensive in scope, the Third Edition of High-Profit IPO Strategies offers investors and traders with actionable information to profit in this lucrative sector of the financial market.

An insightful and devastating account of how Wall Street lost its way from an insider who experienced the culture of Goldman Sachs first-hand. On March 14, 2012, more than three million people read Greg Smith's bombshell Op-Ed in the New York Times titled'Why I Am Leaving Goldman Sachs.'The column immediately went viral, became a worldwide trending topic on Twitter, and drew passionate responses from former Fed chairman Paul Volcker, legendary General Electric CEO Jack Welch, and New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg. Mostly, though, it hit a nerve among the general public who question the role of Wall Street in society -- and the callous'take-the-money-and-run'mentality that brought the world economy to its knees a few short years ago. Smith now picks up where his Op-Ed left off. His story begins in the summer of 2000, when an idealistic 21-year-old arrives as an intern at Goldman Sachs and learns about the firm's Business Principle #1: Our clients'interests always come first. This remains Smith's mantra as he rises from intern to analyst to sales trader, with clients controlling assets of more than a trillion dollars. From the shenanigans of his summer internship during the technology bubble to Las Vegas hot tubs and the excesses of the real estate boom; from the career lifeline he received from an NFL Hall of Famer during the bear market to the day Warren Buffett came to save Goldman Sachs from extinction-Smith will take the reader on his personal journey through the firm, and bring us inside the world's most powerful bank. Smith describes in page-turning detail how the most storied investment bank on Wall Street went from taking iconic companies like Ford, Sears, and Microsoft public to becoming a'vampire squid'that referred to its clients as'muppets'and paid the government a record half-billion dollars to settle SEC charges. He shows the evolution of Wall Street into an industry riddled with conflicts of interest and a profit-at-all-costs mentality: a perfectly rigged game at the expense of the economy and the society at large. After conversations with nine Goldman Sachs partners over a twelve-month period proved fruitless, Smith came to believe that the only way the system would ever change was for an insider to finally speak out publicly. He walked away from his career and took matters into his own hands. This is his story.

Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) are unique economic and governance events as privately held firms issue common stock or shares to the public for the first time. The governance issues surrounding IPOs are relatively unexamined compared to more established, and usually larger, firms. As such, they provide a unique context to study corporate governance and its development around the world. Based on a collaborative international research project, this book analyses the corporate governance of IPOs in twenty-one countries, each of which is characterized by different governance environments and different levels of IPO activity. The end result is a broad and deep assessment of governance practices and IPO activity for an array of economies that represent roughly 80 percent of the global economy. These chapters collectively provide new insights into what a global theory of corporate governance might look like and offer guidance to policy makers and academics regarding national governance configurations.

Underpricing refers to the phenomenon of abnormal first-day returns from initial public offerings (IPOs). Without doubt, any US investor would agree that one day-returns of 11.4% on average are exceptional and a worthwhile investment. Since then many studies have proven that it is a persistent phenomenon and also occurs on markets all over the world. The most puzzling question for scientists is why companies are leaving this money on the table and do not set an offering price that reflects the market demand at the offering date. The main focus of this paper is whether and how the findings of past research, primarily conducted for the US market, apply to the German IPO market. As a result, both investors and issuers shall receive practical implications for their decision-making within the IPO process. This study comprises a brief description of some important theoretical aspects that shape the price setting of an IPO. It focuses on business valuation as it is the basis for setting the price of an IPO. Furthermore, the most common price setting mechanisms are explained. Past research results and theories with regard to IPO underpricing will be outlined and put into relation to the upcoming analysis. This also includes the long-run performance of IPOs and deals especially with the question of whether IPOs are systematically overvalued by investors and, if so, why. The empirical analysis consists of a deduction of influencing variables and an applying theoretical model. Finally, OLS results will be presented and interpreted, which also includes practical implications for both, issuers and investors.

Investor Relations for the Emerging Company provides enduring advice, insight, and procedures that will help companies communicate, legally and ethically, their commitment to enhancing shareholder value. This revised edition updates Sarbanes-Oxley; Frank-Dodd act and new governance regulations.

This book is a complete study guide for Initial Public Offerings (IPOs.) The book will discuss how companies change from being privately held to being publicly owned. An important part of this process is the issuing of an IPO. Underwriters play a significant role in this process and their function will be addressed. In addition, this study guide contains a comprehensive analysis of marketing, pricing, and how trading take companies to the stock market. This book is ideal for all business students from high school through graduate school. At one time or another, the need to understand IPOs will arise and the steps must be properly understood, as this process is a significant part of the business world. Entrepreneurs and small business owners can utilize this book to understand IPOS and how they can assist in expanding these people's own companies to a national or global level.

In this practical guide to initial public offerings, Philippe Espinasse explains the pros and cons of turning private businesses into listed companies. In straightforward, jargon-free language he details the strategies, procedures, and documentation for different forms of listings, and describes the process of marketing and pricing an international IPO. The guide includes many real-life case studies, sample documents, an extensive glossary of terms, and a review of listing requirements for major stock exchanges. It also discusses recent developments in global equity capital markets. This fully revised paperback edition includes additional case studies, information on recent regulatory changes, and new sections on Malaysia and business trusts in Singapore and Hong Kong. IPO: A Global Guide is applicable to any financial jurisdiction, including emerging markets in the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. Intended for entrepreneurs, market practitioners and students, this guide will be essential reading for anyone planning to take a company to market.

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jochen Drukarczyk war von 1975 bis 2007 Inhaber des Lehrstuhls für Finanzierung an der Universität Regensburg. Er hat darüber hinaus zahlreiche Gastprofessuren in England, Frankreich, Österreich und Deutschland wahrgenommen. Seine bevorzugten Arbeitsgebiete sind Bewertung, Sanierung und Analyse institutioneller Regelungen auf Kreditmärkten. Prof. Dr. Andreas Schüler ist Inhaber des Lehrstuhls für Finanzwirtschaft und Finanzdienstleistungen an der Universität der Bundeswehr München. Seine Arbeitsgebiete sind Unternehmensbewertung, wertorientierte Steuerung, betriebliche Altersversorgung, Sanierung und Leasing. Die wichtigsten Adressaten dieser Sammlung von Fallstudien zur Unternehmensbewertung sind Praktiker - Unternehmensberater, Investmentbanker, Wirtschaftsprüfer, Steuerberater, Manager in den Bereichen Rechnungslegung, Controlling und Finanzen, Investoren - und Studenten der Wirtschaftswissenschaften sowie des Rechts. Dieses Buch, das Bewertungen im Rahmen von Akquisitionen, Projektfinanzierungen, Börsengängen und Restrukturierungen behandelt, wird schon wegen der Breite der behandelten Bewertungsanlässe das Interesse einer großen Leserschaft wecken. Dieses Interesse wird nicht enttäuscht werden. Erstens ist die Vielfalt der behandelten Sachverhalte, denen allen reale Fälle zugrunde liegen, groß. Sie reicht von mittelständischen Unternehmen wie der „Werkzeug GmbH“ oder der „Optimale Leasing GmbH“ bis zu namhaften großen Unternehmen oder Projekten wie z. B. Airbus A380, Continental Airlines, Eurotunnel, Friedrich Deckel AG oder Fraport. Zweitens liefern die Autoren für jede Fallstudie detailreiche Beschreibungen und ausführliche Bewertungsgrundlagen, bevor der Leser zu eigenen Bewertungsversuchen aufgefordert wird. Drittens präsentiert dieses Buch ausführliche Lösungsvorschläge, begnügt sich also nicht mit den häufig anzutreffenden dürren Lösungshinweisen.

The bestselling author of the acclaimed House of Cards and The Last Tycoons turns his spotlight on to Goldman Sachs and the controversy behind its success. From the outside, Goldman Sachs is a perfect company. The Goldman PR machine loudly declares it to be smarter, more ethical, and more profitable than all of its competitors. Behind closed doors, however, the firm constantly straddles the line between conflict of interest and legitimate deal making, wields significant influence over all levels of government, and upholds a culture of power struggles and toxic paranoia. And its clever bet against the mortgage market in 2007—unknown to its clients—may have made the financial ruin of the Great Recession worse. Money and Power reveals the internal schemes that have guided the bank from its founding through its remarkable windfall during the 2008 financial crisis. Through extensive research and interviews with the inside players, including current CEO Lloyd Blankfein, William Cohan constructs a nuanced, timely portrait of Goldman Sachs, the company that was too big—and too ruthless—to fail.

Entrepreneurs who dream of building the next Amazon, Facebook, or Google can take advantage of one of the most powerful economic engines the world has ever known: venture capital. To do so, you need to woo, impress, and persuade venture capitalists to take a risk on an unproven idea. That task is challenge enough. But choosing the right investor can be harder still. Even if you manage to get backing, you want your VC to be a partner, not some adversary who will undermine your vision in order to make a quick return. Jeffrey Bussgang is one of a few people who have played on both sides of this high-stakes game. By his early thirties, he had helped build two successful start-ups-one went public, the other was acquired. Now he draws on his experience and unique perspective on the'other side'as a venture capitalist helping entrepreneurs bring their dreams to fruition. Bussgang offers detailed insights, colorful stories, and practical advice gathered from his own experience as well as from interviews with dozens of the most successful players on both sides of the game, including Twitter's Jack Dorsey and LinkedIn's Reid Hoffman. He reveals how to get noticed, perfect a pitch, and negotiate a partnership that works for everyone. An insider's guide to the secrets of the world venture capital, Mastering the VC Game will prove invaluable for entrepreneurs seeking capital and successful partnerships.

Diese Arbeit erweitert das bestehende Spektrum akademischer Untersuchungen der Börsengänge von Leveraged Buyouts, um neue Erkenntnisse über deren Charakteristika zum Zeitpunkt des IPO und die anschließende Performance zu gewinnen. Zu diesem Zweck analysiert der Autor die Kursentwicklung sowie die operative Performance für ein Sample aus 252 LBO-backed IPOs in den USA zwischen 1995 bis 2004 in den drei Jahren nach dem Börsengang. Im Fokus steht dabei einerseits die empirische Analyse der in der Praxis häufig geäußerten negativen Stereotype über LBO-backed IPOs; andererseits wird auch die Nachhaltigkeit der durch Finanzinvestoren erzielten Wertsteigerungen auf der Basis Agency-theoretischer Incentivierungsansätze betrachtet. Insbesondere wird untersucht, inwieweit der Eigenkapitalanteil der LBO-Fonds und ein hoher Verschuldungsgrad positive Anreizstrukturen für die Entwicklung der betroffenen Unternehmen darstellen.

Praise for Running a Public Company: From IPO to SEC Reporting'Steve Bragg's book is an essential read for anyone contemplating a public offering or taking on leadership responsibility in a public company. Not only does he explain the complicated aspects of registration and reporting, he provides practical examples of policies, procedures, and controls to keep a public company on the right track. This book is easy to follow and will continue to be a resource for the reader.'—Tom Wilkinson, PMB Helin Donovan, LLP'I will recommend Running a Public Company: From IPO to SEC Reporting to my clients and consulting colleagues as an excellent resource. The book provides helpful guidance about the decision to go public, and about managing the requirements once a company is public. Steve Bragg's extensive knowledge stems from actual business experience, and his writing style makes a complex topic easier to follow and understand.'—Valerie G. Walling, CPA, CMC, Management and Internal Controls Consultant'I highly recommend Steve's new book, Running a Public Company: From IPO to SEC Reporting, because it's a reference manual and insider's guide that contains a treasure trove of valuable insights certain to help managers, accountants, and attorneys navigate through the countless challenges that arise when taking (and keeping) a company public.'—Matthew Posta, Esq., CPA, Vice President of Finance, Key Air, LLC'Mr. Bragg has done an excellent job of demystifying what is required to run your company and sell your stock in the public markets. I consider this a must-read for anyone considering a public offering or working with a public company.'—Wray Rives, CPA'Running a Public Company: From IPO to SEC Reporting is an incredibly exhaustive guide to going public, spanning the process from first deciding to take the leap to filing with the SEC and everything in between—so comprehensive that it even includes the SEC's account number for paying filing fees! This is yet another Steven Bragg title for professionals that takes a complicated and oftentimes confusing process and breaks it down into simple, easy-to-follow steps. Should our company ever decide to make that jump, it is reassuring to know that Running a Public Company has laid out the path before us in perfect detail. Whether used as a reference or a guide, Mr. Bragg makes the process simple, clear, and amazingly straightforward.'—Adrienne Gonzalez, Project Coordinator, Roger CPA Review, Chief Information Officer, JrDeputyAccountant.com'The first A to Z guide that I have seen. An excellent reference for management and investors alike.'—Brian A. Lebrecht, Esq., President, The Lebrecht Group, APLC

Praise for International and U.S. IPO Planning'Perhaps the greatest value of Frederick Lipman's new book on initial public offerings derives—as its title indicates—from the emphasis that it places on planning. Lipman makes abundantly clear that an IPO is not something to be rushed into by every fledgling firm, as was typical during the dot.com boom of the late 1990s. Indeed, his extensive treatment of the many aspects of preparing a company for an IPO, particularly the non financial aspects, helps the reader to focus on the most important question of all: Is an IPO appropriate for a given company? Somewhat uniquely, Lipman then asks the further question of whether an international IPO might be appropriate for that company even if a domestic one were not. By doing so, he has made a real contribution to this literature.'—Kenneth C. Froewiss, Clinical Professor of Finance, NYU Stern School of Business'We are operating in a global environment in nearly every aspect of business, and structuring/planning for an IPO is no different. The recent changes in regulations for U.S.- listed companies have raised the cost of access of U.S.-listed IPO capital, making foreign exchanges much more attractive. Fred Lipman has created a wonderful guide for managers to seriously access this option for their business. I also hope his book is a wake-up call to U.S. regulators on their impact on the competitiveness of U.S. securities markets.'—Bob Hellman, Managing Partner & CEO, American Infrastructure MLP Funds'This book will be of immense value to the companies planning an IPO. I am particularly struck by the research done by the author, which, in my opinion, makes it an authentic guide for private companies not only in the U.S. but also in Asia, particularly India and China, where a huge opportunity awaits companies to mature into sustainable enterprises by involving a large section of society in their IPO.'—M.K. Chouhan, Chairman, Mahendra & Young Knowledge Foundation, and Vice Chairman of Global Advisory Board, Asian Centre for Corporate Governance'This book contains valuable suggestions for advanced planning for both U.S. and international IPOs and belongs in the library of every entrepreneur and business executive.'—William C. Tyson, Associate Professor, Legal Studies, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania 8 crucial steps to planning a successful IPO International and U.S. IPO Planning outlines the eight step-by-step techniques all private companies must follow to prepare for a successful IPO, either in the U.S. or internationally. From advance planning techniques for both an international and U.S. IPO, to growing a business through acquisitions and'roll-ups'prior to an IPO, to deterring unwanted suitors by inserting carefully placed provisions into the charter, and so much more, International and U.S. IPO Planning provides a wealth of practical and insightful guidance to help the private company go public, regardless of its size or location.

In good markets or bad, reverse mergers play a key role for companies that want to avoid the IPO route for going public. Since the successful first edition of Reverse Mergers was published in 2006, the economic and regulatory landscape has changed. Executives, owners, lawyers, accountants, professional investors, regulators, and others need to know what those changes mean for reverse mergers. Reverse-merger expert David Feldman gives an overview of the most important changes since the previous edition was published: new SEC regulations, the changing nature of SPACs (Special-Purpose Acquisition Company), and the emergence of new instruments called WRASPs (WestPark Alternative Senior Exchange Process). The book includes a new chapter on China, and the “Experts Speak” chapter features all new interviewees. David Feldman is one of the country's leading experts on reverse mergers, self-filings, and other alternatives to IPOs. His firm has guided hundreds of companies on going public, advising them on structure and mechanics, financing, due diligence, regulatory issues, and more.

Learn about initial public offerings, or IPOs.

Includes indexes.

Title from PDF cover (viewed on Dec. 5, 2007).

After the cooling off of IPOs since the dot com bubble, Google has rekindled the fire for IPOs. This IPO reader contains new articles exclusive to this reader by leading academics from around the world dealing with quantitative and qualitative analyses of this increasingly popular and important area of finance. Articles address new methods of IPO performance, international IPOs, IPO evaluation, IPO underwriting, evaluation and bookbuilding. Although numerous articles are technical in nature, with econometric and statistical models, particular attention has been directed towards the understanding and the applicability of the results as well as theoretical development in this area. This reader will assist researchers, academics, and graduate students to further understand the latest research on IPOs.•Interest in IPOs is increasing again after the Google IPO, and IPOs are up significantly from last year•Chapters by well known academics provide an international perspective, describing research results from IPO data in countries spanning the globe•Research is based on real results from IPO data collected over the past 5-7 years

An initial public offering (IPO) is one of the most significant events in corporate life. It follows months, even years of preparation. During the boom years of the late 1990s bull market, IPOs of growth companies captured the imagination and pocketbooks of investors like never before. This book goes behind the scenes to examine the process of an offering from the decision to go public to the procedures of a subsequent equity offering. The book is written from the perspective of an experienced investment banker describing the hows and whys of IPOs and subsequent equity issues. Each aspect of an IPO is illustrated with plenty of international examples pitched alongside relevant academic research to offer a combination of theoretical rigour and practical application. Topics covered are: - the decision to go public- legal and regulatory aspects of an offering; marketing and research- valuation and pricing- allocations of shares to investors - examination of fees and commissions• Global perpective: UK, European and US practices, regulations and examples, and case studies• First hand experience written by an IPO trader with academic rigour• Includes the changes in the market that resulted from 1998-2000 equity boom

Includes index.

Includes index.

The history, mystique, and remarkable success of Goldman Sachs, the world's premier investment bank, are examined in unprecedented depth in this fascinating and authoritative study. Former Goldman Sachs Vice President Lisa Endlich draws on an insider's knowledge and access to all levels of management to bring to life this unique company that has long mystified financial players and pundits.The firm's spectacular ascent is traced in the context of its tenacious grip on its core values. Endlich shows how close client contact, teamwork, focus on long-term profitability rather than short-term opportunism, and the ability to recruit consistently some of the most talented people on Wall Street helped the firm generate a phenomenal $3 billion in pretax profits in 1997. And she describes in detail the monumental events of 1998 that shook Goldman Sachs and the financial world.Her book documents some of the most stunning accomplishments in modern American finance, as told through the careers of the gifted and insightful men who have led Goldman Sachs. It begins with Marcus Goldman, a German immigrant who in 1869 founded the firm in a lower Manhattan basement. After the turn of the century, we see his son Henry and his son-in-law Sam Sachs develop a full-service bank. Sidney Weinberg, a kid from the streets, was initially hired as an assistant porter and became senior partner in 1930. We watch him as he steers the firm through the aftermath of the Crash and raises the Goldman Sachs name to national prominence. When he leaves in 1969 the firm has a solid-gold reputation and a first-class list of clients. We see his successor, Gus Levy, a trading wizard and in his day the best-known man on Wall Street, urging greater risk, inventing block trading (which revolutionized the exchanges), and psychologically preparing Goldman Sachs for the complex and perilous financial world that was the 1980s.Endlich shows us how co-CEOs John Whitehead and John Weinberg turned the family firm into a highly professional international organization with a culture that was the envy of Wall Street. She shows as well how Steve Friedman and Robert Rubin brought the firm to the pinnacle of investment banking, increased annual profits from $900 million to $2.7 billion, and achieved dominance in most of the businesses in which the firm competes internationally. We see how Goldman Sachs weathered both an insider trading scandal and the fallout from its relationship with Robert Maxwell.We are taken to the present day, as Jon Corzine and Hank Paulson lead the firm out of turmoil to face the most important decision ever placed before the partnership--the question of a public sale. For many years the leadership wrestled with the issue behind closed doors. Now, against the backdrop of unforeseen events, we witness the passionate debate that engulfed the entire partnership. A rare and revealing look inside a great institution--the last private partnership on Wall Street--and inside the financial world at its highest levels.