Seminar paper from the year 2019 in the subject Business economics - Investment and Finance, grade: 1,3, University of applied sciences Frankfurt a. M., course: MBA, language: English, abstract: This paper will give a general overview of the motives, the process and the risks of an Initial Public Offering. As part of this assignment, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange was chosen as an example. The requirements for a company and the admission by the BaFin should be exemplary for the different parts of the process of an IPO in general. An IPO describes a company’s first-time placement of shares on a regulated market of a stock exchange. This can mean converting a company from private to public ownership. The transition from a private to a public company can be an important time for private investors to fully realize gains from their investment as it typically includes share premiums for current private investors. Meanwhile, it also allows public investors to participate in the offering. The company will go through different phases during an IPO. During the process strengths, weaknesses, risks and opportunities will be assessed by the company and external parties. Once the decision is made for an IPO it can be a promising step towards a more independent future of a company.