27.2.1 Sell Side

27.2.1 Sell Side

Introduction

In this section, we will delve into the roles and responsibilities of investment dealers on the sell side, particularly those based in Canada. Investment dealers engage in various activities that facilitate capital markets transactions on behalf of their clients. It’s crucial to understand that while this chapter focuses on sell-side investment dealers, other types of sell-side firms include mutual fund dealers and exempt market dealers.

Types of Investment Dealers

Investment dealers are generally categorized based on the scope of their activities and services offered. They typically fall into three main types:

1. Full-Service Dealers
2. Investment Banking Boutiques
3. Self-Directed Dealers

Full-Service Dealers

Full-service dealers are involved in almost every aspect of the securities markets. Their extensive service offerings include:

• Debt and equity security underwriting
• Distribution and secondary market trading
• Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) advisory
• Fundamental research and technical analysis
• Over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives sales and trading
• Commodities and futures trading
• Economic analysis and forecasting

These dealers operate on both national and international scales, catering to retail and institutional investors alike.

Key Takeaway: Full-service dealers offer a broad array of services covering almost all facets of the securities market, making them integral players for clients seeking diversified financial services.

Investment Banking Boutiques

Investment banking boutiques specialize in a more focused range of services. Their chief activities include:

• Debt and equity security underwriting
• Sales and secondary market trading
• M&A advisory services
• Fundamental equity research targeting specific industry sectors and companies they underwrite

Unlike full-service dealers, investment banking boutiques do not usually engage in OTC derivatives trading or commodities and forex trading. Moreover, their services are generally tailored for institutional investors rather than retail clients.

Key Takeaway: Investment banking boutiques provide specialized services with a focus on institutional clients, differentiating themselves by their industry-specific expertise.

Self-Directed Dealers

Self-directed or discount dealers cater primarily to retail investors who prefer managing and trading their own portfolios. They provide quick and easy access to trading platforms via internet and telephone. Key points regarding self-directed dealers:

• They focus on secondary equity trading services
• They do not provide investment advice
• They emphasize cost-effective trading, contrasting with full-service dealers

These dealers operate either as independent entities or as affiliates of full-service dealers.

Key Takeaway: Self-directed dealers compete on price and platform usability, appealing to retail clients looking for low-cost, self-managed trading solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What separates full-service dealers from other types of investment dealers? A1: Full-service dealers offer a comprehensive range of services across multiple facets of the stock market, catering to both retail and institutional clients, unlike investment banking boutiques and self-directed dealers.

Q2: Why do investment banking boutiques focus only on institutional clients? A2: Investment banking boutiques specialize in tailored services like underwriting and M&A advisory that are typically more relevant to institutional clients rather than individual retail investors.

Q3: How do self-directed dealers keep costs low for their clients? A3: These dealers operate without providing advisory services, focusing solely on trade execution, which allows them to minimize operational costs and offer discounted trade fees to clients.

Glossary

• Underwriting: The process through which an investment bank raises investment capital from investors on behalf of corporations and governments that are issuing securities.
• Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A): Financial transactions that result in the ownership of one company being taken over by another.
• Over-the-Counter (OTC) Derivatives: Financial contracts that are traded directly between two parties, outside of organized exchanges.
• Retail Investors: Individual investors who buy and sell securities for their personal account, not for another company or organization.
• Institutional Investors: Organizations that invest large sums of money into securities, real estate, and other investment assets.

Key Takeaways

• Full-Service Dealers offer extensive services covering almost all aspects of securities markets, targeting both retail and institutional investors.
• Investment Banking Boutiques concentrate on specialized services for institutional investors, without engaging in commodities and forex trading.
• Self-Directed Dealers provide cost-effective trading platforms for retail investors who prefer to manage their portfolios without advisory support.

Understanding these distinct categories helps investors make informed decisions about which type of firm best suits their investment needs.