Investment Banking Operations: Financial Derivatives and Options Trading - Career (1998)

Investment banking has changed over the years, beginning as a partnership form focused on underwriting security issuance (initial public offerings and secondary offerings), brokerage, and mergers and acquisitions, and evolving into a "full-service" range including sell-side research, proprietary trading, and investment management. In the modern 21st century, the SEC filings of the major independent investment banks such as Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley reflect three product segments: (1) investment banking (fees for M&A advisory services and securities underwriting); (2) asset management (fees for sponsored investment funds), and (3) trading and principal investments (broker-dealer activities including proprietary trading ("dealer" transactions) and brokerage trading ("broker" transactions)).




In the United States, commercial banking and investment banking were separated by the Glass--Steagall Act, which was repealed in 1999. The repeal led to more "universal banks" offering an even greater range of services. Many large commercial banks have therefore developed investment banking divisions through acquisitions and hiring. Notable large banks with significant investment banks include JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Barclays, and Wells Fargo. After the financial crisis of 2007--2008 and the subsequent passage of the Dodd--Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, regulations have limited certain investment banking operations, notably with the Volcker Rule's restrictions on proprietary trading.[2]
The traditional service of underwriting security issues has declined as a percentage of revenue. As far back as 1960, 70% of Merrill Lynch's revenue was derived from transaction commissions while "traditional investment banking" services accounted for 5%. However, Merrill Lynch was a relatively "retail-focused" firm with a large brokerage network.

Corporate finance is the traditional aspect of investment banks which also involves helping customers raise funds in capital markets and giving advice on mergers and acquisitions (M&A). This may involve subscribing investors to a security issuance, coordinating with bidders, or negotiating with a merger target. Another term for the investment banking division is corporate finance, and its advisory group is often termed "mergers and acquisitions". A pitch book of financial information is generated to market the bank to a potential M&A client; if the pitch is successful, the bank arranges the deal for the client. The investment banking division (IBD) is generally divided into industry coverage and product coverage groups. Industry coverage groups focus on a specific industry -- such as healthcare, public finance (governments), FIG (financial institutions group), industrials, TMT (technology, media, and telecommunication) -- and maintains relationships with corporations within the industry to bring in business for the bank. Product coverage groups focus on financial products -- such as mergers and acquisitions, leveraged finance, public finance, asset finance and leasing, structured finance, restructuring, equity, and high-grade debt -- and generally work and collaborate with industry groups on the more intricate and specialized needs of a client. The Wall Street Journal, in partnership with Dealogic, publishes figures on investment banking revenue such as M&A in its Investment Banking Scorecard.

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