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Wide Bridge, Inc. Teams Up with MZ North America To Expand Pre-IPO Advisory Services
Alina Plaia to lead MZ’s IPO advisory vertical globally to enhance MZ’s comprehensive one‐stop‐shop business model for Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
NEW YORK, November 6, 2019 — Wide Bridge, Inc. (WBI), a premier provider of investor relations and financial advisory services, today announced its partnership with MZ North America, the US division of MZ Group – a multinational company and the world’s largest independent investor relations and corporate communications firm, to jointly propel expansion of Pre-IPO Advisory Services aimed to guide companies through every step of the journey to a successful IPO.
Wide Bridge, Inc.’s CEO and Co-Founder Alina Plaia, will head MZ’s mission to lead private companies through the complex IPO process, from careful planning and impeccable execution to consequently flowing successful IR strategy and support, expanding into post-IPO phase. Services span initial assessments of IPO readiness, testing the waters as early as 24 months prior to planned listing, advice on optimal investment banking syndicate selection, prospectus and marketing materials creation, as well as key investor introductions long before the IPO roadshow.
“Our focus is to equip clients with the knowledge they need to navigate the IPO journey,” said Alina. “The end goal is a winning IPO that continues to create value for all shareholders year over year, strengthens corporate and financial brand of our clients, enhances their visibility, transparency, market positioning, and management credibility. Our team will serve as an internal chaperone, acting as an issuer’s advocate and advisor, exercising the highest degree of fiduciary duty to the client company, its management, its Board, and its stakeholders. I look forward to combining my Pre-IPO, investment banking, and IR experience with incredible technological and financial resources, diverse expertise, and global brand of MZ Group, to broadening the spectrum of its much-needed services into the pre-IPO segment.”
Ted Haberfield, President of MZ North America, added, “MZ understands the key attributes of an effective IPO and transition to a public company. With Alina’s extensive capital markets achievements, such as raising over $1Bn in capital for clients across all market caps, combined with MZ’s established investor relations program and technology solutions, we can now offer services throughout the complete lifetime of a company. We welcome her aboard the MZ team.”
Ms. Plaia has 20 years of experience in investor relations and communications, investment banking and equity research sales, SEC and FINRA regulatory reporting. Coupled with a CPA background and IR Charter from NIRI, her background brings an invaluable multi-faceted approach in preparing companies for growth and productive interactions in capital markets. Alina honed her expertise on Wall Street as a Director of Emerging Markets Research Sales in the Investment Banking division of UniCredit Securities in New York City. During her tenure within European Equity Sales team, she liaised with major U.S. asset managers assisting them with research ideas and advice on navigating through capital markets in Central & Eastern Europe. Prior to UniCredit Ms. Plaia was part of a regulatory reporting and asset and liability management teams at Societe Generale, SG Cowen, and Credit Suisse. She holds MBA in Finance from New York University. Ms. Plaia is a member of OSEA Angels Community and an active participant of Titan Angles fund. Ms. Plaia is also a CEO and a Co-Founder of Wide Bridge, Inc., a boutique advisory firm that serves high growth technology companies worldwide since 2008. She lives with her family in Newport Coast, California. Her philanthropy efforts focus on serving on the Board of Laguna Beach Boys and Girls Club and on several advisory committees in charge of strategy and special projects.
IPO Advisory Services include:
Planning
- Assessing IPO readiness and investment banking landscape
- Advice on syndicate selection
- Market interest evaluation and appraisal
- Coordination of complete placement process
Execution
- Prospectus drafting
- IPO marketing materials – Presentation, Fact Sheet & Video
- Roadshow scripting
- Management coaching and Q&A preparation
- Regulation FD and compliance training for senior staff
- Industry and peer intelligence
- Financial models, valuation and forecasting support
- Exchange venue selection
- Dedicated market maker selection (when appropriate)
- ESG and CSR Best Practices
- Investor targeting
- Introductions to key IPO institutional buyers and equity research analysts
- Deal roadshow feedback and analysis
- IPO day financial media and public relations strategy and execution
Post IPO – Transition to Investor Relations and Corporate Communications program utilizing MZ Technology Solutions:
- IR website development and coordination
- Press release and shareholder communication distribution
- CRM and shareholder communication systems
- Surveillance and Market Intelligence Services
- Preparation for 10-Q and 10-K, earnings released and conference calls
- Employee communications and spokesperson guidelines
- Manage investor expectations with clear and effective communications
- Public relations and social media strategy
- Non-deal road shows and expansion of analyst coverage
About Wide Bridge, Inc.
Wide Bridge, Inc.® (WBI) is a premier investor relations advisory and financial services company that caters to the needs of small to mid-cap publicly traded companies and privately owned small and medium size enterprises. WBI specializes in pre-IPO assessment, capital markets advisory, investor relations strategy, corporate access and other investor-focused events, proactive investor relations management, private placement advisory, and all aspects of corporate communications. For private companies Wide Bridge provides full support and execution of growth strategy, business development, capital introduction advisory, and other services. For more information please visit Wide Bridge, Inc. website.
About MZ Group
MZ North America is the US division of MZ Group, a multinational company and the world’s largest independent investor relations and corporate communications firm. MZ North America, which was founded in 1996, currently serves 35 public companies representing several industries and sectors and focuses on providing innovative personalized services to private and public companies, supported by our exclusive one‐stop‐shop business model. Through a proven track record of timely execution and consistently identifying winning companies, MZ North America has become a trusted brand in the market. MZ North America has a global footprint with offices located in New York, Chicago, San Diego, Orange County, Austin, Minneapolis, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Taipei, and São Paulo. For more information please visit MZ North America’s website.
Contact
To inquire about WBI’s and MZ’s products and services, please contact:
Alina Plaia
Wide Bridge, Inc. | CEO and Co-Founder
MZ Group | MD – MZ North America | Pre-IPO Advisory
Direct: 949 202 5552
Ted Haberfield
MZ Group | President – MZ North America
Direct: 760-755-2716