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17 Nov 2025

What is Investment Banking? Meaning, Services & Career Scope

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Key Takeaways:
 

  • Investment banks help companies get money from people who want to invest.
     
  • These banks charge high fees but pay their workers very well.
     
  • Investment banking jobs need long hours but offer good career growth.

 

Investment banking enables companies to raise capital from investors. These banks connect businesses with people who want to invest.

 

Reliance Industries wants to raise ₹5,000 crores for expansion. HDFC Investment Bank helps them sell shares to the public. The bank charges ₹50 crores as fees for this service. Reliance successfully raises the required money. Thousands of investors buy Reliance shares through this process.

Investment Banking Services

 

Investment banks offer various corporate finance services with fees typically ranging from 0.5% to 5% of transaction value.
 

Service Type

Purpose

Typical Fee

Time Required

Share Issue

Raise money from the public

2-4% of the amount

3-6 months

Merger Help

Combine two companies

1-2% of deal value

6-12 months

Bond Sales

Borrow money from investors

0.5-1% of the amount

2-4 months

Advisory

Give business advice

Fixed fee or hourly

1-3 months

Private Placement

Sell shares to big investors

3-5% of the amount

2-5 months

 

Transaction complexity and risk levels directly correlate with both fee percentages and completion timeframes across these services.

 

Investment banks employ skilled financial experts and analysts. They study market conditions before launching new share issues. These banks also assist companies in buying or selling businesses. They earn money by charging fees for their services. Read this blog to know more about Investment Banking.

1. Initial Public Offering (IPO) Services

 

An IPO helps private companies sell shares to public investors. Investment banks guide companies through this complex process. They decide share prices and manage the entire offering.

 

Zomato wanted to go public and raise ₹9,375 crores. Kotak Mahindra Investment Bank led the IPO process. The bank priced Zomato shares at ₹76 each. Over 38,00,000 investors applied for Zomato shares. The IPO got oversubscribed by 38 times. Kotak earned approximately ₹94,00,00,000 as management fees.

 

Investment banks create detailed company reports for investors. They conduct road shows to attract institutional investors worldwide. Banks also ensure all legal requirements are met. They coordinate with stock exchanges for a smooth listing.

 

Recent major Indian IPOs show varied investor demand and consistent bank fee structures.
 

Company

IPO Size

Lead Bank

Share Price

Oversubscription

Bank Fees

Zomato

₹9,375 crores

Kotak Mahindra

₹76

38 times

₹94 crores

Paytm

₹18,300 crores

Morgan Stanley

₹2,150

1.89 times

₹183 crores

Nykaa

₹5,352 crores

Kotak Mahindra

₹1,125

82 times

₹53 crores

PolicyBazaar

₹5,710 crores

ICICI Securities

₹980

17 times

₹57 crores

 

Bank fees remain proportional to issue size regardless of market demand levels.

 

IPO success depends on market conditions and timing. Banks carefully analyse investor demand before pricing shares. Strong company fundamentals attract significantly more investor interest.

 

2. Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) Advisory

 

M&A advisory helps companies buy or sell other businesses. Investment banks value companies and negotiate deal terms. They ensure smooth completion of complex transactions.

 

Tata Group acquired Air India for ₹18,000 crores. Goldman Sachs advised the Tata Group throughout the process. The bank helped structure the complex deal financing. They conducted due diligence on Air India's operations. Goldman Sachs earned ₹180 crores as advisory fees.

 

Investment banks identify potential acquisition targets for clients. They perform a detailed financial analysis of target companies. Banks also help arrange financing for large deals. They negotiate terms between buyers and sellers.

 

Major Indian M&A transactions showcase international investment banks advising on multi-billion rupee deals.
 

Deal

Buyer

Seller

Deal Value

Advisory Bank

Bank Fees

Air India

Tata Group

Government

₹18,000 crores

Goldman Sachs

₹180 crores

Flipkart

Walmart

Flipkart

₹1,20,000 crores

Morgan Stanley

₹1,200 crores

Essar Oil

Rosneft

Essar Group

₹69,000 crores

JP Morgan

₹690 crores

Idea-Vodafone

Vodafone

Idea Cellular

₹1,08,000 crores

Deutsche Bank

₹1,080 crores

 

Advisory fees consistently maintain a 1% rate across all deal values regardless of transaction complexity.

 

M&A deals require extensive legal and financial expertise. Banks coordinate with lawyers and accountants throughout. Successful deals create value for all parties involved.

3. Corporate Finance and Debt Raising

 

Corporate finance helps companies raise money through bonds. Investment banks structure debt products for different needs. They connect companies with institutional lenders and investors.

 

Bharti Airtel needed ₹25,000 crores for network expansion. Axis Capital helped them issue corporate bonds. The bank structured bonds with 7.5% annual interest. Over 50 institutional investors participated in the offering. Axis Capital earned ₹125 crores as underwriting fees.

 

Investment banks assess company creditworthiness before bond issuance. They determine appropriate interest rates for different maturities. Banks also help companies refinance existing expensive debt. They provide ongoing financial advisory services, too.

 

Corporate bond issuances by major Indian companies reflect varying credit profiles and market conditions.

 

Company

Debt Amount

Lead Bank

Interest Rate

Maturity

Bank Fees

Bharti Airtel

₹25,000 crores

Axis Capital

7.5%

10 years

₹125 crores

Reliance

₹45,000 crores

HDFC Bank

6.8%

15 years

₹225 crores

Adani Ports

₹15,000 crores

SBI Capital

8.2%

7 years

₹75 crores

Mahindra

₹8,000 crores

Kotak Mahindra

7.9%

5 years

₹40 crores

 

Bank fees maintain a consistent 0.5% structure while interest rates vary based on company creditworthiness and tenure.

 

Debt financing costs less than equity for companies. Banks help optimise debt-equity ratios for clients. Credit rating agencies evaluate bond quality independently. Higher ratings result in lower borrowing costs.

4. Trading and Market Making

 

Trading involves buying and selling securities for profit. Investment banks trade stocks, bonds, and derivatives daily. They also provide liquidity to financial markets.

 

HDFC Securities trades ₹500 crores worth of securities daily. The bank employs 100 skilled traders across India. They earn ₹2-3 crores profit daily from trading. The bank also helps clients execute large transactions. Trading contributes 30% of total bank revenue annually.

 

Investment banks use advanced technology for high-frequency trading. They employ quantitative analysts to develop trading strategies. Banks also provide research reports to institutional clients. Market making ensures smooth price discovery mechanisms.

 

Leading Indian securities firms demonstrate scale advantages in trading operations and revenue generation.
 

Bank

Daily Trading Volume

Number of Traders

Daily Profit

Trading Revenue

HDFC Securities

₹500 crores

100

₹2.5 crores

₹900 crores/year

ICICI Securities

₹400 crores

80

₹2 crores

₹720 crores/year

Kotak Securities

₹350 crores

75

₹1.8 crores

₹650 crores/year

Axis Securities

₹300 crores

60

₹1.5 crores

₹540 crores/year

 

Trading volume directly correlates with both workforce size and profitability across these securities operations.

 

Trading requires sophisticated risk management systems constantly. Banks monitor market volatility and adjust positions accordingly. Regulatory compliance remains crucial for all trading activities. Technology upgrades help maintain competitive advantages significantly.

5. Career Opportunities and Salary Structure

 

Investment banking offers exciting career opportunities for finance graduates. Banks hire analysts, associates, and senior professionals. Compensation packages include high salaries and performance bonuses.

 

Rahul joins Goldman Sachs as an investment banking analyst. His starting salary is ₹15,00,000 per annum. He also receives a ₹8,00,000 annual bonus. After three years, he becomes an associate manager. His total compensation increases to ₹35,00,000 annually.

 

Investment banks prefer candidates with strong analytical skills. They recruit from top business schools and universities. Banks provide extensive training programmes for new employees. Career progression depends on performance and client relationships.

 

Investment banking compensation packages demonstrate significant progression with experience and seniority levels.

 

Position

Experience

Base Salary

Bonus

Total Package

Analyst

0-2 years

₹15,00,000

₹8,00,000

₹23,00,000

Associate

2-5 years

₹25,00,000

₹15,00,000

₹40,00,000

Vice President

5-8 years

₹45,00,000

₹30,00,000

₹75,00,000

Director

8-12 years

₹80,00,000

₹60,00,000

₹1,40,00,000

Managing Director

12+ years

₹1,50,00,000

₹1,20,00,000

₹2,70,00,000

 

Bonus components comprise 35-45% of total compensation, maintaining consistent ratios across all hierarchy levels.

 

Investment banking demands long working hours and dedication. Professionals often work 80-100 hours per week. International exposure and travel opportunities attract many candidates. Success requires strong communication and networking skills.

 

Bonus Tip: Investment banks also help governments sell bonds to raise money for public projects like roads and hospitals.

Conclusion

 

Investment banks help companies find money from investors. Companies pay these banks good fees for their help. Investment banking jobs pay well but workers must work very hard. These banks help the economy grow. They help businesses get bigger and create more jobs for people across the country.

FAQs
 

Q1: Do investment bankers wear suits every day?
Yes, they dress formally for client meetings.

Q2: Can I become rich working in investment banking?
Many bankers earn millions after 10-15 years.

Q3: Do investment bankers get weekends off?
Rarely, they often work on Saturdays too.

Q4: Which city has the most investment banking jobs in India?
Mumbai is India's financial capital.

Q5: Do investment banks hire people without MBA degrees?
Top firms prefer MBA graduates from premier institutes.
 

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