Too few were paying attention to their financial design. Early on, companies must take charge of how they are perceived on Wall Street. High market value offers strategic advantages in valuable stock and sheer size. A company must also develop an infrastructure of financial managers to deploy capital. These days, mere access to capital isn't enough.
Companies have to structure their capital to leave room for change and growth.
To his surprise, Cotsakos pitched the idea of merging the two companies to build a financial portal. By contrast, pure online brokers such as Ameritrade Holding and CSFBdirect have been hit hard by the drop in trading volume. They certainly deserve a premium over someone like Ameritrade. That backing enabled the company to push its brand and broaden its scope. Related Articles Loren Fox Loren Fox is a senior editor in the New York office of Business 2.0.