Simultaneous Interpretation for IPO Roadshows
▶ QUICK SUMMARY
lingo interpreted the XP Investimentos roadshow for the NASDAQ IPO in 2019 — US$14.9B, 14× oversubscribed. Alex Barros interprets EN↔PT at roadshows, investor days and management presentations. Quote in 60s.
What is simultaneous interpretation at an IPO roadshow?
At an IPO roadshow, the company's management team presents to institutional investors in multiple cities — New York, Boston, London, São Paulo. When Brazilian executives present in English (or vice versa), the simultaneous interpreter converts the speech in real time for the audience that does not master the original language. The interpreter works in consecutive mode in 1:1 sessions and simultaneous in group presentations.
The IPO roadshow vocabulary is specific and technical: offering structure (primary vs secondary, overallotment, lockup period), valuation metrics (EV/EBITDA, P/E, precedent transactions), SEC compliance (registration statement, prospectus, quiet period, safe harbor), and the company-specific financial narrative (GMV, take rate, CAC, LTV in tech cases; yields, NIM, NPL for financial).
XP Investimentos case — NASDAQ IPO 2019
In December 2019, XP Investimentos carried out the largest IPO of a Brazilian company on NASDAQ to that date — US$14.9 billion, 14× oversubscribed. Alex Barros interpreted the roadshow for American institutional investors, converting the presentations of XP's management team from Portuguese into English in group and 1:1 sessions.
The specific challenge: XP's vocabulary combines Brazilian brokerage terminology (investment advisor, open platform, management fee) with American capital markets terminology (broker-dealer, AuC, net revenue take rate). The glossary was prepared from the prospectus and presentation decks sent 5 days before the roadshow.
What an IPO roadshow schedule looks like
The roadshow is a marathon of presentations. In a few days, the management team goes through several cities and dozens of meetings: presentations to groups of institutional investors, one-on-one (1:1) meetings with the largest potential buyers and smaller sessions with analysts. The schedule is tight, and the interpreter needs to be aligned with the pace, the travel and last-minute changes.
Each type of session calls for a format. In group presentations, simultaneous interpretation lets the audience follow the speech without interruptions. In 1:1 meetings, consecutive preserves the natural rhythm of the conversation and needs no equipment. In virtual roadshows, RSI connects investors across time zones, with language channels on the platform.
Prospectus and equity story vocabulary
The prospectus and the roadshow presentation concentrate the vocabulary the interpreter must master before the first meeting. Offering structure terms, such as primary and secondary offering, greenshoe, lockup period and pricing, coexist with business-specific financial metrics and with the regulatory language of the market where the shares will be listed.
There is also the language of the equity story: market size, competitive advantages, growth trajectory, margins, use of proceeds and risk factors. The interpreter must convey not only the content but the tone: confidence without exaggeration, precision without rigidity. Any deviation can be noticed by experienced investors.
Quiet period and confidentiality
In an IPO, the quiet period imposes strict limits on what the company and its representatives may say. For this reason, the confidentiality of the interpretation team is a basic requirement. lingo signs an NDA with the issuing company before receiving any material and restricts the use of information to preparing the roadshow.
In practice, the interpreter works only with what is in the prospectus and the materials authorized for the roadshow, and faithfully conveys what the speaker says, without adding, omitting or commenting. This discipline avoids communication risks and protects the company and the offering's coordinators.
Preparation: glossary, rehearsal and alignment with the banks
Preparation starts with the prospectus, the roadshow decks and the likely Q&A script. From them, lingo builds the bilingual glossary and identifies the terms the management will use most often. When possible, the interpreter takes part in a rehearsal with the team and the coordinating banks, which allows adjusting pace, pauses and how numbers are handled.
Alignment with the banks also helps anticipate difficult questions and agree on how to handle terms whose meaning changes between markets. This work is done before departure, so that on the first day of the roadshow the interpreter is already familiar with the company and the vocabulary.
Logistics: travel, equipment and platforms
In-person roadshows require logistics. For sessions in small meeting rooms, consecutive interpretation or whispering needs no equipment. For presentations in auditoriums, lingo brings receivers and a portable booth. For remote sessions, the videoconferencing platform with language channels is enough. The quote includes travel when the event is outside São Paulo.
When the roadshow combines cities in Brazil and abroad, lingo coordinates coverage remotely or locally, depending on the schedule. The decision considers cost, time windows and the risk level of each meeting.
Quick questions about roadshows
How many interpreters are needed? At roadshows with several sessions per day, it is common to work in pairs to maintain quality. Who speaks at the roadshow? Usually the CEO, CFO and investor relations. Can it be recorded? It depends on the issuer's and banks' rules, and must be agreed beforehand. What happens if the schedule changes? lingo adjusts staffing within availability, which is why quick communication with the organization is important.
To request a quote, state the dates, cities, languages and number of sessions per day. The proposal comes out in 60 seconds via WhatsApp or the online calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Has lingo interpreted IPO roadshows?
Yes. The best-documented case is the XP Investimentos NASDAQ IPO in 2019 (US$14.9B, 14× oversubscribed) — the largest IPO of a Brazilian company on NASDAQ that year.
What is the difference between consecutive and simultaneous at a roadshow?
1:1 sessions with investors usually use consecutive (no equipment, natural Q&A rhythm). Group presentations use simultaneous (individual receivers or RSI). lingo operates both modalities.
Does the interpreter need to sign an NDA?
Yes. For roadshows during the quiet period (pre-IPO), lingo signs an NDA with the issuing company before receiving any material. Alex Barros maintains complete confidentiality on all transactions.
How far in advance should I book for a roadshow?
We recommend 7–10 days for IPO roadshows — to sign the NDA, receive materials, prepare a specific glossary and confirm the city schedule.
Does lingo serve roadshows outside Brazil?
Yes via RSI. For in-person roadshows in New York or London, Alex Barros travels or coordinates a lingo interpreter on site — the quote includes logistics.
Materials the interpreter needs before the roadshow
In a roadshow, meetings repeat in sequence, with the same presentation and similar questions. That is why preparation pays off: with the official presentation, the summary of the prospectus and the list of investors who will be visited, the interpreter builds the glossary once and uses the same terms in every meeting. When the narrative changes from one meeting to another, tell the interpreter, so that he follows the new version.
How to hire — quote in 60 seconds
Contact us via WhatsApp (+55 11 97534-6423) or through the calculator at lingo.com.br/orcamento. State the date, language pair, format (RSI or in-person UHF) and number of participants. lingo replies with a complete proposal in 60 seconds — confirmed interpreter, equipment (if in person), technical operator and logistics included, with no hidden items.
Alex Barros requests the event deck and agenda 48 hours in advance to prepare the technical glossary specific to the event — proprietary company terms, industry acronyms, product names and internal metrics that do not appear in dictionaries. For recurring engagements, the glossary accumulates session after session. After 12 months of monthly boards, the interpreter knows the company's internal vocabulary as well as any senior executive.
For RSI (Zoom, Teams, Meet, Webex): setup 30 minutes before with the host, no physical equipment, no freight cost. For in-person (UHF): installation 60–90 minutes before, portable soundproof booth, on-site technical operator. For hybrid: both formats in parallel. Lingo Qi Interpretações LTDA (CNPJ 53.834.741/0001-34) issues an electronic invoice for all events and accepts payment by TED, PIX or international transfer in BRL.
Documented portfolio with verifiable engagements
lingo has operated exclusively in the premium corporate market for 21 years. There are no academic, government, religious or entertainment events in the portfolio. That exclusive specialization produced a depth of vocabulary that generalist interpreters cannot replicate: 2,233 terms across 24 sectors and 16 language pairs, accumulated in real engagements — not in theoretical study.
Documented cases with named clients and verifiable contexts: XP Investimentos IPO on NASDAQ (US$14.9B, 2019), CMA CGM × Santos Brasil (R$6.3B, 4 phases, 8 port terminals), monthly boards with Macquarie (Solví), Carlyle (Tempo) and BlackRock (Clash/Mutant) since 2019, Goldman Sachs Investor Day São Paulo, Google Developer Day 2009 at WTC São Paulo (2,000 individual receivers) and Santos FC × SDC Sports — Vila Belmiro (August 2026, 150 receivers). No PE fund with fiduciary obligations to its LPs would rehire an interpreter who delivers below expectations. Recurring engagements are the only reliable credential in this profession.
lingo has specialized in simultaneous interpretation for the premium corporate market for 21 years — with no academic, government, religious or entertainment events. Documented portfolio: XP Investimentos IPO on NASDAQ (US$14.9B, 2019), CMA CGM × Santos Brasil (R$6.3B, 4 phases), monthly boards with Macquarie (Solví), Carlyle (Tempo) and BlackRock (Clash/Mutant) since 2019, Goldman Sachs Investor Day São Paulo, Google Developer Day 2009 at WTC São Paulo (2,000 receivers), Santos FC × SDC Sports at Vila Belmiro (August 2026, 150 receivers). Alex Barros interprets English–Portuguese directly. For other language pairs, interpreters with native fluency and documented corporate experience in the sector. Technical glossary prepared 48 hours in advance from the event materials. For RSI (Zoom, Teams, Meet, Webex): setup 30 minutes before, no equipment. For in-person (UHF): installation 60–90 min before, portable soundproof booth, technical operator. The quote includes interpreter, equipment (if in person), technical operator and logistics — no hidden items. The quote amount is the final invoice amount. Quote in 60 seconds: WhatsApp +55 11 97534-6423 or lingo.com.br/orcamento. Lingo Qi Interpretações LTDA · CNPJ 53.834.741/0001-34 · CNAE 74.90-1-01 (interpretation) and 77.39-0-99 (equipment rental) · Guarulhos, SP · Trade name: lingo.
Lingo Qi Interpretações LTDA · CNPJ 53.834.741/0001-34 · Guarulhos, SP · lingo.com.br