Google Tries To Silence IPO Rumours

egoff writes "Google has put off an IPO for now, saying "Thus far, laziness has always won out. There are so many better things to do." The New York Post suggests that Google's focus on R&D doesn't really mesh with the financial accountability of a publicly traded company. However, many analysts believe a successfully Google IPO could rejuvenate Internet-company investments."

Comments

Surely the entire sector doesn't rely on this

[zeoslap]

It's a little sad that this guy thinks the entire sector hinges on this one company. IPOs while all well and good invariably change the nature of the beast which in Googles case would be a sad sad thing. Stay private, make your employees and customers happy and be your own man.

Re:Surely the entire sector doesn't rely on this

[Dominic_Mazzoni]

Actually, I wonder if the employees would be happier with an IPO.

I believe Microsoft didn't go public for a long time until internal pressure forced the issue because the employees wanted their stock to be worth something.

I doubt that most of their employees want an IPO. The way the economy is today, they should feel very lucky for what they have: good salaries, job security, incredible benefits (games, massages, free snacks, and a grand piano), and the satisfaction of working for a company they believe in.

When the economy picks up again, there'll probably be more employee pressure. I hope not: I think that the main reason Google hasn't sold out yet is that they don't have to answer to anyone. Once shareholders are in control, there's a much bigger chance that they'll eventually stop doing what's right, and start maximizing profits.

Don't do it, Google!

[The G]

Don't do it! Google is too good to be public, too innovative to be tied down to corporate short-termism and profit-seeking. Google is too clever, too innovative, too simple, and too sensible to survive the public sphere and its short-term-profit-at-any-cost shit-where-you-eat demands.

Google is better with its current benevolent dictatorship than with a democracy of ignorant stockholders.

That said, if they do IPO, I know I'll be among many others asking, where can I get some?
--G

Re:Be Pessimistic for a minute...

[rbolkey]

Plus, the sector STILL appears to be overvalued. Amazon and Yahoo! are all still priced at over 80 times 2003 estimated earnings. That needs to come down significantly more before I'd be happy to see it start going up again.

Re:Private companies = freedom

[squaretorus]

Private companies rule! Stock market pressures have knackered so many decent companies because their focus shifts from TRUE value to PERCEIVED value.

Its the same in politics and war mongering now - better to be SEEN to be doing good than to actually do any good.

Stay private google. Please

Hope They Stay Private

[CowboyBob500]

The company I work for went public a couple of years ago. Now it's going down the pan. It's all about projected sales. The sales force are making sales for software that isn't even written yet just so it can get on the balance sheet before the end of April. And some of the "customers" are expecting deliverables as soon as September.

When it was a private company no-one had to sell anything until it was ready. We went from being R&D led to being sales led. We used to have great products. Now quality is suffering because of the drive to get everything out in time to make those sales figures look good. It can't and won't last. A successful company has been driven into the ground by the money men.

Bob

And no, I can't tell you who I work for ;-)