Google IPO Swami

The Google IPO Swami writes: "I'm running an experiment and Slashdot readers would be good contributors. As you may know, Google recently announced that they will be using a unique dutch auction structure to price shares of their IPO. Instead of having the underwriters determine the opening price, the price will be set by the demand of investors that register to participate. I'm interested in how well the public can estimate this demand and the price of the shares to be offered. I'm giving away free shares in Google to find out. The person that comes closest to estimating the opening and closing price of the stock on the IPO date will win shares in the company."

Comments

I'm sure to win this

[Anonymous Coward]

Martha Stewart has some "special" information she passed in to me.

Re:euhm ...

[skasingularity]

Is that all google is to you? $80?

NO GMAIL FOR YOU!

Dear Slashdot

[Seraphim_72]

I have a get rich quick scheme and I need your help. Those helping me can be at the bottom of my pyramid scheme, and will get millions of dollars, 3" of wang and all the heart meds you can count with a Cray. Just invoke my ip and I will make you a nigerian just for clicking. I promise....really

Obviously...

[HedonismBot]

The answer is $42. 42 is always the answer.

Prediction

[Anonymous Coward]

Opening Price: 75cents

MiddayHigh: 150 dollars.

Closing Price: 25 cents.

The un-PC point of view in re: Google IPO

[mosel-saar-ruwer]

I submitted this a while back, and it was predictably rejected, but if you really care about the Google IPO, take a gander at this article:

The Bear's Lair: The Google gross-out
Martin Hutchinson
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
May 5, 2005

...This is all just an everyday story of tech company greed, of course -- it makes you pity the poor fools who buy the issue on a $25 billion valuation (unless they're lucky enough to sell out fast to even greater -- and soon poorer -- fools.) Of course, their chances of selling out for a quick profit, usually pretty good in a tech sector IPO, are negated in this one because Google has chosen to throw out nearly 300 years of equity market wisdom (the South Sea Bubble share issues in 1720 were done the Wall Street way, and not Google's way) and offer shares by means of a "Dutch auction"...

Indeed, there's something uniquely unpleasant in the hippie rhetoric with which Google surrounds its activities. "We aspire to make Google an institution that makes the world a better place" we are told in the early part of the S-1 statement (the only part that many journalists appear to have read!) "Google is not a conventional company" ... and, in an inspired moment of Bill-and-Ted-speak "Don't be evil.."

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040505-1 14352-5040r.htm

Re:Who knows?

[tunah]

/wonders if a few minutes to write the script is worth it for a few shares...

Well, that depends how much you think the shares will be worth...

The Stuff DREAMS are made of...

[Mulletproof]

Google Corp.
Lagos, Nigeria.

Attention: The President/CEO
Confidential Business Proposal

Dear Sir,

Having consulted with my colleagues and based on the information gathered from the Nigerian Chambers Of Commerce And Industry, I have the privilege to request your assistance to transfer the sum of $2,700,000,000 (two billion, seven hundred million United States dollars) into your accounts. The above sum resulted from an over-invoiced contract, executed, commissioned and paid for about five years (5) ago by a foreign contractor. This action was however intentional and since then the fund has been in a suspense account at The Central Bank Of Nigeria Apex Bank.

We are now ready to transfer the fund overseas and that is where you come in. It is important to inform you that as civil servants, we are forbidden to operate a foreign account; that is why we require your assistance. The total sum will be shared as follows: 70% for us, 25% for you and 5% for local and international expenses incidental to the transfer.

The transfer is risk free on both sides via a process known as 'Dutch Auction' I am an accountant with the Nigerian National Search Engine Corp. If you find this proposal acceptable, we shall require the following documents:

(a) your banker's name, telephone, account and fax numbers.

(b) your private telephone and fax numbers ? for confidentiality and easy communication.

(c) your letter-headed paper stamped and signed.

Alternatively we will furnish you with the text of what to type into your letter-headed paper, along with a breakdown explaining, comprehensively what we require of you. The business will take us thirty (30) working days to accomplish.

Please reply urgently.

Best regards,
Larry Howgul Abul Arhu Page