Search Engine Optimisation, Promotion and Internet Marketing

Google IPO expected 'within days'

26 April 2004

Reports are circulating that search giant Google is planning to announce an initial public offering within days.

Rumours that the world's largest search engine was planning an IPO have been surfacing since last October and some Wall Street companies have valued Google at as much as $25 billion.

The company will soon have to disclose more information about its business publicly, under a Securities and Exchange Commission rule that states private companies of a particular size must file quarterly financial data with the SEC.

Google now has expected annual profits of tens of millions of dollars and more than 1,000 employees, at least 650 of which have options to buy shares.

If a company falls within the reporting standard, it is required to file a Form 10, a long description of the business and its officers, similar to an IPO prospectus. Following that, it is required to file forms 10K and 10Q, which include a description of the company's business, financials and risks, quarterly. It must also file proxy statements and hold shareholder meetings.

Google has refused to comment on speculation that it will launch an IPO in order to generate cash from the enforced SEC disclosure. An IPO of Google likely is expected to be one of the biggest US public offerings ever.

However, the company has reportedly approached investors in companies it has acquired to register their common shares for sale and the Wall Street Journal claims that Google has tapped Credit Suisse First Boston and Morgan Stanley to lead the IPO.

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