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Did Zipcar Get Swindled on Its Massive IPO?

theatlanticwire.com

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Re: Did Zipcar Get Swindled on Its Massive IPO?

#3

Post by tomkarlo »

It's important to remember they only sold about 10% of the company, not the whole company, with the IPO. So most of that 50% gain also accrued to equity still held by the holders prior to the IPO. So yeah, maybe they could have priced 30% higher and pulled in an extra 5M in cash, but it would have also meant more risk that they sully the 90% they still hold with a bad first-day performance in the market.

I doubt they're crying in their milk tonight at Zipcar headquarters.

Re: Did Zipcar Get Swindled on Its Massive IPO?

#4

Post by wmf »

tomkarlo wrote: post #3

It's important to remember they only sold about 10% of the company, not the whole company, with the IPO. So most of that 50% gain also accrued to equity still held by the holders prior to the IPO. So yeah, maybe they could have priced 30% higher and pulled in an extra 5M in cash, but it would have also meant more risk that they sully the 90% they still hold with a bad first-day performance in the market. I doubt they…

Auction IPOs are supposed to fix this problem, although I suppose clueless buyer's remorse could lead to a first-day drop in such a case.

Re: Did Zipcar Get Swindled on Its Massive IPO?

#5

Post by geuis »

Doesn't anyone have a problem with a company going public that has never turned a profit?

I live in San Francisco and have been using Zipcar for years. They're a wonderful company, with convenient car locations all over the city, excellent customer service, and a very forgiving insurance policy (I was in an accident a couple years ago that totaled their car. I just had to pay $500). So I REALLY want Zipcar to stay in business.

But this just really is beginning to remind me of the crazy shit that was going on 11-15 years ago. Companies back in the day that probably could have built interesting long term businesses imploded when they went IPO and built up massive amounts of capital they didn't need.

Please, someone tell me I'm missing something.

Re: Did Zipcar Get Swindled on Its Massive IPO?

#6

Post by jkmcf »

geuis wrote: post #5

Doesn't anyone have a problem with a company going public that has never turned a profit ? I live in San Francisco and have been using Zipcar for years. They're a wonderful company, with convenient car locations all over the city, excellent customer service, and a very forgiving insurance policy (I was in an accident a couple years ago that totaled their car. I just had to pay $500). So I REALLY want Zipcar to stay i…

On Marketplace this morning someone stated they are profitable where they operate (DC, NYC, and SF?) but have been spending money to grow.

Re: Did Zipcar Get Swindled on Its Massive IPO?

#7

Post by geuis »

jkmcf wrote: post #6
geuis wrote: post #5

Doesn't anyone have a problem with a company going public that has never turned a profit ? I live in San Francisco and have been using Zipcar for years. They're a wonderful company, with convenient car locations all over the city, excellent customer service, and a very forgiving insurance policy (I was in an accident a couple years ago that totaled their car. I just had to pay $500). So I REALLY want Zipcar to stay i…

On Marketplace this morning someone stated they are profitable where they operate (DC, NYC, and SF?) but have been spending money to grow.

Ok, now that does indeed make sense if true. Thanks.

Re: Did Zipcar Get Swindled on Its Massive IPO?

#9

Post by fleitz »

No, the CEO made a bad deal with banks and is now using PR to shift the blame from himself to his bankers.

If everyone intrinsically knew that ZipCar was worth $30 then why did he sign a contract with the banks that allowed them to sell it for $18? Banks can't just a your company public on their own, they need the consent of the CEO and/or the board, when you sign this contract it outlines how the bank will take your company public.

If he didn't like that option he could always buy a shell listed on the exchange and do a reverse-merger. There are plenty of ways to take a company public and very few of them involve trusting GS to sell your company at whatever price they determine. If as CEO he allowed his company to be swindled out of $50 million he should resign in disgrace. He's so ingrained in the sausage making process he himself has been banned from trading.

As an aside after how badly GS and JPM fucked over the entire world it should give one pause as to whether you'd sign a contract with any entity who had demonstrated such moral hazard. They're called banksters for a reason.

Also, if you take IPO stock there is a gentleman's agreement that you won't sell it for 90 days, so it remains to be seen how well these investors actually did.

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