Airbnb Plans to File Confidentially for IPO in August • Hacker News Board

Re: Airbnb Plans to File Confidentially for IPO in August

#111

Post by spaceman_2020 » Wed, Aug 12, 2020, 9:42 AM UTC

tanilama wrote: post #21

DeonPenny wrote: post #12

Eh maybe this is a good idea. Airline and hotel stocks have been up and people are planning for the end of COVID-19 by Jan. So by Jan they could of reached their old level's plus raised cash in a cash strapped world. I doubt anyone believes airbnb is going to flop anytime soon.

By Jan? Says who? If there is no vaccine, there is no chance any of such activities going to happen without consequences.

Even if there is a vaccine, people are severely underestimating the logistical challenge of manufacturing and distributing literally billions of doses in a few months.

Re: Airbnb Plans to File Confidentially for IPO in August

#112

Post by maccard » Wed, Aug 12, 2020, 9:50 AM UTC

unishark wrote: post #92

piva00 wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thriving business model while the slow cooker of regulations don't catch up to them. There are reports of some touristic cities starting to cap Airbnb rentals, or just outright outlawing them. It's for good measure, Airbnbs in Barcelona, Lisboa and a number of other European cities have priced out the local population, investors buying 4-10 apartments on the same house to rent out as short-term rentals. Airbnb create…

Illegal taxis and rental housing (whether short or long term) have been around forever though. And they weren't just a fringe thing. College students and immigrant groups may predominantly use them in many places. If there's a current increase in such things, I'd blame it on the factors and regulations restricting the legal supply of these things rather than on airbnb/uber.

> If there's a current increase in such things, I'd blame it on the factors and regulations restricting the legal supply of these things rather than on airbnb/uber.

Curious, do you live in a city that's affected by this? I live in Edinburgh, and it's a massive problem here, almost entirely due to AirBnb. It's widely reported on pretty much every news source in the UK that the cause of this issue is Airbnb's (and other short term holiday lets), in a massive number of cases operating illegally (last number I saw was that <100 of the 7000+ lets in the 100sq miles of Edinburgh were legally registered)

Re: Airbnb Plans to File Confidentially for IPO in August

#113

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Aug 12, 2020, 10:24 AM UTC

hajola wrote: post #90

xoxoy wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the number of people who will hop from one airbnb to the next during some unknown WFH period is absurdly small

Why do you assume that? Are there any papers/data available on the subject? I have met quite a few digital nomads, who do just that.

[deleted]

Re: Airbnb Plans to File Confidentially for IPO in August

#114

Post by cultofmetatron » Wed, Aug 12, 2020, 10:57 AM UTC

unpopular opinion but I love airbnb.

I am a nomad an I basically take short term 1-3 month rentals. Airbnb did a lot to make my current lifestyle possible. Hotels are way too expensive even with monthly rates. Sure I'm paying more than locals would pay but I get to have a preview of the apartment among many, instant book and not have to deal with deposits.

Re: Airbnb Plans to File Confidentially for IPO in August

#115

Post by wdb » Wed, Aug 12, 2020, 11:29 AM UTC

The biggest mistake I made when moving to London was not to check out the neighbourhood on AirBNB. I was stuck in area which is popular for AirBNBs where multiple random people arrive nearly daily to stay at apartments in my building, and neighbouring ones.

The amount of inconvenience AirBNB causes is huge, if you are living near a hotel it's obvious but these hidden hotels are just horrible. Sure, they a cost effective for the visitor.

I wish there would be stricter rules for AirBNBs and yes I have been that bad neighbour which reported the landlord that this was happening. As it wasn't allowed in the standard tenancy agreement. As the nuisance was just too high, excessive noise, rude behaviour, wild parties, police involvement.

Re: Airbnb Plans to File Confidentially for IPO in August

#116

Post by wdb » Wed, Aug 12, 2020, 11:35 AM UTC

hajola wrote: post #90

xoxoy wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the number of people who will hop from one airbnb to the next during some unknown WFH period is absurdly small

Why do you assume that? Are there any papers/data available on the subject? I have met quite a few digital nomads, who do just that.

Are there any sites to help digital nomads with sorting out work visas?

Re: Airbnb Plans to File Confidentially for IPO in August

#117

Post by MarkMc » Wed, Aug 12, 2020, 12:02 PM UTC

I'm willing to be that Airbnb has good long-term growth prospects. Is there any way I can bet on them before they are listed on the stock exchange at the end of the year?

Re: Airbnb Plans to File Confidentially for IPO in August

#118

Post by naveen99 » Wed, Aug 12, 2020, 12:13 PM UTC

Xavdidtheshadow wrote: post #89

naveen99 wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You clearly know more about this since it affects you personally. But airbnb shares aren’t that illiquid. I purchased some myself in a secondary market. You might lose 5% to commission, which I guess is enough to want an ipo if you have a lot of money tied up there.

What site/market did you use? That's an interesting concept I had never heard of!

The company I used Equidate got renamed then acquired by sharespost. equityzen has lower minimum investments.

Re: Airbnb Plans to File Confidentially for IPO in August

#119

Post by naveen99 » Wed, Aug 12, 2020, 12:16 PM UTC

sandeeps_ wrote: post #71

naveen99 wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You clearly know more about this since it affects you personally. But airbnb shares aren’t that illiquid. I purchased some myself in a secondary market. You might lose 5% to commission, which I guess is enough to want an ipo if you have a lot of money tied up there.

How/where can one purchase Airbnb shares? Is there a minimum amount needed to be purchased?

The minimum varies from $20k to $500k depending on platform and target company. Hard to find and in high demand shares are at the higher end.

Re: Airbnb Plans to File Confidentially for IPO in August

#120

Post by naveen99 » Wed, Aug 12, 2020, 12:23 PM UTC

richiezc wrote: post #45

richiezc wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

b/c you can sell them at that point, the shares today are illiquid and they'd probably have to do something like a prepaid variable forward to be able to afford to exercise and pay tax (~23% of FMV - strike price) we're talking millions of dollars for early employees who didn't do an 83b election. once airbnb IPOs they could do either of the following: * Cashless (exercise and sell to cover: sell enough of your share…

from friends who have sold its more in the 15% commission range, there's also a fair amount of tax and legal headaches. - replying to myself since there's a max threading depth on HN?

15% seems excessive...

You could probably find a buyer yourself and work directly with lawyers to make it happen at a much lower flat rate instead of commission if you have many millions worth.

There seems to be a few variables associated with loss of reply button... looks like it returned. Maybe minimum and maximum time limits, max thread depth, other person is Re-editing...