Google Went Public 10 Years Ago, But It's Still Not a 'Conventional' Company

Just one week before Google officially became a public company, it looked like the IPO would have to be delayed. The reason: Playboy.

Google's founders had given an interview to Playboy magazine, a move that some analysts assumed would raise a red flag with the Securities and Exchange Commission because it violated the "quiet period" in the leadup to an IPO. The SEC ultimately decided not to delay the IPO, but the incident was just one of several bumps on the road to Google's public offering.

See also: How Tech Companies Prepare for Life After the IPO

At every step of the process, Google seemed to be operating by its own rule, much to the chagrin of some on Wall Street. It planned to sell shares through an unusual kind of auction process. It kicked off the IPO filing with a letter from the founders, which began with the memorable line: "Google is not a conventional company. We do not intend to become one." Read more...

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