Snapchat parent begins IPO process: report

-Snapchat declined to comment on reports of the IPO, which would likely be the largest since China's Alibaba hit the market in 2
Snapchat declined to comment on reports of the IPO, which would likely be the largest since China's Alibaba hit the market in 2014

Snapchat parent firm Snap Inc. has filed confidentially for a public share offering valuing the disappearing messaging platform at more than $20 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.

The (IPO) would be among the biggest in the in recent years and shine a light on the fast-growing platform used by more than 100 million people.

It is one of the sector's most prominent "unicorns"—a term used for venture-backed firms with valuations over $1 billion—along with Uber and Airbnb.

According to the Journal, the filing last week was made under regulations that allow the first stages of the process to be kept confidential.

Snapchat declined to comment on reports of the IPO, which would likely be the largest since China's Alibaba hit the market in 2014.

While its finances are not public, the research firm eMarketer has estimated that Snapchat would generate nearly a billion dollars next year from advertising.

Snapchat's messaging has been a hit, especially with , but it has been broadening offerings to include content from media partners in the hope of expanding use and money-making opportunities.

© 2016 AFP

Citation: Snapchat parent begins IPO process: report (2016, November 15) retrieved 19 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2016-11-snapchat-parent-ipo.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Snapchat eyes 2017 share offering: report

4 shares

Feedback to editors