time to ipo for a cfo

[walkitout]

I was reading this:

http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-03-20/uber-might-get-an-ipo-so-why-can-t-i-have-one-

Basically because I've been thinking lately about how long companies are spending in VC These Years/Post Bust. And when I look at how much companies have raised, and the valuations implied by the more recent rounds at some companies, I can see why they aren't in any hurry to IPO. Altho that doesn't really explain why people bought into those later rounds. But whatever. You get excited. I get it.

Katie Benner says, "I’m told by lawyers and bankers who work on these deals that it typically takes a CFO a year or more to settle in, understand the books and figure out what needs to be done to get a company’s financial performance and accounting camera-ready for public markets."

Joy Covey started in December of 1996 (I still feel sad when I think about Joy). Amazon did its IPO in May of 1997. I know, I know, that's setting the bar unnaturally high, because Joy was very much the most amazing finance person I have ever encountered. Or probably ever _will_ encounter.

Clearly, my reference values for how long this stuff takes are not accurate.

Comments

[ethelmay.livejournal.com]

That headline is reminding me of the old joke about IBM, UBM, we all BM for IBM.