Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Twitter files a $1 billion IPO

Founders and shareholders Ev Williams, Jack Dorsey and Biz Stone are set to be millionaires.

TWITTER HAS JUST filed its long-awaited $1 billion IPO with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the US.

Fittingly, the company will trade under the symbol TWTR. It is not yet known on which exchange the stock will be bought and sold.

In the filing, which revealed details of the micro-blogging site’s financial state, Twitter says it has over 200 million monthly active users and 500 million tweets per day. Its revenue in 2012 was reported at $316 million, while the 2013 figure so far is $253 million. However, it had a net loss of $79 million last year and the loss is $69.3 million this year.

The offering is based on 472,613,753 shares of common stock and it is looking to raise $1 billion.

In the document, Twitter describes itself as “unique in its simplicity” and “a global platform for public self-expression and conversation in real time”.

By developing a fundamentally new way for people to create, distribute and discover content, we have democratised content creation and distribution, enabling any voice to echo around the world instantly and unfiltered.

According to the California-based firm, tweets have appeared on more than one million third-party websites, and in the second quarter of 2013 there were about 30 billion online impressions of tweets “off of our properties”.

It told prospective stock owners that mobile has become the primary driver of the business.

Under a section to outline possible risks, Twitter said it could be “negatively affected” if “influential users”, such as world leaders, celebrities, journalists and brands, decide that an alternative product is more relevant.

It also cited spam and other inappropriate uses as a potential risk.

The public version of the IPO comes three weeks after Twitter filed a confidential document, taking advantage of a recent law designed to help emerging companies.

Massive Facebook study reveals what your status updates say about you
FBI shuts down site that sold $80m worth of drugs, hitmen services and other illegal items

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
11 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute #thankyousiralex
    Favourite #thankyousiralex
    Report
    Oct 3rd 2013, 10:23 PM

    Or an egg…

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David O Connor
    Favourite David O Connor
    Report
    Oct 4th 2013, 2:21 AM

    Thats nothing….Zuckerburg will buy it with his lunch with a can of Diet Coke….easy!!!

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tomas Mac Donncha
    Favourite Tomas Mac Donncha
    Report
    Oct 3rd 2013, 11:30 PM

    Can someone explain why anyone would want to but into this company given the facts (assuming they’re correct) below?

    Its revenue in 2012 was reported at $316 million, while the 2013 figure so far is $253 million. However, it had a net loss of $79 million last year and the loss is $69.3 million this year.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergal O Neill
    Favourite Fergal O Neill
    Report
    Oct 3rd 2013, 11:35 PM

    no!

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Neil O'Leary
    Favourite Neil O'Leary
    Report
    Oct 3rd 2013, 11:44 PM

    Revenue is improving – 8/12ths* of $316m is $211m. So 2013 is a 20% growth year on year.

    *I’m assuming the “2013 figure so far” relates to 8 months out of 12.

    I will agree with you on losses, they are deteriorating year on year. Only explanation is rising costs, which would have to be explained in the prospectus.

    Ultimately, you will have to read the prospectus and decide for yourself if the company is a good investments. Losses can be acceptable if there is a good reason and they are realistically going to be recoverable in the short term, otherwise investors won’t want to know. Expect the opening price to be low so as to apply the lessons of Facebook’s IPO.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute J. Dunn
    Favourite J. Dunn
    Report
    Oct 3rd 2013, 10:20 PM

    No stock photo? Surely you could find a picture of a bird(not the actual twitter bird).

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Steve Rossiter
    Favourite Steve Rossiter
    Report
    Oct 3rd 2013, 11:04 PM

    Echo…

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eddie Harkin
    Favourite Eddie Harkin
    Report
    Oct 3rd 2013, 11:12 PM

    #minted

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mickey Mouse
    Favourite Mickey Mouse
    Report
    Oct 4th 2013, 8:02 AM

    Setting up in Dublin would have had huge costs and further affected their 2013 losses. Jack Dorsey knows he has probably taken twitter as far as he can and now it’s time to cash out which I can’t blame him. I suspect shareholders will bring in new management who are specialised and will know how to monetise twitter better. Profits will soar over the next few years as they need to keep shareholders happy now or soon!!

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ken Maycock
    Favourite Ken Maycock
    Report
    Oct 4th 2013, 7:58 AM

    Predicted facebook stock would tank. This one will tank too I’m afraid. Popularity can be fleeting and difficult to turn popularity into revenue/profit. Recommend avoid….. would love to be wrong… great concept and its simplicity is a brave clever move

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cpm
    Favourite Cpm
    Report
    Oct 4th 2013, 10:54 AM

    At that price shares are probably a good buy, plenty of scope for the price to increase. Not completely over-priced like Facebook.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds