The IPO Market Is Dead... Except For Porn?

from the seems-unlikely dept

The IPO market had almost entirely dried up already, before we reached financial meltdown in the second half of the year -- and the resulting financial crisis certainly hasn't made the IPO market any brighter. So, we certainly weren't expecting to hear of any internet companies trying to go public... but it seems at least one company thinks that now's the right time for an online porn company to go public. Apparently, Adult FriendFinder has filed to go public. The company, which used to be known as Penthouse Media Group until it bought the startup Adult Friendfinder not so long ago, is hoping to raise a bunch of money. I'd be surprised if this actually went anywhere. While some might claim that porn is always a growth market, it's a highly competitive one, and often seen as a bit sketchy on the business side. Plus, the underwriters are a little known Russian investment bank. On top of all that, it's looking to use the money not for expansion, but mostly to pay off debt. In this economic climate, with the current IPO window slammed pretty tightly shut, does anyone actually expect this one to go anywhere?
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Filed Under: ipo, porn
Companies: adult friendfinder


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  • identicon
    Lucretious, 24 Dec 2008 @ 3:07pm

    ugh, one of the worst spam service patrons to ever exist.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Clouser, 24 Dec 2008 @ 4:02pm

    Sketchy but Significant

    Too sketchy I doubt it goes anywhere. Who is going to buy the stock? Will institutions bid in on this one?

    The porn part is just a bit of the concern What about the investment bank? What is known about the Penthouse Media Group?

    On the other hand, this business is a cash machine. Started in Palo Alto by a Stanford Ph.D. in computer science and has been humming ever since. They are on track to do $320 million in revenues this year. Spam or no spam there is a lot of free cash generated.

    I suspect some other private player will acquire it from the current shareholders.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Randy, 24 Dec 2008 @ 5:19pm

    I'm in

    and out and in again

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 24 Dec 2008 @ 6:30pm

    Double entendre

    Doesn't it seem a little alarming that the company is seeking IPO, but doesn't desire expanding?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    gvegas864, 25 Dec 2008 @ 6:33am

    another blast

    am I the only one who sees this as just another marketing ploy?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Mark Regan, 26 Dec 2008 @ 1:02am

    What's So Bad About That?

    Our the assets of our COUNTRY has been sold to the highest bidders over the past eight years, to such an extent that we are having to print trillions of dollars in worthless paper money to cover the trillions of losses due to the actions of our incumbent President. Instead of an IPO, he had a government giveaway.

    So a porno company may be profiting a bunch of Russian or Californian folks? That is the business of the people rich enough to buy the stock certificates they are printing up and offering to sell.

    How could those stock certificates be any more worthless than the US currency which will be tendered for those same certificates? Which situation is more of a fraud? The way I see it, the certificates might eventually be worth MORE than the DOLLARS they are bought with.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Kilgore Trout, 26 Dec 2008 @ 8:07am

      Re: What's So Bad About That?

      I applaud your ability to inject meaningless political tripe into a discussion about porn.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 26 Dec 2008 @ 12:31pm

      Re: What's So Bad About That?

      A bonus though is if they go under with the last of the funds they will ship out the remaining stock of amateur stars

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    known coward, 26 Dec 2008 @ 12:25pm

    but will being a stock holder

    help me get laid?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Nate3000, 28 Dec 2008 @ 11:17am

    Porn?

    I could be wrong, but does that website actually count as porn?

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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