The phrase "goes public" is commonly used in the business world when a private company decides to offer its shares to the public for the first time. The spelling of this phrase is straightforward and follows standard English pronunciation rules. "Goes" is spelled with a hard "g" and a long "o" sound, represented phonetically as /ɡoʊz/. "Public" is also straightforward, with a short "u" sound and a hard "c" sound, represented as /ˈpʌblɪk/. Together, the phrase is pronounced as /ˈɡoʊz ˈpʌblɪk/.
"Going public" refers to the process of a privately held company transitioning into a publicly traded company by offering its shares for sale to the general public through an initial public offering (IPO) or by listing on a stock exchange. When a company "goes public," it essentially opens itself up to public ownership and investment, allowing anyone to purchase shares and become a partial owner. This strategic decision is typically pursued to raise substantial capital for growth, expansion, or to provide liquidity to existing shareholders.
Going public involves various steps and significant regulatory requirements, including submitting legal disclosures, financial statements, and other information to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the United States or the relevant financial regulatory bodies in other countries. These disclosures and financial transparency are necessary to ensure that potential shareholders have access to sufficient information to make informed investment decisions.
After successfully going public, a company's shares will be traded openly on a stock exchange, enabling investors to buy and sell them. This provides liquidity to the company's shareholders, including founders, early investors, and employees who may hold stock options or equity compensation. It can also potentially enhance the company's brand visibility, public profile, and credibility, as well as grant it access to additional funding sources in the future.
Going public is a significant milestone for any company and involves complex processes, legal implications, and ongoing compliance requirements, aimed at protecting investors and maintaining market fairness.
The phrase "goes public" originated from the business world and is closely related to the concept of initial public offerings (IPOs).
The term "public" refers to the general public or investors outside of the company who are offered the opportunity to buy shares in a company. "Goes public" essentially means a privately held company decides to issue shares of stock to the general public, making it a publicly traded company.
The etymology of the term itself is relatively straightforward. "Go" signifies a change or movement, and "public" refers to the broader investment community. When a company "goes public", it is making the transition from being privately owned to opening its ownership to public investors by listing its shares on a stock exchange or offering them for public sale.