I understand how top dogs could benefit and what an IPO could bring to this company, a lot has been written lately about that, but I don’t know if we, the employees, will benefit from a GF IPO as well?
Thoughts?
I don't have a good opinion of it... I don't know... maybe I don't have enough information
To @OP+1djcXZTu -
For top dogs time has come for a dogfight under a carpet for IPO grants -
everyone else may "only hears the growling, and when sees the bones fly out from beneath it is obvious who won.” Sir Winston Churchill.
Seen E10+ bones flying out, though not clear yet who will be the Top Dog post-IPO?
According to the S-1 filing with the SEC (and the executive with the smirk that everyone says they don't trust), GF plans to have an ESPP (employee stock purchase plan). This enables you to purchase stocks in GF. ESPP's typically offer shares at discounted prices. There may or may not be a holding period (minimum amount of time before you can sell the shares you purchase through the program). This carries the same risk as normal stock trading does.
You might do this if you believe GF will thrive. Hypothetical: more people purchase stock in GF, therefore increasing its share price. You sell the stock at a higher price than you bought it and profit. Or GF is flush with cash and wants to reward its shareholders by paying dividends (most analysts don't expect GF to issue dividends any time in the near future; still need to pay back $11b in loans to Abu Mubadala).
Someone mentioned to me that they want a piece of what they're part of. The same way a bunch of people bought 1st-gen Ryzens, someone might want a piece of the company they work for/something they worked for... sense of belonging, pride or something, I don't know.
Anyways, whether you purchase stock or not, other people will. Another hypothetical: Others purchasing stock will inject capital into GF. If GF spends that money wisely, then the sky's the limit and you could possibly benefit. Maybe they smartly use the money to fund expansions, and those expansions are a boon and result in large profits. In an ideal world, GF would then praise everyone who helped make it happen and overfund bonuses (hah).
Remember these are hypotheticals, and not financial advice. Think about the goings on and what you deal with every day, and if you think that's a recipe for success.
Reading the S-1 opened my eyes a lot, and some of the analyses posted here weigh negatively on the IPO. They seem mostly data-based, but could still be biased.
IMO GF's biggest challenges are:
Yes, for everyone >= Director.
Zero benefit for everyone below.