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- Airbnb’s highly anticipated initial public offering is set to take place on Thursday, and its stock is already indicated to open at more than double what Airbnb priced its shares.
- The news surprised CEO Brian Chesky so much, he was momentarily speechless during an interview with Bloomberg TV’s Emily Chang on Thursday morning.
- “That’s the first time I’ve heard that number,” Chesky said. “I’m very humbled by it.”
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Airbnb’s initial public offering is set to be one of the biggest listings of the year, and its stock is already indicated to open so high, it’s left CEO Brian Chesky speechless.
Chesky appeared on Bloomberg TV Thursday morning ahead of Airbnb’s IPO. During the interview with host Emily Chang, news broke that Airbnb is indicated to open at $139 per share when it begins trading later today (that price has since climbed to $150 per share).
Chang asked Chesky whether, given the increased indicated share price, he was concerned about froth. Chesky looks visibly surprised during the exchange and is momentarily speechless.
“That’s the first time I’ve heard that number,” Chesky said. “Um … that is … that’s … I … when we … In April, we raised money and it was a debt financing. That price would have priced us around 30 bucks. So, I … I don’t know what else to say.”
“I’m very humbled by it,” he continued. “The higher the stock price, the higher expectations, the harder we’re going to be working obviously.”
Watch the moment Chesky finds out Airbnb's share price is set to skyrocket below:
—Bloomberg (@business) December 10, 2020
The 12-year-old home-sharing company was looking to raise $3.5 billion in the IPO, which would give it a valuation of $47.3 billion, making it one of the biggest tech IPOs of all time. Airbnb had priced its shares at $68 each on Wednesday, meaning the indicated share price has more than doubled ahead of trading.