3 ms·

That's very unnerving if it's true, because, by going along with "Groupon is worth $6bn because Google offered that to us and we turned it down", implies Google

by OzzyB 14y ago

That's very unnerving if it's true, because, by going along with "Groupon is worth $6bn because Google offered that to us and we turned it down", implies Google had a hand in creating that extremely high perception before their IPO. If Google did infact have the chance to look at the books (which I'm sure they did), and then allow that "$6bn meme" to circulate -- well, that's evil isn't it?

moocow01 14y ago
I'd imagine in those negotiations there are agreements that everyone has to basically be tight lipped even after the deal falls apart. On the flip side, if Google had said too much it might make other business nervous to enter into negotiations with them in the future.
- joe_the_user 14y ago
  Someone wasn't so tight lipped that the word didn't get out that they offered $6 billion for the company. If that wasn't true, someone in Google did have obligation to deny it - denying it off record with no further comment would hardly have been saying a lot.
moron 14y ago
They would have gotten slimed with the evil moniker if they had decided to trash Groupon in the press. Damned if they [do|don't]. Adopting that slogan was one of the dumbest things they ever did, people love to bash them over the head with it.
Zarathust 14y ago
I was not Google's job of sinking Groupon. It was also every investor's job to check the books before the IPO.
- omi 14y ago
  Most IPOs are a bad deal for tech companies with easily replicateable business models. I wonder if P is ready to take the floor out.
jacquesm 14y ago
Just three letters for you: NDA. To expand on that a bit: If google had made public what they thought they found they would have been very much open to a lawsuit with some significant chance of success. Breaking an NDA in such a situation is unheard of, every investor is supposed to make up their own mind and do their own homework before they decide to invest or not. Any legitimate concerns about this would revolve around the question of whether or not groupon was forthcoming in their pre-IPO filings. If there is any proof to be found with google you could try to persuade a judge to grant a subpoena of people at google familiar with the deal, but google should never by themselves reveal any of this. So: no, not evil.
- westicle 14y ago
  Although nothing preventing Google from releasing a statement saying they decided not to buy Groupon. If the story is true, it seems very strange that they wouldn't set the record straight (obviously without breaching any confidences or disclosing anything specific about Groupon).

by OzzyB 14y ago

moocow01 14y ago

I'd imagine in those negotiations there are agreements that everyone has to basically be tight lipped even after the deal falls apart. On the flip side, if Google had said too much it might make other business nervous to enter into negotiations with them in the future.

joe_the_user 14y ago
Someone wasn't so tight lipped that the word didn't get out that they offered $6 billion for the company. If that wasn't true, someone in Google did have obligation to deny it - denying it off record with no further comment would hardly have been saying a lot.

moron 14y ago

They would have gotten slimed with the evil moniker if they had decided to trash Groupon in the press. Damned if they [do|don't]. Adopting that slogan was one of the dumbest things they ever did, people love to bash them over the head with it.

Zarathust 14y ago

I was not Google's job of sinking Groupon. It was also every investor's job to check the books before the IPO.

omi 14y ago
Most IPOs are a bad deal for tech companies with easily replicateable business models. I wonder if P is ready to take the floor out.

jacquesm 14y ago

Just three letters for you: NDA. To expand on that a bit: If google had made public what they thought they found they would have been very much open to a lawsuit with some significant chance of success. Breaking an NDA in such a situation is unheard of, every investor is supposed to make up their own mind and do their own homework before they decide to invest or not. Any legitimate concerns about this would revolve around the question of whether or not groupon was forthcoming in their pre-IPO filings. If there is any proof to be found with google you could try to persuade a judge to grant a subpoena of people at google familiar with the deal, but google should never by themselves reveal any of this. So: no, not evil.

westicle 14y ago
Although nothing preventing Google from releasing a statement saying they decided not to buy Groupon. If the story is true, it seems very strange that they wouldn't set the record straight (obviously without breaching any confidences or disclosing anything specific about Groupon).