Case | HBS Case Collection | 1997 (Revised from original 1996 version)

Netscape's Initial Public Offering

by W. Carl Kester and Kendall Backstrand

Abstract

In August 1995, Netscape's board of directors was confronted with a decision about what price to offer the company's shares in its initial public offering (IPO). Preliminary demand for shares was high, but the company had not generated any positive earnings at the time of the offering.

Keywords: Initial Public Offering; Technology; Problems and Challenges; Valuation; Governing and Advisory Boards; Information Technology Industry;

Citation:

Kester, W. Carl, and Kendall Backstrand. "Netscape's Initial Public Offering." Harvard Business School Case 296-088, May 1997. (Revised from original April 1996 version.)