OpenAI has reportedly completed a deal to help employees sell nearly $7 billion worth of the company's shares ahead of its potential IPO.
The Sam Altman-led company repurchased shares from existing as well as former employees rather than relying on external investors for the tender offer, Bloomberg reported on Monday. The startup's valuation remained unchanged at $852 billion following the deal.
OpenAI did not immediately respond to Benzinga's request for comments.
OpenAI Reportedly Delays IPO
Secondary sales have been a critical aspect of the ChatGPT maker's strategy in the run-up to its initial offering. In October, the company completed a $6.6 billion tender offer at a $500 billion valuation, following a $1.5 billion tender offer in 2024.
In June, the company confidentially filed its prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), but hasn't shared any official timeline for its IPO. However, some reports later suggested that the company may push back the date until 2027.
According to PitchBook, OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar favored waiting until 2027, while Altman was more keen on a September 2026 listing with a $1 trillion valuation. The research firm stated that the market activity around Space Exploration Technologies Corp.'s
As the company moves closer to its IPOs, investors are expected to scrutinize the issues SpaceX faces, which are whether massive capital expenditure can translate into sustainable profits and whether private-market valuations can continue to stand its ground under public-market scrutiny.
