GoPro goes IPO: announces it will offer its shares to the public

GoPro goes IPO

The California company whose founder's inspiration came from surfing is filing to go public

According to Forbes Magazine, the company sold 2.3 million cameras in 2012, brining in more than $520m in revenue. In fact, revenues have doubled every years since the first camera was launched.

GoPro certainly deserves a measure of success: if you've ever been to a GoPro exhibition stand, you'll have noticed that they whip up a quasi-religious frenzy that's even more ecstatic than anything you'll see at an Apple convection, although the prospect of cameras being given away might have something to do with it.

What will it mean for customers?

What will a successful IPO mean for customers? The company has never given the impression that it's short of funding, but it might allow for a wider range of devices, and for lower prices as production is increased.

Better quality, higher resolution, higher frame rates, stabilisation, are all features that will sell more cameras; and one wonders whether they might branch into other areas as their shooters become more ubiquitous. Dash cams for example? You never know when the next meteorite is going to hit.

Read GoPro's rather terse press release after the break.

SAN MATEO, Calif., Feb. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- GoPro, Inc. announced today that it plans to conduct a registered initial public offering of its common stock. The offering is expected to commence after the SEC completes the review process initiated by GoPro's confidential submission on Friday February 7, 2014 of its draft registration statement.

This announcement is being made pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135 under the Securities Act of 1933. As required by Rule 135, this press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of that jurisdiction.