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Adult FriendFinder Files To Go Public
TechCrunch — Florida-based FriendFinder Networks, a group of sites that includes Adult FriendFinder, has filed a registration statement with the SEC to go public. Little known Russian investment bank Renaissance Capital is representing them in the deal. The registration statement is still preliminary, but it gives deep insights on the financial condition of the company. Revenues for the first three quarters of 2008 were $244 million. The company claims 946,598 subscribers to its adult services. The primary use of the proceeds from the IPO, the company says, ...

FriendFinder isn’t likely to find any pals on Wall Street; Needs IPO to pay debt
Between the Lines — ... ). The IPO , which is underwritten by a firm called Renaissance Capital (we’re not talking Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley folks), details a bevy of interesting stats such as churn rates on Adult FriendFinder as well as nuggets on how Penthouse magazine is trying to cover sports and games. FriendFinder also operates sites such as AdultFriendFinder.com, Amigos.com, AsiaFriendFinder.com, Cams.com, FriendFinder.com, BigChurch.com and SeniorFriendFinder.com. As background, Penthouse bought Various, which is the parent of FriendFinder, a year ago for $400 million. The $460 million ...

FriendFinder files to go public
BloggingStocks — Filed under: Initial public offeringsFriendFinder Networks has filed a registration statement with the SEC to raise $460 million with an initial public offering. What is FriendFinder, you ask? The company operates a series of adult-oriented social networking sites including AdultFriendFinder.com. The IPO is of historical importance because it is, to date, the first time I've seen the word "Fetish" in an SEC filing. According to the prospectus, the company's ALT.com is a "Alternative lifestyle personals website, catering to users with fetish, role-playing and other alternative sexuality interests." Apparently all this sexual ...

2008 breaks 31-year record for VC-backed IPOs
VC Ratings — The National Venture Capital Association and Thomson Reuters rang in the new year Monday with a final tally of 2008 venture-backed exits, and, as one would expect, the numbers were dismal.  The year ended with only six IPOs -- the worst performance since 1977 -- and 260 acquisitions of VC-backed startups, marking the first time in five years when the annual M&A tally dipped under 300. There were no VC-backed IPOs in the fourth quarter, and only 37 acquisitions during the period. Twenty-eight companies have filed S-1s and are waiting in the wings to go public, the latest being Penthouse magazine owner FriendFinder Networks ...