Up for grabs

摘要

"Google is not a conventional company. We do not intend to become one." Thus begins the intriguing filing to America's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by the world's largest internet-search company, in preparation for its keenly awaited initial public offering (IPO) later this year. Not conventional, indeed. Geeky and proud of it, Google's bosses plan to raise up to one $1 billion times e (2.718), mathematical shorthand for the base of natural logarithms. Part of the flotation will be by auction (see next story). And the filing is suffused with the moral fervour of those little sullied by contact with Wall Street. Some companies might say they want to "make the world a better place"; few can have had "Don't be evil" as part of their mission statement.