Somebody smarter then me help out here please.
It was my understanding that the reason you take a company public is to get an influx of capital to expand.
IPO of public shares is underwritten by an investment bank who believes your assets and business plan are worth X amount of dollars now and in the future.
The share price is determined by the amount essentially lent against the number offered.
Sometimes they miss (Facebook,the new GM) and overvalue,GM might not count there with the government involvement pushing and throwing money at it,others not.
To me it is an apples and oranges thing as far as a valuation of private shares of ownership and public ones.
Please correct me where I am wrong.