Avaya Plans to Go Public
Avaya Inc., a big maker of phones and other telecommunications gear, plans to file for a $1 billion initial public offering as early as this week, according to people familiar with the matter, making it the latest technology company seeking to tap into a resurgent IPO market.
The offering could value Avaya, which was taken private by buyout firms Silver Lake and TPG Capital in 2007, at $5 billion or more, the people said. The exact numbers–and indeed whether the private-equity firms can pull off the IPO–will depend on market sentiment at the time of the offering. Typically, there is a lag of two months or more between the filing of an IPO and its trading debut.
