[plug] Red Hat Shares non-offer

[John Menzies]

Bret,

The reality is probably a whole lot different.  I know not these lads but:

In the lead up to an IPO - initial offer on the excahnge - things do tend 
to go a little mad - there are demands from every quarter and the best laid 
plans can go out the door - particularly if the demand for stock is 
enormous - the company is in a maddening rush to get to make before the 
window to raise money closes etc.  I have been involved in a few of these 
and often the backroom of the brokerage house is not as good or efficient 
as the advertising.  Now you could be right  - they might be a couple of 
rouge developers with no regard for the industry except to creat a quick 
exit for themselves.  But I would think not from what I have seen - 
precious little I might add.

Hopefully you will get your turn to float an inovative agressive market 
leading software product and you will then understand - can send a young 
lad like moi grey - might already have.

I personaly would take the view that if you can not get the stock - maybe 
that is a good thing!

Regards



At 06:12 AM 09/08/1999 , you wrote:
>That's all very well, but for a company that supposedly trades on the 
>Internet,
>to ignore email, makes it a somewhat disreputable company in my eyes.
>
>Perhaps, if they can get their act together, and properly use Internet 
>commerce
>facilities such as email, if they have as yet learnt what email is, then they
>might become credible Internet traders; until, they are just a bunch of
>exploitative jerks.
>
>And, given what has been published on Slashdot, about ertrade denying 
>access to
>the offer, to kernel developers who were sent offers by Red hat, ertrade 
>aren't
>interested in anyone who is not an effluent trader, with much experience in
>exploitative speculation.
>
>So much for the Linux community being able to become involved in Red Hat.
>
>Welcome to the world of the Big Bodgy Software Company.
>
>Given what has been happening, I only wonder how many million shares Bill the
>Gate will have in the red cap, if not already owning a mjority.
>
>Bret Busby