When is the global Airbnb IPO expected to happen and how big would it be?

Airbnb Inc, one of the largest temporary rental platforms in the world, is aiming to raise $3 billion in its upcoming IPO. Airbnb may look to take full advantage of the unexpectedly sharp recovery in its business after the COVID-19 pandemic, even as hotels struggle to bounce.

Airbnb is a much anticipated stock market listing of 2020. In August, Airbnb filed confidentially for an IPO with the US regulators. Airbnb plans to make its filing publicly available in November 2020 after the US presidential election with IPO in Dec-20.

In recent rounds of funding, Airbnb had attained valuations of above $30 billion and that is likely to reflect in the IPO pricing. The impact of the pandemic may also be factored in. Its previous rounds of fund raising had been at a valuation of over $22 billion.

In the last few months, social distancing and the aversion for crowded places have come as a boon for Airbnb. It has immensely benefited as travellers shy away from larger crowded hotels and instead are opting for local vacation rentals.

Marquee investor, Bill Ackman, had approached Airbnb about going public through the reverse merger route but Airbnb was prioritizing going public through a traditional IPO only.