Google today said an interview with its founders in the latest Playboymagazine issue may violate US securities rules governing the Internet company's $3.3 billion pending initial public offering.
In a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Google said it could be required to buy back the securities sold in its IPO if it is found in violation of securities laws.
Google, operator of the world's most popular Internet search engine, is planning to open the auction for shares in its long-awaited IPO later today. It has filed to sell 25.7 million shares at an estimated price range of $108 to $135 per share.
The article in the September 2004 issue of Playboyentitled "Playboy Interview: Google Guys" could have potentially voilated the "quiet period" that limits communication by company executives ahead of their IPO.
According to the company filing, the article was derived from an interview with Google founders Mr Larry Page and Mr Sergey Brin.
Google said it does not believe its involvement in the article constitutes a securities violation, but it could be required to buy back the shares sold to investors in the IPO at the original purchase price for a period of one year following the violation.
Earlier this year, Salesforce.com Inc. was forced to delay its IPO after the company and its Chief Executive Marc Benioff were featured in a New York Timesarticle.
In its filing, Google said it would "contest vigorously any claim that a violation of the Securities Act occurred".