Google is now a subsidiary of the newly formed company Alphabet
- aug
- 10
Google as we know it is now something a bit different starting today. In an announcement that comes as a complete surprise, Google co-founder Larry Page has revealed that the company will now become a subsidiary of the newly formed company called Alphabet. Page will be the CEO of Alphabet, and Sergey Brin will be its President.
So why make this huge business change? Page states:
We've long believed that over time companies tend to get comfortable doing the same thing, just making incremental changes. But in the technology industry, where revolutionary ideas drive the next big growth areas, you need to be a bit uncomfortable to stay relevant. Our company is operating well today, but we think we can make it cleaner and more accountable.
Alphabet will consist of a number of companies, of which Google will be the largest. Page says:
Alphabet Inc. will replace Google Inc. as the publicly-traded entity and all shares of Google will automatically convert into the same number of shares of Alphabet, with all of the same rights. Google will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alphabet. Our two classes of shares will continue to trade on Nasdaq as GOOGL and GOOG."
So why call the new company Alphabet? Again, Page says:
We liked the name Alphabet because it means a collection of letters that represent language, one of humanity's most important innovations, and is the core of how we index with Google search! We also like that it means alpha-bet (Alpha is investment return above benchmark), which we strive for! I should add that we are not intending for this to be a big consumer brand with related products--the whole point is that Alphabet companies should have independence and develop their own brands.
Some of the other companies that will be under the new Alphabet umbrella include its health businesses like Life Sciences and Calico, along with its X lab efforts. Each of these businesses will have its own CEO, which will receive guidance from Page and Brin.
The new Alphabet company has already launched its own website, but it's a pretty bare bones affair at the moment.
