Meta Financial tapped to ring opening bell at stock exchange
July 23, 2018
Leaders at Meta Financial Group will ring the opening bell July 30 to kick off trading for Nasdaq.
While the company went public in 1993, (Nasdaq: CASH), that doesn’t guarantee a chance on the big stage.
“We’re significant enough in size now that our Nasdaq rep approached me about it last year,” chairman and CEO Tyler Haahr said. “We booked far enough in advance we could quasi-pick the day, but you’ve got to be invited and have enough size because everybody can’t do it.”
Meta’s size has increased exponentially from $15 million in market capitalization in 1993 to $1 billion.
And it’s about to get bigger.
An acquisition closing two days after leaders ring the opening bell will put Meta at $1.4 billion in value with most analysts estimating $100 million in earnings next year.
The bell ringing is a tightly choreographed production, Haahr said. He plans to bring a team of about 30, including board members, investors, executive leaders and accounting and investor relations staff members. His family will be there too.
He will speak briefly, and there’s time set aside for photos. Outside on Times Square, Meta’s logo will be displayed along with a video about the company.
“Everybody’s pretty fired up about it,” Haahr said. “It’s kind of a big deal, especially for some of the people who have been there awhile.”
After that, though, it’s back to work. Haahr timed the event with investor meetings he holds several times a year in New York City.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the stock exchange where Meta will ring the bell to kick off trading.
