OpenAI has acquired $7 billion worth of employee shares, valuing the company at a whopping $852 billion. This move is part of an effort to provide financial flexibility to staff amid speculation that an Initial Public Offering (IPO) might be on hold.

The deal, reported by Bloomberg, came as OpenAI filed confidentially with the Securities and Exchange Commission in June, hinting at a potential IPO later this year. However, given recent internal financial goals not being met, it appears an IPO could take a backseat while the company refocuses on its enterprise business.

CEO Sam Altman hinted that OpenAI is about to experience its best 12 months yet, but with rivals like Anthropic showing promise, OpenAI might be wary of exposing any weaknesses in its financial strategy. The tender offer could mean a reassessment before going public, ensuring the company presents its strongest possible case.

For now, employees are getting liquidity without the hassle of a public offering, while the company is gauging the market’s interest with prudence. It remains to be seen when and if OpenAI will make the leap into the wider world of publicly traded companies.