4 Tips on a Successful IPO Launch for GM

1. Value the Stock for Success

Killian points out that it is critical for new shareholders to make money on the IPO. "An IPO that trades below its offer price becomes a broken stock, avoided by investors," said Killian.

Renaissance Capital wrote that: "Over the past two years between 50% and 70% of private equity IPOs have been forced to price below the originally proposed ranges." She is looking at Ford(F) as a rough benchmark, although she notes Ford is in much better shape, so GM would need to be priced below Ford.

GM will need to keep realistic expectations on what price its stock will bring. At the end of the day, the company is still a debt heavy private company whose backers want to monetize their investment and potential shareholders will only want it at the right price.

--Written by Debra Borchardt in New York.

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