Facebook to start roadshow on Monday for 18 May IPO


2 May 2012

Facebook will reportedly start its roadshow to pitch its stock to investors on Monday, if there are no delays from the SEC. If all goes according to plan, it could hold its IPO on 18 May.

While previous reports suggested Facebook’s IPO could be delayed until June due to recent acquisitions and purchases, The Wall Street Journal reports Facebook will aim to hold its IPO on 18 May, give or take a day or two, and will set the final price for the deal on the day before.

Chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg and chief financial officer David Ebersman will head up most of the roadshow meetings and CEO Mark Zuckerberg will attend some of them.

Facebook hopes to raise US$5bn in its IPO and could be valued at US$104bn when it goes public in May, making it the largest stock market flotation by an internet company to date.

According to a recent S-1 Filing from Facebook, in the first quarter of 2012, the company made US$1.058bn in revenue, down 6.5pc from the previous quarter but up 44pc from the same quarter last year. Advertising made up US$872m of its revenue.