American coupon website Groupon reportedly wants to delay (or abandon) its flotation, says the Wall Street Journal. Groupon had hoped to use the momentum to make the largest possible sum out of the stock exchanges’ interests in social network sites.
A 25 billion dollar transaction?
Groupon wanted to follow LinkedIn’s example, as the current worth of the company is estimated to be some 25 billion dollar (18 billion euro). The date for the flotation was set for mid September, but the unstable stock exchanges had the company decide that this is not the right time. At this time it remains uncertain whether the flotation is simply delayed or cancelled altogether.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission, already watching Groupon after a case of “creative accounting”, opened a new investigation after CEO Andrew Mason supposedly sent a memo with financial information to several employees. In the “silent period” before a flotation, this is strictly forbidden in the US.
