Facebook, IPO May 2012. White writing on a light blue background, a flag with the classic colors of the social network which from today flank those of the American stars and stripes flag in front of the JP Morgan headquarters in New York. It is the sign that the roadshow of the social network to get listed on the Nyse has begun. The financial company, one of the subscribers for the IPO expected on May 18, placed the social network's logo next to the American flag last Friday in view of the presentation tour to shareholders which began yesterday and will last a week.
The goal of the roadshow is to convince potential shareholders to participate in the initial public offeringeea show the management of the company. The first meeting with about 550 investors, according to the television station Cnbc, was held at 11.45 (17.45 in Italy) at the Sheraton Hotel in New York.
Facebook, which set the placement price last week, included in a range between 28 and 35 dollars per share, and aims to raise up to 13,6 billion dollars with the IPO. The company's value should then rise to around 90 billion.
But not all potential shareholders can participate in the New York roadshow. For them the social network has created a video to describe the company's mission, products and prospects. The 30-minute message, created by the company's top management, also reveals new details about its advertising business. Globally, Facebook earns advertisers $4,34 per user each year (an average of $9,51 logged in America, $4,86 in Europe, and $1,79 in Asia).
An apparently thriving business, but there are some tensions. Especially those following the purchase of Istagram for the sum of one billion dollars. "It's like Zuckerberg is a kid in a candy store and is aiming to please his every wish," said Francis Gaskins, president of research firm IPO Desktop. And he added: “Facebook is moving into a new field, it must learn to consider shareholders and keep costs under control”.
