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Groupon IPO raises $700 million

Tim Green
Groupon IPO raises $700 million

Biggest since Google in 2004.

The float values the group shopping specialist at almost $13 billion, as Groupon sold just five per cent of its stock (pricing 35m shares at $20 each).

The result certainly vindicates the firm's decision to rebuff Google's $6bn bid earlier this year and wait for an IPO.

Groupon's story must be one of the most remarkable in dotcom history. It is only three years old, but had turned over $1bn inside 18 months.

And yet the firm is still losing money, and questions remain over the long term viability of its business. Critics say its daily deals don't offer enough back to retailers, and that consumers are already becoming bored with all those free spa treatments.

Analysts are saying that the high valuation is only possible because of the low float.

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Against this, there are still observers who believe Groupon is positioned to achieve greatness.

WSJ quoted Boyan Josic, chief executive atDailyDealMedia, which tracks the industry. He said Groupon "is a company with permission to market to 150 million consumers daily. No other company in the world has ever had that type of reach.

"Investors who truly understand this business model and the position that Groupon has in this market are buying."


Tags: ipo , shopping , M&A , groupon , group buying

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