Groupon share offer to raise up to $750m

Daily discount website Groupon is seeking to raise up to $750m (£460m)
in an initial public offering (IPO). It is the latest move by an
internet company seeking to cash in on investor appetite for social
media firms. Last month, business networking site LinkedIn saw its
shares more than double in value on their first day of trading after
the company went public. IPOs are when companies list their shares on
the stock market for the first time. Groupon offers daily discounts to
members on items ranging from meals out and beauty treatments to
flying lessons. The offers are typically available for a set period
and for a limited number of buyers. Groupon then takes a commission of
30-50% from the merchants who provide the services. The company has 83
million members in 43 countries and employs more than 7,000 staff.
---------------BBC ONLINE