東區學英語|菁英東區校追蹤新聞脈動-臉書(Facebook)股票上市 

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Facebook taps emerging markets as it readies IPO

London (CNN) -- Facebook, which launched its blockbuster initial public offering Wednesday, is the undisputed social media king of the U.S. and Europe.

But as the West approaches saturation point with the site, Facebook is looking to emerging markets like Brazil and India to fuel its next stage of growth.

The company seeks to raise up to $5 billion, according to documents filed Wednesday. That represents the largest global IPO ever by an Internet-focused company, according to data from Dealogic. Google's $1.9 billion debut is currently the largest U.S. Internet IPO.

Once Facebook starts trading, experts say it could be valued at between $75 billion and $100 billion. The site now has more than 800 million active users, with the bulk of those in the U.S. However, its growth in early adopter countries has stuttered.

Is Facebook growth stalling in North America?

 

Growth is taking off in places like countries India, Brazil, Peru, Mexico and Indonesia. Gregory Lyons, research and insight manager at digital marketing agency iCrossing, calculates Facebook will hit 1 billion active users around August this year, with the majority of those coming from emerging markets.

Brazil, particularly, is a "ripe market," Lyons said. India's sheer size also makes it a prime target. According to iCrossing, India has grown from 22 million users to 36 million in the last nine months, while Brazil has gone from 13 million to 30 million.

According to analytics company comScore, Facebook last year blasted past Google's Orkut in Brazil as the leading social network destination. ComScore's report showed Facebook attracted 36.1 million visitors in December -- an increase of 192% -- to overtake Orkut.

Facebook is also making efforts to capitalize on emerging markets, with partnerships such as that with MediaTek, which makes software for low-end phones. The partnership should assist Facebook in tapping low-income groups in markets such as India.

But even as it taps these markets, Facebook faces challenges closer to home. Google's social network, Google+, now has more than 90 million registered users, according to a presentation from its chief executive officer Larry Page last month. That more than doubles the 40 million it reported in October.

Google+ hits 90 million users

According to Lyons, Google is likely to be a serious challenge to Facebook. Due to the internet giant's existing reach, "they could almost force their way in," he said. "If anyone can do it, Google can."

 

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全球最大社交網站 Facebook (臉書) 即將在美國股市掛牌上市,預料市值將大幅躍進,首次公開募股 (IPO) 盛況恐令網路搜尋巨頭 Google ((US-GOOG)) 汗顏。不過,撇開這些正面消息,對於 Facebook 眾多使用者、競爭對手甚至總體經濟而言,公司 IPO 意謂如何?

《CNN》特約記者 Douglas Rushkoff 周三 (1 日) 指出,從第一眼看來,Facebook 共同創辦人祖克伯 (Mark Zuckerberg) 的龐大影響力將因此持續削弱。

Facebook 開啟了社交網站這類新興媒體形式的新時代。它不僅重新定義網路、改變人際關係互動、創造新的行銷方式,甚至還將滲透到金融市場,讓這類好友間的「社交」經濟帶來的新商機生根。

但從實際面來看,Facebook 上市較意味公司將開始順應金融市場規則,而非打破規則。換句話說,公司成長定義不再只關乎業務技術面,還得從企業資本主義角度來衡量。

說得更明白點,如果一間公司規模夠大,意即擁有夠多資金,這些錢遲早會影響到公司其他部分活動。在 Facebook 的例子,上市意味私募投資人超過法定 500 人上限,得開始向金管單位呈報業務資產細節。



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