Facebook 2012 IPO could peak $100 billion

Social network Facebook is likely to go public in the first quarter of next year with a valuation of over $100 billion.Facebooks decision to conduct an initial public offering could be triggered by Securities and Exchange Commission requirement that companies with more than 500 private investors must disclose financial information. Mark Zuckerberg has repeatedly shown interest in delaying the public offering but it has been forced to do so by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations. Facebook is also facing pressure from employees who are not allowed to sell their shares on private exchanges such as SharesPost, where Facebook has been given a valuation of as high as $85 billion.Facebook requires private companies to release quarterly financial reports like public companies.