Facebook has honed in on two possible dates to launch its initial public offering on the Nasdaq, according to a person familiar with the matter. Bankers & management are currently looking at a primary target date of May 16 to price the deal (with trading commencing the following day), according to this person. The company would begin marketing the deal on May 7 under that scenario. The final timing, however,…

Social-networking site Facebook is halting the sale of its shares on secondary markets effective next week as the company prepares to hold its initial public offering in May, according to a person familiar with the matter. Facebook recently asked firms that arrange trading of its privately held shares to stop doing so, a move intended to reduce churn in its valuation that could complicate matters as it sets an IPO…

When a hugely successful company such as Facebook makes an initial public offering (IPO) of their stock, fortunes are made, and not only by the company owners. Facebook co-founder, Mark Zuckerberg, for example, will make an estimated $14 billion when his company goes public this spring. Many employees of Facebook will probably also reap millions if they own company stock. The big money of a successful IPO most often goes…