Facebook Inc. is expected to file papers for its initial public offering as early as the coming week. Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), which could be leading the deal, expects that the social networking giant could be worth between $75 billion and $100 billion. The issue is likely to yield as much as $10 billion.

The website’s IPO is being seen as a manifestation of the latest boom in investment in Web businesses. Facebook has attracted more than 800 million members in less than eight years of its existence. It has completely transformed the concept of global communications.

According to reliable indications, Facebook is likely to choose Morgan Stanley for leading the deal, beating other Wall Street banks that are struggling to get a foothold in the deal amid a global slump in trading to possibly earn tens of millions of dollars in banker fees. Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) was leading the race to head the deal till about a year back, however Morgan Stanley seems to have overtaken it. Goldman Sachs is also likely to play a significant part.   

The filing for the IPO with the Securities and Exchange Commission could take place on Wednesday, according to reliable sources but some executives of the company are in favor of filing a few weeks later. 

Read More: http://www.financeenquiry.com/ipo-filing-by-facebook-almost-imminent

Photographic equipment maker, Eastman Kodak Co (NYSE: EK), is preparing to seek bankruptcy protection in the coming weeks, as per a report by RTT News. It is still in the process of making last-minute efforts to avoid Chapter 11 by trying to sell off some of its patent portfolios.

The company is also negotiating with banks for $1 billion in financing in order to survive the process of bankruptcy filing. The banks include JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM), Citigroup (C) and Wells Fargo & Co.  The 131-year-old company could be on the verge of filing, either during this month or in early February. Moreover, during bankruptcy protection, it will continue to pay its bills and function normally. Its main objective at that time would be to sell some of its 1,100 patents through a court-supervised auction.

Kodak was a pioneer in photography, dominating the industry and producing thousands of breakthroughs in imaging and other technologies. It also invented the digital camera in 1975, though it failed to capitalize on its invention. Kodak also dabbled with chemicals, medical-testing devices and bathroom cleaners, while it was looking for suitable alternatives to its core business. It has also focused on consumer and commercial printers in the recent past.