NEW YORK (AP) - Groupon's stock has closed at its lowest level ever amid growing scrutiny over its business just five months after it went public.

Shares of Groupon Inc. closed at $15.02 on Tuesday. That's the lowest since the company went public in November, when its initial public offering of stock priced at $20 a share.

The Chicago-based company is facing a shareholder lawsuit and a possible review by federal regulators. It revised its fourth-quarter earnings on Friday, lowering its reported revenue by 3 percent and widening its losses. Groupon said it hadn't set enough money aside for refunds.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that the Securities and Exchange Commission is examining Groupon's revision. That's a common practice for any company that issues a restatement, but it may have raised a red flag for Groupon investors who were already looking at the company closely because of previous blunders.

"In general, any company that issues a restatement is likely to get a close look," said Brian Lane, a former director of the SEC's corporation finance division, who is an attorney at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in Washington. Lane didn't comment on Groupon's situation.

That Groupon revised its results and disclosed weakness in its internal financial controls are "two things that are not good," said Walter Van Dorn, a former special counsel in the SEC's corporation finance division who now heads law firm SNR Denton's corporate practice in New York.

The company has had "lots of bumps in the road," said Van Dorn. "It wouldn't surprise me if they're under a magnifying glass at the SEC."

Groupon had no comment on the reported SEC review or on the shareholder lawsuit.


(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

share this story:
facebook
email





Seattle's Family 4th celebration survives another year

It was nearly canceled. The next year, they were $200,000 short and asking for money. This year, it appears One Reel's Family 4th will be able to go on without a hitch.


Dave Ross - tcti

Does this really have to go to court?

The Catholic Church is upset over being forced to include birth control with employee insurance benefits. So now 40 Catholic institutions are suing the government.




What's not to like about the Kellen Winslow trade?

After speaking with a Tampa Bay reporter, Bob Stelton and Dave Grosby agree that there's nothing to dislike about the deal the Seahawks made to acquire tight end Kellen Winslow.


Quebec students mark 100 days of tuition protests

Tens of thousands of students marched through the streets of Montreal on Tuesday to mark 100 days since the movement against higher tuition fees began. The protest comes after Quebec's provincial government passed emergency legislation to end Canada's most sustained student demonstrations ever.


Silicon Valley tech exec accused of Lego thefts

A Silicon Valley software executive put fake bar codes on Lego sets at various Target stores, bought the toys at a steep discount, then sold them online for thousands of dollars, authorities said.

most popular

  1. Brock & Salk: What tight end Kellen Winslow brings to the Seahawks
    The Seahawks' ability to continually monitor the market and keep ample salary cap...
  2. Are OKC fans really thanking Seattle for Thunder?
    As if we haven't suffered enough, Oklahoma fans have been spotted around OKC wearing...
  3. Trial over caging autistic boys begins in Vancouver
    Was it cruelty or child proofing? A Vancouver couple is accused of imprisoning their...
  4. Dori throws rocks at new Chihuly glass house
    Chihuly Garden and Glass, featuring colorful glass art created by Dale Chihuly, has...
  5. Canadians bummed store's paper money going electronic
    The Loonie isn't the only wacky currency in Canada. It turns out many Canadians have...




mynorthwest.com
Copyright © 2012 Bonneville International. All rights reserved.