LinkedIn Looking to Go Public [REPORT]

Credit:

Citing sources, Reuters is reporting that LinkedIn has selected Morgan Stanley, Bank of America and JPMorgan, among others, as financial underwriters. The Reuters story claims the three made their pitches in November.

LinkedIn spokesman Hani Durzy offers the following statement on the report: “We don't comment on speculation. An IPO is one of many tactics that we could choose to pursue. We are focused on building our business and doing what is in the best long-term interest of LinkedIn members and shareholders.”

If the claims cited in the story turn out to be true, LinkedIn would be among the first of a new wave of companies poised to cash in on the social media craze, including FarmVille maker Zynga and Groupon. Facebook, which recently received $500 million in funding from Goldman Sachs and Russian investment firm Digital Sky Technologies, may go public in 2012.