Report: Facebook likely to go public in early 2012

CNBC reports that the valuation could top $100 million, citing sources. That would be significantly higher than the $50-billion estimate from a few months back.

A factor in the company's IPO timing is the Securities and Exchange Commission's requirement that some companies like Facebook must disclose financial information if they have more than 500 private investors. The social media site will likely report that it has crossed that threshold at the end of year, according to these same people. Facebook is also facing internal pressure from current employees who, because of internal restrictions, cannot sell their private shares on the secondary market, according to these people.