Facebook plans May 18 initial public offering

Facebook will go public on May 18, a published report says, in one of the most highly anticipated tech initial public offerings since Google went public in August 2004.

The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the social networking company is set to start its roadshow on Monday, according to people familiar with the matter.

The roadshow, a series of meetings with prospective institutional investors, is designed to stir interest in the company's stock.

Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and chief executive of Facebook, will attend some of the meetings, The Journal reported.

The Menlo Park, Calif.-based company is seeking to raise about $5 billion in the offering, giving the company a value of about $100 billion.

Facebook officials did not immediately comment.