Groupon launching in Thailand

Groupon announced Monday it was launching in Thailand, the 47th country for the daily deals site outside the United States.

The Chicago-based Groupon said Groupon Thailand would initially provide discount offers in Bangkok and eventually expand to additional cities in the Southeast Asian nation.

"We are very excited to expand the benefits of Groupon to customers and merchants in Thailand," Damian Kemner, chief executive of Groupon Thailand, said in a statement.

"With our selected merchants, we create exclusive campaigns that allow them unparalleled access to our customer base while gaining market exposure to drive new business," Kemner said.

Groupon was launched in November 2008 and was listed on Wall Street last year.

Groupon shares were up 1.08 percent at $19.71 in mid-day trading on Monday.

(c) 2012 AFP