Groupon Buys LivingSocial, a Rival Once Valued at $6 Billion

  • Deal provider reports quarterly loss in line with estimate
  • Shares continue slide in early trading in New York Thursday
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Groupon Inc. agreed to buy LivingSocial Inc., absorbing an old rival in the once-fierce war between companies offering daily deals via e-mail.

The acquisition didn’t impress Groupon investors, who sent shares down as much as 19 percent to $4.27 Thursday despite an earnings report in line with analysts’ estimates and a more optimistic forecast for the rest of the year. The selloff marked the biggest intraday drop for Groupon in six months.