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online.wsj.com...
Facebook Inc. will begin disclosing financial information or stage an initial public offering by April 2012, according to a new 100-page private-placement memo now being distributed to potential investors in the company.
The popular social-networking company said in the document that it intends to breach a critical 500-shareholder limit this year. Crossing the limit triggers a Securities and Exchange Commission rule that requires that companies file financial information—even if their shares don't trade publicly.
Facebook's intentions have been under heavy debate since the company launched a private share offering through Goldman Sachs Group Inc. this week. Some investors have wondered whether the arrangement with Goldman was designed to avoid such disclosures
A Facebook spokesman declined to comment. Goldman Sachs declined to comment.
Facebook's hypothetical value has soared to $50million (£32billion) after it was reported to have raised £321million from Goldman Sachs and a Russian investment firm - a deal that values it higher than Time Warner, Yahoo and eBay
Facebook is about to launch a new facility for photo tagging using face detection software. Once a photo is uploaded, Facebook's face detection software will identify photos of your friends and suggest their names for tagging. If Facebook's suggestion is correct, you can just click yes.
Originally posted by burntheships
What is the general consensus here on ATS?
A Facebook spokesman declined to comment. Goldman Sachs declined to comment.
If you have a couple of million dollars spare, you can get a piece of the Facebook action too, provided you agree not to sell the shares until 2013, with Goldman Sachs creating a special investment vehicle for the purpose. Goldman itself now has 0.8 per cent and helped organise Russian firm Digital Sky Technologies' purchase of 10 per cent for $500m, hence the $50bn valuation. But that is also the problem.
In what might be described as informed speculation, some analysts believe that the US Securities and Exchange Commission in the US could force an IPO. Analysts think Facebook may be falling foul of SEC rules or at least sailing very close to wind.
Originally posted by burntheships
Reports today value Facebook at 50 million.
Only non-US Goldman Sachs clients will be able to take part in the company's sale of $1.5 billion worth of Facebook stock, the bank told clients today.
The WSJ reports the reason is regulatory concerns.
At the beginning of the month, Goldman announced it had invested $450 million in Facebook at a $50 billion valuation.
As a part of that deal, Goldman also said it would sell $1.5 billion worth of common Facebook stock to its wealthiest clients.
Almost immediately, the offering was over-subscribed. Now only internationals will get in on the action.
It's unclear what were Goldman's regulatory concerns.