Microsoft Acquires Equity Stake in Facebook
Software Giant Gets 1.6% Stake in Social-Networking Site
By Alex Weprin -- Broadcasting & Cable, 10/25/2007 5:20:00 AM MT
Microsoft acquired a $240 million equity stake in social networking site Facebook, effectively valuing the site at $15 billion. Under terms of the deal, Microsoft will become the exclusive third-party ad-platform partner for Facebook, expanding upon a deal between the companies established last year.
“We are pleased to take our Microsoft partnership to the next level,” Facebook chief revenue officer Owen Van Natta said in a statement announcing the deal. “This relationship will allow Facebook to continue to innovate and grow as a technology company, as well as bring relevant advertising to Facebook’s nearly 50 million active users.”
The deal gives Microsoft a 1.6% stake in the social-networking site, smaller than the 5%-10% analysts predicted would be acquired. The $15 billion evaluation, however, is more than the $10 billion number floated before the deal was finalized.
Google was also known to be interested in acquiring equity in the company.
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