Goldman Investment Gives Facebook $50B Valuation

SEC is investigating whether Facebook is skirting 500 shareholder rule
By Mark Russell,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 3, 2011 2:59 AM CST
Updated Jan 3, 2011 7:56 AM CST
Report: Facebook Nets $500M Investment
The SEC is reportedly investigating Facebook over private share deals, such as a $500 million investment in Facebook by Goldman Sachs and a Russian investor.   (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

Facebook has snagged a $500 million investment—$450 million from Goldman Sachs and $50 million from a Russian firm—in a deal that values the social network at $50 billion. That makes the company worth more than eBay, Yahoo, and Time Warner, notes the New York Times, which suggests that the money will be used by Facebook to woo more in-demand employees, develop fresh products, and pursue acquisitions.

And now, the Securities and Exchange Commission is reportedly investigating privately held shares of the popular company. Once a company hits 500 shareholders, it faces additional disclosure rules, but the SEC thinks deals like this one might be attempts to skirt the rule. (More Facebook stories.)

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