Compania Facebook a facut in cursul noptii trecute anuntul acestei saptamani, confirmand achizitionarea WhatsApp, compania din spatele aplicatiei de mesagerie atat de populare in intreaga lume. Facebook a depus documentatia la SEC (Comisia SUA pentru Titluri si Operatiuni financiare) din care reiese achizitionarea WhatsApp pentru suma de 16 miliarde de dolari. Compania din spatele popularei retele sociale va plati catre WhatsApp 4 miliarde de dolari in lichiditati si 12 miliarde de dolari in actiuni ale Facebook, fiind posibila si plata a inca 3 miliarde de dolari, suma reprezentand compensatii catre angajati sub forma de actiuni care vor putea fi vandute abia peste 4 ani. Practic, Facebook ar putea scoate din buzunar pana la 19 miliarde de dolari pentru a achizitiona o aplicatie de mesagerie in sensul extinderii serviciilor si produselor lor catre o gama si mai larga de clienti
La fel ca si in cazul Instagram, pentru care au platit “numai” 1 miliard de dolari, cei de la Facebook ne asigura ca WhatsApp va functiona in continuare ca si o aplicatie independenta dupa efectuarea achizitiei, chiar daca o vor integra si in sistemele si serviciile lor. Conform fondatorului Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, WhatsApp va completa serviciile existente de chat si mesagerie pentru a oferi noi instrumente comunitatii companiei pe care o cunduce. In continuare, Zuckerberg ne asigura ca WhatsApp va functiona separat de serviciul de mesagerie Facebook Messenger, oferind utilizatorilor posibilitatea de a discuta cu toate contactele si cu grupuri mici de oameni, spre deosebire de serviciul existent al Facebook care permite comunicarea numai cu prietenii de pe reteaua sociala.
Daca va intrebati de ce ar fi Facebook interesata de WhatsApp, ei bine aplicatia WhatsApp Messenger, disponibila pe majoritatea sistemelor de operare pentru mobil, are in prezent 450 de milioane de utilizatori activi lunar, dintre care 100 de milioane s-au inscris in ultimele 4 luni ale anului 2013, iar un milion se inscriu zilnic. Daca ne gandim ca in urma cu aproape un an, Google ar fi fost aproape sa incheie o intelegere cu WhatsApp pentru suma de 1 miliard de dolari, vom vedea cat de mult a crescut WhatsApp in cateva luni. Prin intermediul WhatsApp se trimit anual aproximativ 7 trilioane de mesaje anual, numarul fiind apropriat de cel al SMS-urilor trimise anual prin retelele globale de telecomunicatii.
WhatsApp Messenger este disponibila in continuare gratuit in App Store si asa ar trebui sa ramana pentru ca utilizatorii sa mai fie interesati de ea. O mare temere a majoritatii utilizatorilor este adaugarea reclamelor in aplicatia de mesagerie in sensul obtinerii de profit, compania Facebook procedand la fel atat in cazul retelei lor de socializare, cat si in cazul Instagram.
Facebook to Acquire WhatsApp
February 19, 2014
- Acquisition accelerates Facebook’s ability to bring connectivity and utility to the world
- Leading mobile messaging company will continue to operate independently and retain its brand
- WhatsApp co-founder and CEO Jan Koum to join Facebook Board of Directors
MENLO PARK, CALIF. – February 19, 2014 – Facebook today announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire WhatsApp, a rapidly growing cross-platform mobile messaging company, for a total of approximately $16 billion, including $4 billion in cash and approximately $12 billion worth of Facebook shares. The agreement also provides for an additional $3 billion in restricted stock units to be granted to WhatsApp’s founders and employees that will vest over four years subsequent to closing.
WhatsApp has built a leading and rapidly growing real-time mobile messaging service, with:
- Over 450 million people using the service each month;
- 70% of those people active on a given day;
- Messaging volume approaching the entire global telecom SMS volume; and
- Continued strong growth, currently adding more than 1 million new registered users per day.
The acquisition supports Facebook and WhatsApp’s shared mission to bring more connectivity and utility to the world by delivering core internet services efficiently and affordably. The combination will help accelerate growth and user engagement across both companies.
“WhatsApp is on a path to connect 1 billion people. The services that reach that milestone are all incredibly valuable,” said Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook founder and CEO. “I’ve known Jan for a long time and I’m excited to partner with him and his team to make the world more open and connected.”
Jan Koum, WhatsApp co-founder and CEO, said, “WhatsApp’s extremely high user engagement and rapid growth are driven by the simple, powerful and instantaneous messaging capabilities we provide. We’re excited and honored to partner with Mark and Facebook as we continue to bring our product to more people around the world.”
Facebook fosters an environment where independent-minded entrepreneurs can build companies, set their own direction and focus on growth while also benefiting from Facebook’s expertise, resources and scale. This approach is working well with Instagram, and WhatsApp will operate in this manner. WhatsApp’s brand will be maintained; its headquarters will remain in Mountain View, CA; Jan Koum will join Facebook’s Board of Directors; and WhatsApp’s core messaging product and Facebook’s existing Messenger app will continue to operate as standalone applications.
Upon closing of the deal, all outstanding shares of WhatsApp capital stock and options to purchase WhatsApp capital stock will be cancelled in exchange for $4 billion in cash and 183,865,778 shares of Facebook Class A common stock (worth $12 billion based on the average closing price of the six trading days preceding February 18, 2014 of $65.2650 per share). In addition, upon closing, Facebook will grant 45,966,444 restricted stock units to WhatsApp employees (worth $3 billion based on the average closing price of the six trading days preceding February 18, 2014 of $65.2650 per share). As of February 17, 2014, Facebook had 2,551,654,996 Class A and B shares outstanding plus approximately 139 million dilutive securities primarily consisting of unvested RSUs. The Class A common stock and RSUs issued to WhatsApp shareholders and employees upon closing will represent 7.9% of Facebook shares based on current shares and RSUs outstanding.
In the event of termination of the Merger Agreement under certain circumstances principally related to a failure to obtain required regulatory approvals, the Merger Agreement provides for Facebook to pay WhatsApp a fee of $1 billion in cash and to issue to WhatsApp a number of shares of Facebook’s Class A common stock equal to $1 billion based on the average closing price of the ten trading days preceding such termination date.
Facebook was advised by Allen & Company LLC and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP; and WhatsApp was advised by Morgan Stanley and Fenwick & West, LLP.
Webcast and Conference Call Information
Facebook will host a 30-minute conference call to discuss the acquisition at 3:00 pm PT / 6:00pm ET today. The dial-in number for the call is (866) 751-3284 (toll free) and (973) 935-8772 (international), conference ID: 2907041. The live webcast of the call can be accessed at the Facebook Investor Relations website at investor.fb.com. Facebook uses the website http://investor.fb.com as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.
Following the call, a replay will be available at the same website. A telephonic replay will be available for one week following the conference call at (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406, conference ID 2907041.
About Facebook
Facebook’s mission is to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected. People use Facebook to stay connected with friends and family, to discover what’s going on in the world, and to share and express what matters to them.
About WhatsApp
WhatsApp is a personal real-time messaging network allowing millions of people around the world to stay connected with their friends and family.
Sursa: Facebook