How WhatsApp handled its $19 billion news
As commentators argued about whether Facebook’s decision to shell out $42 per user was a good idea or not, the company itself assured those users nothing would be changing.
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Depending on whose analysis you read Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, Facebook’s decision to acquire the messaging service WhatsApp for $19 billion was either a terrible idea that tanked its stock, a bold act of possible genius, or perhaps a way to get one over on Google.
WhatsApp itself discussed the deal—$4 billion in cash, $12 billion in stock, and another $3 billion in restricted stock that will vest over the next four years—in terms of what it will mean for its 450 million users.
Here’s what co-founder Jan Koum wrote on the company’s blog:
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